Flashback 1985….Ronald Reagan starts his second term as President, Kaley Cuoco (Penny on Big Bang Theory) was just born, and Foreigner was on top of the music charts. It also was the last time I went deer hunting.
2012 will mark my return to the sport of hunting. Over the years I have had plenty of
opportunities to return to the sport, but have always found an excuse not to venture
out the woods. Real life was often to blame for the absence, including things like lack of vacation time, work and family obligations, and maybe a lack of motivation.
After much reflection, I really believe my apprehension was due to a body weight issue I was battling. Back in 1985, I was rock solid at 285 pounds and a college athlete. I remember how difficult the uphill climbs were in the LaCrosse area even being in excellent shape. There was no way I could endure those trails weighing a lot more. Let’s just say I had a huge weight gain after college.
A couple of years ago, I had a huge healthy weight loss of almost 170 pounds. This has opened doors for me personally, which just weren’t physically possible with my obese condition. The weight losses revitalized my life, and rekindled some old passions.
Fast forward to 2012: 17 years have passed and Nov 17th will mark the first time I
will carry a firearm into the deep woods of Waupaca County.
I eagerly await the trail walks into the woods to set up my little piece of paradise. This is the
exact portion of the hunt which kept me from partaking in the sport for many years. For anyone battling the similar demons which limited my life, do whatever you can to overcome them, so your passions don’t become memories. The thrill of the hunt is brewing in my veins again, and it will be remarkable to experience the smells, anxieties, and thrills which have been absent for so long.
So the decision has been made to partake in the hunt. The license and clothes are purchased. The guns will be sighted in shortly. Now a decision needs to be made….Hunt for a trophy or hunt for some meals? Stay tuned; I am sure there are some stories which will need to be told in the coming weeks.
