I’ve never written something and had it come across so poorly in my life. I wasn’t thinking, I wasn’t considerate, I had a closed mind and it’s was a crappy premise to begin with. My #1 beef with the internet is that there is virtually no way (emoticons aside) to convey expressions and the mood in which somebody is saying something. I think people were chapped about me saying “dirtbag road hunter”…of course if I really thought that I wouldn’t have stopped the truck and shot the deer. I love a good road hunt, I truly do. Perhaps I didn't emphasize enough that what I was thinking about seeing whole deer was wrong thus ending my post with things like “to each their own” and “not condemning people for thinking differently than me” was supposed to implicitly imply that I was thinking all uppity but in the end people can hunt the way they want to and that’s just fine. I also tried although obviously didn’t express enough that I recognize there are hunts where you are road hunting a lot, or at least you’re on roads a lot and things happen, and there are people who can’t or don’t prefer to backpack hunt. I’ve probably told a dozen people this month that as long as you had a fun hunt that’s what it’s all about. And yes I’ve admitted that I’m an idiot and there’s no two way about it and I’m not ones for excuses, advil cold & sinus. Also I may have been fueled by the fact that this season has probably been the hardest for me as far as seeing hunters disrespect animals, the environment and the sport of hunting itself…from the usual trash on the roads to trespassers and poachers to people not having enough respect for the animal to know how to shoot their gun/bow/muzzleloader. The only place I didn’t witness these things was on a backpack hunt. However before I sentence myself to a HW ban for an indeterminate amount of time…here’s what I should have said:
I have never become so addicted to something in my life. I’m a relatively new hunter and I recently started backpack hunting. The fact that I have to get my fat butt into shape is a hindrance but the payoff when you spend one, two or four nights camping on the mountain is unlike anything else. It has become my place of refuge, not just one place but many places, any place where I sit alone on a mountain (insert “alone on the mountain” joke here) taking in the beauty of God’s country, wherever that may be. Seldom seeing another person. Almost always seeing animals. Napping against trees. Not having cell service. Eating mountain house meals that somehow taste like backstrap and potatoes after a hard day of hunting. Hunting every waking hour because you’re out there so even if you’re at camp…you’re still huntin jack. I feel like I haven’t experienced true hunting until now.
Watching and helping people take animals out on their backs, in pieces, quarters that have hung in camp for days waiting for other hunters to become successful so they might be packed with their quarter friends. A herd of quarters. Packing out camp plus meat is more weight on the way out but it’s meat that tastes like meat you've earned.
When I see people with an elk or deer rack strapped to their backpack, looking tired and emotionally and physically drained from the rollercoaster of the hunt, packing out meat and the hard work they put into it I say to myself “That is what it’s all about!!” It’s not the size of the animal at all, big or small that animal was earned and something to be proud of.
Not every hunt can be a backpack hunt and I find myself annoyed that every hunt can’t be. I don’t want to drive somewhere and hunt and come home that night. I get frustrated…but what are you gonna do not hunt your WA general season tag? Also I have a wife and family (insert “how is that possible” joke here) and I need and want to be with them so in the end every hunt shouldn’t be a backpack hunt.
But still, I wish every hunt was a backpacking hunt. It’s not about the animals; backpack hunting has made me realize that it never was about the animals…or at least it’s not anymore. It’s about being out there, surviving, being one with nature, being part of nature.
Sincerely,
Self Banned
