How do you guys keep motivated?
 

It has been one of those seasons this year with working 3rd shift and 2 boys and this lack of sleep is bringing me down (Family comes first). Put that with not much action out in the woods I am already wore out mentally and I have been hunting hard. I have a 11 day gun hunting trip coming up and its going to be hard and long in this state of mind. I am going to attempt a all day bow hunt Friday with rut kicking in. Maybe just looking for a pep chat here. Put this with last year being my first mature buck harvest with a bow and adding pressure to myself this year. I should know better but I want that feeling again it was something special and now I crave it!
Maybe 6 hours asleep later today will help thanks for letting me get this out. Now carry on and get out hunting.

Thx's

RE: How do you guys keep motivated?
 

One shooter buck and you will be back in the game.

Then again a good spoonin might get your other head back in the game. ;)

RE: How do you guys keep motivated?
 

all it takes is 1 hot doe!!!

You only have to be lucky once this year

RE: How do you guys keep motivated?
 

Mention spoonin and look who pops in lol

RE: How do you guys keep motivated?
 

Tony, just get out there as much as you can and enjoy the outdoor experience, thats what keeps me motivated, after hitting that deer this mornign with my car has got me motivated to kill em all.:D

RE: How do you guys keep motivated?
 

Tony, You got it right man, Family and Job come first. Thats what being a Man is all about, Priorities! When hunting becomes a grind, step back for a day or two. Get refreshed, the itch will come back strong. This is a past-time, a hobby, nothing more. I've heard and even used the word "pressure" myself this year. I think what that is, is the desire to succeed. We all have to prove that we are "worthy" hunters to each other.

To me, guys prove that morewith their words and actions,than the mounts on the wall. To me, you seem like a dedicated Dad, a good man, and a guy who would be a hell of a lot of fun to have in camp! Some years we will be successful and some years we won't, because we set high standards. That's hunting brother..measure your success by what you come home to..the memories you have..all you need is some perspective. Walk the woods with the memory of Dad in your heart..your steps will be lighter the trees will have more color and every deer sighting will renew that strong desire.
When you come home to an anxiously awaiting family there are stories to be told,and success or not, they will still hang on your every word. How can that, be failure?

RE: How do you guys keep motivated?
 

AMEN to that Bob and you nailed it, the Dad factor of not being here a huge part. A special thank you for this buddy!
I have 1 hour left and I am home to bed. I shall see you all soon. I really think I need to get this whole dad passing out of my system it has been almost 8 months and still have not. Take care and god bless.

RE: How do you guys keep motivated?
 

Wow...you should design those motivational posters we see in classrooms and office buildings.

Honestly though, that's quite touching, and its obvious you wrote that from the heart.

RE: How do you guys keep motivated?
 

He sure did

RE: How do you guys keep motivated?
 

Here's a Wis. buck for motivation






It's all about location.;)

RE: How do you guys keep motivated?
 

more tree bark camo.....will it make a come back???

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[Deleted by Admins]

RE: How do you guys keep motivated?
 

Just when you are about to give up that is when it happens

RE: How do you guys keep motivated?
 

I took a different approach to it the last 6 or 7 seasons. With work, it's hard for me to get out on a regular basis in the early part of Pa's bow season.So what I started to do was just not hunt early on. It's always warm out, and I'm always pressed for time to get out and hunt. So now, I spend the first 3 or 4 weeks goofing off: scouting, riding back roads, continue practicing my bow, etc. I'm still learning the woods, the deer movements and such, just not beating myself up chasing them day in and day out. Now, when my vacation starts during the last 2 weeks, I'm relaxed, I'm fresh mentally and physically, and I can cruise through 8 or 10 days of hunting and not feel burnt out. I enjoy it this way so much more nowadays, and I've taken bucks during the last week to 2 weeks 8 years in a row.

Now I don't have the family responsibilities you have, but taking some time out of the woods often does ya good. I know what it's like to put the heat on yourself, and it often leads to second guessing your spots, stands and everything else. Sit back and relax!! Make it fun again!

RE: How do you guys keep motivated?
 

Nail on the head right there!!! GR8atta2d couldn't have said it better! You have to enjoy all aspects of it and relax.When you are holding out for better than average deer the planets don't always align.I have enough pressure in other area's of my life I refuse to live and die with whether I put a big buck on the ground every year! Am I dissapointed if I don't absolutely,will I worlk harder and refine what I am doing absolutely!
My season has sucked so far and I have only two more sit's before I head out to Idaho for 11 days of rifle hunting (poor me).Sunday is my family's day,I could hunt but it would be selfish just prior to going away.
Count your blessings and put every thing in to perspective!We are all pretty lucky to go at this passion as hard as we do.In light of balancing the things that really matter like the time spent with those close to you.
Good luck to you the rest of the way! For me knowing that I gave it every thing I could is always enough.

RE: How do you guys keep motivated?
 

Hunting became like a job for me, this year. At least the first part of the season did. I had a big goal of doe reduction and I thought I HAD to reach the goal. It took something away from my season. Now....I know the goal's attainable. I know I can do it every year, NOW.

