Many non-hunters have hunting all wrong. Hunting isn't just about the killing of the animal. For some it is the whole experience from the moment you leave your house or camp to the coming back in that same house/camp at the end of your adventure. A good hunt starts with an early rising. If you get out there in time, the sunrise can be one of God's best paintings.

The walk you take in the dark, getting to your stand is another special time to enjoy. No hustle or bustle. Man-made terrain just isn't my style. Just me and the great outdoors is the best gift I could ask for. If you are really paying attention to your surroundings, you will notice ever little sound. You realized that your feet hit the leaves and twigs below them in a certain way as you try your best to be a stealthy hunter. You catch every smell. The earth has its own fragrance, from pine scent to the smell of fresh dirt. You can feel the slightest of breezes and check to see which way it is coming from, especially since it plays such a big part of what you are about to partake in. The moisture hitting your skin makes you cover up a little more or trying to figure to the best of your abilities, what the weather will end up to be by midday. All of this just getting to your chosen hunting area. The picking and planning of the hunting area has been well planned out and leads into a self-test of knowledge and skill that is needed to be successful in your hunt. This comes from years of learning and paying attention to your surroundings. Soaking up what the ones before you have learned and letting them teach you what they are willing to share.

Once you reach your stand, you climb in and sit down. Watching in anticipation as a beautiful picture takes shape. Autumn colors can be topped by nothing on this planet. The animal kingdom begins to wake, from tiny mice scampering around never seeming to really be doing anything to squirrels scurrying gathering their winter food. Birds start to fly about, singing good morning songs to you. A chickadee may light next to you for a quick hello. A fox below may be up bright and early for a hunt just like you. This is the best time to catch up on the greatest kind of television. Your evening hunt will bring the same activity and watching the sunset is truly relaxing. All of this is what draws me and many other hunters. As a young girl, I could go into the woods or down to the river and get lost in my own wild kingdom. I would play most of the day out there. As I grew older, I learned to combine that appreciation of nature with my love for hunting. What a beautiful marriage it has been.

There is a peace and happiness that comes from time spent hunting, when the animal that you are hunting does finally appear and you, at last get the chance to harvest it, the taking of the trophy is just a great bonus. I would be lying if I said the trophy had no bearing whatsoever on my reasons to hunt, but I will say that it is the icing on the cake of being in the wonderful woods and enjoying Mother Nature.