1 00:00:01,280 --> 00:00:05,120 Speaker 1: Welcome to the Wired to Hunt Foundations podcast, your guide 2 00:00:05,160 --> 00:00:08,920 Speaker 1: to the fundamentals of better deer hunting, presented by first Light, 3 00:00:09,240 --> 00:00:13,600 Speaker 1: creating proven versatile hunting apparel for the stand, saddle or blind. 4 00:00:14,120 --> 00:00:18,680 Speaker 1: First Light, Go Farther, Stay Longer, and now your host 5 00:00:19,040 --> 00:00:19,919 Speaker 1: Tony Peterson. 6 00:00:20,720 --> 00:00:24,120 Speaker 2: Hey, everyone, welcome to the Wire to Hunt Foundation's podcast, 7 00:00:24,120 --> 00:00:26,120 Speaker 2: which is brought to you by first Light. I'm your host, 8 00:00:26,120 --> 00:00:29,280 Speaker 2: Tony Peterson, and this episode is all about how to 9 00:00:29,320 --> 00:00:40,960 Speaker 2: know if your hunting standards are set wrong. Well, it's 10 00:00:41,000 --> 00:00:43,800 Speaker 2: that time a year again when everybody starts sharing pictures 11 00:00:43,840 --> 00:00:46,920 Speaker 2: of giant velvet box and starts talking about hitlisters, and 12 00:00:46,960 --> 00:00:49,879 Speaker 2: on and on. The world of white tails tends to 13 00:00:49,920 --> 00:00:52,160 Speaker 2: take I don't know, a nice little breather during Turkey 14 00:00:52,200 --> 00:00:55,640 Speaker 2: season and then you know about through June, but once 15 00:00:55,680 --> 00:00:57,720 Speaker 2: we get past the midpoint of the summer, it seems 16 00:00:57,720 --> 00:01:00,680 Speaker 2: like it's just pedal to the old whitetail metal. This 17 00:01:00,800 --> 00:01:02,800 Speaker 2: is also a time when a lot of hunters decide 18 00:01:02,800 --> 00:01:05,600 Speaker 2: what their standards are for the upcoming season, both with 19 00:01:05,720 --> 00:01:08,399 Speaker 2: deer and any Western trips they might take. And I 20 00:01:08,440 --> 00:01:10,319 Speaker 2: think a lot of us get this wrong for a 21 00:01:10,319 --> 00:01:12,840 Speaker 2: lot of reasons and I have a few ideas on 22 00:01:12,920 --> 00:01:16,040 Speaker 2: how to keep your standards in line with your hunting reality, 23 00:01:16,480 --> 00:01:22,000 Speaker 2: which is what I plan to talk about right now. 24 00:01:29,000 --> 00:01:31,200 Speaker 2: A few years ago, my brother in law and I 25 00:01:31,280 --> 00:01:33,760 Speaker 2: got into a boat and headed out onto a lake 26 00:01:33,800 --> 00:01:38,039 Speaker 2: in north central Minnesota. It was pouring rain, and our 27 00:01:38,040 --> 00:01:41,039 Speaker 2: goal was just to catch some walleyes. Now, most of 28 00:01:41,080 --> 00:01:43,480 Speaker 2: you probably know that I'm not much of a walleye guy. 29 00:01:44,080 --> 00:01:46,399 Speaker 2: I don't really understand chasing a fish that bites with 30 00:01:46,400 --> 00:01:49,080 Speaker 2: a timid little tap tap tap and fights like it 31 00:01:49,120 --> 00:01:52,520 Speaker 2: has never been to the gym. Ever, I prefer sportier fish, 32 00:01:52,720 --> 00:01:55,840 Speaker 2: if I'm putting it very nicely, I don't mind fishing 33 00:01:55,840 --> 00:01:58,200 Speaker 2: for walleyes if I have someone who wants some filets, 34 00:01:58,760 --> 00:02:00,640 Speaker 2: and that was what we had going on that day. 35 00:02:01,240 --> 00:02:04,000 Speaker 2: It also just happened to be a miserable early June day. 36 00:02:04,720 --> 00:02:07,120 Speaker 2: But my brother in law and I both have young kids, 37 00:02:07,200 --> 00:02:08,760 Speaker 2: so we take any chance we can to go out 38 00:02:08,760 --> 00:02:10,600 Speaker 2: on the water, even if we know we're going to 39 00:02:10,639 --> 00:02:13,680 Speaker 2: get soaked. Well, no one told the walleyes that day 40 00:02:13,720 --> 00:02:16,800 Speaker 2: that it was crappy because they were eating. I mean, 41 00:02:17,320 --> 00:02:19,520 Speaker 2: we ran out all of our bait and we brought 42 00:02:19,560 --> 00:02:22,520 Speaker 2: in a limited piece, which on the lake we were 43 00:02:22,560 --> 00:02:26,120 Speaker 2: fishing on