I ahve noticed that lately, I have been much more drawn to trumpet playing and my 2500 HD Dmax than hunting or shooting. I haven't posted here much in the last couple weeks, but I have been involved over at Trumpet Herald.
I mean, I spent money on a new bumper for my truck (I got tired of being hit and having the tin can factory front bumper getting damaged) instead of acquiring other stuff on my hunting wish list. I have also bought a few mouthpieces for the trumpet and flugel, amd spending money on lessons, and am seriuosly thinking of seeling a rifle or even two so I can get a pro-level cornet.
Part of it is the time of year. My real interest is is game hunting, and there isn't much of that going on this time of year. Another part is I need to finish the room addition to our house, so any spare time--which I haven't had much of in the last couple months--needs to go to that. I have a bunch of cases for my 280 Ack ready to be necked turned, and they have been ready for a couple months now. I haven't even been to the range in a couple months.
I think what the real culprit is was my tour in Japan. I got to hunt at home in Oregon for three seasons, which took the zeal off what I had been doing in Texas. Add to that the incredible blessing of taking a small raghorn bull elk in Oregon last fall, and the type of Texas style hunting I can afford holds very little appeal for me anymore--though I do want take another hog or two..........
Maybe when my 338 Win caomes back from Celt and I start getting ready for elk hunting again my interest will be renewed. However, I can clearly see my hunting and shooting dwindling to once a year hunting in Oregon, and shooting 22s throughout the year to improve my marksmanship. I won't be competition shooting, and probably not even varmint hunting. Crud, I have my John Ricks built 27" barreled 6mm Rem for two years know and haven't come close to working up a load for it. I am also not sure I have a use for the 280 Ack.
Maybe when I get some more time back I'll become a little more enthused about shooting and hunting again. I guess I'll go online and get my 2003 Oregon hunting license, and then it's time to practice my trumpet than get back to work on the room addition...............................
Blaine
Lose interest in hunting! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />
Sacrelige! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" /> Scoundrel! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> TRaitor! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
well, we all go through a spell like this once in a while, it will pass!
Heck Blaine you are just growing older. Rather do one quality hunt that you really enjoy than just blim blam around at anything that comes down the pike.
You haven't lost intrest so much as your intrest has changed.
BCR
Those feelings usually dawn on me as well once winter starts here and there is enough snow on the ground for snowmachining, which I turn most of my attention to. But even when I am snowmachining, for example, I'm always packin' a .22 pistol with me incase I encounter any small game. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
That's been me for about 2 years now. No time to make a real effort at it. I've pretty much switched to fishing--I can do it year round and bring home fish almost every time I go out.
Ain't no thing man, give it some time. 'Sides a guy needs more than one interest, I read a lot and volunteer at my grandsons school for special events with the PTO, take my wife garage saleing and flea mkting most Saturdays. Wish I still had my Harley, but the back won't take the ride and the legs won't hold it up any more. Heck I evn go to quilt shows with her and enjoy them, then there is my daughter and her monthly horse show.
Don't worry about it. I bet that hunting and shooting will be your base of primary interest like mine has been all my life.
This year I have been into varmint hunting far more. Usually it's just getting the boat ready and spending the summer on it.
Our interests swing back and forth. Keep up your NRA membership and check in once in a while. I went bonkers over at the Corvette Forum when I got another one a few years back. Now I have not posted there in months.
But I will aways be a rifleman as long as my eyes can see and I have a breath in me.
I go through the same thing every year. From September through March, guns, shooting, and hunting are all I can think about. Once it starts getting warm outside my interests switch to boating. I'm still planning on doing plenty of shooting this summer though. Just have to finish some of the these "honey do's" first.
Like most here, come spring my thoughts move out of the shooting/hunting train of thought. Turkeys are in now, but I don't worry much about them. Wasn't too long ago I'd be thrashing a racecar together, but I finaly left that up to the guys who can afford it! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
I do keep the .22 handy for starlings and such, and I enjoy muzzle loading once it warms up some. My brother talked me into going along to shoot some trap, but that's limited to the odd Sunday outtings.
