Don’t Quit Before You Begin
With archery Antelope season fast approaching I’ve found myself in a battle to not lose ground before the hunt even starts. For months I’ve diligently practiced shooting, being rewarded with nice tight groups that should dispel all fears… but as the days tick away to kick-off, I’m finding myself facing negative feedback… and it’s not coming from an outside source… it’s coming from the gal who looks back at me in the mirror! I don’t know if any other hunters share this affliction, but it seems I have to combat these little monsters that raise their ugly heads every time the season draws near.
Confidence is absolutely vital for every successful hunt. So some of the biggest preparation goes on in my head before the hunt ever begins. I have to fight off those little monsters that spell defeat before I even step into the field. This will be the first time I’ve hunted Antelope, and the area is completely unfamiliar to me, so those little demons are having a heyday messing with my mind! The best defence is to be armed with information… so I have been consuming all the data I can cram into this skull! I figured a good beginning was the Fish and Game biologist for the area I’d be hunting in, couple this with anyone I could talk to who lives in the area… and who has hunted Antelope. Then look at maps and GoogleEarth of the area till my eyes cross! We also hope to make a scouting trip to the area before the season begins.
The true test comes once you are out in the field and nothing presents itself the way your information indicated it would! Then is when you either give in to those demons… or you say I’m going to pull out all stops… not be afraid to try something new and maybe even unorthodox…and NEVER say “this will never work!”… there’s nothing that kills patience and perseverance quicker than a lack of confidence!
The real beauty is, even if you don’t harvest an animal, you are in a win, win situation… you’ve been surrounded by the pure raw beauty of the wild and collected valuable experience and memories that will give you an advantage for the next hunting adventure. When you’re out in the field, you never lose… you can only gain!
This was one great post, and I’m sure this has happened to all of us. I truly think that confidence is one of best things you can take into the field with you; however, that is easier said than done. I tend to second guess myself all the time, and I think that makes you not sit in stand long enough, and not pick a location and go with it.
What a great post. Everyone reading can learn from this one.
This is a great post, and applicable to all of life, not just hunting. Success comes when you believe in yourself and when you put in the preparation necessary to be ready.
Excellent post!
I just got through talking to Albert at the Rasch Cronicles and explained to him how I worked my way through Dyslexia and Color Blindness.
And the funny thing is, I did not even realize that I had an actual medical problem and just assumed I was not as smart as everyone else, and just simply worked harder to achieve the same results.
Just as in the movie “Fearless” starring Jeff Bridges and Rosie Perez, you don’t have any problems until someone else tells you that you do, then you start second guessing too much instead of following your instincts.
And that someone else more often than not, is yourself!
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Great article and one I can easily relate to. Be it waterfowling or big game there remains the question of, location, location, location!
Confidence… I’m in an interesting place right now concerning confidence. I’ve been guiding hunters very successfully quite a while now (not anymore) and now that it’s time to hunt for me I feel somehow “out of the loop”. A bit inadequate. It’s a weird feeling that really has no basis in reality, but it’s there none the less. I should take the time to write about sometime.
Suzee,
Confidence is a point, but I think your last paragraph is more important:
The real beauty is, even if you don’t harvest an animal, you are in a win, win situation… you’ve been surrounded by the pure raw beauty of the wild and collected valuable experience and memories that will give you an advantage for the next hunting adventure. When you’re out in the field, you never lose… you can only gain!
In that way you gain experience, memories and confidence.
Go. Go. Go!