Randy Posted December 15, 2007 Report Share Posted December 15, 2007 I was reading a post that Rangerclay (Joe) posted in the Deer Hunting forum entitled "The last weekend of Deer Season". It made me smile to see someone so bummed out about the end of the Season. Before I explain why it made me smile, let's sit back and think about this for a moment. What is it that each and everyone of us here at Realtree have in common? The answers simple, whether it is Whitetails, Mulies, Blacktails, Pronghorns, or Elk, we all share a love for deer and have a passion for the Outdoors. What is it about deer that intrigues us so much? Is it the challenge of the hunt? Is it the satisfaction of a perfect shot and the nurishment we receive from it? Maybe it's the adrenalin that screams though your body when you outsmart that big buck that you have spent countless hours scouting and hunting. Maybe it's a way for you to escape the everyday problems that we all have. Maybe it's just sitting back and enjoying what a beautiful job Mother Nature has done. To many of you, it's about spending time with family and friends. Everyone of us can relate to some or all of these things. We are deer hunters. So, we all know what we have in common. We all know why we deer hunt. What is it that bums us out about the end of deer season? Take a moment and sit back, close your eyes, and think about all of the days you spent in the deerstand. Some days were great, while others we would probably rather forget! One things for sure, something happened to you that brings a smile to your face. For some it might have been dropping something out of your stand and wondering, how could I be so clumsy? To others it may be putting the smackdown on a great deer with a perfect shot! Something happened. For me, one of the things that really sticks out in my mind was, I had a squirrel fall out of a tree while it was trying to jump to another branch and missed! Deer are very special creatures. Some of you may be asking, what makes them so special? I think Bill Jordan himself summed it up by saying "Family, Friends, and the Outdoors." To make things a bit easier to explain, I'm going to put a few of you "out there"! Mr. and Mrs. wtnhunt are the first to come to mind as an example of how deer hunting affects a family. I don't personally know either one of them yet, but what I do know, is that they truly love each other and enjoy spending time together sharing their passion for deer hunting. To others it may be spending time with their children or their fathers, one way or another, deer hunting affects all of our families. Friends. This is the really neat part!! LOL What are you doing right now? Reading this lame post on RT right? Sit back and get the whole picture. Why did you come to the RT forums? Let me guess? You wanted to either share a story about deer hunting or you just wanted to talk about deer hunting! So, now you've talked Deer hunting, Turkey hunting, Fishing, you've seen Andrea with a "high humidity" hair day, you've even seen a beauty pageant!! You have talked about everything that has to do with the Great outdoors and made some very special friends in the process! At this point some of you probably think "sheesh, Randy bumped his head"! Well, I may have but, the truth of the matter is, the deer brought us here. I almost get choked up thinking about Buckee's Christmas Present and some of the disabled kids that have had a chance to go to Wyoming and hunt with Stevebeilgard. How so many of you pulled together when David (Exturkinator) died in a terrible accident and raised money for his family, whether it was carving turkey calls or making arrow wraps, we have all made friends that will last a lifetime! So why do we get bummed out at the end of deer season? It's the memories, our families, our friends, (new and old) and enjoying quality time with them in a beautiful place that only Mother Nature could have created. For some of us it's the last time we will see some of our friends or family until next season. Now is the time to reflect on your season and remember everything about it, there really is so much more to it than just killing an animal. In fact, it really isn't even about the kill. It's about Family, friends, and the beautiful outdoors. So the next time you are down because the season is over, take a look at Tominator's signature. "Don't cry because it's over, smile because you were there!" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LifeNRA Posted December 15, 2007 Report Share Posted December 15, 2007 Well said! Just being there is the reason that keeps me going back out!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buckee Posted December 16, 2007 Report Share Posted December 16, 2007 What is it about deer that intrigues us so much? Is it the challenge of the hunt? Is it the satisfaction of a perfect shot and the nurishment we receive from it? Maybe it's the adrenalin that screams though your body when you outsmart that big buck that you have spent countless hours scouting and hunting. Maybe it's a way for you to escape the everyday problems that we all have. Maybe it's just sitting back and enjoying what a beautiful job Mother Nature has done. Too many of you, it's about spending time with family and friends. Everyone of us can relate to some or all of these things. We are deer hunters. ALL OF THE ABOVE, AND THEN SOME ! This is one awesome post Randy. You hit the nail on the head and drove it home as well. Very well said. "Friends, Family, and the Outdoors". Your post brings to mind not only the "Reflections of a Deer Hunter", but also the "Reflections of a Realtree forum member" for me personally. This place, that I spend a lot of time in has taught me much. Not only about hunting, but about myself and others, and I'm still learning. I think it's brought me closer to the Lord, it's allowed me to help others and its helped me out in my own time of need, both emotionally, and physically. Great post Randy;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted December 16, 2007 Report Share Posted December 16, 2007 Great post Randy. Since you mentioned my wife and I, I will say that the during part of the season certainly has its ups and downs, especially with young kids. I try not to get too bummed out about a season ending and you are so very right about it being time to reflect. Fortunately I still am able to get out after the season on deer ends here in January, do some yote hunting and then later on spring gobblers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Finn Posted December 16, 2007 Report Share Posted December 16, 2007 Great post, Randy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrswtnhunt Posted December 16, 2007 Report Share Posted December 16, 2007 Awesome post Randy. Yes, deer hunting is such a big part of our family. It gives us that special bonding time. I love taking the two older kids hunting with me, and they love going. The kids scream and shout when I say "We are having deer tenderloin for supper". Deer hunting provides me personally with "Away time". It is a chance to just sit and relax and enjoy nature. I do some of my best thinking in a deer stand. The kids love going because it gives them special one on one time with a parent. Plus, they never know what wild animal they might see. Wow, I think this is the first time I have ever cried while typing a post. Thank you Randy for reminding us all why we do what we do. Again, AWESOME post. