1 00:00:01,280 --> 00:00:05,120 Speaker 1: Welcome to the Wired to Hunt Foundations podcast, your guide 2 00:00:05,120 --> 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 00:00:20,560 --> 00:00:23,040 Speaker 2: Hey everyone, welcome to the Wired to Hunt Foundation's podcast, 7 00:00:23,040 --> 00:00:24,840 Speaker 2: which is brought to you by first Light. I'm your host, 8 00:00:24,880 --> 00:00:27,840 Speaker 2: Tony Peterson, and today's episode it's going to be a 9 00:00:27,880 --> 00:00:30,120 Speaker 2: fun one, well at least for me, because I'm going 10 00:00:30,120 --> 00:00:31,600 Speaker 2: to talk about some of the things i feel like 11 00:00:31,600 --> 00:00:34,479 Speaker 2: I've really learned in over three decades being obsessed with 12 00:00:34,560 --> 00:00:43,840 Speaker 2: deer hunting. It's not very often I watch regular old TV. 13 00:00:44,520 --> 00:00:46,519 Speaker 2: With the amount of streaming services out there and the 14 00:00:46,520 --> 00:00:49,680 Speaker 2: sheer availability of on demand content, it's not all that 15 00:00:49,800 --> 00:00:51,800 Speaker 2: common for a lot of people to just flip through 16 00:00:51,840 --> 00:00:54,880 Speaker 2: the channels. If you do, you'll notice that a lot 17 00:00:54,920 --> 00:00:57,160 Speaker 2: of stations run the same show on repeat for hours 18 00:00:57,160 --> 00:01:01,000 Speaker 2: at a time, and in between a major redicut Uelesusness Binge. 19 00:01:01,360 --> 00:01:03,840 Speaker 2: You might also notice a bunch of commercials for products 20 00:01:03,880 --> 00:01:08,759 Speaker 2: and services that are thinly veiled frauds. Think class action lawsuits, 21 00:01:09,280 --> 00:01:11,920 Speaker 2: limited time only amazing products that will change your life, 22 00:01:12,280 --> 00:01:15,320 Speaker 2: and well a hell of a lot of pharmaceuticals that 23 00:01:15,480 --> 00:01:18,640 Speaker 2: you might make you skinny, but will probably also give 24 00:01:18,680 --> 00:01:21,320 Speaker 2: you explosive diarrhea, make you far sighted at night and 25 00:01:21,360 --> 00:01:24,520 Speaker 2: nearsighted in the day, and cause swelling rashes and open 26 00:01:24,560 --> 00:01:29,800 Speaker 2: festering wounds on your undercarriage. Anyway, I recently watched some 27 00:01:29,840 --> 00:01:34,400 Speaker 2: old school TV, subjected myself to those commercials, and voila. 28 00:01:34,760 --> 00:01:37,480 Speaker 2: This podcast was born kind of mostly out of a 29 00:01:37,480 --> 00:01:41,520 Speaker 2: little nostalgia. To be honest, it doesn't really matter, enjoy. 30 00:01:47,560 --> 00:01:50,720 Speaker 2: One thing that has really taken hold recently amongst us 31 00:01:50,720 --> 00:01:55,760 Speaker 2: silly Americans is this whole generational divide thing. Millennials in 32 00:01:55,760 --> 00:01:58,120 Speaker 2: particular seem to have a serious thing against the baby 33 00:01:58,120 --> 00:02:02,320 Speaker 2: boomer generation and to some extent Gen xers gen Z 34 00:02:02,520 --> 00:02:04,680 Speaker 2: is out there getting into the workforce and they're starting 35 00:02:04,680 --> 00:02:07,160 Speaker 2: to figure some stuff out, and other generations they're starting 36 00:02:07,160 --> 00:02:10,760 Speaker 2: to figure some stuff out about them. What's interesting is 37 00:02:10,800 --> 00:02:14,080 Speaker 2: that the complaints from younger generations about the older generations 38 00:02:14,400 --> 00:02:17,400 Speaker 2: have been largely the same since Socrates was robed up 39 00:02:17,400 --> 00:02:20,320 Speaker 2: in the town square talking philosophy on a Sunday afternoon 40 00:02:20,960 --> 00:02:25,600 Speaker 2: in Athens, right now, it seems like the easy target 41 00:02:25,639 --> 00:02:28,760 Speaker 2: is the boomer generation, you know, because they're retiring, and 42 00:02:28,800 --> 00:02:30,680 Speaker 2: I guess to a lot of young folks appear to 43 00:02:30,720 --> 00:02:34,120 Speaker 2: have had it easy. This is most commonly framed in 44 00:02:34,160 --> 00:02:37,240 Speaker 2: some way about money, and you'll see memes and all 45 00:02:37,280 --> 00:02:40,320 Speaker 2: those silly TikTokers out there talking about how it only 46 00:02:40,360 --> 00:02:42,960 Speaker 2: took a boomer thirteen hours on a minimum wage salary 47 00:02:43,040 --> 