While I planned to make the title of this blog post much more professional, sometimes you just have to throw out a line from an Ice Cube song, followed by an Urban Dictionary translation: "Take a step back and examine your actions, because you are in a potentially dangerous or sticky situation that could get bad very easily." I'd like to say this to a large chunk of those that represent the hunting community.
Whether you're new to archery or you've been shooting for over 20 years, there's always room for improvement. I feel that most mistakes stem from accumulating bad habits over time, and I speak from experience when I make that statement! I truly believe that going back to the basics of archery can be a great refresher, even for those that might have more experience.
If you've hunted for long, you've likely had someone ask you what they should invest in as a beginner archer. This is always an exciting question for me because that means one more person is putting a bow in their hands. They may not ever hunt, but they will soon understand the addiction of sending an arrow from point A to point B!
One thing I love most about being a hunter is the constant growth that I see in myself. Of course, growth comes in many forms. Maybe it's the ability to lift a little more weight at the gym to make it up the mountain faster, or to shoot your bow a little bit further for more opportunity in the field - these are wonderful ways that I hope to continue growing. However, I'm most proud of myself when I grow internally.
I just returned from New Mexico for the second year in hopes of bringing home my second Rocky Mountain bull elk with my bow. I didn't harvest a bull, but I did manage to harvest a broken heart. Almost anybody can relate to heartbreak, and if you haven't yet, you will. It's a powerful, relentless feeling that takes time to overcome. I've felt heartbroken when a relationship ended, or when I attended a funeral, or when I lost a pet, but this experience was different than every other time.
