A monthly series of stories of the great outdoors from folks who's passions drive them there.
Get a lot of folks that don't hunt ask me why I do..... My immediate reply is to ask "When was the last time you sat by yourself for five hours straight without an outside distraction all while immersed in nature influenced only by your enhanced senses?"... Knowing the answer for most would be never without having to even ask the question.
"Take pride in yourself for that."
They often reply "I don't think I could do that, sit still for that long". To which I reply, in a non-judgmental manner, "That's your problem." ... Life nowadays gets faster and faster. Every thing is immediate. Anxiety and depression go hand in hand with burning out which everyone will experience if you don't willfully slow yourself down sometimes.
The woods and its subsequent silence works as a natural filtration system for your mind and body. Couple that with the adrenal boost that comes with hunting and it becomes one of the most efficient methods of decompression out there.
And the best part is, the vast majority of the people who ask get it. I then ask one more question. "When do you want to go?"
That's why what we do is classified as a tradition, not a hobby. We are all stewards. Take pride in yourself for that.
PA Rut Rob