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This post is part of the ongoing “Why I Hunt” series.

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Ask any hunter about the ‘rush’ that occurs as a buck approaches, and he or she will undoubtedly tell you it’s like no other ‘high’ they’ve known. A primary cause of this rush is adrenalin, and it’s another reason why I hunt.

I definitely wouldn’t lump hunters into the category of “Thrill-seekers”. You know, people who jump off cliffs or out of planes, or stuff like that. Granted, I’ve done my share of thrill-seeking in my day: bungee jumping, jumping off of a 70 foot bridge into a river, etc. However, the adrenalin rush that occurs during a hunt is so much different. It’s coupled with peace and anticipation, and if I don’t experience the rush I won’t stop hunting. That is, I don’t hunt for the Adrenalin rush, but if it occurs (i.e., if I see a buck), it’s icing on the cake.

I mentioned before that many hunters will describe the hunting rush as being better than any other high. To illustrate this point, I want to share a story about a hunting guide I once met; his name was Fred. During our hunt, Fred shared his story with me. He talked about how he used to ride be a wild biker and a drug addict. Fred had experienced most ‘highs’ of this world. Fred added that as he started to straighten out his life, he missed the ‘highs’ of his old life…and then Fred discovered hunting. Here’s a quote from Fred as we finished tracking my first wild boar:

 ”(Loud holler). That’s it buddy! You did it! I get the shakes and I’m not even hunting right now…this is the best feeling in the world! You know, I’ve been drunk and high and everything in between, and I wouldn’t trade this feeling right now for any of that!”

 I guess sometimes Adrenalin can be our worst nightmare too, such as when our shaking legs inhibit us from implementing a successful and ethical shot. But that’s one of the glories of hunting. You’ve got to master your prey and yourself to be good.

Here’s to the rush…and here’s to guys like Fred…

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Before continuing the “Why I Hunt” Series, I should point-out a few blogs that inspired some of the posts in this series. Matt at Bright Idea Outdoors wrote a post on the “Three M’s of Hunting.” While his post came after this series began, it is definitely an inspiration to the continuation of this series. Darrell at Alpha Trilogy wrote a piece entitled “I Hunt Because It’s Fun”, and I’d have to agree! CDGardens at TimberLife wrote an article about her interest in the outdoors. I strongly recommend all of these stories.

Also, if you’re new to this blog, you should know that this post is part of an ongoing series about Why I Hunt. Onto today’s piece…which Darrell foreshadowed in a recent comment on the last entry in this series when he stated “Peace, Quiet, Solitude combined with keen anticipation tend to bring happiness.”

From my perspective, anticipation is an aspect of hunting that sets it apart from most other outdoor pursuits. Hunting is almost synonymous with anticipation. The hope that a buck walks by is the essence of the hunt, and it is what distinguishes “Hunting” in your stand from merely “Sitting” in the woods.

If you’ve ever seen A River Runs Through It, there is a fabulous quote at the end of the movie:

But when I am alone in the half light of the canyon all existence seems to fade to a being with my soul, and memories, and the sounds of the Big Black Foot River, and a four count rhythm, and the hope that a fish will rise.

I believe this same quote applies to hunting. Most hunters wouldn’t hunt if it weren’t for this hope…this anticipation. Otherwise, it simply wouldn’t be called ‘hunting’. What’s so funny about this hope is how infrequently it is fulfilled. If you think about it, it’s a relatively rare occasion that a deer, let alone a buck, presents itself. Yet, it is this precise moment we continually chase after. The anticipation is so great that the sight of a tail flashing in a thick forest is enough send your heart pounding.

Anticipation can also lead to disappointment. How many times have I been sure that the crunching behind me is a deer, only to find that it’s that pesky chipmunk! Worse yet, what about missed opportunities? We finally see a buck only to make a movement that sends him running the other way, tail flying in the air.

If you’ve ever taken a course in logic, you could say that Anticipation is a necessary but not sufficient condition to be hunting. That is, one cannot hunt without anticipation…it’s a necessary ingredient…one that continually haunts us. It’s why we scout all summer, and trim shooting lanes, and plant foodplots, and spend countless hours at the range.

Hunters are in a constant state of anticipation…

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The hustle and bustle of daily life gets the best of us. Beyond our hectic lives, there’s the headlines that bring news of hatred, violence, hunger, and war. We’re bombarded with so many images and messages of disruption that peace and quiet become a commodity.

