I like working for them...freezing my butt off, getting stiff, spending entire days gathering info and waiting, lots of practice, getting up early.

It makes me feel like I earned it. I don't take killing lightly, and I want to take only the best shots and make clean kills.
If something goes wrong, I want to have the knowledge that I did all I could. The self discipline it takes to prepare ourselves thoroughly for the hunt is part of what defines who we are.

It's not supposed to be easy. Any bozo with a gun can kill a deer if they are out there long enough. I think each step in the process deserves equal effort. For everthing, there is a season, and if hunting season isn't open at the moment, then it's time to scout, practice, tweak, or tell stories about your adventures.

Hunting isn't just about taking the shot and making the kill. It includes every part of the preparation that made the moment of truth possible. That's why it's a celebration, and something to be proud of. I'll take luck anytime it comes my way, but I'll also do my best to increase the odds.


I love being in the deer woods, and I'll take every excuse I can get to be out there. I like to see wildlife when I go out, so scouting and hiking becomes an important part of the ritual. Even if I don't get in range, or see one I want to shoot, I still want to see the deer and know they're out there, learn from them, and keep an intimate relationship with the woods.