isn't really all that easy. We also happened 44 00:02:26,120 --> 00:02:28,639 Speaker 2: to see a bunch of other people out, mostly in 45 00:02:28,919 --> 00:02:31,560 Speaker 2: really nice deep V type of boats, trying to catch 46 00:02:31,800 --> 00:02:35,440 Speaker 2: the same walleyes in the same rain. Later we learned 47 00:02:35,480 --> 00:02:37,680 Speaker 2: that there was a walleye tournament going on on the lake, 48 00:02:38,200 --> 00:02:40,320 Speaker 2: and the results of that tournament showed us that we'd 49 00:02:40,320 --> 00:02:43,200 Speaker 2: have been right there in the money and potentially in 50 00:02:43,240 --> 00:02:45,640 Speaker 2: the running to take home a trophy for our man caves. 51 00:02:46,240 --> 00:02:49,120 Speaker 2: My brother in law commented on that multiple times, saying 52 00:02:49,160 --> 00:02:50,760 Speaker 2: we should have been in the tournament. I mean he 53 00:02:50,800 --> 00:02:54,160 Speaker 2: actually regretted that we weren't. But we weren't, and so 54 00:02:54,200 --> 00:02:56,800 Speaker 2: we didn't have the same rules. We got to go 55 00:02:56,800 --> 00:02:59,520 Speaker 2: out on the water when we wanted to, We got 56 00:02:59,520 --> 00:03:02,880 Speaker 2: to leave when we wanted to. We weren't subject to 57 00:03:02,960 --> 00:03:05,760 Speaker 2: a schedule that would lead to disqualification if we didn't 58 00:03:05,800 --> 00:03:08,400 Speaker 2: stick to it. We didn't have to launch from a 59 00:03:08,400 --> 00:03:12,040 Speaker 2: specific spot in a specific order and potentially erase another 60 00:03:12,040 --> 00:03:14,960 Speaker 2: boat to our best location. We weren't in the tournament, 61 00:03:15,560 --> 00:03:18,840 Speaker 2: so our day on the water didn't really compare. It 62 00:03:18,919 --> 00:03:21,480 Speaker 2: was just a good day of fishing and I've run 63 00:03:21,520 --> 00:03:23,840 Speaker 2: across a hell of a lot of people who fishes 64 00:03:23,880 --> 00:03:26,800 Speaker 2: specific lake their whole lives, probably because I live in 65 00:03:26,840 --> 00:03:29,160 Speaker 2: a state where everybody has a cabin on a lake somewhere. 66 00:03:29,760 --> 00:03:32,040 Speaker 2: Those people think they'd be able to beat the best 67 00:03:32,040 --> 00:03:35,160 Speaker 2: tournament fishermen in the country on their lakes. And the 68 00:03:35,240 --> 00:03:38,600 Speaker 2: reason is their lake is their lake, and who's going 69 00:03:38,640 --> 00:03:41,960 Speaker 2: to know it better than them? Except that's pure silliness. 70 00:03:42,400 --> 00:03:45,280 Speaker 2: The pros are a pros for a reason, and they'll 71 00:03:45,280 --> 00:03:48,080 Speaker 2: whoop up on most average fishermen, even when those average 72 00:03:48,080 --> 00:03:50,960 Speaker 2: fishermen have four decades of experience on a specific lake 73 00:03:51,080 --> 00:03:54,360 Speaker 2: or river or reservoir. They're just better overall, and that 74 00:03:54,440 --> 00:03:57,960 Speaker 2: shows over time. It just does. Now, that doesn't stop 75 00:03:58,000 --> 00:04:00,680 Speaker 2: a lot of folks from fantasizing about winning fishing tournaments 76 00:04:00,680 --> 00:04:04,720 Speaker 2: on their home lake, or worse, actually believing that they would. 77 00:04:05,200 --> 00:04:07,200 Speaker 2: This is because they won't actually go out and test 78 00:04:07,240 --> 00:04:12,160 Speaker 2: their beliefs in actual competition. Reality doesn't have to meet fantasy, 79 00:04:12,880 --> 00:04:16,160 Speaker 2: and that's a comfortable spot to live in. A similar 80 00:04:16,200 --> 00:04:18,640 Speaker 2: thing happens with a lot of hunters, except that when 81 00:04:18,640 --> 00:04:22,440 Speaker 2: you hunt, reality is going to meet your fantasy over 82 00:04:22,800 --> 00:04:27,360 Speaker 2: and over and over again. Every season until you're dead. 83 00:04:27,880 --> 00:04:31,040 Speaker 2: Hunters set their standards by whatever whims and inputs are 84 00:04:31,080 --> 00:04:34,920 Speaker 2: available than they