I am the exact opposite. I count down the days to colder weather, earlier mornings and waiting to see what the next hunt brings. By the time August gets here, 85% of my daily energy is spent thinking or talking about hunting. By the time September hits, or God forbid an early cold front hits, it is probably close to 90%.

I love checking my cameras, tweaking the bow blinds, planning out new routes, looking for things I may have missed the year before, looking at old pictures to see if I recognize any deer from the past, listening to stories from others, making extra time to practice, getting the kids out in the woods, etc. I enjoy it all and get antsy as it gets closer.

I dread the day that I don't look forward to it and will find a new hobby when that day comes. I invest too much money, time and energy into this one for it not to be exciting.

I hope you find what makes you happy or can figure out what you used to love about it

I still enjoy the woods but like most things, it will change over time.

Our deer camp experience went away about 4 years ago. Family issues, you know the story.

About the same time, I really ramped up my out of state hunting, so that took some time away from deer hunting.

Got remarried with 3 new kids 3 years ago so Ieased a place close so the kids could hunt, the last 3 seasons have been about getting them deer, and we had a blast.

Something is changing in me. Just got back from 8 days in Arizona. Great trip, awesome country. I was excited to go, but I didn’t really feel the burning desire to hunt. We hunted hard and I enjoyed a stalk on a big black bear thst I really wanted, but the rest of the trip I was content to be in the woods looking around not doing much. And by day 6 I was ready to be back home. Maybe it was the lack of game we were seeing, I don’t know. Missed the opening day of dove for the first time in 15 years and didn’t miss it a bit. I used to live for opening day of dove season.

I’m looking forward to mule deer season but I’m cancelling Colorado because I want to be here for my daughters 5th birthday. And the thought of not going is fine with me.

I just don’t have the fire to hunt like I used too. I still get excited about hunting new animals (pumped to to go Africa ) and can’t wait to get in a bow blind, but it’s nothing like it once was. I had to come to grips with it this week. I spend most of my work week on ranches so I get plenty of rural therapy, which is vital to me. But actually hunting....not so much of a priority as it once was. A morning here or an evening there is fine as far as time spent hunting deer goes.


Not throwing in the towel by Any stretch, but it’s odd to admit to yourself that you don’t love your passion as much as you once did.

Maybe I’m just in a weird mood because I am ragged out from the trip home but it’s how how I’ve been feeling. Maybe I'm catching a slight case of burn-out. I've hunted quite a bit during my adult life and have been blessed to take not only a good amount of animals but also a variety of them. I did catch myself wondering "what am I doing out here"? this past trip. Its a weird thing I'm battling with.

I don't know. I have always loved hunting always been excited about it begged and pleaded with my dad to take us hunting/fishing more and that we didn't want to play baseball/basketball/football etc.

My boy and my brothers kids have taken after us as well and enjoy hunting. I love hunting no matter what, but nothing beats hunting with my brother and my dad. We still sit together on occasion... it can be a little hard on the nose after a dinner of tamales and chili and then the coffee gets things churning in the morning but wouldn't have it any other way.