Something GMMAT said in another thread got me thinking. For those of you that are able to hunt a ton of hours during your season, does it get to the point of becoming like "work"? Do you become so obsessed with it that you find yourself losing some of your enthusiasm everytime you head to your stand? If so do you actually think it effects your hunting? Not as in tune to your surroundings? Not as focussed as opening day?

I'm fortunate enough to be able to hunt everyday during the season. And I have and will in any type of conditions. I'll be honest, somedays I drag myself out there and it seems like work. It becomes physically and mentally taxing on the body.Sometimes the excitement and anticipation just arent' there when I get up in the morning to head to the woods. Most days are different though and I'm just as pumped as opening day. Just wondering what your thoughts are on this.

I've felt the exact same way this year.

Sometimes it does since i have gone 2 years on stand (over 70 sits) without killing a buck. But i always end up having good hunts that bring all the enthusiasm right back (even if i dont kill a deer).

For me it never really does.

I love the work I have to put into it.. and simply crave to learn more about these whitetail I hunt. I am truly fascinated by them.

I havent got to that point yet. it only took me 5 trys this year. i hope i never do, i guess i never get that way because if i dont want to go deer hunting i dont go. i also dont try to put alot of pressure on my self to kill the biggest deer. and kind of what Simon said i enjoy the hunt when i just see a deer.

I wish I could do it everyday, all day. Can someone pay me to do this? I love it and it consumes me so much I may need professional help..... I think it they could sellit in a can or bag, I would be so broke....

Well if it ever seems like work it's a better kind of work than the work I get paid for. Sometimes when I'm not seeing much for a few days I wonder what I'm doing out here but than I think this is better than anything else I could be doing.

I have 4 weeks of vacation and Sat. and Sun. each week to hunt my best spots. I can hunt close to home in the evenings and on short sits. Saying all that, I still wish I had more time to be in the woods. I just can not get enough of it. Just being out there is, to me, my "peace" of every year.

LT

I have a seasonal job, where I have off all winter. I've been hunting 3-4, maybe 5 times a week. And everytime I go into the woods I'm excited! Because I know, that I have no idea what's going to happen, the unkown if you will. I may not see nothing....I may see 20 that day. I love it! I get juiced up even when I see a doe! It feels nothing like work to me. Many days I can afford not to be in the woods, due to uncooperating weather or what have you. But, I enjoy being in the woods away from everyone and everything. Solitude and peace.

No work here just enjoyin' life and doin' what I want to do.

Over the years I've trained myself not to get "burnt out", if you will. During the years where I have hunted so much that I was becoming weary, I noticed that I was making small mistakes and being a bit sloppy. The mistakes were small enough that it didn't cost me anything, but a few were close. So for the last 5 years or so I've become better at staying focused for the entire season. I've hunted quite a bit this year and have managed to stay sharp and focused for every hunt. Having confidence and a positive attitude are the major factors that help me achieve this state.