Just not feeling it...

[curtintex]

I love very few things. I love my family. I love my job. I love my friends. I love business. I love to hunt. As I get older, I find hunting to fall further and further down the list of important things in my life. I gave up a lot of hunting time when my older girls started playing school sports and being involved in other things. Now, our younger girls are showing animals, playing sports, etc. Jen and I are building a lakehouse, business is better than it's ever been and growing everyday and there are just a lot of things in my life that are more important to me than hunting anymore.

I have several hunts scheduled this fall that I just can't imagine being away from the office for 10 days at a time. Lots of fun deals could happen during that time. I don't wanna miss any VB games or BB games. I have a lease in South Texas that I don't even get excited about going to. Luckily, my BIL, has taken care of stands and feeders and cameras and such. I know I could take the family with me, but that doesn't work with their school/sports/4H schedules and Jennie just goes because she knows I love it.

I used to live for my time in the woods. Now, I just don't get as excited about it as I used to. Don't get me wrong, I still love it, I just don't NEED it like I used to. I'd rather fish on the lake with Jennie, or teach the girls how to execute a proper crossover dribble, or negotiate with a client or close a big deal.

So here comes hunting season and I'm not near as excited about it as I used to be. Has this ever happened to you? I wonder if it's temporary or if this is the new me. I feel like I SHOULD be in a tree, but just don't have the drive I once did. It's a weird phenomenon.

[Chew]

Been there off and on over the years. I find that taking a break is good and seems to rekindle the drive after a year or so. When hunting starts feeling like work or as you said, something you feel like you "need" to do, it may be time for a break.

[Tmag]

Dude, you need an intervention!

Just kidding Curt, I am getting the same way. I am not as mad at them as I used to be. I get that way about fishing too when I have to get up at 4am to go and try to catch a 25 limit and a few cats. I like spending time with my wife and family and friends and I am sure liking the recliner and the bed a lot more lately.

[quarterback]

Sounds like you need to go buy yourself a new bow.

What you're feeling is a completely natural progression. Remember however, in the midst of all you have going on there is still a need to hit pause and refresh occasionally. The deer woods provides that for me and allows me to get back to nature. As men we need to get out and get dirty and enjoy that campfire and friendship from time to time.

[DarrellS]

I'm in the same boat. Got the feeder running in early July and haven't been back. Don't even have a camera going.

[Buff]

I think the older we get the lower our blood lust becomes.
I tend to swap weapons to help.
I will shoot a couple with my recurve then hunt with a hawkin BP gun then swap back and hunt with a Longbow.
One of the down sides to hunting all over the world is that deer just become, well just deer.
That makes it harder to get fired up about hunting them.

I think I will always hunt them, it is in my DNA to set out on a strip of oats planted in a pine forest but when I shoot one it is not nearly the big deal it was 30 years ago

[Jaybo31]

Yep. Used to be ate up with it. Now...I usually just ride over to my grandma's and bust a slick head for some meat. I dont have the time for it and it doesn't get me going like it used to. My son is on the HS fishing team (Im his and his partners boat captain) and my daughter plays softball. Thats how I spend my time

[fox1]

I am nowhere near as mad at them as i was in my twenties but i can't picture my life without hunting be a major part of it.
My hunting goals have changed somewhat but i still need to be out there as an active participant in the wild.

But when my kids where the same age as yours are i happily sacrificed my alone time for their time. I think that is completely natural.

[Peacock]

I run hot, and cold from year to year. With the kids sports I don't get to go as much as I use to.

[Shane]

These fleeting years with our teenagers are important times, brother. Sounds like you have your priorities right to me. That tree stand and those deer will still be there after your girls are grown and gone from your house. When you don't have any games to go to anymore, you'll be ready to hit the woods again I imagine.

Don't ever feel bad for choosing time with your family over hunting or anything else. (I know you don't.)

[Mayhem]

I love it and can't seem to get enough of it. I can not wait till Austyn and Barrett get a little older and I can teach them what I love to do.

I volunteer to take your Gila trip for you. I know it's a sacrifice on my part but that's just the kind of friend I am. I am willing to sacrifice to help a friend out.

[Bullydog]

For me, the past two years, I have felt some of the same things creeping in. I actually spent less time in the tree/woods than I ever have last year. Actually got off our lease we had been on almost 10 years, so that was a huge step back for us.

Kids graduating HS, Others starting to drive, wife having a major medical issues, me having some medical issues. life in general. Priorities shifted and for good reason.

I still love to hunt, fish and be outdoors, but I feel less like doing it by myself than I ever have before.

My 11 year old is really enjoying shooting his bow this year, so I'm gettin more fired up than I have the past couple of years.

[Tx.Fisher]

Yep, I'm kinda in the same boat now. So many other things going on right now. I have several bucks that I would like to get, but I just can't get excited right now. I'm sure I'll get things going in a few weeks.

[Slick8]

I feel your pain, for a few different reasons.

I've hunted very hard the last few years and taken some great deer for my area...a bit of burn out perhaps. My lease has no camp but luckily I have family in the town in which I hunt. I don't dove hunt the place as I don't want to spoke deer on the little 400 acre pasture and rarely have a hog to choot.

Most of all, like you, spending time away from family for three or more days just doesn't always sit well. That's the great part, I'm close enough that I can go for an overnight trip.

I'm actually fishing a memorial tournament on opening day this year.

[GARY]

Same here. I used to spend as much time as I could in the field (most to all away from family) be it hunting or fishing. Now I don't hardly ever do either unless it is with them. I haven't hunted or fished on my own a single time since we moved back from Canada in August 2013. I am going back to Canada in September for week and while I am really excited I am a bit bummed I will miss dove opener with my boys.