actually go hunting. When they do, their 85 00:04:34,960 --> 00:04:38,159 Speaker 2: standards often prove to be a bit too lofty, but 86 00:04:38,240 --> 00:04:41,359 Speaker 2: maybe not in the ways you're thinking. Now. Sure you 87 00:04:41,400 --> 00:04:43,840 Speaker 2: know someone with two years of experience setting his sights 88 00:04:43,880 --> 00:04:47,159 Speaker 2: one hundred and eighty class buck or nothing, Or someone 89 00:04:47,200 --> 00:04:49,680 Speaker 2: who has logged some serious couch time for a few 90 00:04:49,760 --> 00:04:52,560 Speaker 2: decades who decided that he's going to only shoot three 91 00:04:52,600 --> 00:04:54,760 Speaker 2: hundred inch or bigger bulls in Colorado and over the 92 00:04:54,839 --> 00:04:57,760 Speaker 2: counter unit. Those are both pretty easy examples of people 93 00:04:57,760 --> 00:05:01,000 Speaker 2: who are inclined to outdrive their hunting headlights, so to speak. 94 00:05:01,600 --> 00:05:04,360 Speaker 2: But it's usually not that egregious, and it's not as 95 00:05:04,360 --> 00:05:06,720 Speaker 2: simple as deciding on a class of animal and then 96 00:05:06,800 --> 00:05:09,520 Speaker 2: just sticking to it. It's about whether you're enjoying the 97 00:05:09,600 --> 00:05:12,080 Speaker 2: hunt and feel good about the challenge you've set for yourself. 98 00:05:12,839 --> 00:05:15,960 Speaker 2: This is tricky, and it gets worse because we often 99 00:05:16,000 --> 00:05:19,320 Speaker 2: take one example of our hunting and import the standards 100 00:05:19,320 --> 00:05:22,599 Speaker 2: from that hunting into other endeavors. The easiest way to 101 00:05:22,600 --> 00:05:24,359 Speaker 2: look at this is to take someone who has a 102 00:05:24,400 --> 00:05:27,640 Speaker 2: sweet white tail spot close to their home This person 103 00:05:27,720 --> 00:05:30,360 Speaker 2: might not have much trouble encountering a few one forties 104 00:05:30,440 --> 00:05:33,159 Speaker 2: or one fifties over the season and always gets a 105 00:05:33,160 --> 00:05:34,919 Speaker 2: shot or two if he puts in the standtime in 106 00:05:35,000 --> 00:05:38,440 Speaker 2: late October or early November. That same hunter on the 107 00:05:38,560 --> 00:05:41,479 Speaker 2: road on a public land hunt, for example, would be 108 00:05:41,600 --> 00:05:45,200 Speaker 2: wise to understand and acknowledge the advantages of his home 109 00:05:45,200 --> 00:05:48,440 Speaker 2: state property, but most of us don't quite get that 110 00:05:48,640 --> 00:05:51,680 Speaker 2: until we hit the road. The same goes for adopting 111 00:05:51,720 --> 00:05:56,200 Speaker 2: standards based on hunting industry perceptions. The elk world is 112 00:05:56,279 --> 00:06:00,120 Speaker 2: ripe with this, and I think it sucks. Unless if 113 00:06:00,120 --> 00:06:03,400 Speaker 2: you're in a premier unit or have paid really really 114 00:06:03,400 --> 00:06:06,240 Speaker 2: good money for a landowner tag or outfitted hunt, you're 115 00:06:06,279 --> 00:06:08,799 Speaker 2: most likely in for a rude awakening on an elk hunt, 116 00:06:09,120 --> 00:06:11,679 Speaker 2: especially if you're not all that experience in mountain hunting 117 00:06:11,680 --> 00:06:14,719 Speaker 2: for elk. The truth is, getting any elk into shooting 118 00:06:14,800 --> 00:06:19,320 Speaker 2: range in a lot of situations is so difficult. Never 119 00:06:19,440 --> 00:06:21,600 Speaker 2: mind that you've watched three hundred and thirty inch bulls 120 00:06:21,640 --> 00:06:24,440 Speaker 2: march across open meadows while bugling their heads off on 121 00:06:24,520 --> 00:06:28,440 Speaker 2: YouTube shows for years and on network TV and DVDs 122 00:06:28,480 --> 00:06:32,120 Speaker 2: before that. Sure easy elker out there, but they are 123 00:06:32,160 --> 00:06:35,640 Speaker 2: expensive and probably not available to most of us. So 124 00:06:35,640 --> 00:06:38,000 Speaker 2: if you hear someone say something like, I don't know, 125 00:06:38,080 --> 00:06:40,120 Speaker 2: we let a bunch of two fifties and two sixties 126 00:06:40,200 --> 00:06:43,240 Speaker 2: go while waiting on a good one, you're hearing someone 127 00:06:43,279 --> 00:06:46,720 Speaker 2: who is either full of shit or hunting someplace that's 128 00:06:46,839 --> 00:06:50,040 Speaker 2: real good. If you see people carrying elk quarters over 129 00:06:50,080 --> 00:06:52,880 Speaker 2: their shoulder in a perfectly lit social media image, you 130 00:06:52,880 --> 00:06:54,840 Speaker 2: can rest assured that the elk is dead by a 131 00:06:54,960 --> 00:06:57,200 Speaker 2: side by side and the price tag on its head 132 00:06:57,560 --> 00:06:59,400 Speaker 2: might get you a full year of tuition at a 133 00:06:59,400 --> 00:07:02,120 Speaker 2: state universe. And the white tail world is full of 134 00:07:02,160 --> 00:07:04,240 Speaker 2: this stuff too, And I don't really need to dive 135 00:07:04,279 --> 00:07:06,920 Speaker 2: into this because I've covered it a ton. No game 136 00:07:06,960 --> 00:07:09,360 Speaker 2: animal is easier to hack, and no game animal is 137 00:07:09,400 --> 00:07:12,160 Speaker 2: easier to produce larger specimens with than our good old 138 00:07:12,160 --> 00:07:15,400 Speaker 2: buddy the whitetail. This leads to a skewed view of 139 00:07:15,440 --> 00:07:17,600 Speaker 2: the whole thing and convinces a lot of folks that 140 00:07:17,640 --> 00:07:20,720 Speaker 2: the whole thing is generally easier than it is. That's 141 00:07:20,760 --> 00:07:24,040 Speaker 2: a trap, though. The truth is we are all on 142 00:07:24,040 --> 00:07:27,040 Speaker 2: our own hunting journey and it doesn't matter at all 143 00:07:27,120 --> 00:07:29,480 Speaker 2: if the most popular whitetail hunter in the country happens 144 00:07:29,480 --> 00:07:31,880 Speaker 2: to own four thousand acres of deer ground in Middle America, 145 00:07:32,400 --> 00:07:34,880 Speaker 2: or if the most popular Western hunting personality is spend 146 00:07:34,880 --> 00:07:37,360 Speaker 2: a couple hundred thousand dollars a season to kill big, 147 00:07:37,480 --> 00:07:41,720 Speaker 2: unpressured bowls. What matters is how you hunt and what 148 00:07:41,720 --> 00:07:45,800 Speaker 2: would mean something to you, What challenges you set for 149 00:07:45,880 --> 00:07:48,000 Speaker 2: yourself as we lead into the season, and how they 150 00:07:48,000 --> 00:07:50,440 Speaker 2: make you feel when you succeed and when you fall 151 00:07:50,480 --> 00:07:53,120 Speaker 2: flat on your face and fail. Let me give you 152 00:07:53,160 --> 00:07:56,320 Speaker 2: an example from my life. As I record this, I'm 153 00:07:56,360 --> 00:07:58,240 Speaker 2: waiting to see what tags I'll end up with for 154 00:07:58,280 --> 00:08:00,760 Speaker 2: the season. I know all that I have a bear 155 00:08:00,760 --> 00:08:04,080 Speaker 2: tag for Wisconsin, and I'm kind of a shitty bear hunter, 156 00:08:04,360 --> 00:08:06,960 Speaker 2: so my standards are probably going to be an illegal yogi. 157 00:08:07,640 --> 00:08:09,640 Speaker 2: This goes from my daughter as well, and she'll get 158 00:08:09,680 --> 00:08:12,360 Speaker 2: first crack at them. There's no real reason for me 159 00:08:12,400 --> 00:08:14,960 Speaker 2: to trophy hunt bears when I'm not very good at 160 00:08:14,960 --> 00:08:16,560 Speaker 2: the whole thing and probably won't have a ton of 161 00:08:16,560 --> 00:08:18,720 Speaker 2: time to do it. I just want to enjoy the 162 00:08:18,760 --> 00:08:21,040 Speaker 2: process and give myself a chance at success. 163 00:08:21,920 --> 00:08:22,000 Speaker 1: Now. 164 00:08:22,040 --> 00:08:24,160 Speaker 2: I'm also hoping to get down to Nebraska for an 165 00:08:24,200 --> 00:08:27,040 Speaker 2: early season velvet hunt on public land for white tails. 