Of course, just getting to the projects that cold & snow cancel will kill alot of time. Gardening and home repairs are forgotten in the fall, but they always come back and gang up on me in the spring! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
7mm
Blaine,
I was feeling that way a couple of years ago, but since I was fortunate enough to be able to hunt for a day and a half up at CAT's place, my fire is stoked!! and stoked hot. I had such a great time up there, not what I was used to .. but it was awesome.
Since then I've been looking for oppurtunities. A co-workers fiance's father has mentioned hunting in Oklahoma this fall, if CAT has forgiven me for missing a doe last year <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> and needs a little help, I may get two chances to hunt this year. I gonna try to put together an unguided muley hunt in Utah for next year. There are days my head doesn't stop spinning about going out hunting!
Reckon everythng comes and goes in cycles.
Good Luck getting those projects done!
AFP,
Your not alone.
I haven't been at the reloading bench in a couple months easy. Went to the range a week or two back, and had a good time.
I've got a great hunt coming up in less than three weeks, but still haven't gotten all excited.
Boats and boating related issues are my main diversions right now.
It sounds like you need a road trip! Time to go for a couple of weeks in Africa with JJ. I think a dozen or two trophies from Africa will help you to enjoy hunting again.
AFP,
I have also noticed as I get older (50) that I don't enjoy hunting as much. I'm thinking that it is more of a less desire to kill stuff, although I still love to launch a sage rat or jackrabbit, but don't have the urge shoot every one in the country like I did when I was younger. Nowdays I get a lot of satisfaction out of tinkering with a rifle and getting it to shoot good groups on paper. And just when I think I have every rifle I could possibly need, they come out with something new, like the .17 rimfire!
Virgil B.
After my wife died (12-15-89), I lost interest in just about everything. I'd wake-up each morning and wonder why I should even bother to get up. Then several things began to occupy my attention. A friend asked me to acquire the incomplete revision of our late friend John Donnelley's book and complete it. By the time it was obvious that wasn't going to work-out, I'd gotten too interested and too involved to drop it -- so I researched, wrote, illustrated, and published my first Custom Cartridges book.
That work led to articles for Varmint Hunter, acquisition of the Powley ballistics library and papers, etc, (and the inspiration for establishing the Powley Center with a range, lab, and museum), and more books. (I'm working on eight books now, and a passel of articles for three magazines.)
Never dormant very deep or for very long, my old love for varmint-shooting surged to the surface and became my first love for shooting afield.
A newly met friend asked me to play around with the '06 case to see what I could do to design the ultimate .338, 358, and .375 cartridges on it. That led to the design of twelve new Howell catridges, about half of which are now factory-loaded and very satisfying to the shooters who hunt with 'em.
Also, checking a few on-line discussion forums like this one put me in touch with a great community of other gun folks, which further enhanced and increased my interest in the above topics and projects.
I haven't had a moment of boredom or self-pity for longer than I can remember. A stroke knocked me off my feet and nearly killed me (7-1-01), but about six weeks in hospitals and a few months of in-home therapy put me back on my feet (in a very loose way of speaking!). I'm still physically "disabled" (technically) but have no problem with the fact that I'll never be able to hunt big game or even upland birds again. I have plenty to keep my MIND occupied and my time filled.
I could use more time. Studies in calculus, physics, and other topics inadequately learned in college don't get enough of my schedule. I'll have enough to do and to think about for at least another twenty years.
Not a day has brought boredom or depression. While I was in the hospital, realization and acceptance of the raw facts of life led me to swear that although this *&^%$#@! paralysis and weakness may yet kill me, it ain't gonna lick me!
This summer's plans include two prairie-dog shoots, one of which will regrettably be on the same dates as the third such shoot that I got invited to. I hope there'll be other opportunities like these two. I can still drive anywhere in my old F150, get myself into a grocery store or motel room without help, set-up my shooting bench in the field, etc. I just take a little longer to do even the simplest chores, that's all.
Throw yourself eagerly into any and all new interests and any reborn old interests, and don't give yourself time to mourn the passing or thinning of other old interests. I think the main key is keeping your mind engaged, occupied, busy. For me, at least, the inability to engage and occupy my body and muscles in any of those delightful old pastimes is dim in the background. I'm almost completely content -- wouldn't mind being weak and unable to walk, if I could only swallow food and drink. Almost content but thoroughly enjoying life.
Don't give up. Ever. And don't look back at anything back there that discourages you or makes your outlook seem the least bit bleak.
