The Waiting Game...

It's that time of year again. It's the unofficial start of summer and the lull before deer season. I was never a fan of this time of year, and previously, I didn't make the best use of my time before opening day of bow season. As I grew older, I found new activities to help prepare for bow season, and occupy my time during the lull of summer months. Scouting and setting up tree stands is critical during this time of year. It's very important to have those stands in place well before bow season opens. Placing tree stands in your hunting area now doesn't have as much of an impact on deer sanctuaries than it would a week or so before the season. Clearing shooting lanes early on will help minimize scent dispersion, and the deer will become accustomed to minor changes in their habitat well before opening day.

Finally, setting up and checking trail cameras in your hunting area is a tactic hunters need to take advantage of more. I set mine up where I know the deer are transitioning to and from feeding and bedding areas. Knowing the quality and quantity of deer in your hunting grounds is beneficial for preparation going into a new hunting season. By viewing the deer on a trail camera first hand, it gives me reasonable expectations of what caliber of deer I can hope to hunt. Going into bow season, I select a few bucks that I am willing to harvest. I wouldn't have this valuable information unless I had trail cameras out and running during the summer months. Plus, it's fun to see the growth period of a buck's antlers. So, if you are counting down the days to the opening day of bow season (3 months 30 days to Maine bow season) then use your time wisely and have fun with it.

Why Do I Hunt?

I have been posed with this question at least a hundred times over the course of my life. For me, there isn't a single reason why I hunt. There are many reasons why non-hunters do not understand why I hunt, but for the sake of this argument, I will share the most important reasons for me. The number one reason why I started hunting was to be closer with my father after the death of my older brother. We have become really close, and I can truly say hunting has brought us together in the hardest moment of our lives. We haven't been able to hunt together as of late due to my service in the Air Force, but we plan on hunting in Maine and are planning a week long trip to Pennsylvania this coming fall.

Another important reason why I hunt is the distance I can put myself from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. It's an amazing stress reliever for me. The challenge of bow hunting and perfecting my shot is another great reason why I hunt. To make a lethal shot with a bow at a deer is a test of patience, dedication, accuracy, and many more qualities an archer must possess. Any deer I shoot with my bow is a trophy in my eyes. Game management is another reason why hunting is important to me.  It serves as a great tool for conservation. Keeping the population in check helps to make sure various species stay balanced. The last reason I hunt is because the venison is absolutely delicious! If you have never tried venison, then you are truly missing out. If prepared correctly, it will match any cut of beef out there.

This isn't a post to convert non-hunters to hunters. I firmly believe hunting isn't for everybody. Trust me, I have seen people in the woods who do not belong there, but that is an argument for another day. My objective here is to educate non-hunters of the benefits the hunting community can offer. I hope this has helped.