By Josh Smith
*Editor’s note: Today’s blog post with Wild Carrot Deer Attractant owner Josh Smith will hopefully hit home to some. Deer hunters all over the world have probably experienced instances like this at some point or another. I hope you enjoy this piece by Josh. - Alex
We’ve all seen the social media posts that depict a proud hunter and the success of their quest drawing negative feedback from the online community. Whether it’s a grip and grin with a nocturnal whitetail, a spring tom in that famous limb hanger pose, or a pile of pelts from a recent predator hunt, there are always questions surrounding the impact these shots might have on a potential future outdoorsman straddling the fence between our favorite pastime and a lifetime spent apart from it. While we must be conscious of the image we portray of the hunting community, are we really doing our sport any justice by refining it to the point of inauthenticity?
We talk about how grip and grins are pushing some potential new hunters away from the sport, but isn’t that part of why we do what we do? Pictures of a successful hunt are a display of pride in the same way one might share pictures of their children. The real issue here is that the non-hunting community lacks the appropriate context to appreciate those shots. Graphic photos are not the way to go, but blood, death, and gore are a real part of what we do. Perhaps instead of displaying this for the outside world to see, we could instead discuss the impact these first hand encounters have on our souls as we process our emotions to reach the end goal of a filled freezer.
While we need to show tact when displaying our lifestyle for certain, it may be our failures that will impact and win the hearts and minds of a non-hunter who remains undecided on his or her perspective on the sport. This rollercoaster we’re all strapped into doesn’t reach that “hands in the air” high without sometimes plummeting to “heart in the shoes” lows. As a father, I’ve learned that some of my biggest teaching moments spring forth as my kids watch me struggle, wrestle, fight, and hopefully overcome the challenge at my door. It isn’t the success of the overcoming that they see, but the acceptance of the challenge, the refusal to quit when it would be easy to do so and the sometimes sloppy mess in between.
So much of the hunting community is centered on growing bigger, older, mature deer. Those who aren’t concerned with growing them are laser focused at showing their methods for seeking them out. Those who have the financial capability but not the time for either growing or scouting deer are able to seek out the helpful hand of one of many top tier guides who have done the arduous labor for them. While these things are all well and good we may be overlooking an important aspect and that is to allow room for growth. Growth by definition, requires that something is less advanced, less stable, less educated, or less experienced than it has the potential to become. Growth is an unavoidable and sometimes painful requirement as one progresses from beginner to expert. That growth can only be achieved through a healthy dose of failure as we fumble our way through the learning experience. Ignoring those missteps or pretending we all don’t encounter them can and does serve as a detriment to us all as it widens the gap between what hunting really is and what some would like the outside world to believe it to be.
A great deal of what I continue learn about hunting and how I’ve developed in my journey as an outdoorsman has been a direct result of the not so pretty, not so fun, and sometimes painful failures I’ve endured along the way. Ive logged countless hours in a tree without a single sighting and in doing so I began to seek sign, watch for commonly used terrain features, and seek out frequented feeding and bedding sites. I’d like to think I’m not the only one familiar with the lows of half-assing my studies only to be infuriated when it’s made obvious come test time. Ive spent what feels like an eternity with knots in my gut as a I clung to hope and watched blood trails disappear into the leaf litter with no return, and thus committed myself to shorter shot distances and more range time.
Putting in the time to practice shooting, no matter the weapon, has become a labor of love for most avid hunters and for good reason. I still feel the sting of the poor shots I’ve put on game and it drives me to put in the time to produce the most ethical shot possible. Ive grown as a hunter and as a man since those early days and now find myself passing on far more potential shots in order to have the confidence I need to respect the animal I’m after with nothing less than my best. I hold myself to a high standard to be sure, but its not a standard I would ever expect from someone new to the art of hunting and to tell the truth its not even I standard that I live up to in every circumstance. In a constantly changing environment with many factors influencing every decision, mistakes are often made.
It’s been said (and we all know it to be true) that one cannot appreciate the sunshine without days spent in the rain. People, on the whole, are excellent detectors of bullshit and more often than not are turned away by it no matter the context. It is my belief that we must portray honesty, integrity, and humility as we share our stories of time spent afield. Learn to appreciate and revere the lows along with the highs. We’re not all hunters, but we are all imperfect people and that is one common ground we all share.