166 00:08:27,800 --> 00:08:31,280 Speaker 2: That hunt will probably be anything two and a half 167 00:08:31,360 --> 00:08:33,679 Speaker 2: years or older that gives me a good shot is 168 00:08:34,080 --> 00:08:37,280 Speaker 2: on the menu. Of course, that might change if I 169 00:08:37,280 --> 00:08:39,960 Speaker 2: get down there and the deer plentiful, or more likely 170 00:08:40,160 --> 00:08:43,520 Speaker 2: the hunters are plentiful. I might adjust my standards up 171 00:08:43,640 --> 00:08:46,600 Speaker 2: or down, depending on a ton of variables. Hell, it 172 00:08:46,720 --> 00:08:48,840 Speaker 2: might rain for a few days and destroy my water 173 00:08:48,880 --> 00:08:51,280 Speaker 2: hole plan. That might be enough to get me to 174 00:08:51,320 --> 00:08:54,960 Speaker 2: adjust what would make me happy. Now, if the conditions 175 00:08:54,960 --> 00:08:57,240 Speaker 2: are hot as hell and the pressure isn't absurd, my 176 00:08:57,280 --> 00:09:00,440 Speaker 2: standards might go up because that favors the possible of 177 00:09:00,480 --> 00:09:02,640 Speaker 2: having a mature buck come into a tank or a pond. 178 00:09:03,240 --> 00:09:06,040 Speaker 2: In that case, the young bucks are safe now. On 179 00:09:06,040 --> 00:09:08,920 Speaker 2: the other end of the spectrum, I've got northern Wisconsin. 180 00:09:09,679 --> 00:09:11,320 Speaker 2: I haven't had them too much time in the last 181 00:09:11,360 --> 00:09:13,680 Speaker 2: two seasons to hunt the big woods, and I miss 182 00:09:13,720 --> 00:09:16,480 Speaker 2: it a lot. I miss it so much that I'm 183 00:09:16,520 --> 00:09:18,520 Speaker 2: going to hunt public land in a place with low 184 00:09:18,559 --> 00:09:21,600 Speaker 2: deer numbers and high hunter numbers instead of going to 185 00:09:21,720 --> 00:09:24,840 Speaker 2: southwestern Wisconsin to hunt private land where there are fewer 186 00:09:24,880 --> 00:09:28,000 Speaker 2: deer hunters and a ton of deer, including a high 187 00:09:28,040 --> 00:09:32,120 Speaker 2: percentage of big bucks. It sounds dumb, I know, but 188 00:09:32,160 --> 00:09:34,200 Speaker 2: I don't care about putting myself in a spot to 189 00:09:34,240 --> 00:09:36,280 Speaker 2: have the best chance to kill big deer because I 190 00:09:36,320 --> 00:09:38,640 Speaker 2: just want to hunt certain places, and one of those 191 00:09:38,679 --> 00:09:42,160 Speaker 2: places of the big Woods and my standards there, They're 192 00:09:42,160 --> 00:09:45,360 Speaker 2: going to start awful small and could stay that way 193 00:09:45,480 --> 00:09:48,920 Speaker 2: depending on the action. The big Woods is often pretty 194 00:09:48,920 --> 00:09:51,920 Speaker 2: stingy in my experience, so there might not be an 195 00:09:51,960 --> 00:09:55,240 Speaker 2: antler buck that is safe in my vicinity. But that'll 196 00:09:55,240 --> 00:09:57,720 Speaker 2: depend on my scouting and how much time I'm going 197 00:09:57,760 --> 00:09:59,760 Speaker 2: to get to hunt, and what I feel like when 198 00:10:00,120 --> 00:10:01,880 Speaker 2: some deer do walk down the trail pass one of 199 00:10:01,880 --> 00:10:04,440 Speaker 2: my setups. I'm also at a place where I don't 200 00:10:04,440 --> 00:10:06,840 Speaker 2: feel like I have a lot to prove. You might 201 00:10:06,840 --> 00:10:10,480 Speaker 2: not be there yet, and that's important to acknowledge. You 202 00:10:10,559 --> 00:10:13,800 Speaker 2: might use that as a motivator to set high standards 203 00:10:13,840 --> 00:10:16,520 Speaker 2: and then chase them all season. Now. I know that 204 00:10:16,559 --> 00:10:20,679 Speaker 2: sounds like I'm being negative, but I'm not. Drive is important, 205 00:10:20,760 --> 00:10:23,200 Speaker 2: and it leads to discipline and patience and sometimes the 206 00:10:23,280 --> 00:10:25,360 Speaker 2: kind of success that brings you to a new level 207 00:10:25,400 --> 00:10:28,440 Speaker 2: as a hunter and as a human. That's a good thing. 