No Motivation

[LondonDave]

Well you're doing better than I am Fox. I haven't been out at all yet and don't have the motivation to go. My season didn't get off to a very good start. I had plans to go out on opening morning but they got a little side tracked. I bought my licence on Saturday before the opener and then my wife broke her arm very badly on the Sunday. I've been spending the last 2 weeks looking after her, looking after our little farm, working, etc. etc. I've had times when I could have gone but just haven't had the motivation to do it.

Life happens. This is just one season. There are still many, many more to come.

[Fox]

I get the "no motivation". Had he said you know its tough out there got other things to do time and money well spent so far but going to hang my hat up this year would have no problem. Calling it a "waste" diminishes the sport and that I find troubling.

It is a waste, it was a waste of money, a waste of time and a waste of effort this year.

I have been shooting since I could hold a gun and hunting with dad from 9 then hunting on my own at 15. I was the first in the family to start bow hunting because I could hunt alone at 15 and when I could drive I could take the family car and go hunting whenever I wanted. Try hunting groundhogs with a longbow, I guess I am not hardcore.

I have shot turkeys, I have shot deer, I have shot grouse with a bow and shotgun, I have shot rabbits with a bow, rifle and shotgun, squirrels, groundhogs, geese, ducks, baited and hunted for bear, spent many a freezing cold day in February hunting coyotes.

Turkey does not turn my crank this year, I guess someone with shifting priorities is no longer considered a "Hardcore" hunter, I must be a weekend warrior.

I come home from a full time job and put 8 hours into the house and property, sorry but turkey hunting this spring is a giant waste.

[Fox]

Well you're doing better than I am Fox. I haven't been out at all yet and don't have the motivation to go. My season didn't get off to a very good start. I had plans to go out on opening morning but they got a little side tracked. I bought my licence on Saturday before the opener and then my wife broke her arm very badly on the Sunday. I've been spending the last 2 weeks looking after her, looking after our little farm, working, etc. etc. I've had times when I could have gone but just haven't had the motivation to do it.

Life happens. This is just one season. There are still many, many more to come.

You get it, thanks.

This post was a little bit of venting, the price increases did not help at all either.

People talk about how exciting a turkey hunt is but for me I would much rather have a deer walk out than a turkey come in quiet. If there is no gobbling there is no build up, just seeing the bird in the decoys and shooting really reduces the excitement of a hunt.

I go to work at 5:30am every day and was excited really early on when I was hearing the boys talk first thing in the morning, once the heat wave hit they shut up and are no longer calling my name.

[werner.reiche]

It is a waste, it was a waste of money, a waste of time and a waste of effort this year.

I have been shooting since I could hold a gun and hunting with dad from 9 then hunting on my own at 15. I was the first in the family to start bow hunting because I could hunt alone at 15 and when I could drive I could take the family car and go hunting whenever I wanted. Try hunting groundhogs with a longbow, I guess I am not hardcore.

I have shot turkeys, I have shot deer, I have shot grouse with a bow and shotgun, I have shot rabbits with a bow, rifle and shotgun, squirrels, groundhogs, geese, ducks, baited and hunted for bear, spent many a freezing cold day in February hunting coyotes.

Turkey does not turn my crank this year, I guess someone with shifting priorities is no longer considered a "Hardcore" hunter, I must be a weekend warrior.

I come home from a full time job and put 8 hours into the house and property, sorry but turkey hunting this spring is a giant waste.

I get what you're saying, Fox, right up to the 'waste of money, time and effort" - and I think you're using the wrong words to describe how you feel. It's a waste of those resources, but only relative to other things you can spend your time, money and effort on. "Not a priority" would be better phraseology.

[Fox]

I get what you're saying, Fox, right up to the 'waste of money, time and effort" - and I think you're using the wrong words to describe how you feel. It's a waste of those resources, but only relative to other things you can spend your time, money and effort on. "Not a priority" would be better phraseology.

Waste the correct word for me, if I had not spent the time, money and effort then it would have been a priority thing.

It is a waste for me, no motivation and a waste.

It may not be a waste for others but with the BS we had to deal with at the MNR office and having to buy a license to take my fiancee hunting with no intent on my part to shoot a bird it cost over $75 for absolutely nothing, no joy, no fun, not for this guy.

I hope this is not the case next year but I know of a lot of people who are giving up certain types of hunting due to the regulation changes and costs. One of my good friends will always hunt turkeys but he does not bother with a deer license anymore, he said it is not worth him spending $50 on a license when he goes out and shoots a couple hundred pounds of goose meat. He considered the last few years of license costs a waste, now it is a priority change.

[rf2]

You get it, thanks.

This post was a little bit of venting, the price increases did not help at all either.

People talk about how exciting a turkey hunt is but for me I would much rather have a deer walk out than a turkey come in quiet. If there is no gobbling there is no build up, just seeing the bird in the decoys and shooting really reduces the excitement of a hunt.

I go to work at 5:30am every day and was excited really early on when I was hearing the boys talk first thing in the morning, once the heat wave hit they shut up and are no longer calling my name.

