Hunting sometimes ends with disappointment and frustration. Some hunters have even given up pursuing the game animals they have sought after for nearly a lifetime . No more all day sits, or traipsing around the countryside chasing game.
2022 was a year of disappointment for me. First illness kicked my family’s ass, COVID and pneumonia to name a couple ailments that invaded our household. Second, my oldest boy suffered a concussion and was not released to hunt by his doctors. (He has since recovered, and is able to go back to his regular activities) And 2022 was not the year I would hunt exclusively with a handgun.
But it would be the year I missed a giant buck. It would be the year I didn’t shoot a deer at all. I could bitch and moan and make excuses but instead I will say, every emotion I felt during season was a product of my own design. Yes my riflescope was damaged and yes it was sighted in, but it got hit hard some time after I shot it last. Had I looked the gun over though, I would have seen the ding, so deep it went to the bare metal. How did I not see that?
And how did I not realize my blind setup was off. Why did I not think about the fact I was leaving a six mile wide blind spot behind my blind. Thirty yards farther into the woods and my options tripled for a shot. But I missed it.
As disappointing and absolutely defeating this deer season turned out to be, there were lessons to be learned.
For starters, MOVE the damn blind! The spot I put it, gave me some great shooting lanes but it also left a game trail completely out of view. I really wish I would have caught that sooner!
Even if the sights are on target, and even if you spend as much time shooting during the off season as possible, take the time to do a visual check on your firearms often! Had I taken a couple minutes to look that Remington over one last time, I would have seen the damage on the scope and would have carried another rifle. Yeah I admit this was a major screw up on my part. And it cost me the biggest buck I’d ever taken a shot at.
Also an opportunity showed itself, I wanted to swap my Simmons 3-9x scope for an optic of the 4-12x variety. And now it’s a requirement if I intend to hunt with my .300 win. Mag in the future.
As for the year of the revolver, it’s still to come. I wasn’t able to get enough time with the handgun to get comfortable enough to take a deer with it. More practice and I will get a deer with a revolver.
Sure it would be easier to give it up for good. But I’d rather get my shit together and get back out there!