The end. It’s over. She gone. 2020 and the congruent hunting season is, for most of us, done. If not, it is waning quickly. So, it is the natural time to reflect. Find what worked, what didn’t, and how to move forward with that knowledge now in-tow. What measure of a writer would I be if I didn’t give an introspective look on what happened to me in 2020, and what I look forward to taking into 2021. I am sure that I will find more specific tactics, stories, and life lessons as we move on through the year, but the number one take away is simply this. Do it.
Want to hunt in a state or terrain you’ve never hunted in before? Do it. Want to try and become an outdoor writer? Do it. Want to start a podcast, YouTube show, or anything for that matter? Do it! Set lofty goals and don’t be afraid of failure. Do your best and take every opportunity to get better. These were and are my goals, and I’m giving my all. I’m learning a lot about my work ethic, my ability to get things done, and my capacity to still be able to learn new things. 2020 was the year I took the plunge and made this website, this blog, learned how to video edit, and even learned to Tiktok. 2021 is going to be an onslaught of even more new things. Filming hunts, recording a podcast, trying to get one leg closer to my turkey Grand Slam, and the big one in September, my first elk hunt. I’m not sharing this for any reason other than to keep myself accountable, and to encourage you to find something you’ve always wanted to do and go do it. No matter what it is.
Most of my lofty 2021 goals deal with growing this platform, but the hunting goals for this year are: public land Osceola turkeys, and elk, the latter being the more daunting of the two.
The challenge in the turkeys is familiar. I just have to overcome those familiar challenges in an unfamiliar place. Which, if you are looking to ease into hunting in a new area, that’s my advice on how to do it. Familiar challenges, in unfamiliar places. Of course, we all know from growing up sometimes the quickest way to get used to the water is to dive in headfirst. That’s what I’ll be doing with elk hunting.
I have ZERO experience, and I have no clue what I’m doing, but that is not going to stop me from loading up my backpack and heading off after a bull. I’m honestly not even worried about killing one. Success, for this hunt, is just the fact that I am out doing it. With no giant check written to an outfitter needed. Sitting on top of a ridge and living the dream. The dream of a 10-year-old kid. One who is at home on a Sunday night and watching the only 3 hunting shows that exist. When all of a sudden, a screaming bull comes ripping through the aspens and through a 19-inch Mitsubishi television straight into my family’s living room. That kid would be stoked to just find me out there.
Perhaps I have been looking at success all wrong. We have touted success as punched tags, a certain number inched trophy, or even in burgers on the grill. When the real success was just the act of going and doing! I might be handing myself a participation trophy here, but that’s how I feel. Trying is the success, not trying is the only way to fail.
Who knows what will happen? Maybe nothing. Maybe something, but I’m doing it.
So, go find something you want that seems out of reach. Work toward it. Even if you don’t get all the way there this year, you’re that much closer for next year.
What’s on your list?
A Day in the Field 