00:02:45,799 Speaker 2: to buy a brand new house, raise a family, put 48 00:02:45,840 --> 00:02:49,120 Speaker 2: six kids through college, and retire at forty eight, while 49 00:02:49,280 --> 00:02:51,320 Speaker 2: nowadays they need to work two hundred and ninety six 50 00:02:51,360 --> 00:02:54,280 Speaker 2: thousand hours at middle wage to rent a spare closet 51 00:02:54,320 --> 00:02:56,919 Speaker 2: from a slimy landlord who is definitely going to raise 52 00:02:56,960 --> 00:02:59,600 Speaker 2: their rent every month, and who is the epitome of 53 00:02:59,600 --> 00:03:04,600 Speaker 2: corporate greed. They'll gloss over that it mostly wasn't the 54 00:03:04,639 --> 00:03:07,840 Speaker 2: people born into the system that made the rules, or 55 00:03:07,880 --> 00:03:10,760 Speaker 2: the fact that for as hard as they think they 56 00:03:10,840 --> 00:03:13,840 Speaker 2: have it, it's very unlikely they'll get drafted into a 57 00:03:13,880 --> 00:03:16,800 Speaker 2: deeply unpopular war to go spend some time in the 58 00:03:16,880 --> 00:03:19,480 Speaker 2: jungle fighting people who not only had a serious home 59 00:03:19,560 --> 00:03:23,480 Speaker 2: field tactical advantage, but also the emotional advantage of fighting 60 00:03:23,520 --> 00:03:26,359 Speaker 2: for their home Land. My dad spent a year and 61 00:03:26,400 --> 00:03:27,920 Speaker 2: a half over there, and it didn't sound like it 62 00:03:27,919 --> 00:03:29,919 Speaker 2: was a whole lot of fun or that things were 63 00:03:29,960 --> 00:03:33,639 Speaker 2: super easy for him. You could gloss over the reality 64 00:03:33,680 --> 00:03:36,080 Speaker 2: of post World War two America and a long fight 65 00:03:36,120 --> 00:03:38,640 Speaker 2: for civil rights. You know, those poor kids shot up 66 00:03:38,640 --> 00:03:40,800 Speaker 2: at Kent State by their own government, and a whole 67 00:03:40,880 --> 00:03:43,000 Speaker 2: lot of things that wouldn't be all that fun to 68 00:03:43,040 --> 00:03:46,160 Speaker 2: live through today. And you know, the other end of 69 00:03:46,160 --> 00:03:49,320 Speaker 2: the spectrum isn't without merit and their complaints. The young 70 00:03:49,400 --> 00:03:52,320 Speaker 2: kids today do face a system that is set up 71 00:03:52,320 --> 00:03:55,120 Speaker 2: to extract their blood, sweat and tears and whatever money 72 00:03:55,120 --> 00:03:58,720 Speaker 2: they can earn and transfer it to somebody else. They 73 00:03:58,720 --> 00:04:01,560 Speaker 2: were born into a nerved world to some extent, and 74 00:04:01,600 --> 00:04:04,840 Speaker 2: that was a lie. Everyone gets a trophy, but also 75 00:04:05,240 --> 00:04:07,280 Speaker 2: everyone gets an adult world that doesn't give a shit 76 00:04:07,320 --> 00:04:11,920 Speaker 2: about their feelings. Life is hard for all generations, and 77 00:04:11,960 --> 00:04:15,200 Speaker 2: it's hard for almost all people. You younger folks listening 78 00:04:15,200 --> 00:04:17,840 Speaker 2: to that might not believe it, but you'll get there eventually. 79 00:04:18,520 --> 00:04:20,479 Speaker 2: That's one of the things that I've learned as an 80 00:04:20,560 --> 00:04:23,960 Speaker 2: almost millennial but technically a gen xer by about four months. 81 00:04:24,480 --> 00:04:26,400 Speaker 2: As I get older and I stare down the barrel 82 00:04:26,440 --> 00:04:28,480 Speaker 2: on my forty fourth birthday. I think about this stuff 83 00:04:28,520 --> 00:04:32,279 Speaker 2: a lot. It's fun to identify with a specific generation. 84 00:04:32,760 --> 00:04:34,680 Speaker 2: You know, be a part of the tribe if you will. 85 00:04:35,240 --> 00:04:38,159 Speaker 2: We are as humans pretty driven to be around like 86 00:04:38,200 --> 00:04:41,400 Speaker 2: minded people, and this extends into our world as deer hunters. 87 00:04:42,040 --> 00:04:44,000 Speaker 2: But one thing you learn about being in the broad 88 00:04:44,040 --> 00:04:46,279 Speaker 2: tribe of deer hunting and then a smaller tribe of 89 00:04:46,320 --> 00:04:49,159 Speaker 2: bow hunting, and then the smaller tribe of public land 90 00:04:49,200 --> 00:04:52,160 Speaker 2: bow hunting is that we are all playing a weird game. 91 00:04:52,800 --> 00:04:55,080 Speaker 2: It doesn't really matter because our journey is just ours, 92 00:04:56,080 --> 00:04:58,839 Speaker 2: whether you collectively suffer with a bunch of folks or 93 00:04:58,839 --> 00:05:03,000 Speaker 2: you go the whole quiet desperation way that Threau mentioned. 