tgreeno wrote:
Because in no way is anything I do hunting related considered "work" by me! It's a passion, and I fully enjoy every second I spend in the outdoors! The time I put into hunting, is so polar opposite of what I would consider a job, I'm not ever sure how that comparison relates?
So to those, that feel sorry for me because of all the "effort" I put in during the year towards my hunting, Don't! I love every second or I wouldn't be doing it! Being in the outdoors relaxes me and revitalizes me.
This was not meant to be an argument about outfitters. It was about how all of us with different views on "how to hunt", can relate to each other and still enjoy the same sport. Just because my views are different than yours, doesn't mean either of them are wrong or right. They're just different!
This is so true. I recall a few years ago when I was a new bow hunter I was reading everything I could get my hands on. Long and the short of it was it sounded like an insane amount of effort and certainly some luck went into consistently killing good bucks and it largely seemed overwhelming. I certainly had some second thoughts about how serious I wanted to take bow hunting.
Then, over the years I find myself not looking at it as work or effort or wasted time and energy spent hiking miles in the off season, scouting, shed hunting, etc. It's on my mind most of the time, I'm almost more excited for scouting and shed hunting season because of what I can learn and find for next fall. Truly the journey started to become more important than the destination so to speak.
I think if you're hiring a guide you loose a bit of that but getting out of province/state to hunt is a different kind of journey in and of itself. Search for experiences that make you happy, proud and excited. On top of that, ones that challenge you to learn and grow as a hunter and as a person. That's what I find the most rewarding. Oh ya and the freezer full of meat and some big antlers ain't bad either if you're so lucky.
Most of all if you're not having fun why are you out there?