Big Game Hunting > Backcountry Hunting
Motivation
mjustice79:
Before I begin, I hope those that are headed out for Modern Elk are successful. I have a question for the group. How do you stay motivated to hunt? I’ve lived in WA for 6 years and hunted for 4. The last animal in shot was in GA In 2012. In the past I’ve hunted JBLM, and last year I started hunting Elbe Hills State Forest in GMU 654. Did an overnight in Col Bob at the beginning of the season, nothing. I see animals in the summer, then when the season rolls around, nothing. I’m retired, a full time college student, stay at home dad, and all three boys play sports. So taking off to the woods for more than 3 days at most really isn’t an option. I read on this forum and others where the place to hunt seems to be the east side. Personally, I’m in the camp of if I do that, I may as well just save my money and hire a guide in ID, MT, or CO. I’ve reached out asked for advice/mentorship and typically I get some smart ass remarks. I get it, lots of hunters small state. Although, on this particular Backcountry forum, I’ve received encouragement. I put in time, I don’t ride the roads. I don’t like paying and hoping I’ll get drawn just so I can hunt both sides of the state for elk, or able to hunt September to December for deer. Usually I killed a deer every year when I started, to when I came back from Europe in 05. Usually a doe or small buck. I’m somewhat optimistic for next year, looking at backpacking into Goat Rocks Wilderness for archery. Honestly I’m at a crossroads to keep hunting, or just stop all together. What are y’alls thoughts? Sorry for the long thread.
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jackelope:
I don’t base my success on killing animals personally. I’m not an extremely successful hunter but I’ve had some amazing experiences with friends and family in some really cool places. I love to kill deer but that’s not what it’s all about for me. If I do, it’s icing on the cake. I’ve also decided I’m not interested in shooting small deer or young deer anymore either so there’s that, and that adds to the difficulty. I spent the first 10 years hunting here in Washington hunting private farm land in deer central and we killed a lot of deer which was great, but I never experienced hunting public land or backcountry wilderness areas which is what I really love to do. I’m trying to learn that now. It’s tough, but it’s worth it for me just to experience that type of country.
mjustice79:
That’s part of it too. I’m already a hiker/backpacker, so I’m able to go see some pretty cool places that doesn’t require me to pay for a license. I’m not even seeing animals that I saw in the summer months.
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ghosthunter:
I don’t kill anything some years but cannot wait to go. I would go with others even if I were not hunting.
This year we opted out of elk hunting. So I left for modern deer on Oct. 3 and didn’t come back till Oct. 23.
Never fired my gun. Had a great time. Spent my first week cutting wood for the three wood stoves and driving new areas. Love using the Rhinos. You got to have more interest than just the animals.
I have turkey hunted 10 years never killed one. Love to go. See turkeys, call them, get them in sometimes never kill one. Every year I say I am not going than somebody shows up and says let’s go. And I say ok.
I think it’s the quiet times that lure me back every year.
mjustice79:
--- Quote from: mjustice79 on November 02, 2019, 11:37:54 AM ---
--- Quote from: ghosthunter on November 02, 2019, 11:16:54 AM ---I don’t kill anything some years but cannot wait to go. I would go with others even if I were not hunting.
This year we opted out of elk hunting. So I left for modern deer on Oct. 3 and didn’t come back till Oct. 23.
Never fired my gun. Had a great time. Spent my first week cutting wood for the three wood stoves and driving new areas. Love using the Rhinos. You got to have more interest than just the animals.
I have turkey hunted 10 years never killed one. Love to go. See turkeys, call them, get them in sometimes never kill one. Every year I say I am not going than somebody shows up and says let’s go. And I say ok.
I think it’s the quiet times that lure me back every year.
--- End quote ---
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--- End quote ---
My son and I went turkey hunting around Addy in 2014 on my friends place. Had a blast!! That’s beautiful country up there! He has since sold it and moved back to Texas. Kinda wishing I had bought it lol! I think you and Jackelope are right though. I may have to just use it as an excuse to keep adventuring in the backcountry for longer periods of time. Thanks for the response.
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