94 00:05:03,560 --> 00:05:08,240 Speaker 2: The journey is yours. The accountability is yours. Your reactions, 95 00:05:08,320 --> 00:05:11,080 Speaker 2: it's your effort and I'm a discipline or the lack 96 00:05:11,120 --> 00:05:15,000 Speaker 2: of it, the enjoyment level, it's on you in life 97 00:05:15,040 --> 00:05:17,760 Speaker 2: and in deer hunting. This is what I want to 98 00:05:17,800 --> 00:05:20,400 Speaker 2: start this podcast with because I feel it in my bones. 99 00:05:21,240 --> 00:05:24,080 Speaker 2: When it comes to deer hunting, we want to be special. 100 00:05:24,600 --> 00:05:27,360 Speaker 2: We want to fit into the cool kids club, and 101 00:05:27,440 --> 00:05:30,560 Speaker 2: you know who is really in that club? Mostly just 102 00:05:30,600 --> 00:05:34,320 Speaker 2: people who kill big bucks quite often. That's kind of it. 103 00:05:35,000 --> 00:05:37,440 Speaker 2: Now you can get bonus points for doing it all 104 00:05:37,480 --> 00:05:39,520 Speaker 2: on public land, or doing it only from the ground 105 00:05:39,520 --> 00:05:42,159 Speaker 2: with a long bow or whatever. But the truth is 106 00:05:42,279 --> 00:05:43,480 Speaker 2: that all of us just want to be in the 107 00:05:43,480 --> 00:05:46,159 Speaker 2: club that kills big Bucks. I can tell you one 108 00:05:46,200 --> 00:05:48,599 Speaker 2: thing about this after a lifetime of deer hunting and 109 00:05:48,680 --> 00:05:52,000 Speaker 2: quite a few years in the hunting industry. That's dumb 110 00:05:52,800 --> 00:05:55,200 Speaker 2: the focus on big Bucks just because they are big. 111 00:05:55,560 --> 00:05:58,760 Speaker 2: It's kind of weird that club is full of people 112 00:05:59,160 --> 00:06:03,000 Speaker 2: who have all different levels of opportunity and finances and 113 00:06:03,080 --> 00:06:07,080 Speaker 2: believe this or not. Skill keeping praise on anyone for 114 00:06:07,160 --> 00:06:10,039 Speaker 2: killing big Bucks without acknowledging how they do it is 115 00:06:10,200 --> 00:06:12,800 Speaker 2: just wild to me. And it kind of confirms how 116 00:06:12,839 --> 00:06:15,599 Speaker 2: little a lot of people know about big Bucks, because 117 00:06:15,600 --> 00:06:18,320 Speaker 2: here's the thing. A lot of big deer are killed 118 00:06:18,320 --> 00:06:20,760 Speaker 2: in ways that aren't challenging at all. If there is 119 00:06:20,800 --> 00:06:23,240 Speaker 2: one thing that I believe about deer hunting, it's that 120 00:06:23,320 --> 00:06:26,880 Speaker 2: this is so damaging to so many people because for 121 00:06:27,040 --> 00:06:32,479 Speaker 2: most folks it's a nearly insurmountable challenge. It can be 122 00:06:32,560 --> 00:06:35,240 Speaker 2: that variable, and I'm here to tell you it is 123 00:06:35,360 --> 00:06:39,919 Speaker 2: that variable. You probably can't actually get admitted into the 124 00:06:39,960 --> 00:06:42,200 Speaker 2: true big buck club because you'll never be able to 125 00:06:42,279 --> 00:06:45,120 Speaker 2: afford it, kind of like a yacht club or I 126 00:06:45,160 --> 00:06:48,080 Speaker 2: don't know, golfing at some of the best courses. Maybe 127 00:06:48,480 --> 00:06:51,240 Speaker 2: you guys know how little I know about golf. I 128 00:06:51,279 --> 00:06:53,680 Speaker 2: think it's better to hunt your own hunt, so to speak, 129 00:06:54,160 --> 00:06:56,760 Speaker 2: find your own reasons to be out there that go 130 00:06:56,880 --> 00:07:00,680 Speaker 2: way beyond just inches of antler. I know that most 131 00:07:00,720 --> 00:07:04,039 Speaker 2: folks aren't pure trophy hunters, but I also know there's 132 00:07:04,120 --> 00:07:06,920 Speaker 2: a lot of bullshit mixed into the messaging of trophy hunting. 