Enter deer season. While hunting has been known to bring stress of its own (equipment failures, preparations, frustrations), it doesn’t take me long to remember a primary reason I love hunting so much. I love the moment when all of my preparations are complete and I’m in my stand. There’s nothing else I can do to prepare for the moment of truth…and I take that deep breath, exhale, and relax. Not just relax like kick up my shoes and relax…I mean deep peace in the soul.

It takes me a while to find because my mind races with anticipation. But hunting forces one to patience. Eventually, our bodies and minds give way to the presence of peace. It creeps in through the bird chirping or the squirrel scurrying in the leaves or, when we’re lucky, a hoof crunching a leaf. We learn that the rays of sun peering over the horizon can burn our souls.

Solitude:Hunting reminds me of the importance of solitude…time to escape my own thoughts as I unite with nature. For me, it’s one thing to go for a hike. But when I’m hunting, the hope that a buck will appear keeps me in the woods for extended periods of time. When else do we allot so much time to ourselves…to quietness…to solitude?

A Battle to Surrender: The words “battle” and “peace” aren’t exactly synonyms…but my experience has taught me that I have to battle to stay in the presence of this peace. It’s a struggle for me to let go of myself and attend to nature herself. Thoughts race repeatedly, but I have to give way. I must fight to surrender myself.

I don’t understand it, but I often find the things I don’t consciously set-out to hunt. One of those things is peace…

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Those of you who have been reading my blog for awhile may have realized that I love series! I have ongoing series on several topics, including “Tackling Buck Fever“, “Interviews“, “The Second Amendment“, and “WATG“. From my point of view, series help me categorize/organize my previous posts, so its easier for myself and others to find a particular post they may have liked.

Today, I’m starting a new series that I’ve been thinking about for a while: “Why I hunt”. I feel that this topic deserves a series because the reasons are multifaceted…with each reason deserving its own post. If you’ve read any of my “Hunting Culture” posts, then you already have a bit of a preview for the reason I’ll discuss today: The Culture of Hunting.

Growing up: My dad hunted when he was a teenager/young man, so as long as I’ve known him (my whole life), I’ve known hunting. I was raised with guns in the closet and deer antlers lining the rafters of our basement (and eventually, mounts on the walls of the Family Room). We would go on walks in the woods (which we called ‘adventures’), and I can still remember seeing my first “buck rub” when I was about 5 years old. I couldn’t hunt in PA until I was 12, but I wanted to be a part of the hunting experience. I drafted maps for dad. I made up fictitious locations, and before dad went out for the evening, he’d sit with me and look at the maps, being sure to ask questions so he knew how to get to the honey hole I depicted. I’d then wait anxiously for him to return, hoping there was a buck in the bed of his truck.

Hunting Camp: I was also exposed to hunting camps at a very young age. There are 2 camps in particular that stick out in my mind. One was my Uncle’s, located in Cooks Forest, PA. It was a nice A-frame situated on a dirt road. The main room was lined with my Uncle’s mule deer, steelhead, trout, and a monstrous 6 x 6 elk. I always ate and slept well at this camp. I shot my first buck near this camp.

The other deer camp was completely different. It consisted of a group of guys who gathered for the first week of PA’s rifle season. They met in the heart of the Allegheny National Forest, and they brought some old campers. Each year, these guys would set-up camp at the same spot. Dad had known these guys for years, so we’d always stop by “deer camp” during the middle of our hunts. These guys knew how to rough it with class. They always had the best deer salami and bologna that they’d share with me, the “young buck.”

Synergy: Synergy is the notion that the sum is greater than each of its parts. That’s the word I chose to describe growing up in the ‘hunting culture.’ It consisted of what I described above (walks with dad and deer camp), and it also included much more (membership at our sportsmen’s club, etc.). Each of these aspects from my youth taught me about the outdoors, but combined, they shaped my attitudes and desires to hunt.

Closing Thoughts: I hunt because this is what I know. To me, hunting is how you spend your Fall/Winter months (and of course Spring Turkey!). At one point in my life, I thought every family had guns in their closets! Hunting is a part of me. From my perspective, I can’t imagine my life without hunting. The outdoors haunts me…

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