People go through different phases in their lives and their hunting. I remember a time not too long ago when I would have been one of the people on this thread saying that that you must not really love hunting etc. At that time, I used to think that hunting was everything. Now, with game populations down in general in the area, less time to hunt, and two young kids at home, I've realized that hunting is not everything. Don't get me wrong, I still look forward to the start of seasons and the heart pumps hard when the game I'm after comes into view, but I find that just sitting out in the woods is less satisfying than it used to be. It is still nice to get away from everything and listen to quiet of the woods, but after basically doing that for 2 full deer seasons (Oct. 1 - Dec. 31) and one and a half turkey seasons without getting anything, it is starting to get tiresome. Lately, in those slow moments of hunting, my mind is no longer focused solely on listening and watching for game. Lately it has been drifting to thoughts like: I wonder what my kids are doing right now; This would have been a great day to go do X with the kids; I've got to do 1, 2, 3...100 before X and Y; I wish I was target shooting right now, at least then I would be shooting.....etc.
In summary, I understand where you are coming from. Posting these thoughts on the forum though will always bring out comments from the other side - the people who, at that point in their lives, cannot understand why someone would feel that way. Many of those comments will be ridiculing too. That's the internet for ya.

[G.S.]

There is and will always be priorities, limited free time available, family, job related, financial & all other kind of constrains etc….. i.e. life happening at its best!

However………. I know I would feel beyond miserable if my motivation for going out hunting will be gone one day.

[huntitall]

It is a waste, it was a waste of money, a waste of time and a waste of effort this year.

I have been shooting since I could hold a gun and hunting with dad from 9 then hunting on my own at 15. I was the first in the family to start bow hunting because I could hunt alone at 15 and when I could drive I could take the family car and go hunting whenever I wanted. Try hunting groundhogs with a longbow, I guess I am not hardcore.

Dude you gotta stop complaining.....

I have shot turkeys, I have shot deer, I have shot grouse with a bow and shotgun, I have shot rabbits with a bow, rifle and shotgun, squirrels, groundhogs, geese, ducks, baited and hunted for bear, spent many a freezing cold day in February hunting coyotes.

Turkey does not turn my crank this year, I guess someone with shifting priorities is no longer considered a "Hardcore" hunter, I must be a weekend warrior.

I come home from a full time job and put 8 hours into the house and property, sorry but turkey hunting this spring is a giant waste.

Dude, you complain alot, this thread is a waste of time, hunting is never a waste of time.....

[finsfurfeathers]

It is a waste, it was a waste of money, a waste of time and a waste of effort this year.

I have been shooting since I could hold a gun and hunting with dad from 9 then hunting on my own at 15. I was the first in the family to start bow hunting because I could hunt alone at 15 and when I could drive I could take the family car and go hunting whenever I wanted. Try hunting groundhogs with a longbow, I guess I am not hardcore.

I have shot turkeys, I have shot deer, I have shot grouse with a bow and shotgun, I have shot rabbits with a bow, rifle and shotgun, squirrels, groundhogs, geese, ducks, baited and hunted for bear, spent many a freezing cold day in February hunting coyotes.

Turkey does not turn my crank this year, I guess someone with shifting priorities is no longer considered a "Hardcore" hunter, I must be a weekend warrior.

I come home from a full time job and put 8 hours into the house and property, sorry but turkey hunting this spring is a giant waste.

So what changed in your life from the time you bought your license to the time you went hunting?
Your responsibilities were present before during and after. Went out a few times and didn't find a turkey tied to a tree and some how that was a waste? Your response smacks of a bad attitude.
Had an opportunity for fall turkey last year bought my license went out once found the fall hunt not my liking missed a young bird ended up eating the tag. So this year with other priorities and desires won't be buy a permit. Do I feel that experience was a waste NO I still got out enjoyed the out doors. If that's not enough move on.

[taketheshot]

So what changed in your life from the time you bought your license to the time you went hunting?
Your responsibilities were present before during and after. Went out a few times and didn't find a turkey tied to a tree and some how that was a waste? Your response smacks of a bad attitude.
Had an opportunity for fall turkey last year bought my license went out once found the fall hunt not my liking missed a young bird ended up eating the tag. So this year with other priorities and desires won't be buy a permit. Do I feel that experience was a waste NO I still got out enjoyed the out doors. If that's not enough move on.

+1
Of course Fox was expressing his opinion and he's fully entitled to that and express how he's feeling about the season. However, it just seems like a poor attitude towards what is supposed to be an enjoyable, relaxing hobby.
So you're out $60. People may look at this differently, but money for tags and licences is money to conservation.
You're getting married. That's great. I myself am already married, but I'd sure be looking forward to being able to spend the rest of your life with your girl, rather than getting skunked hunting.
Two years ago my son was born and I have another due smack dab in the middle of the fall hunting season. Sure my ability to get out has dropped significantly, but I wouldn't trade it for the world. I'm even more excited about having little hunting apprentices and think it'll be an excuse to get out even more in the future.
Finally, you mentioned something about being able to shoot a hen from your back deck in the fall. You don't know how good you've got it. I live in Toronto. Came from a town surrounded by crown land and now I'm surrounded by concrete. Work brought me here and I'm not thrilled about my 2.5 hour drive to land I have permission to hunt (sure there is closer public land, but overpressured). Factor in having to get a hotel room each time I want to get out before first light. It gets costly for me, but im just fortunate to get out.
I just bagged my first bird in 3 years of turkey hunting. Think about the cost of my unused tags, gas to drive hours to hunt, cost for hotel rooms, the used vacation days, plus the feeling of being away from my wife and kid. I don't feel like I wasted a thing. Be fortunate you have the freedom to hunt, even if you feel like you dont.