133 00:07:07,600 --> 00:07:10,120 Speaker 2: And you know how you can tell just look for 134 00:07:10,160 --> 00:07:13,720 Speaker 2: the weasel words. They exist in all facets of life, 135 00:07:13,800 --> 00:07:16,960 Speaker 2: and especially with hot button political issues, where the terminology 136 00:07:17,000 --> 00:07:21,000 Speaker 2: is always changing but the issues never get fixed. It's 137 00:07:21,040 --> 00:07:25,760 Speaker 2: also obvious in hunting we don't kill deer. We harvest them. Well, 138 00:07:25,760 --> 00:07:28,440 Speaker 2: harvest actually is a technically correct word for it, if 139 00:07:28,480 --> 00:07:30,600 Speaker 2: you want to use it. We all know why we 140 00:07:30,640 --> 00:07:34,920 Speaker 2: say it. We don't trophy hunt anymore. We target much surbucks. 141 00:07:35,600 --> 00:07:37,680 Speaker 2: We wait until the deer are prime age, and then 142 00:07:37,720 --> 00:07:40,240 Speaker 2: we selectively try to remove them because they've done their 143 00:07:40,280 --> 00:07:43,960 Speaker 2: breeding and they've lived their good life and that sounds great. 144 00:07:44,560 --> 00:07:47,640 Speaker 2: You know, until that target buck, the mature one you've 145 00:07:47,720 --> 00:07:49,880 Speaker 2: waited for, I don't know, five or six years on, 146 00:07:50,400 --> 00:07:53,080 Speaker 2: walks in and he's busted both of his main beams off. 147 00:07:53,920 --> 00:07:57,600 Speaker 2: How many folks are shooting that deer? Then he's still mature. 148 00:07:58,040 --> 00:08:01,160 Speaker 2: He still has all of that challenge old into his existence. 149 00:08:01,640 --> 00:08:05,600 Speaker 2: So the antler shouldn't matter, right right? Sure, yeah, totally, 150 00:08:06,320 --> 00:08:08,320 Speaker 2: never mind. It's a hell of a lot harder to 151 00:08:08,360 --> 00:08:10,360 Speaker 2: age year on the hoof than people think, or that 152 00:08:10,400 --> 00:08:12,840 Speaker 2: a real mature deer, say, I don't know, an eight 153 00:08:12,920 --> 00:08:14,200 Speaker 2: and a half year old instead of a five and 154 00:08:14,200 --> 00:08:16,400 Speaker 2: a half year old would be a hell of a 155 00:08:16,440 --> 00:08:18,920 Speaker 2: lot more of a challenge. But no one is letting 156 00:08:19,000 --> 00:08:21,080 Speaker 2: their bucks start to get on the old downswing of 157 00:08:21,120 --> 00:08:23,480 Speaker 2: their antlers and killing them is gnarly one hundred inches 158 00:08:23,720 --> 00:08:27,360 Speaker 2: with huge bellies and gray faces. Nope, it just so 159 00:08:27,400 --> 00:08:30,040 Speaker 2: happens that our definition of mature coincides nicely with the 160 00:08:30,080 --> 00:08:34,280 Speaker 2: biggest racks bucks are ever going to grow and listen. 161 00:08:34,800 --> 00:08:37,640 Speaker 2: If that's your jam and you love it, go for it. 162 00:08:37,800 --> 00:08:39,959 Speaker 2: I mean that. But if you're looking to get into 163 00:08:40,040 --> 00:08:42,080 Speaker 2: that club and feel like the guy working the door 164 00:08:42,160 --> 00:08:44,000 Speaker 2: just isn't going to open the velvet rope for you. 165 00:08:44,600 --> 00:08:46,800 Speaker 2: It might be time to look for something different out 166 00:08:46,800 --> 00:08:49,760 Speaker 2: of your hunting. That's just one of the things I 167 00:08:50,559 --> 00:08:54,000 Speaker 2: truly believe after a long life of obsessing over deer. 168 00:08:54,600 --> 00:08:57,040 Speaker 2: Another is that if you want to truly enjoy hunting, 169 00:08:57,800 --> 00:09:01,960 Speaker 2: figure everything you can out about venison. Now. This will 170 00:09:02,000 --> 00:09:04,920 Speaker 2: sound weird coming from a meat eater guy, but I 171 00:09:04,960 --> 00:09:08,040 Speaker 2: don't mean find the most obscure, show offish recipes for 172 00:09:08,080 --> 00:09:10,400 Speaker 2: your venicon that no one in their right mind would 173 00:09:10,480 --> 00:09:13,480 Speaker 2: actually make besides someone who is looking for Instagram likes 174 00:09:13,480 --> 00:09:17,160 Speaker 2: on their stand in stur videos. I mean the process, 175 00:09:17,440 --> 00:09:31,680 Speaker 2: the appreciation of venison. This is anecdotal, I know this, 176 00:09:32,160 --> 00:09:33,679 Speaker 2: but one of the things that has happened to me 177 00:09:33,800 --> 00:09:35,480 Speaker 2: is I have killed lots of deer and mixed in 178 00:09:35,520 --> 00:09:37,920 Speaker 2: some big ones, is that I'm more interested in the 179 00:09:37,960 --> 00:09:41,800 Speaker 2: meat now than I ever was before. Feeding my family 180 00:09:41,840 --> 00:09:44,240 Speaker 2: means more to me than another big rack on the 181 00:09:44,280 --> 00:09:49,200 Speaker 2: wall that has taught me something. Focusing on procuring venison 182 00:09:49,760 --> 00:09:53,600 Speaker 2: has extended my season, has changed how I feel about hunting. 