I COMPLETELY understand the desire, even the need, to do DIY hunts....I would be lost without the satisfaction, solace, and time for reflection that mine provide. However, as I am now within 2 years of the thirtieth anniversary of my thirtieth birthday, I note that my definition of "hardcore" just isn't what it used to be.
I am starting to gravitate towards hunts that allow me to share some quick wit, outstanding humor, and endless ball breaking...in addition to the hunting experience. I was wondering where some of the rest of you line up on this topic....and feel free to share some specific stories....
I mean....there is a thread about 1/2 racks on here right now....so I shared a comment about a taxidermy mount that was actually quite clever.....and fearless Lefemine posts........ "Jake, stay off the mushrooms. ;-) Mounting a deer head in half on a mirror is just too weird. I wouldn't know whether to admire him or start shaving."
I look forward to sharing camps with fellow bowhunters more and more these days....but when Ned Greer is in camp, always try to steer the conversation towards Cornfields....and that is all that I am going to say!!! LOL!!
Banter, it's what's for breakfast!!
I remember reading a recent where HUNT MAN's sense of humor was referred to.....personally, I subscribe to the "if you didn't post it on Bowsite, it didn't happen" theory....
In case you are wondering, that is your queue....
One step closer to admitting you guys were a little more than scared to go on that elephant bow hunt. Good luck.
To me the camp camaraderie is one of my favorite aspects of hunting. Those moments around a campfire or sitting around a table and the jokes, stories, and laughs that come with it are what I remember most about hunting. I've met some great folks hunting who I'm great friends with, and we text and joke almost daily and they all stem from some experience in camp...and needless to say they all rip on me for trying to pass myself off as a bad ass lone wolf haha
The question asked was: What next?? His answer, "Hunt the species I enjoy the most with the friends I enjoy the most".
Makes a lot of sense to us as we get some age on us! Take great photo's! C
PS: I still love the "loner" hunts where I call my own shots and can do what ever I want:)
I don't have any thin skinned hunting buddies. That type wouldn't last long in our camp.
I like camp, hanging with the boys is fun. But honestly not why I'm there. And like Justin I enjoy the solitude very much. I'm there to hunt. That is the focus, the purpose. Seems all I think about.
But OTOH I can see priorities changing when a hunter has pretty much conquered all his wishes, scaled every mountain, done every adventure, taken all the game few could ever dream of.... well, yeah, I can certainly see the focus changing at some point.
Well.... that and getting old.... heheheheheh.... (looking down the barrel of 60 as well Jake....)
I imagine it's much easier for Bigdan, with 50+ elk and a 400 on the wall, to let bulls walk many of us would hyperventilate about. As well as enjoy some company at his hunting cabin that he might have run out of camp in the past. =D
You couldn't let it go, could you?!! LOL!! THAT is what I am talking about!! Good stuff....
This was taken last month on an overnight hunt, believe it or not, in Southern California. My brother and I had just climbed 2500 ft to crest a ridge where we would camp. There were 50 mph winds and the clouds were so dense that we were soaked from the moisture blown on to us by the wind. At 7k ft, it was 35 degrees, we were drenched, cold, and glassing deer wasn't a high likelihood with about 50-60 yards of visability.
I can't post what I said here that had my brother laughing as Bowsite has rules against my level of vulgarity, but IMO, the more unpleasant conditions get, the more a heavy dose of humor is indicated.
I've loved the couple solo western trips I've taken. . .
I've loved the western trips I've taken with a good buddy and all the hunts, fishing trips, etc. that we've been involved in. . .
It's all good. Lots of guys on here I'm sure would be a blast to hunt with and/or share camp with.
Hoping to kill some turkeys with one or two come spring. . . if Treeman doesn't punk out and work on his house instead. . .
Bake
You have started some great threads!
At 55 the camaraderie is much more important now. I have always liked to hunt alone; however, the last 4 years my brother has been coming from Atlanta to my farm in MO. The abuse we give each other is the best part of the hunt, and the hunt I look most forward to each year now.
This year I took a mature doe being followed by a buck with my bow on Friday before rifle began on Saturday. On Saturday morning my brother took the buck while I was sitting in the blind with him, at only 35 yards. He hunts with rifle. He was in the middle of a serious childhood story I had forgotten when I told him "shut up and shoot this buck now". He never paused but had the buck on the ground in 5 seconds or less. We laughed so hard and I changed the story to our family that I told my brother to quit crying about no one loving him when he were younger and just shoot this deer already or shoot me to get me out of my misery. The busting chops was legendary, just like when we were kids. I cannot wait until next year!
