Lessons Learned 2014

[Odell]

Great thread, I learned a few things just in reading it. For me, the major takeaway from my hunt this year was something I should have known going in but didn't think of and that is the importance of practice. Back when I played sports the whole point of practice was to simulate game conditions. So you might sprint down and back twice and then shoot free throws. A bit harder when your heart is racing, just like a game.

Scouting trips for me were always either same day or overnight. Then I went on a 6 day hunt. I wasn't prepared for how much more difficult it would be. There is a cumulative effect of tiredness that just wore me out. If I had done a few 3 day trips at least I would have been better prepared. I was thinking it was kind of like preparing to run a marathon by jogging 2 miles every day.

And then secondly is more philosophical but something we all learned in High School lit classes from Polonius…"to thy own self be true." We hear about how hard people are pushing themselves to do extreme backcountry hunts and that is great. I learned I like it, but after 4 days it just wasn't fun for me anymore. It became grueling work and I was getting out of my sleeping bag and I was miserable. Maybe I need more experience. Maybe I need to toughen up. Or maybe I enjoy sleeping in one morning and doing nothing around camp. And that's ok. This isn't Cameron Hanes hunt, it's mine. Sure I might not fill my tag (I didn't) but the mentality of "leave it all on the mountain" will look different for everybody. It's your hunt. Enjoy it how you want. Understand yourself, and your limits and then making a hunt plan around them that is suited to you will make your hunt more enjoyable and probably more successful.

[ctwiggs1]

And then secondly is more philosophical but something we all learned in High School lit classes from Polonius…"to thy own self be true." We hear about how hard people are pushing themselves to do extreme backcountry hunts and that is great. I learned I like it, but after 4 days it just wasn't fun for me anymore. It became grueling work and I was getting out of my sleeping bag and I was miserable. Maybe I need more experience. Maybe I need to toughen up. Or maybe I enjoy sleeping in one morning and doing nothing around camp. And that's ok. This isn't Cameron Hanes hunt, it's mine. Sure I might not fill my tag (I didn't) but the mentality of "leave it all on the mountain" will look different for everybody. It's your hunt. Enjoy it how you want. Understand yourself, and your limits and then making a hunt plan around them that is suited to you will make your hunt more enjoyable and probably more successful.

Great point

[wooltie]

Pushing a mountain bike + trailer up 4000' sucks.

[Oldguy]

I got one - if you bought new sleeping bag ,make sure you'll fit in it .

Or in my case, make sure to take it with you on a four day canoe trip.

[UBA]

Bring A little thing of goldbond

  Also I found this year that hitting some problem areas with Bag Balm in the morning is a great preventative maintenance plan for chaffing.  Sounds funny but chaffing bad can sure take your mind off of a hunt in a hurry.

 

Blue goldbond for the feet only!!!!!  Really helps keeping the feet dry and blister free. Also helps a bit with hot spots. After a week of up down and side hilling even the best boots tear you feet up.

[7mag.]

Great thread, I learned a few things just in reading it. For me, the major takeaway from my hunt this year was something I should have known going in but didn't think of and that is the importance of practice. Back when I played sports the whole point of practice was to simulate game conditions. So you might sprint down and back twice and then shoot free throws. A bit harder when your heart is racing, just like a game.

Scouting trips for me were always either same day or overnight. Then I went on a 6 day hunt. I wasn't prepared for how much more difficult it would be. There is a cumulative effect of tiredness that just wore me out. If I had done a few 3 day trips at least I would have been better prepared. I was thinking it was kind of like preparing to run a marathon by jogging 2 miles every day.

And then secondly is more philosophical but something we all learned in High School lit classes from Polonius…"to thy own self be true." We hear about how hard people are pushing themselves to do extreme backcountry hunts and that is great. I learned I like it, but after 4 days it just wasn't fun for me anymore. It became grueling work and I was getting out of my sleeping bag and I was miserable. Maybe I need more experience. Maybe I need to toughen up. Or maybe I enjoy sleeping in one morning and doing nothing around camp. And that's ok. This isn't Cameron Hanes hunt, it's mine. Sure I might not fill my tag (I didn't) but the mentality of "leave it all on the mountain" will look different for everybody. It's your hunt. Enjoy it how you want. Understand yourself, and your limits and then making a hunt plan around them that is suited to you will make your hunt more enjoyable and probably more successful.

Well said, I agree.

[Jarhead Chase]

Make sure the para cord you carry is small enough to be used as emergency shoe/boot laces!

I lace my boots with 550 cord before I head out, and I always leave them extra long in case I need cord for anything. It'll never break, and it's always with me.

[Doc Sauce]

tagged

[Brad Harshman]

How about keeping you keys for your rig someplace very very safe. Getting back to the truck thinking your going home but your not can be a real bummer. Never loose your keys in the field!!!

I lost my keys this year.  Not fun at all.

[bowtechian]

Make sure your trusty ole hunting boots haven't shrunk up on you!! Had my danners fit a lil tight ended up putting on 8 miles that day my feet paid for it! Tag soup that yr & beat up feet to remember it by   

[JamesK.]

I consider baby wipes and gold bond a first aid kit in itself. I Never backpack without


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[coldsteel3d]

Make sure not to clip your toenails too short right before you take off. You know this already if you've ever done it, and you won't do it again!

[coldsteel3d]

Also, pack a full days worth of food for the day you plan on hiking out. A buddy and I were hunting in Nevada a few years ago and were planning on hiking out to our base camp onI believe the fifth morning so we only had breakfast packed with us for that day, well one bull led to another and we kept getting sidetracked and before we knew it we hadn't had anything to eat since we woke up and ate breakfast that morning and we were rolling into base camp at 10:30-11:00 that night, and man we were starving! The plan was to wake up and eat, quick morning hunt on our hike in the direction of base camp but we took the long way back!