183 00:09:53,880 --> 00:09:57,360 Speaker 2: It's made it more enjoyable, partially just because it makes 184 00:09:57,400 --> 00:10:01,040 Speaker 2: me go more Now if that seems weird or like bs. 185 00:10:01,120 --> 00:10:04,960 Speaker 2: Let me explain. I like hunting deer, and I like 186 00:10:05,000 --> 00:10:08,720 Speaker 2: shooting deer. I like the process of settling my pin 187 00:10:08,800 --> 00:10:12,080 Speaker 2: on their side or the crosshairs. I like handing my 188 00:10:12,160 --> 00:10:15,200 Speaker 2: daughter's headlamps and heading into the woods at night to 189 00:10:15,200 --> 00:10:18,200 Speaker 2: figure out blood trails, whether they created them or I did. 190 00:10:19,080 --> 00:10:21,560 Speaker 2: I like the feeling of knowing the freezer is full, 191 00:10:22,360 --> 00:10:25,080 Speaker 2: or the feeling of a four hour burger grinding session 192 00:10:25,480 --> 00:10:28,959 Speaker 2: knowing that it'll be tacos and spaghetti sauce all year long. 193 00:10:30,760 --> 00:10:34,440 Speaker 2: Just that aspect, owning it and trying to appreciate it 194 00:10:34,520 --> 00:10:37,240 Speaker 2: has changed how I look at my deer hunting. It 195 00:10:37,280 --> 00:10:39,600 Speaker 2: makes me happy to get dough tags or hunt somewhere 196 00:10:39,640 --> 00:10:41,599 Speaker 2: for a few days knowing that I'm going to be 197 00:10:41,679 --> 00:10:43,960 Speaker 2: hunting hungry, and any deer that walks by and gives 198 00:10:44,000 --> 00:10:46,720 Speaker 2: me the right shot will at least draw some consideration 199 00:10:46,840 --> 00:10:50,640 Speaker 2: from me. And on that note, another thing that I've 200 00:10:50,720 --> 00:10:54,480 Speaker 2: learned kind of relates to me giving different generations at 201 00:10:54,480 --> 00:10:57,320 Speaker 2: the beginning of this podcast is a lot of people 202 00:10:57,440 --> 00:11:00,480 Speaker 2: want you to believe that deer hunting is easy for them. 203 00:11:00,760 --> 00:11:04,000 Speaker 2: This goes for hunting industry folks, and non hunting industry 204 00:11:04,000 --> 00:11:08,360 Speaker 2: folks alike. But the truth is, most people don't tell 205 00:11:08,360 --> 00:11:10,880 Speaker 2: you how hard it is for them to actually get 206 00:11:10,920 --> 00:11:14,600 Speaker 2: it done. They don't tell you their struggles, which far 207 00:11:14,840 --> 00:11:17,959 Speaker 2: outweigh the wins. The truth is that hunting is hard 208 00:11:18,000 --> 00:11:21,200 Speaker 2: for most folks, and if it's not, they aren't looking 209 00:11:21,200 --> 00:11:23,840 Speaker 2: for much of a challenge. Because, believe me on this, 210 00:11:24,280 --> 00:11:26,920 Speaker 2: if you think you're really good, you just haven't put 211 00:11:26,920 --> 00:11:30,480 Speaker 2: yourself in enough situations to learn that you're not. I 212 00:11:30,480 --> 00:11:32,440 Speaker 2: think this is one of the things that our current life, 213 00:11:32,600 --> 00:11:36,720 Speaker 2: with our current technology, has really skewed how we see 214 00:11:36,760 --> 00:11:40,240 Speaker 2: the world. Take Cam Haignes and David Goggins, for example. 215 00:11:40,760 --> 00:11:43,400 Speaker 2: They might be two of the most inspirational people out there, 216 00:11:43,920 --> 00:11:46,559 Speaker 2: and you can see how much amazing shit they've done 217 00:11:46,880 --> 00:11:49,160 Speaker 2: and continue to do with their lives because they plaster 218 00:11:49,240 --> 00:11:52,920 Speaker 2: it all over it's everywhere. They will also tell anyone 219 00:11:52,960 --> 00:11:56,520 Speaker 2: who listens about their struggles. But I promise you that 220 00:11:56,559 --> 00:12:00,199 Speaker 2: doesn't translate as well as some of their successes at 221 00:12:00,240 --> 00:12:05,080 Speaker 2: good money that they both experience serious motivational issues probably 222 00:12:05,160 --> 00:12:07,800 Speaker 2: every day of their lives. They just found the discipline 223 00:12:07,800 --> 00:12:10,600 Speaker 2: to tamp that shit down and power through. But you know. 224 00:12:10,640 --> 00:12:12,839 Speaker 2: The struggle is there because