10 Lessons from the season
Each year I enjoy looking back and reflecting on the lessons from the season. While the goal of a hunt is to fill your tag, so much more goes on to one’s mind, body and spirit while in pursuit of wild animals. Below are 10 lessons from my 2024 season that I would like to share with you!
Patience allows space for growth, new opportunities and for the chance to reflect. Both in life and in hunting patience is always a struggle, but when we trust and lean into it that's when the magic happens.
Trust your intuition. The majority of my hunts this year had no plan rather trusting what I know and what was being presented in front of me. Choosing to listen to that very quiet and subtle voice in my head took away the stress of finding the animals or giving opportunity to my clients. Like a wild animal on a game trail I navigated the unknown naturally and effortlessly. While guiding on public land which we all know has challenges of its own, I was able to give each of my clients an opportunity to fill their tag all because I trusted my intuition.
I am not here to prove anything to anyone. I am here to share my purpose; sharing wild places with others.
Mid day hunting can be just as good as mornings and evenings. I shot my cow this year around noon, and several times guiding had elk in close during the middle of the day. (Story about this coming to the series soon!)
Making the decision to guide part time this year elevated my hunting experiences as I was able to hunt more with my friends. The memories we shared on the mountain have my cup overflowing. These are the moments that deepen friendships as the mountain forces us to be present.
Don’t let a missed opportunity on an animal dictate the attitude of the rest of your hunt. You never know when another opportunity will present itself.
You only need one. Just because there isn’t a lot of sign doesn’t necessarily mean there are not animals in the area. Sometimes a lone bull or mature mule deer buck is living in the area you are hunting, and they leave a lot less sign then a herd of 15 elk. Knowing where and what to look for can lead to a successful hunt vs passing up an area.
Affirmation: You left behind what was not serving you, and while seeing it face to face once again, your body reminds you of who you used to be, not who you are now.
Be a part of that small percentage of hunters who keep pushing when their mind and body is doing everything to tell them to stop.
When sitting in a ground blind make sure your shot can clear the blind. Just because your view through your scope/pins is clear doesn’t mean your arrow is. When I shot my buck my arrow hit the blind, all it needed was half an inch, if even, to clear the blind. I was confused on why my shot wasn’t great and later I realized it was due to not having clearance. This also is true for sitting in a natural blind, make sure there are no branches, bushes or sticks that will cause your arrow to deflect.
I hope you were able to take away some of the lessons I shared from the season. I find power in reflection equating to becoming a better hunter.
The 2024 Hunting Story Series will continue on every Monday of each week until I run out of stories/lessons to share! With that being said, I want to hear from you! What type of reading content are you looking for / enjoy reading? Would you like more content related to gear, training, strategies, etc? Please let me know in the form below.