208 00:10:29,040 --> 00:10:31,480 Speaker 2: Some people thrive on big challenges and it lifts them up. 209 00:10:31,800 --> 00:10:33,719 Speaker 2: Others meet a big challenge and it treats them like 210 00:10:33,760 --> 00:10:36,600 Speaker 2: a sucker punch to the old schnas their eyes start 211 00:10:36,600 --> 00:10:38,680 Speaker 2: to water, their lips start to quiver, and they slouch 212 00:10:38,720 --> 00:10:40,880 Speaker 2: their way home while muttering under their breath about how 213 00:10:40,920 --> 00:10:46,480 Speaker 2: stupid life is. Okay, that's an exaggeration, but people are individuals, 214 00:10:46,840 --> 00:10:48,880 Speaker 2: and what drives someone to be better might not be 215 00:10:48,960 --> 00:10:51,400 Speaker 2: what drives you to be better. Or what some people 216 00:10:51,480 --> 00:10:56,000 Speaker 2: enjoy others might view as pure torture. The high standards 217 00:10:56,000 --> 00:10:58,480 Speaker 2: that cause one person to scout more and hunt harder 218 00:10:58,840 --> 00:11:01,880 Speaker 2: might cause another to stay home and rake leaves since 219 00:11:01,880 --> 00:11:06,200 Speaker 2: it's nearly unachievable and therefore not really worth it. So 220 00:11:06,280 --> 00:11:10,800 Speaker 2: what kind of person are you? Be? Honest or better? Yet? 221 00:11:11,080 --> 00:11:13,120 Speaker 2: What kind of person are you? On each kind of 222 00:11:13,200 --> 00:11:16,439 Speaker 2: hunt you might do? Do you like the season long 223 00:11:16,559 --> 00:11:18,960 Speaker 2: challenge of targeting a rare age class of buck in 224 00:11:19,000 --> 00:11:21,800 Speaker 2: your woods? Or maybe a hunt a southern state with 225 00:11:21,840 --> 00:11:24,600 Speaker 2: a stupid long rifle season and not a destination food 226 00:11:24,640 --> 00:11:27,000 Speaker 2: source in sight, and you're only on public land and 227 00:11:27,000 --> 00:11:30,040 Speaker 2: you need to target any illegal deer. Maybe you've only 228 00:11:30,080 --> 00:11:32,680 Speaker 2: aired a few deer, and while your ego wants big 229 00:11:32,720 --> 00:11:35,440 Speaker 2: bucks and nothing else, your experience and skill level and 230 00:11:35,480 --> 00:11:38,800 Speaker 2: time available and hunting situation says that does and young 231 00:11:38,840 --> 00:11:41,600 Speaker 2: bucks are probably a much more realistic goal, and they're 232 00:11:41,640 --> 00:11:45,160 Speaker 2: still challenging. Maybe you're like me, and for some reason, 233 00:11:45,240 --> 00:11:47,439 Speaker 2: every dear you see looks delicious and makes you kind 234 00:11:47,440 --> 00:11:49,760 Speaker 2: of want to shoot it, and you can't really describe why. 235 00:11:50,679 --> 00:11:52,920 Speaker 2: Maybe you just love the feeling of settling your pin 236 00:11:53,080 --> 00:11:55,880 Speaker 2: and watching your fletching disappear into hide and ribs and vitals. 237 00:11:56,520 --> 00:11:58,800 Speaker 2: If that's the case, maybe your goal should involve some 238 00:11:58,840 --> 00:12:01,880 Speaker 2: antler list dear, maybe several. If you're a big fan 239 00:12:01,920 --> 00:12:06,520 Speaker 2: of venison, what you set your standards at, whether we're 240 00:12:06,520 --> 00:12:10,040 Speaker 2: talking white tails or elk or antelope or whatever, it's 241 00:12:10,200 --> 00:12:13,760 Speaker 2: up to you. It's your journey, and it's not over 242 00:12:14,000 --> 00:12:16,120 Speaker 2: just when you settle on the exact type of animal 243 00:12:16,160 --> 00:12:19,320 Speaker 2: that would provide an amazing challenge but also a realistic 244 00:12:19,440 --> 00:12:22,920 Speaker 2: chance for you to succeed. It goes beyond that, because 245 00:12:22,920 --> 00:12:26,440 Speaker 2: this stuff is mostly a moving target. My friends, the 246 00:12:26,520 --> 00:12:29,440 Speaker 2: standards you set five years ago will probably be different 247 00:12:29,440 --> 00:12:33,559 Speaker 2: today for several reasons. You've grown and changed as a hunter. 248 00:12:33,800 --> 00:12:37,280 Speaker 2: Somehow that's a given. But maybe you've moved to a 249 00:12:37,280 --> 00:12:40,040 Speaker 2: new city or a new state and that's a big change. 