Is That All There is to Season?

Now, here’s question : if you’re down to a doe tag, and you know you’re probably going to see a shootable doe, then what?

What happens when there’s no more “WOW” left in the season?

Here are the options I’ve tried:

1) Stay home. Bummer. Season ends to soon.
2) Go out, but don’t carry a weapon. There’s another name for it: hiking. Again, bummer. I could join the Sierra Club and eat granola too.
3) Go out, carry a weapon, but don’t shoot anything until the last possible moment, or not at all. It’s a little hard to get used to. My friend Beryl does it too. Things get very existential up in the treestand.
4) Bring a camera. I really need a different lens to do it justice, but here is what I did last year: Eye Candy

I’m open to other ideas. I guess this is what they refer to as becoming a Sportsman, that highest evolution of the hunter. I guess I have progressed through the other three phases of our hunting career (shooter, methodist, trophy-addict) and have reached my pinnacle.

I say “Phooey!!!”

I want to go back to being the naked ape in the treestand. This sportsman stuff makes my brain hurt.

I want my Jon-ee Handwarmer back, and I want to believe the secret deer lure will work
I want to have serious discussions about whether last year’s camo pattern is now outdated
I want to see a doe and know there’s a buck back there somewhere pushing her out ahead with his antlers to see what lies beyond
I want to believe all the deer are hiding just across the neighbor’s fence
I want to fidget. I want to have deer bust me from looking at my watch too often.
When a little basket shows up, I want the treestand to shake. I want the crosshairs to dance again.

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