I’ve been putting off summarizing my hunting season for as long as I possibly could, with the hope that something would come along…

I started off this year STRONG and hungry. I was starting off year ten of my hunting career with new found free time, so I eagerly bought every tag I could and planned for an amazing year.

Which tags did I fill?

None.

My hunting kills this year included 2 coyotes and one grouse. That’s it… after spending the most time in the field that I ever have. If you ask my family, they think this blog is to blame. Of course, I strongly disagree.

The truth of it is, some years are just bad years. I would never make it seem like it’s all success, all the time, because for most hunters, it’s not! In fact, this year, on a guided fishing trip, I learned that even if I have a professional with me all the time, that still doesn’t make my success rate 100%, nor would I want it to. I don’t want to give you the feed full of picture perfect hunts. If you followed along with my turkey hunting on Instagram, you’d know that I’m here to give you the raw truth–whether that means success or not. So although I’m walking out into 2019 with nothing in my freezer but fish, I learned more in the field this year than I have in the combined past ten years.

I learned independence. Due to how much time I invested this year, my hunting partner couldn’t head out with me every time. I learned to take the lead and make my own plan. I realized during these hunts how much I’ve relied on my dad and his hunting equipment. Overall, hunting alone is the biggest thing that helped me grow as a hunter this year.

I learned flexibility. I’m a mule deer gal. It’s all I’d ever hunted until this year. And although we weren’t successful with the other species we hunted (bear, turkey), I learned so much about the different habits of other animals and how to adapt to them.

I learned perseverance. If I’m being 100% honest with you, my previous hunts weren’t that difficult. I was successful for nine straight years on the same property/general area, with limited to no scouting prior to season. We just always depended on the land to deliver and it did. This year, changing it up and heading out different places I had to continue to invest time and effort when I wasn’t even seeing sign. It pushed me in a way I’m so thankful for.

With getting out on new lands, I learned to explore. I feel that this year was the year I truly discovered why I love hunting and the outdoors so much. I used to play it safe, but to be honest, the same fields get boring after nine years. And man, the views we had were so refreshing!

Even though I ended with an empty freezer, this year brought me the biggest and most important lesson of all: appreciation. How incredible is it that our God and our lands provide us with everything we need. I think that prior to this year, I took advantage of this gift. I believe that it took a bad year for me to feel this deeper appreciation for our Earth and our God.

I thank you for sticking with me in 2018 and I hope you are learning right along side me. I’m so excited for all the new heights I’m aiming for in 2019. I can’t wait to share the year with you!