it is part of the 225 00:12:12,920 --> 00:12:16,160 Speaker 2: human experience, and we always want to project an image 226 00:12:16,200 --> 00:12:19,200 Speaker 2: of kicking ass and taking name tags. But most of 227 00:12:19,280 --> 00:12:22,200 Speaker 2: us are just kicking our own asses and well not 228 00:12:22,400 --> 00:12:25,680 Speaker 2: taking names. I guess this is true for life and 229 00:12:25,720 --> 00:12:28,640 Speaker 2: true for hunting, but we don't need to pollute hunting 230 00:12:28,679 --> 00:12:31,680 Speaker 2: with too much stuff that really pisses us off. I 231 00:12:31,720 --> 00:12:33,600 Speaker 2: see this with a lot of Western hunters who focus 232 00:12:33,640 --> 00:12:36,439 Speaker 2: on the non residents ruining their hunting. I see it 233 00:12:36,480 --> 00:12:38,040 Speaker 2: with a lot of white tail hunters who think the 234 00:12:38,080 --> 00:12:40,640 Speaker 2: wolves ate all their deer, or that the neighbor who 235 00:12:40,640 --> 00:12:42,839 Speaker 2: has five hundred acres and doesn't let anyone hunt and 236 00:12:42,880 --> 00:12:46,240 Speaker 2: always kills giant bucks, you know, and he's the worst 237 00:12:46,280 --> 00:12:48,360 Speaker 2: guy in the world. And they just happen to be 238 00:12:48,400 --> 00:12:50,880 Speaker 2: this poor, lowly hunter on twenty acres that borders their 239 00:12:50,920 --> 00:12:54,880 Speaker 2: property and can barely kill a spike. What I know 240 00:12:54,960 --> 00:12:59,000 Speaker 2: about life and deer hunting is you can change and better. 241 00:12:59,120 --> 00:13:04,480 Speaker 2: Yet should hunters are notorious for resisting change, and I 242 00:13:04,520 --> 00:13:07,800 Speaker 2: suspect that's probably an evolutionary thing. We put up a 243 00:13:07,840 --> 00:13:11,520 Speaker 2: lot of guardrails to keep things consistent, because when they aren't, 244 00:13:12,040 --> 00:13:14,640 Speaker 2: it's just as likely things will get worse as opposed 245 00:13:14,640 --> 00:13:19,000 Speaker 2: to better. But deer hunting doesn't need to mirror general life. 246 00:13:19,360 --> 00:13:22,040 Speaker 2: If you're unhappy with your hunting spot, you can find 247 00:13:22,080 --> 00:13:25,800 Speaker 2: another one. Don't tell me you can't, because you can. Now. 248 00:13:25,880 --> 00:13:28,640 Speaker 2: It might not be super awesome, it might not be free, 249 00:13:29,040 --> 00:13:30,839 Speaker 2: it might not be five minutes down the road from 250 00:13:30,840 --> 00:13:34,280 Speaker 2: your house, but the options are out there somewhere. Or 251 00:13:34,600 --> 00:13:37,000 Speaker 2: if you hate non residents and think they ruin your hunting, 252 00:13:37,440 --> 00:13:40,600 Speaker 2: look at it a different way. Imagine having the advantage 253 00:13:40,640 --> 00:13:43,720 Speaker 2: of being right there to scout, to hunt, to camp 254 00:13:43,760 --> 00:13:47,120 Speaker 2: to whatever. Now imagine someone who lives a thousand miles 255 00:13:47,160 --> 00:13:49,480 Speaker 2: away and has less time than you to do all 256 00:13:49,520 --> 00:13:52,560 Speaker 2: those things. Don't you think you can out hunt that 257 00:13:52,600 --> 00:13:55,480 Speaker 2: person nine out of ten times? And if you can't, 258 00:13:56,000 --> 00:14:00,480 Speaker 2: why not. There's no way that person can and scout 259 00:14:00,520 --> 00:14:03,600 Speaker 2: and find every little seat or hidden water hole, every 260 00:14:03,640 --> 00:14:05,600 Speaker 2: bench that the bulls or the bucks might bet on. 261 00:14:06,000 --> 00:14:09,040 Speaker 2: There's no way that person can compete with you. Why 262 00:14:09,080 --> 00:14:10,959 Speaker 2: not get ahead of him and all of his buddies 263 00:14:10,960 --> 00:14:14,800 Speaker 2: and use your advantage. Now, I'm gonna rapid fire a 264 00:14:14,840 --> 00:14:16,960 Speaker 2: few more things that I've come to truly believe about 265 00:14:17,040 --> 00:14:18,880 Speaker 2: hunting before I wrap this whole thing up and warn 266 00:14:18,960 --> 00:14:20,720 Speaker 2: my boss about the hate mail that is probably going 267 00:14:20,800 --> 00:14:23,880 Speaker 2: to roll in over it. I firmly believe that most 268 00:14:23,960 --> 00:14:26,560 Speaker 2: hunters aren't patient enough when it comes to blood trailing, 269 00:14:27,280 --> 00:14:29,960 Speaker 2: not only how long they give an uncertain hit, but 270 00:14:30,080 --> 00:14:32,080 Speaker 2: how long they try to figure it out and grid 271 00:14:32,080 --> 00:14:35,360 Speaker 2: search and give it their best effort. Blood trailing is 272 00:14:35,400 --> 00:14:37,960 Speaker 2: a skill that you can work on, and it's something 273 00:14:38,000 --> 00:14:42,280 Speaker 2: that requires real discipline and patience. It's also something that 274 00:14:42,320 --> 00:14:44,760 Speaker 2: you're gonna have to do whether you like it or not. 275 00:14:46,040 --> 00:14:48,360 Speaker 2: It's a part of deer hunting that can be really 276 00:14:48,400 --> 00:14:54,200 Speaker 2: fun or downright horrible. Try to make everyone lean toward 277 00:14:54,200 --> 00:14:56,840 Speaker 2: the fun category if you can, and you'll enjoy hunting 278 00:14:56,960 --> 00:15:00,480 Speaker 2: far more and feel better about yourself along the way. 279 00:15:01,000 --> 00:15:03,480 Speaker 2: I also think that we should help each other get better. 280 00:15:04,120 --> 00:15:06,960 Speaker 2: I know this sounds woo woo, but I believe it. 281 00:15:07,360 --> 00:15:10,680 Speaker 2: If you're decent at this stuff, help someone who is new. 282 00:15:11,240 --> 00:15:13,800 Speaker 2: If you're new, try to find someone who seems to 283 00:15:13,800 --> 00:15:17,080 Speaker 2: know what they are doing and work with them. I 284 00:15:17,120 --> 00:15:19,080 Speaker 2: know this isn't that easy, and a lot of stuff 285 00:15:19,080 --> 00:15:20,560 Speaker 2: comes into play here, but I can tell you this 286 00:15:21,360 --> 00:15:23,600 Speaker 2: every time I've tried to help someone get better at hunting. 287 00:15:23,960 --> 00:15:27,120 Speaker 2: Not only has it made me feel better, it's made 288 00:15:27,200 --> 00:15:30,600 Speaker 2: me a better hunter. Sure comes with real challenges, and 289 00:15:30,640 --> 00:15:32,440 Speaker 2: there are plenty of people out there who will take 290 00:15:32,440 --> 00:15:35,240 Speaker 2: advantage of you, but sometimes you just get to pass 291 00:15:35,280 --> 00:15:38,360 Speaker 2: along a gift that is worth a hell of a lot. Now, 292 00:15:38,360 --> 00:15:40,560 Speaker 2: if you're worried about taking someone under your wing who 293 00:15:40,640 --> 00:15:42,320 Speaker 2: might shoot a buck that you might want to shoot, 294 00:15:42,800 --> 00:15:45,640 Speaker 2: ask yourself why that matters at all? Does it? Really? 295 00:15:46,560 --> 00:15:48,960 Speaker 2: The answer is up to you, but at least consider 296 00:15:49,000 --> 00:15:52,480 Speaker 2: it before making that decision. Now, another thing that I 297 00:15:52,520 --> 00:15:54,960 Speaker 2: truly believe is this, If you want to get more 298 00:15:55,000 --> 00:15:57,920 Speaker 2: out of hunting, try to learn to love the animals. 299 00:15:58,880 --> 00:16:02,600 Speaker 2: Not just value them for what they can become, but 300 00:16:02,720 --> 00:16:06,120 Speaker 2: love them for what they are. The sheer existence of 301 00:16:06,160 --> 00:16:08,600 Speaker 2: white tails or elk, or bears or antelope or whatever 302 00:16:09,520 --> 00:16:12,920 Speaker 2: just makes our lives better. Kind of like dogs for 303 00:16:13,000 --> 00:16:15,640 Speaker 2: most of us. And while we love our dogs, we 304 00:16:15,800 --> 00:16:18,200 Speaker 2: often look at animals we hunt sort of in an 305 00:16:18,280 --> 00:16:23,600 Speaker 2: abstract way. They are this goal, this thing we want 306 00:16:23,640 --> 00:16:26,960 Speaker 2: to possess. But they are also animals with a connection 307 00:16:27,080 --> 00:16:30,240 Speaker 2: to their world and a will to survive. They're freaking 308 00:16:30,360 --> 00:16:33,400 Speaker 2: cool and if you learn to love them, you'll want 309 00:16:33,400 --> 00:16:36,000 Speaker 2: to be around them more, not just while you're on 310 00:16:36,080 --> 00:16:39,360 Speaker 2: stand with a weapon in your hand, but also all 311 00:16:39,440 --> 00:16:42,920 Speaker 2: that extra time in the off season. Maybe take the 312 00:16:43,000 --> 00:16:44,560 Speaker 2: kids for a drive in the summer just to look 313 00:16:44,600 --> 00:16:47,560 Speaker 2: at them. When you start to think about deer in 314 00:16:47,600 --> 00:16:50,680 Speaker 