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HuntnMa Posted December 16, 2007 Report Share Posted December 16, 2007 Being as i am one of those that didn't connect this year, i can totally relate.....i did get frustrated at times, i'd walk farther and hunt longer than anyone i know and yet they were bringing deer out....most of which were very young deer(to each thier own, but i won't do it).....my last day of hunting i decided to stalk and just enjoy myself reflecting on my hunts, i found this fallen tree laying over a creek, got out in the middle of it , water rushing under me and i got to thinking...this was beautiful...i passed on 4 lil ones, was it a mistake ? i just didn't know at this time,lol...began questioning my ethics, was i too ethical, lol....then i got to thinking about my hunts, i hunted all new areas this year, i learned so much by moving around more than usual....i saw alot of critters, deer,bobcats, squirrels, birds and a bear that climbed the tree i was in....now how often does that happen to folks hunting in Central ,Flordia....not ever, so i was/ am blessed maybe more so than the ones that took deer home.Y'all don't realize how many years i wanted to see a bear in the woods, even just a glimpse, i'd see their tracks and even got to collect one road kill one with my boss, which i don't ever suggest anyone ever do, Lord, that is one smell i will never forget, gagging, lol.....the way i look at it is, God made a choice for me, a deer or a bear....he gave me what i truly wanted down deep in my heart...maybe he'll bless me with a buck next season...then i left my tree over the creek and had a doe come in running, got her to stop, got my crosshairs on her back, just had another couple inches to go, but she bolted...it was so exciting.....thats what it is about, the experience as a whole.....the next day, i worked the check station, we always have a cook out for the hunters the last day of the hunts....we all ate, sat around and exchanged stories til about 1 in the morning.....it was great...i did kill a lil hog,bout 30 lbs.,for the cookout so i got to give a lil too, that made me feel good....so i was done being bummed..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrud Posted December 16, 2007 Report Share Posted December 16, 2007 Great post Randy! Well said! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randy Posted December 16, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 16, 2007 Wow, I think this is the first time I have ever cried while typing a post. Thank you Randy for reminding us all why we do what we do. Again, AWESOME post. Kind of feels good doesn't it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NS whitetail Posted December 16, 2007 Report Share Posted December 16, 2007 great stuff Randy ! :cool: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adjam5 Posted December 16, 2007 Report Share Posted December 16, 2007 Awesome post...really makes ya think. Family friends and the outdoors...nuff said. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randy Posted December 16, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 16, 2007 post...really makes ya think. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buckee Posted December 16, 2007 Report Share Posted December 16, 2007 Quote: Originally Posted by Adjam5 post...really makes ya think. Yep, it sure does. It makes us realize how very small a part, "killing" actually plays in Hunting. There is so much more to it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevebeilgard Posted December 17, 2007 Report Share Posted December 17, 2007 wow, randy. you really put our feelings to paper. nice post Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted December 17, 2007 Report Share Posted December 17, 2007 Surprised more people have not taken the time to read this. Well worth it, guess a little bump back to the first page might help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cinch314 Posted December 17, 2007 Report Share Posted December 17, 2007 well said!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rhine16 Posted December 17, 2007 Report Share Posted December 17, 2007 Great post Randy! Think i'll have to dig this one up and read it again after the sun goes down on January 31st. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toddyboman Posted December 17, 2007 Report Share Posted December 17, 2007 Think i'll have to dig this one up and read it again after the sun goes down on January 31st. Heck This sucker needs to be printed Very Well said!!! GREAT POST RANDY!!:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wyohunter Posted December 17, 2007 Report Share Posted December 17, 2007 awesome read, truer words have never been spoken Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randy Posted December 18, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 18, 2007 Heck This sucker needs to be printed Very Well said!!! GREAT POST RANDY!!:) LMBO!! I'll sign autographs later on this afternoon! Thanks for the kind words! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoosierbuck Posted December 18, 2007 Report Share Posted December 18, 2007 I read it, just didn't feel there needed to be anything added to it. HB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
okiedog Posted December 18, 2007 Report Share Posted December 18, 2007 Wow Randy, your a deep thinker:D. Great post my friend! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toddyboman Posted December 18, 2007 Report Share Posted December 18, 2007 LMBO!! I'll sign autographs later on this afternoon! Thanks for the kind words! I WANT ONE!!! :D:D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WVdeerhunter Posted December 21, 2007 Report Share Posted December 21, 2007 Good job Randy Thanks really helps.LOVE THE OUTDOORS:D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Southerngirl Posted December 21, 2007 Report Share Posted December 21, 2007 Great post Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.