Why Do I Hunt?
This is the double main beam buck that Casey hunted for years and never found or killed
Many times I have been asked the question, “Casey why do you hunt?” and my mind immediately starts racing with thoughts of enjoyment, passion, motivation, and respect. To me hunting is more than going out and killing an animal, it is a way of life.
The amount of respect I have for these animals, particularly whitetails, is something that not many people understand. The deer that I hunt have taught me just how hard you have to work in order to achieve the results you want. Each year I spend countless hours in the woods, on the computer, and reading books hoping to get a chance at a buck that will define how much effort I put in. Even with all of this hard work, they still manage to escape.
Deer hunting is almost like trying to catch smoke with your bare hands. It amazes me how these bucks are able to survive with all of the odds stacked against them. Things such as other hunters, predators, harsh winters, and starvation are just a few problems that they face everyday, yet they still thrive.
Having history with a buck makes the final hunt and kill much more meaningfull
When the moment comes where I do finally end up with a dream buck in my hands, I can not help but to be grateful. The chance to even see one of these beautiful animals is something that I think of as a true blessing because of their masterful ability to be so elusive. All of this has made me very passionate towards deer hunting and being able to hunt, study, and observe them is something that I do not take for granted. I get the most enjoyment out of following a particular buck for multiple years and observing him grow, adapt and survive, even with all of the daily challenges they must face.
One of my fondest memories is from a buck that I called “The Double Main Beam Buck.” I have countless trail camera photos, sheds and even got the chance to see him one time over the course of our six year history. Yet he still managed to slip away. It almost seemed fitting for him to live on because to this day I have not heard of anyone harvesting him or even finding him dead. The last photo I have of this deer was in 2008, which would have made him seven to eight years old and I think that that is truly incredible for a wild deer in Wisconsin, on public ground to live that long. This is where I find myself most in awe of these animals that take up so much of my time and life.
I hope this article makes you think about the question “why do you hunt?” and you can answer with something that comes from the heart. Hunting is something that is more than just killing, but is a passion for nature, the outdoors and all that that brings with it.
To read more of Casey’s work on MorningMoss.com check out his author page here.