2: that way, you start to seek out reasons to try 315 00:16:50,720 --> 00:16:53,440 Speaker 2: to be around them. I think that's something that we 316 00:16:53,480 --> 00:16:55,840 Speaker 2: miss in a lot of our hunting advice because it's 317 00:16:55,880 --> 00:17:00,240 Speaker 2: all about scouting and strategizing to kill. The one way 318 00:17:00,280 --> 00:17:02,360 Speaker 2: to get better at this stuff and just like it 319 00:17:02,400 --> 00:17:05,000 Speaker 2: more is to try to appreciate dear for the many 320 00:17:05,000 --> 00:17:10,200 Speaker 2: things they represent to us besides a grip and grin photo. Now, lastly, 321 00:17:11,160 --> 00:17:14,440 Speaker 2: as old gen X or latch key kid who got 322 00:17:14,440 --> 00:17:16,440 Speaker 2: to see the world before the Internet in the world after. 323 00:17:16,880 --> 00:17:21,520 Speaker 2: I'll say this, there are very very few reasons to 324 00:17:21,600 --> 00:17:24,600 Speaker 2: be a prick to someone. This goes for standing in 325 00:17:24,600 --> 00:17:28,000 Speaker 2: line at the grocery store or online, and your favorite 326 00:17:28,080 --> 00:17:31,520 Speaker 2: hunting forum may be parked at the parking area of 327 00:17:31,520 --> 00:17:34,760 Speaker 2: the WMA. If you're going to be nasty to someone, 328 00:17:35,080 --> 00:17:37,159 Speaker 2: please make sure you have a hell of a good reason. 329 00:17:38,200 --> 00:17:41,000 Speaker 2: I don't think disagreeing over hunting strategies is one of them. 330 00:17:41,440 --> 00:17:44,000 Speaker 2: I think that's dumb. Getting jealous over a buck someone 331 00:17:44,080 --> 00:17:49,000 Speaker 2: else killed. It's dumb shitting on someone for shooting a dink. Dumb. 332 00:17:49,440 --> 00:17:51,919 Speaker 2: It's okay to be passionate about this stuff. You should be, 333 00:17:52,400 --> 00:17:54,480 Speaker 2: But it's also good to remember that everyone is on 334 00:17:54,520 --> 00:17:57,080 Speaker 2: their own journey and hunting, and in life, they have 335 00:17:57,119 --> 00:18:01,120 Speaker 2: their own struggles and their own anxiety us, the secret 336 00:18:01,119 --> 00:18:04,920 Speaker 2: self loathing, the addictions, the you name. Its. Making them 337 00:18:04,920 --> 00:18:08,159 Speaker 2: feel worse over hunting is dumb, just as dumb as 338 00:18:08,160 --> 00:18:11,040 Speaker 2: trying to make yourself feel wildly superior over this stuff 339 00:18:11,080 --> 00:18:15,879 Speaker 2: is dumb. Well, I could probably do this for a 340 00:18:15,920 --> 00:18:18,880 Speaker 2: lot longer than I'm going to, but I'm not gonna 341 00:18:18,880 --> 00:18:21,960 Speaker 2: subject you to that. Instead, I'm gonna wrap this sucker 342 00:18:22,040 --> 00:18:24,400 Speaker 2: up and move on to next week, when I'm gonna 343 00:18:24,480 --> 00:18:28,680 Speaker 2: talk about individual deer and how we don't really factor 344 00:18:28,680 --> 00:18:34,120 Speaker 2: this into our hunting decisions, but we definitely should. That's 345 00:18:34,119 --> 00:18:36,159 Speaker 2: it for this week, my friends. I'm Tony Peterson. This 346 00:18:36,200 --> 00:18:38,199 Speaker 2: has been the Wire to Hunt Foundation's podcast, which has 347 00:18:38,240 --> 00:18:41,199 Speaker 2: brought to you by First Light. As always, thank you 348 00:18:41,280 --> 00:18:43,800 Speaker 2: so much for your support. I can't tell you how 349 00:18:43,880 --> 00:18:45,560 Speaker 2: much it means to all of us at meat Eater 350 00:18:45,600 --> 00:18:48,240 Speaker 2: that you guys check in and listen to all these 351 00:18:48,280 --> 00:18:51,680 Speaker 2: podcasts and Clay's podcasts, and you watch the Element guys 352 00:18:51,720 --> 00:18:53,960 Speaker 2: hunt Neil Guy or whatever the hell they're doing this week. 353 00:18:54,400 --> 00:18:56,680 Speaker 2: Your support means everything to us. We don't have anything 354 00:18:56,720 --> 00:18:59,400 Speaker 2: without you, so thank you for that. If you want 355 00:18:59,400 --> 00:19:02,560 Speaker 2: to check out more content, go to the meeteater dot 356 00:19:02,600 --> 00:19:05,639 Speaker 2: com and you will have more than enough stuff to 357 00:19:05,760 --> 00:19:08,439 Speaker 2: fill your time as we write out this January and 358 00:19:08,440 --> 00:19:09,439 Speaker 2: wait for Turkey season.