Losing interest?

Has anyone every felt like they just cant get into hunting a particular year or like you are losing interest? I dont know what it is but I just feel off this year. At the risk of sounding like an ego manic, I have been very fortunate to have taken several really nice deer, and I kinda feel like I cant do any better than what I got. Every year, like a lot of you, it takes a bigger deer to satisfy myself. I am at the point to where my goals are almost unrealistic for my area. Add that to older big deer disappearing, losing hunting land, bucks getting poached, and losing a 160" deer in a bad deal with the neighbor, two years of headaches, its tough to stay motivated. It is strange to me because I have lived deer everyday for the last 20 years.

I feel with you Boss this year, I have been working a ton of hours. My 2 daughters just finished up soccer last week which was 6 days a week of practice and games. I have only been out 3 times in 23 days. For some reason not motivated right now. But I will get back at it hard next week!

I know somewhat how y'all feel. Yes, I've been able to hunt every weekend since the season opened, but every time I've been out it seems like my set up was wrong, or the deer changed times that they come in the area. I live 200 miles from where I hunt so I only get to spend so much time in the woods. I don't get to scout as much as I'd like, so if it weren't for my camera, I'd have no idea what I have coming through or when. With the economy the way it is, it's harder for me to get up there as often as I want and it's just real frustrating. I'm going to keep at it as much as my loving wife will allow me to be away from home until I draw blood. Maybe once the blood hits the ground and I smell the backstrap things will ease up a bit. Good luck to the both of you and Boss, man I sure hope something happens and you can get back into it.

Wow this is deep guys...

Personally no I have never lost interest especially from Oct 1st thru November. We all get frustrated from time to time and when that happens I just think of what may be coming; cause you never know when the once in a lifetime buck may show himself. Sure once December hits I always seem to slack off a bit and may miss a hunt here and there when I could have been up in a tree, but I tend to look for anything positive weather that be being behind the camera for a buddy's biggest deer, getting someone new into the outdoors, or enjoying an experience that I will never get lying on the couch watching football. the excitement of the hunt is the unknown and I live by that! It is what keeps me up at night while trying to sleep or in the stand for that extra hour.

It has been a frustrating year so far for me too. I too have only been out 3 times so far this season. Then last year I have 3 or 4 potential P & Y bucks on the trail cam in my hunting area. This year so far, zero. I don't know where they went. Lots of little guys, but nothing like last year.

Sorry to hear about everybody's frustrations, but if hunting was easy it wouldn't be fun. So keep your heads up and just think, the rut is right around the corner! Good luck!

Boss,
I had some good words for ya, but for some reason my post didn't get posted. So here is the short version,
GET OUT THERE AND HAVE FUN, do not take it so serious, maybe your standards ended up too high after a few good bucks. Score is not everything. I would rather shoot a nice, mature 8 point at 100" while having fun over shooting a 180 and hating the whole season just for that one buck. Just remember this, you started your hunting life because it was FUN !!!!!

Im feeling the same way also. Found myself the last two days questioning if I really wanted to go hunting or not. Yesterday i didnt. Today i did and I really thinking about sleeping in in the morning. I have never ever been like this????

Here is another thought. TAKE A KID HUNTING !! I don't care how old, just watching them take everything in can be an experience and if they are old enough to shoot something, well that just makes it better. Get out and relax and enjoy everything.

shedaddict wrote:Im feeling the same way also. Found myself the last two days questioning if I really wanted to go hunting or not. Yesterday i didnt. Today i did and I really thinking about sleeping in in the morning. I have never ever been like this????

Oh, poor Jimmy......lol. You've already knocked down a couple and got to taste fresh backstrap I'm sure. We're all still eating what's left of last years if any. Suck it up.....

Pa. Bowhunter wrote:Here is another thought. TAKE A KID HUNTING !! I don't care how old, just watching them take everything in can be an experience and if they are old enough to shoot something, well that just makes it better. Get out and relax and enjoy everything.

I can't agree enough. I love to hunt with my niece and can't wait till my son Jack is big enough. We were in the blind the other day and some does came out my brother and I barely notice them, then I turn my head and look at Alivia; she was literaly shaking she was so excited! That makes you feel like a kid again

It's pretty easy to loose interest when gun season opens with the orange army of weekend warriors out, but there are ducks and geese that need shot, pike that will hit a fly in the river, trap lines to check, and a shorthair that lives for the smell of pheasants...

I hope I never lose interest. Getting into the beautiful fall woods to observe nature is what keeps me sane.

We all have frustrating days but the big picture always outweighs them for me. I've been taking my son ALOT this yr. It's made the hunting more difficult but again, the big picture has outweighed those frustrating moments.

I have been there and often find myself at that crossroads. The decision of whether to get up and go or just enjoy some well deserved sleep. I usually get up and go and am the better for it.you may want to try setting realistic goals with new more primative equipment. The taking of a doe at 6 yards with a long bow or recurve is a monumental task or the taking of a smaller buck. Try removing scopes from rifles,shotguns and muzzle loaders. If you own a modern in line type muzzle loader get yourself an old Hawkins style. if you use a long range rifle then get a short range gun that will challenge your skills. Let the hunt become the challenge and the reward. Try spot and stalk with your hunting equipment instead of stand hunting. Sneaking within a few yards of even a cull buck is a task worthy of the most skilled outdoorsman. I have done a few of these things to increase the difficulty level of some of my hunts and it made for a chellenging and in the end very rewarding hunt.

Last year was a bad year for me. I shot 1 doe all season and didn't see but 1 shooter buck all year and I passed him because he was borderline. I had several times last year where I had to force myself to go because I just wasn't in to it. If I took a week off from hunting I usually felt like going again with some new motivation. Hang in there guys! The best of the season is yet to come!!!

There have been some good responses to your post.

If you feel a little burnt : Take a break; go hunt something else; go shoot something below your standards and start over; loved the advice to take a youth out.