250 00:12:40,160 --> 00:12:42,679 Speaker 2: Maybe five years ago you didn't have any kids and 251 00:12:42,720 --> 00:12:45,160 Speaker 2: you had lots of time, and now you have two little, 252 00:12:45,200 --> 00:12:47,319 Speaker 2: adorable twin girls who demand a lot of your time, 253 00:12:47,360 --> 00:12:49,760 Speaker 2: and you have to be back home during some of 254 00:12:49,760 --> 00:12:51,800 Speaker 2: the best parts of the season for dance recitals and 255 00:12:51,840 --> 00:12:55,280 Speaker 2: trigger treating or whatever. Should your hunting standards stay the 256 00:12:55,320 --> 00:12:58,760 Speaker 2: same when your life is vastly different. I don't think so. 257 00:12:59,640 --> 00:13:01,280 Speaker 2: I think you should do your best to set some 258 00:13:01,360 --> 00:13:04,280 Speaker 2: goals it will work for you right now, and then 259 00:13:04,520 --> 00:13:08,480 Speaker 2: you should reflect on how well you did not at hunting, 260 00:13:08,559 --> 00:13:11,440 Speaker 2: although that's important too, but on how well you set 261 00:13:11,440 --> 00:13:14,079 Speaker 2: your specific goals and then how well you followed through 262 00:13:14,120 --> 00:13:17,240 Speaker 2: on trying to meet them. Maybe you really regret not 263 00:13:17,280 --> 00:13:20,280 Speaker 2: shooting that cow elk on day one year hunt. Maybe 264 00:13:20,280 --> 00:13:22,599 Speaker 2: that basket rack six pointer feeding in the beans on 265 00:13:22,679 --> 00:13:25,080 Speaker 2: opening night who gave you a stupid easy shot and 266 00:13:25,240 --> 00:13:28,280 Speaker 2: was full of delicious venison was your best chance you 267 00:13:28,320 --> 00:13:31,120 Speaker 2: had to fill a tag all season. Does it bother 268 00:13:31,240 --> 00:13:33,160 Speaker 2: you that you let him walk? Do you feel good 269 00:13:33,160 --> 00:13:37,240 Speaker 2: about your decisions? The key here is honesty with yourself. 270 00:13:37,960 --> 00:13:40,040 Speaker 2: If it didn't nag at you at all to do 271 00:13:40,080 --> 00:13:43,320 Speaker 2: what you did, then your standard's probably pretty spot on. 272 00:13:44,240 --> 00:13:46,400 Speaker 2: If you didn't have much fun hunting and you regret 273 00:13:46,440 --> 00:13:49,239 Speaker 2: a lot of your decisions, it's probably time to recalibrate. 274 00:13:50,080 --> 00:13:52,280 Speaker 2: A lot of times this happens because we set our 275 00:13:52,320 --> 00:13:55,600 Speaker 2: standards just too damn high, and that can suck the 276 00:13:55,600 --> 00:13:58,079 Speaker 2: fun right out of this whole thing. Or real quick 277 00:13:58,840 --> 00:14:00,920 Speaker 2: only you can decide if this is true in your 278 00:14:00,960 --> 00:14:04,160 Speaker 2: case or not. If it is, it's time to figure 279 00:14:04,200 --> 00:14:07,000 Speaker 2: something better out. If you don't like eating tags, or 280 00:14:07,040 --> 00:14:09,120 Speaker 2: you don't feel you have enough time to be a 281 00:14:09,120 --> 00:14:11,240 Speaker 2: real trophy hunter, or you just don't have it in 282 00:14:11,280 --> 00:14:12,959 Speaker 2: your heart to pass up a young buck even though 283 00:14:12,960 --> 00:14:15,520 Speaker 2: you feel social pressure to do so, it's time to 284 00:14:15,559 --> 00:14:18,520 Speaker 2: be real. It's time to decide for yourself what to 285 00:14:18,559 --> 00:14:21,640 Speaker 2: do and why to do it now. I know some 286 00:14:21,720 --> 00:14:25,000 Speaker 2: of this stuff really doesn't become relevant until the season opens, 287 00:14:25,280 --> 00:14:27,480 Speaker 2: or I don't know, sometimes when you're halfway through the season, 288 00:14:28,080 --> 00:14:30,240 Speaker 2: but it's worthwhile to think about it now. As the 289 00:14:30,280 --> 00:14:32,600 Speaker 2: bucks really start to show their racks and the western 290 00:14:32,640 --> 00:14:36,400 Speaker 2: hunt plans all kind of start to come together. Now 291 00:14:36,520 --> 00:14:38,640 Speaker 2: is as good of time as any to start the 292 00:14:38,680 --> 00:14:41,360 Speaker 2: process of thinking about yourself as a hunter in an 293 00:14:41,440 --> 00:14:44,240 