Excuses

[JoeRE]

I feel like an excuse is a justification of a fault or failure. Simply put if I don't want to hunt, then I won't hunt. I do not have to justify it to anyone including myself. If I'm tired, burnt out etc. I won't go, especially if I can't put in 100% of my effort and focus. ZSV mentioned family. I agree family should come first as should any other priority.

That said I've seen people use excuses as a justification. "Public land is too hard, too much walking etc". there's no deer here, etc

Well put Checkerfred.

My brother in law wanted me to put him on a good buck a while ago. He is a pretty average Iowa deer hunter, doesn't like to shoot a deer he can't drive his truck to. I told him sure, described that we were going to walk over a mile each way and if we got one, had to get it over several 200-300 foot hills to a vehicle. He looked at me like I had suggested we fly to the moon or something. We didn't go hunting.

[mspaci]

No excuse, I always go. Hunted turkeys & killed one on top of east mt. 15 days after ACL surgery(crutch & all). I might plan a day off to re group, blizzard or Thunderstorm might keep me out but if there is a way I go out. Mike

[checkerfred]

I feel like an excuse is a justification of a fault or failure. Simply put if I don't want to hunt, then I won't hunt. I do not have to justify it to anyone including myself. If I'm tired, burnt out etc. I won't go, especially if I can't put in 100% of my effort and focus. ZSV mentioned family. I agree family should come first as should any other priority.

That said I've seen people use excuses as a justification. "Public land is too hard, too much walking etc". there's no deer here, etc

Well put Checkerfred.

My brother in law wanted me to put him on a good buck a while ago. He is a pretty average Iowa deer hunter, doesn't like to shoot a deer he can't drive his truck to. I told him sure, described that we were going to walk over a mile each way and if we got one, had to get it over several 200-300 foot hills to a vehicle. He looked at me like I had suggested we fly to the moon or something. We didn't go hunting.

Hahaha heck a mile to me these days is about like parking and hunting right off the road.

[buckeye]

Last fall my buddy told me he couldn't go because his pet pig was sick.

[vtbuck]

Last fall my buddy told me he couldn't go because his pet pig was sick.

Did you have bacon for dinner?
Ha!

[nor' easter]

My buddies always have a few excuses
-deer don't move when it's warm
-deer don't move when it's windy
-deer don't move in the snow
-deer don't move in the rain
-there's no deer around anyway
-there's no tracking snow
-there's too much snow
-it's too cold
-my gun's not sighted in
-how are we going to drag it out of here if we shoot one?

3 of my buddies didn't want to go one year on the last day of the season even though we had all seen a big buck with a bunch of does in the area 2 days earlier. It was too cold for them and snowing and the only one who would come was one of their dads. I ended up shooting my biggest buck to date that evening. My buddy's 60 year old dad and I had a great laugh about it dragging that old boy out. I used to make excuses too when I had more time to hunt. Now I'm married and we have a young daughter so I can't afford to waste time or make excuses anymore.

[justdirtyfun]

Public land????

Why would I go there?

Hearing this does not sound right to me. And just like private land you should get out and learn it a little. But they don't.
Wishing for a prime private to fall in your lap with stands up waiting for you is unreal. But might just be an excuse.

[flinginairos]

I've heard all the ones posted on here and always have to laugh. The one I really like is "Our season opens too early and it's hot so the deer would spoil as soon as I killed it". "Too hot" for these guys is 75 degrees Since our season started opening late Sept I have killed a buck before October 10th every year and most of them have been on 75* plus days. I always ask them, "you know you can just quarter one out and put it in the fridge right?" haha. Weather is always the biggest one. I just nod in agreement because I know those days I will have the woods to myself!

[headgear]

I know a lot of hard core types will sneer at this but I tend not to hunt when its hot out. I mean say 20+ degrees above average not just a little warm.

Call it an excuse if you want, but I don't like sitting in the woods dripping sweat, and knowing the deer don't like the heat any more than I do.

Most excuses I hear have to do with either girls, booze, or being fat. Hunting or work, the excuses are the same

I still hunt when its warm but it sure does slow everything down. I like Muddy's lightning excuse too, all that aluminum up in a tree would be a nice conduit.

[Dewey]

My only excuse is lightning. I wont hunt in that.

This is where my common sense doesn't always come into play. I have hunted right through lightning storms in the past. In hindsight being out on a lone marsh island is not the best place to be especially when you are in or near the tallest tree for miles. I had lightning hit very close striking a tree on an island I was on before and that woke me up a bit. Now if I see a flash I immediately get out of the tree and hunt on the ground at least till it passes. Most islands I hunt on have at least one tree that is blown up or burned from obvious lightning strikes. Fishing I still tend to push my luck because that period leading up to the storm can be amazing.

[tgreeno]

I have hunted thru a few thunderstorms during my hunting career. If it's a fast mover in the afternoon, after can have awesome deer movement.