In today’s world we are afforded the luxury to hunt. It is no longer required for our survival. We get to experience nature in a way non-hunters will never understand. The hunter has the privilege to hunt their own food, to know where it came from, how its life ended, and is connected to it. The hunter is able to connect with their ancestors and partake in the most primal of activities. We choose to hunt and what to hunt. We are the stewards of the land. Some individuals specialize. They go down the proverbial rabbit hole and become experts in a niche. They obsess about minor details and live to primarily chase one game animal. They become experts in their craft. There is nothing inherently wrong with this, but to me it feels limited.
Why limit yourself to one species, one season, or one method? It's my personal opinion that being a generalist is the way to go. Being a versatile hunter allows me the opportunity to fill my memories and freezer with variety. Versatility allows an individual to hunt longer and more often from early September doves, bucks during the rut, migrating mallards, February rabbits, spring gobblers and year-round fishing opportunities. The versatile hunter is able to pursue obscure, often forgotten about, or unpopular game species. While the deer may be heavily pressured the snipe are not. When the duck marsh is crowded, maybe, the rabbit briars are vacant. As the orange army marches up the mountains for elk perhaps you sneak off to chase Himalayan snowcock.
Going with the seasons breaks up the monotony. There is a flow to the natural world that makes for an ever changing landscape, climate, and game population more exciting than the last. For every pattern you find, nature will inevitably find a way to surprise you. For hunters, this means more fun, more challenges, and less of a grind. When you hunt, you become aware of the nuances of the natural world that are often overlooked. Intense mental and physical strain, cycles of victory and defeat. Day in and day out going home empty-handed takes a toll on your motivation and enthusiasm. Taking a break from the whitetail stand or duck blind to chase small or upland game can help restore your drive. While the specialist looks forward to "the" opener; the versatile hunter has many. As one season wanes the next begins. We are found in the woods, prairies, desert, mountains, and marshes with bow, shotgun, or rifle in hand depending on what we are pursuing on that outing. America has a vast and diverse wilderness. To limit one’s self to hunting a specific area, game, or way restricts experiencing America's true beauty. Leaving the grouse woods to pursue chucker will change the upland hunter’s view. Venturing out from the deciduous forest to hunt deer in the desert will give the deer hunter a better overall understanding of their hooved prey. The versatile hunter learns how to hunt in an array of environments. They can draw from past experiences in a variety of locations to enhance their ability to be successful.
Being a versatile hunter is not without its flaws. The versatile hunter probably will never reach the same level of expertise as the specialist. When multiple seasons are in play it can be hard to choose what to do and where to go. If they do not focus their efforts, they may end up eating tag soup because they never developed the base-line knowledge to be successful as they haphazardly transition from season to season. Even the versatile hunter will have their favorite pursuit that will probably get in the way of other hunting endeavors. Both camps can learn from each other. If you're a specialist try something new next season and become less rigid in your approach. Be less sure that there is only one way to do things. Hunters are hands-on scholars of the land, and there is always something new to learn. Be adaptable, be mobile, be versatile.
Thanks for reading. Be safe and have a great day.
Orion
The Versatile Hunter
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