I have three other guys that go regularly to my farm, including my brother-in-law. They are all great guys. We needle each other all of the time, but really pull together when someone had an experience that was not good. I would have to say the people now are much more important than the hunt itself. My only regret is that I did not recognize this sooner!
Thanks.
I have to have fun with the hunts, cause I can't seem to kill too much, gotta get my money's worth some how ;)
--Jim
But I also love a low stress hunt like Texas whitetails where there is lots of opportunity, good weather, good friends, bad jokes and a bottomless cooler of beer.
Gotta have both in my book. Take this stuff too seriously and you are missing the point.
She could be on to something....
Fellowship with the right people makes all the difference. Jake, I cannot imagine the camp that wouldn't benefit from you in it.
Now I'm 60 and not living in that jet-set world anymore. I've found I love the solitude, freedom, and self-reliance that comes with adventuring alone. I enjoy my own company.
Don't get me wrong - I enjoy camaraderie and bantering as much as anyone, but I'm becoming much more introspective as I grow older. It's not for want of friends or companionship - I have plenty of pals and enjoy their company.
There are many Bowsiters I'd love to share a camp with. Probably will in the next few years. But this experience of scouting and hunting alone almost nonstop since mid-summer has been perhaps my most enjoyable season ever. I caught myself constantly smiling, and don't have to worry about anyone else's moods, idiosyncrasies, conflicts, or managing personalities.
Call it selfish. Or perhaps a different level of self-actualization. But it's been creeping up on me for a number of years and I finally acknowledged and accepted it. My wife saw it coming and actually encouraged this aberrant behavior, so long as I check in with her on the SPOT every evening.
Jake, we should discuss this in Phoenix. Perhaps I need counseling. :)
I believe you hunt alone TBM....I just don't believe it's your choice. ..
where is the fourth quarter? Does the guy way in back have it? I don't see a leg sticking out of his pack.....LOL
I haven't shared many hunting camps, but I have done a few fishing camps. For the veterans, it is a right of passage to bust balls of everyone, especially the young pups. Just the way it should be!
You nailed it right here Mike.
TBM. Most of us have deduced that from most of your posts. That probably works out best for you anyway. ;-)
Cut those darn things off!
That was the second trip out from 2 elk shot that morning
Idyl
We didn't have all that far to pack that meat.
However, there are a few outings that lend themselves to spending time with buddies while the hunt is actually in progress which can be a hoot as well.
Caribou, varmints, fishing, etc. come to mind.
Truth is, I have one friend I try to hunt every year with. We can make each other laugh, for sure, but it seems like a lot of times our hunts are more like therapy after a tough year. It's definitely about the hunt, we both like to kill things a lot- but more and more it's about freaking out together about what the last year has dealt us.
On the other hand, I try to hunt with my kids a lot too, which now is a teaching experience. I'm hoping that when I'm old, that will turn into a "take care of the old man and park his carcass where he might see a big deer" experience.
If I am going to hunt with someone during the day I much prefer to be coaching a new hunter or girl or boy to his/her 1st turkey, deer or bear. Some of my friend's kids say I get more excited then them when they put an arrow into something!
We used to have an old hand grenade (sans explosives) from an army navy store attached to a rope. It was nicely painted for the wearer so it would build pride and happiness when they looked at it. Whoever last missed had to carry that dang thing in an obvious manner while hunting so that anyone who saw them would see it.
Gotta love the kindness of friends :)
Keep the stories coming!
I still remember hunting with Pat Lefemine one year....he was hunting over a decoy. We both decided to come out of the woods for lunch that day, instead of hunting all day long. As we pulled up near where he was hunting, we look out into the field where he had placed his deer decoy....and the decoy had an Obama mask on its head!!....and it hadn't stopped deer from coming in, either!!
Life is too short to take it too seriously.
Lots of things about hunting camps that aren't like the real world....one of the few places farting isn't just accepted, it can be a competitive event.....
LOL, that can be the kitchen table at our house, and I have girls!
We have a deers butt mounted on a plaque at our camp and any miss or "shot and no got" goes on the board. It is quite the ritual as we all get to razz the lucky recipient while we place their name up over breakfast or dinner.
Unfortunately, I had a struggle at 27 yards a couple days this year, but recovered nicely with four straight kills since.
It wouldn't be the same without the board.
I've been fighting a case of target panic that I need to cure this winter. I'm calm, cool and collected right up until the time I put the pin on an animal and then I just punch the trigger...
