For me, the harder a hunt is the better a successful outcome is. I'm wondering if others feel this way. Sure, I love going one time and getting lucky with a nice buck or turkey, but when the hunt has pushed me to actually work for it and failure seems obvious... then it all comes together... that's special! Even when the deer is not a trophy to the eyes of others, a deer taken after a lot of effort can be a trophy to me. You too? This Mule Deer is one I took on a 9 day muzzle loader hunt in 2014 in Colorado. It was public land hunting so getting a mega buck was not the expectation, but on my first day out I would have passed this buck. 8 days of all day hunting had worn me down a good bit and when my alarm went off in the tent at 4:00am that last day I so much wanted to stay in my sleeping bag. I pushed myself to rise and walk in the dark to a place where I had glimpsed a decent buck a few days earlier and against all odds I got the chance. This deer means way more to me than it would if I had easily taken him. I like a hunt with some uncertainty. Take the shot.... wonder, was it good? It looked good but I was nervous. A scant blood trail.... maybe it waasn't good.... then- the deer! I love that! When I look back at 50 years of hunting, the hunts that keep coming back to mind the most are not the biggest racks or thickest beards. I love remembering those times that took the most effort. If it was always easy I doubt I would have stayed for the long haul.
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