Speaker 2: honest way and decide what it'll take for you to 294 00:14:44,280 --> 00:14:46,800 Speaker 2: get to a spot where you'll look back on this 295 00:14:46,960 --> 00:14:50,440 Speaker 2: season with fond memories and not the sting of regret, 296 00:14:50,920 --> 00:14:53,840 Speaker 2: which I might add can be from taking the easy 297 00:14:53,880 --> 00:14:56,920 Speaker 2: way out and not challenging yourself at all. If you've 298 00:14:56,960 --> 00:14:58,800 Speaker 2: shot one hundred and twelve year and a half old 299 00:14:58,800 --> 00:15:01,040 Speaker 2: bucks on opening weekend and they just don't really do 300 00:15:01,120 --> 00:15:03,200 Speaker 2: it for you anymore, I don't know, it might be 301 00:15:03,240 --> 00:15:05,800 Speaker 2: time to go from sixty inches to one hundred inches. 302 00:15:06,560 --> 00:15:09,320 Speaker 2: Sometimes we rebel against trophy hunting so much that we 303 00:15:09,360 --> 00:15:11,560 Speaker 2: put ourselves in a position where there isn't much of 304 00:15:11,560 --> 00:15:14,360 Speaker 2: a challenge at all. And while some folks love that 305 00:15:14,400 --> 00:15:17,120 Speaker 2: and that's great, others don't and they might not even 306 00:15:17,160 --> 00:15:21,200 Speaker 2: realize it. So again, let me say this, hunting is 307 00:15:21,440 --> 00:15:25,720 Speaker 2: your journey, yours alone. Figure out what you want out 308 00:15:25,720 --> 00:15:28,360 Speaker 2: of it, and then work toward that goal. Do this 309 00:15:28,400 --> 00:15:30,440 Speaker 2: in spite of what everyone else in the hunting community 310 00:15:30,480 --> 00:15:33,320 Speaker 2: seems to be doing, because their journey doesn't matter to 311 00:15:33,360 --> 00:15:36,080 Speaker 2: you at all. And I mean that it doesn't matter 312 00:15:36,120 --> 00:15:39,360 Speaker 2: at all, who does what with their hunting season Because 313 00:15:39,400 --> 00:15:41,760 Speaker 2: you're on your own and that's the way it should be. 314 00:15:42,480 --> 00:15:46,320 Speaker 2: Embrace it and enjoy it, and come back next week 315 00:15:46,480 --> 00:15:48,960 Speaker 2: because I'm going to talk about how to really break 316 00:15:49,000 --> 00:15:51,360 Speaker 2: down on an ambush site to understand how to hunt 317 00:15:51,400 --> 00:15:57,520 Speaker 2: it most effectively. That's it for this week. I'm Tony Peterson. 318 00:15:57,560 --> 00:16:00,560 Speaker 2: This has been the Wire to Hunt Foundation's podcast, which 319 00:16:00,600 --> 00:16:03,640 Speaker 2: is brought to you by first Light. First Light happens 320 00:16:03,680 --> 00:16:06,560 Speaker 2: to be making some really killer stuff right now, like 321 00:16:06,600 --> 00:16:09,440 Speaker 2: their Trace lineup. So if you're out there sweating your 322 00:16:09,600 --> 00:16:13,240 Speaker 2: apple bag off while scouting deer, hanging stands or doing whatever, 323 00:16:13,320 --> 00:16:16,600 Speaker 2: maybe dropping some cameras out there, check out the Trace lineup. 324 00:16:16,760 --> 00:16:22,600 Speaker 2: So breatheable, so lightweight, awesome. Hot Weather cameo. As always. 325 00:16:22,640 --> 00:16:25,080 Speaker 2: Thank you so much for listening to the podcast and 326 00:16:25,120 --> 00:16:26,840 Speaker 2: for all your support. I can't tell you how much 327 00:16:26,880 --> 00:16:29,360 Speaker 2: we all appreciate it here at meat Eater. And if 328 00:16:29,400 --> 00:16:32,640 Speaker 2: you haven't got enough hunting content in your life, head 329 00:16:32,680 --> 00:16:35,400 Speaker 2: on over to the medeater dot com and you can 330 00:16:35,720 --> 00:16:39,359 Speaker 2: check out all kinds of video series one off videos. 331 00:16:39,960 --> 00:16:42,840 Speaker 2: You can read tons of articles about every kind of 332 00:16:42,880 --> 00:16:45,200 Speaker 2: facet of the outdoors that you can possibly imagine, and 333 00:16:45,240 --> 00:16:49,040 Speaker 2: of course we have so much white tail content there 334 00:16:49,080 --> 00:16:49,400 Speaker 2: as well.