If you would have told me a year ago that I would become a new hunter, I wouldn’t have believed you. Fishing maybe, but not hunting. I’m originally from New York City, where hunting is not a very popular thing to do. I didn’t have any family members or friends growing up that hunted. Anything I knew about hunting, I learned from watching Duck Dynasty in high school. But my move to Nebraska definitely helped expand my knowledge on the subject.
Hunting & Conservation
I first became seriously interested in hunting at the beginning of this year. This was after hearing several friends and acquaintances talk about how much they enjoyed hunting and the role it plays in conservation. I bought my first shotgun in preparation for the hunt and started watching YouTube videos on hunting.
As a new hunter, I definitely struggled with patience. I honestly thought I would get a bird within an hour but I was wrong. Luckily, I had a lot of guidance from great mentors who helped me understand that waiting, even for hours, is actually normal. On my first turkey hunting trip, I didn’t get a bird. Which was actually a good thing, because I learned that sometimes when you hunt, you leave empty-handed, but it shouldn’t take away from your experience. Yes, I was disappointed I didn’t get a turkey, but had a great time and was eager to go out and do it all over again.
Hunting Can Be Addicting
When I finally did harvest my first turkey, I was initially a little shocked. Once it sunk in I felt amazing! I will always look back on that moment as one of the highlights of my life. I was told by several people that hunting can be addicting, and now I understand why.