Going to PA and never pulling the trigger was a good thing, for me. I went into my woods yesterday....and didn't see a thing. I remember, distinctly, grinning real big about it before climbing down, yesterday. I had a GREAT hunt, yesterday. Woods were beautiful.

I'm "back".

RE: How do you guys keep motivated?
 

Everytime I start thinking I had enough I just think about the off-season. That is a big motivator for me.

RE: How do you guys keep motivated?
 

I don't have a problem with staying motivated. Perhaps its the time spent with friends and family, perhaps it's the fact that I can only go on weekends (except for next week), and all week I have time to wish I was back in a stand. A good hunting partner that is serious about it to the same level you are will keep you motivated too, that's for sure.

RE: How do you guys keep motivated?
 

I have a lot of reason to be down this year (not hunting related), but every time I see a doe or a turkey I am refreshed. Even if I don't draw. Even if it doesn't come in range. Just seeing those beautiful animals gets me pumped again.

RE: How do you guys keep motivated?
 

I felt the exact same way for the first part of the season, i was so down on myself and my luck hunting i swore that deer didnt even exist and i was hunting an animal that wasnt even in the woods. On October 29th that all changed when i shot my first deer with a bow, a nice mature doe. Keep your chin up, i know its hard to believe now, but your time will come.

RE: How do you guys keep motivated?
 

It's hard to stay motivated. Last week i finally saw two deer while I was bowhunting. It's been almost 2 full seasons before last Wednesday, since I have seen ANY deer while I've been bow hunting. That is a long time and many many hours in the stand without seeing anything. I gets really old scouting and working hard to prepare for season justto gooutand watch trees grow.

All I can say is keep your head up and hunt when you can.

RE: How do you guys keep motivated?
 

Tony, This year I haven't been going out every chance I got. I planned my trips to WI in advance and have only been in my home stand once. Sometimes you have to go away from it so you don't burn out. This is especially true now that the rut is upon us! Next year I plan to hunt less early on, stay sharp for the rut. Hey I'm going out tommorow but just for the am hunt. Next week I have 4 prime days near the Dells. Keep you chin up and don't burn out, use your time wisely and get plenty of rest,take a day off it helps.
Andy

RE: How do you guys keep motivated?
 

That did it for me. Thanks Greg.

Ialways tell myself," he could be there today and I need to be there too."

RE: How do you guys keep motivated?
 

All you have to do is read GregH's profile, and look at the deer he just smoked. It will motivate!!!!!!!!!!!!!

RE: How do you guys keep motivated?
 

I stay motivated by knowing that if I don't take down the big one I'm after, I know the shotgunners will!!!

RE: How do you guys keep motivated?
 

I'm motivated by what HUNTING has taught me, what I can learn....what my father taught me through it and what I get to teach and share with my kids, family, my friends here at HNI and even my students.

I have andfeel an ingrained need to provide for my family. Hunting provides some of the bestnutrients known to man....especially in todaysfast food,unhealthy food, easy access/obese society.

I like living simple, gathering from the land whetherit befrom agarden oran animal harvestetc. Hunting is a huge part of that. I have a couple fancy named degree's that I earned in college...they both involved science, the funny thing is, theyconfirm why wildlife management and over all social, physical and emotional health arepositively effectedby hunting.

A huge motive for me is also that I love to hunt old smart bucks for the "challenge". I need challenges inlife or I get bored. I have never been bored with whitetails, I will die knowing I still had more to learn. Icherish that about whitetails.Other animalssomewhat motivate me...but whitetails are special. I have elk and mule deer, bear, moose, turkeys around in my hunting areas...but matching whits with what I consider the savviest critter in the woods to kill, an old whitetail deer thats seen his share of predators and humans in his day really gets me excited, daily, I never stop thinking about them.

So for me its not one thing, its a combination of motives that keeps medriving on.Heck I get as excited about finding a shed as most do when they kill a critter. I also like that I get a lot of exercise in this country from hiking...Several aspects of motivationare included....hunting proveds something I can doEVERY DAY OF THE YEAR if I choose that is whitetail related....I just love being in the mountains.

Last I feel closer to God when I am alone out hunting in the mountains..

RE: How do you guys keep motivated?
 

theres a possibility of seeing something at any time...and just seeing deer keeps me motivated. any extended time you have available is an oppertunity for u to get ur deer. and put up a pic when u get it. i have faith

RE: How do you guys keep motivated?
 

Bob I am speechless Thank You, Thank You, Thank You

Jeff Welcome back buddy.

Greg Thank You, I will be walking around with wood for awhile. Thank YOUUU

Troy Amen pal, Thank You

Everyone, Well put and I will tell you this we have a bunch of special guys n gals here on this site and it cant be beat! What the heck do I have to be down about. Thank You ALL!

First but not last I thank my family, I got everything, no reason to be down

Lets go Huntin

RE: How do you guys keep motivated?
 

One other thing is I need to start having this back in my bed for awhile. ;):D (Home bed)