Hey gang, new to the site and new to hunting. I thought I could give a point of view from a 35 year non hunter who is going to start hunting. I grew up in Northern Ohio and my father was not an avid outdoors man. He was a sport fan and coached my little league football team and supported traditional team sports. I always had friends that hunted, mostly whitetail up in mid and northern Michigan. Imet my wife about 11 years ago and the first time we visited her family was awe inspiring. her parents lived just outside Cadillac Michigan and their property butts right up to state land. First I was up there her father got a buck, her brother got a buck, and her uncle got a buck. I helped the men clean and butcher their deer. From being around my in laws I really began to appreciate the outdoors and the animals that are a hugh part of it. My father in law as an avid hunter-fisherman. He had gotten elk, bear, boar, ram and so many deer I don't think I could count. My wife hunted growing up and has/had a love for it. She discontinued shortly after we started dating. I have spent the last 10 years visiting northern Michigan. Mio, harrison, harrietta, Wellston, Cadillac, Elk Rapids and much more. My buddies and I routinely attend wild game dinners and share venison recipes. We shoot trap together and I have spent many night listening to their many stories about the hunt. Until next year my wife and I have always gotten our venison from family and friends. I have made a decision that it is now my time toget involved. My son is 3 years old and I want to be able to bring him up appreciating the outdoors. I spent this year going with my buddies and observing their hunts, knowledge is best gained in the field and while I have read many books on whitetail deer and their biology and their life habits, the experience of being out there cannot be replaced. Next fall I will venture out and attempt to get my first. This passion inside of me has grown over the past 10years and I am ready to begin. I apologize for this long drawn out post and look forward to talking to the lot of you about this lifestyle we all seem to love.


Murph