If many of you are like me, you are currently caught in a transition period between wrapping up your fishing season and beginning to focus on what hunting adventures the early fall may bring. Like many people in the outdoors there is not one type of hunting or fishing that I focus on or consider my favorite. Although I do spend the largest quantity of my time targeting the elusive whitetail, there is not a species of animal that I don't want to pursue with either a bow or a fishing rod. However, for every season of the year there is a certain species or tactic that I like to make my focal point. It is at this point of the year, early fall, that I find myself trapped between the excitement of the bass and redfish bite and the thoughts of pursuing 'ole mossback' through the forest with the stick and string. Besides the amazing October fishing in Louisiana and deer season ramping up there is one thing that I cannot seem to get out of my mind, duck hunting. When I first moved to Louisiana seven years ago I though people were crazy for giving up perfectly good whitetail season to try and shoot a few birds. Why would anyone want to spend a morning shooting a three pound bird when I can chase down one hundred and fifty pound fur bearers that could yield me fifty pounds of choice red meat? It did not take me long to realize what all of the hype was about. There is a camaraderie in the duck blind that cannot be recreated in any other type of hunting. Unlike most big game hunting duck hunters are able to cut up and talk without the worry of spooking animals. I have even experienced a few cold mornings that have been accompanied by a propane stove topped with eggs and sausage. Duck hunters, not only down south but throughout the country, are a bit of a different breed. As they say in the Wizard of Oz, a die hard duck hunter, is "a horse of a different color." Like the avid flyfisherman they rise before dawn and spend the day standing in the frigid water, lying in wait for possibly a few minutes of excitement. I am not seasoned enough to call myself a duck hunter but I do consider myself 'in traing'. Every minute I spend practicing my calling or strategizing for the next hunt is an opportunity to get ready for that moment when the next generation asks me for guidance.
No matter what your quarry, if it is an overnight trip there is going to be some type of camp atmosphere after the hunt. Camps can range from multimillion dollar lodges to a few straight wall tents around a camp fire. Though I prefer the latter any hunting camp will do just fine. There is nothing I enjoy more than the time shortly after a great hunt or a great day on the water sharing the stories of the day with those around you and the excitement of thinking about doing it all again. One thing I truly enjoy is strategizing after a failed hunt or a tough trip. I like to conceive other tactics that could improve my chances of being successful the next time around. How can I do better next time? Were we throwing the right baits? Do I need to hunt a different stand with a different wind? There is nothing more rewarding than finding the answers to these questions, turning around and having success. Like I have said numerous times before, that is the difference between the best hunters and anglers in the world and those people that consider themselves the best in the world. These professionals were not just born with great instincts and outdoor skills. They developed them over years of trial and error and learning from those that had come before them.
In summary, whatever critters you may be chasing through the woods or the streams this year, remember that being in the outdoors and following in the footsteps of your forefathers is what it's really all about. It does not matter if you are hunting the deep gorges out west for trophy muleys or chasing swamp donkeys in the lowlands of South Carolina. If you are in the woods or on the water you can always find a way to improve your skills and learn from those around you. Do not be one of the "know it all" outdoorsman that so many of us despise. Be humble, enjoy yourself and the company that you keep. Also, do not limit yourself to one species or one tactic. Enjoy the thrill of figuring out other game and the different ways to pursue them. Broaden your horizons and broaden your skillset. Make this season the most successful and most memorable few months of your life. Like I have said many times before, stay patient and stay driven.
-Good Hunting.
Congratulations to my good buddy Chad Bell who hunted countless hours during the southern Illinois rut before bagging this beautiful 4x4. This guy is a diehard hunter and a student of conservation. The hunting community cannot have enough people like him, this deer is testament to his hard work and persistance.
In summary, whatever critters you may be chasing through the woods or the streams this year, remember that being in the outdoors and following in the footsteps of your forefathers is what it's really all about. It does not matter if you are hunting the deep gorges out west for trophy muleys or chasing swamp donkeys in the lowlands of South Carolina. If you are in the woods or on the water you can always find a way to improve your skills and learn from those around you. Do not be one of the "know it all" outdoorsman that so many of us despise. Be humble, enjoy yourself and the company that you keep. Also, do not limit yourself to one species or one tactic. Enjoy the thrill of figuring out other game and the different ways to pursue them. Broaden your horizons and broaden your skillset. Make this season the most successful and most memorable few months of your life. Like I have said many times before, stay patient and stay driven.
-Good Hunting.
Congratulations to my good buddy Chad Bell who hunted countless hours during the southern Illinois rut before bagging this beautiful 4x4. This guy is a diehard hunter and a student of conservation. The hunting community cannot have enough people like him, this deer is testament to his hard work and persistance.
