Bullshot
Well-known member
Turning 45 in a couple of weeks and reflecting on the opportunities ahead. I’m probably midway or more through my hunting career, arguably with some of my best abilities already behind me but probably some of my best quality hunts still ahead. I’ve had a few very desirable tags so far, each a ton of fun. In all cases, my “trophy” quality severely (very severely, ha ha) underperformed the unit’s potential each time - DIY is tough on always new ground, especially coming from the east! But I’ve brought home a bull or buck or cow or doe most trips and I wouldn’t trade any of the experiences. I am limited to one trip a year (many years over the past 20+ I’ve done exactly none) and lately it seems evident (even with many more years hopefully to do it) that I’ll probably never draw those one or two hunts I most desperately want to, but also that I’ll never burn all my different points or run out of things to do so long as nonresident opportunities remain. For 2021, I have the choice of putting in for a top antelope hunt, a Wyoming general elk, other low-point draws, possibly a leftover, or any of the several OTC options. Lightning could strike on a low odds lottery application too, who knows. I guess I am just sharing this to keep in perspective how thankful I am to have these opportunities, and to demonstrate to new hunters who ask “is it worth it” for this draw or that, that a multi-faceted approach, long term planning, short term flexibility, and hopefully continued availability of tags and public land has given this guy, and all of you, more opportunity, including some great quality, than we could actually hunt in a lifetime if we tried. Hope you all had a happy Thanksgiving!