Dr. Howell- Thanks, for that. Truly inspirational. Too many times I find myself thinking of or dwelling on what I am not able to to instead of relishing in the cards I am dealt.
What a great mind Ken Howell has. He not only identified a problem but gave specific and general advice on how to solve it.
I won't get into a discussion of Dr. Ken's mind, what there is of it, and will leave that to my betters. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />
I do think that we are getting too deep into philosophy here though.
It is plain to see from the original post of this thread that what has happened has a simple explanation.
All that makes Blaine happy now is setting around tooting his own horn. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
(Sorry, I resisted as long as I could. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> )
BCR
AFP
It was good to see that were not alone w/our thinking. Guns and hunting have always been my passion. I have had a brand new, Dillon 650 and 900 reloading presses sitting in storage, because of a lack of interest. Go figure.
Personal trials have had something to do w/this. Plus some of my values have changed over the years. But, I have always had an interest in firearms/hunting. Just seems it is different now-a-days.
I do enjoy what I've been blessed with.
I've seen these "peaks and valleys" in my life, and I'm content no matter where I'm at. One thing about life, It is always changing. The interest will be renewed.
Thanks for being open and honest. It was helpful to me.
Prospector.
I think Boggy probably hit the nail on the head in an earlier post. I'd rather make one quality hunting trip a year than make many mediocre ones. Thinking about it, my major hunting goals are (in rough order of importance):
1. Trophy Columbia Blacktail
2. Trophy Oregon Elk
3. Alaskan Brown Bear
4. Cape Buffalo
Even though the blacktail is #1, I am elk hunting this year and minimizing blacktails because dad said he'd go elk hunting with me this year, and I really like the group of guys I've hooked up with for elk hunting. I no longer have the urge to shoot a lot of animals. I just want take a few good ones.
When I get to Oregon where I can hunt the hunting is in my blood, I'm sure I'll spend more time hunting.
Blaine
AFP,
That last post expresses my sentiments exactly.......quality over quantity. Fortunately, I can whitetail hunt every year with my three brothers and dad. That is worth a lot and I give up other hunts to do it. When I get the chance here is what interests me (in no particular order):
1. Caribou
2. Elk
3. Antelope
Shouldn't a guy be able to set up an antelope hunt fairly cheap? Where would be a good place to go?
Now a good black bear hunt in Alaska would also be fun but I can do that in Arkansas.......just not as many bears. I put in for an elk permit in Ark. every year but the chances are about 1 in 10,000 or more.
HogWild
HW,
I know when driving from Oregon to Texas a coupleyears ago, I saw lots of antelope on the side of the freeway in Wyoming. I think most of the Western states have antelope...............
Blaine
HogWild,
I suggest MT, or WY for antelope, darn things are ever where. I'm an ex-Arky living in MT right now. If you need some info on hunting antelope in MT, I'll help you out when I return home in July. Just let me know.
Hudge
Thanks Hudge, I may take you up on this!
Thanks again,
HogWild
HogWild,
Hey just remind me, and I will get it for you. If you can send me an email, that would be great. That will probably be the only way I can remember between now and then. Also, what part of AR are you in?
Hudge
Hudge,
I grew up in central AR by Petit Jean Mountain. I now live up in NW AR around Springdale. I have to admit, it's less humid and cooler up here!
Thanks for offering to help!
HogWild
HogWild,
I grew up in Cabot, and used to go to Petit Jean every year for the antique car show. I'm in MT due to the military, but I'm having to leave soon, due to my job being contracted out. I'm thinking of leaving the miltary, and I'm looking at maybe moving to the Fayetville area. I love that part of AR, and MT has spoiled me with mountains. I'd like to move further west in MT, but my wife can't stand the winters in MT.
Hudge
Hudge,
I've been to the car show many times. My father-in-law has place on the south brow of Petit Jean. The diveway hits the highway just east of the car show. Several times we've let the car show visitors park up and down the driveway (for a little cash!)
Fayetteville/Springdale/Rogers area is a very nice place to live. Hoses a expensive (for AR standards). We hired a new guy at work who is moving here from Conway. He claims new construction is running $100 per sq. ft.
It's a little cooler and less humid up here compared to central AR. If all my family weren't down there, I would love it.
HogWild