So how do you get fired up to go hunt?

nv-hunter

Veteran member
Feb 28, 2011
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Reno
So how do you fire up to go hunt? I mean when you just really don't feel it. I've got a really good late season deer tag and a week off plus my son has a tag and just with vehicle issues and his school ( you know life crap) can't find the drive to even really want to go. Any ideas?
 

ScottR

Eastmans' Staff / Moderator
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Feb 3, 2014
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Last minute panic usually....

Where did I put this, where did I put that..


All that goes away by the time I get to the trailhead.
 

Gr8bawana

Veteran member
Aug 14, 2014
2,670
604
Nevada
I've been hunting for big game since 1974 when I turned 12 years old and I've never needed anything to get me fired up for a hunt. I'm even fired up when I just go along to help on someone else's hunt.
 

kidoggy

Veteran member
Apr 23, 2016
9,847
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idaho
I've been hunting for big game since 1974 when I turned 12 years old and I've never needed anything to get me fired up for a hunt. I'm even fired up when I just go along to help on someone else's hunt.

I've gotten to the point I would just as soon guide someone then hunt myself. and I actually kind of enjoy being the pack mule when they score.

still like to kill stuff but love being there when a newbie gets his first , deer, elk,goat,.......
 

nv-hunter

Veteran member
Feb 28, 2011
1,587
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Reno
I've gotten to the point I would just as soon guide someone then hunt myself. and I actually kind of enjoy being the pack mule when they score.

still like to kill stuff but love being there when a newbie gets his first , deer, elk,goat,.......
Thats me i enjoy spending time with friends and family. Love camp cooking and just relaxing. However this year my plans kinda fell through as my kids have had thing come up at school and work and wont be able to join me. The buddies i hunt with used their time on a cow hunt a couple weeks ago so they are out. Just not looking forward to the trip by myself.
 

Timberstalker

Veteran member
Feb 1, 2012
2,242
6
Bend, Or
I am feeling the same way this year, I really haven't been fired up at all. I'm hunting general season in Oregon, not much to get fired up about...
Started a new job that has been very good and demanding so hunting is not as important to me this year. Maybe I will draw a good tag next year somewhere to get me fired up again.
If I had a good tag with a family member I would be fired up for sure.
 

Colorado T

Active Member
Aug 28, 2011
455
114
Littleton, CO
I have definitely been there when work or family has taken priority and it seems more of a hassle to go hunting. I have found that if I push myself to go I usually am happy that I did and like Scott said above all of that goes away once you are on the mountain. Hope you find the drive to go and have a good, safe trip.
 

CoHiCntry

Veteran member
Mar 31, 2011
1,390
21
Colorado Mountains
I feel your pain... I'm not too old but as the years go by my "drive" seems to be less and less every year. I still want to hunt but it's nothing like it used to be. 7-10 day hunts are almost too agonizing. I really like 3 or 4 day hunts anymore. I also prefer to hunt near home so I can sleep in my own bed every night and see my family for a little bit each evening. Being mostly a solo hunter now day's contributes to my wanting to hunt close to home even though the hunting isn't as good as it is in other units around the state. I've seen so many animals hit the ground over the years that it's really not a big deal to me anymore. I'm not real trophy oriented either so that doesn't really do anything for me. I'll always hunt as it's in my DNA but it will never be the same as it once was and I'm OK with that. I'll still hunt several seasons every year but it will be more on my terms. I alway's seem to get an animal or two or three every year and am on hunts where others take animals too, so I'm not too worried about my success rate. Probably didn't help you much but I say be true to yourself, do it the way you want, and whatever you do be happy with it for you, not for an ego or to impress others. (I'm saying that to myself as much as I am to you, Lol!) One things for sure, I never regret going after the seasons over!
 

ScottR

Eastmans' Staff / Moderator
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Feb 3, 2014
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Part of my struggle has been that I spend so much time in the field during deer season that by the time elk rolls around I am usually ready to be done. With the tags I have drawn the last few years that hasn't been the case as they were really good elk tags.

So...my struggle right now is that I have been dedicating my effort to elk rather than mule deer. First world problems I know....

The next piece is that the more I go the harder it is to see how much my kids have grown when I am gone. The business trips are harder in that regard but it still does weigh on me a bit.
 

Hilltop

Veteran member
Feb 25, 2014
3,848
2,231
Eastern Nebraska
I get excited to hunt but ultimately I am driven by my freezer. I love to hunt big animals but in the end I know my family (3 households - 11 people) is really counting on a lot of meat each year. I still get that bit of adrenaline rush when I see antlers early in the morning- hope that never goes away. If it does, I will still hunt for meat but it won't be the same.
 

Daubs

Active Member
Aug 5, 2016
423
74
Nebraska
My hunting slowed down about 10 years ago...daughters sports took more time, then 8 years ago divorced from the former Mrs. Daubs.

My girls lived with me, so as a single Dad my time was limited. Full time job, teaching at night, and started photography business on the side. Busy life. My hunting was pretty much limited to a deer hunt in the fall, and a turkey hunt in the spring. I would get stoked planning and preparing for those hunts.

Oldest daughter is in first year away at college, and younger daughter just finished Senior year of HS Softball (I miss it already!). She doesn't play any other sports, so I'm getting geeked to hunt waterfowl again. My brother has a new spot.

The only downside: reading all the forums and literature I'm seeing all the great new products that I might *need* now that i'm getting back in to it ; )
 

ScottR

Eastmans' Staff / Moderator
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Feb 3, 2014
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My hunting slowed down about 10 years ago...daughters sports took more time, then 8 years ago divorced from the former Mrs. Daubs.

My girls lived with me, so as a single Dad my time was limited. Full time job, teaching at night, and started photography business on the side. Busy life. My hunting was pretty much limited to a deer hunt in the fall, and a turkey hunt in the spring. I would get stoked planning and preparing for those hunts.

Oldest daughter is in first year away at college, and younger daughter just finished Senior year of HS Softball (I miss it already!). She doesn't play any other sports, so I'm getting geeked to hunt waterfowl again. My brother has a new spot.

The only downside: reading all the forums and literature I'm seeing all the great new products that I might *need* now that i'm getting back in to it ; )
Waterfowl Gear is a strange addiction. Almost worse than big game gear.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

Catahoula12

Very Active Member
Apr 26, 2013
712
127
Loveland, CO. was AZ.
nv-hunter... I have those days of getting in the mood to get my thoughts together to hunt. It?s awful. I would say what really gets me going is the preparation. Getting good foods together that will help my coming days on the mountain. I thoroughly enjoy shooting my bow or rifle. Mostly my spouse pushes me... so that also gets me fired up and gives confidence. I don?t know if this has any influence but maybe this helps you know there are others like you who struggle for motivation at times. Go hunt!!
 

ScottR

Eastmans' Staff / Moderator
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Feb 3, 2014
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So I am ready to go fill my tag. Those of you who follow us on social media should take a look at our Instagram story...
 

quicknick

Active Member
Oct 7, 2011
301
1
Atascadero, CA
My dad moans and groans about work, and how he might not go, and he's not fired up or excited blah blah blah. As soon as we are in the truck and on the road he puts all that stuff aside and gets excited for the trip. He's usually pretty "in the moment" during the hunt and has fun.