After 40 years of hunting I can truly say that no two hunts are the same. Everyone brings its own highs ... or lows.
A day or two ago a sweet lady friend of mine (from HN) took a whitetail/mule deer doe. (how would I know the difference?) The doe was still alive, and a second shot was needed. The doe picked up her head and looked at the huntress. The sweet bambi eyes, helplessly looking at the huntress, made a huge impact on her. So much so that she now does not want to ever hunt again. This would be very unfortunate if she doesn't.
From time to time things like this happens to us hunters. You get the shakes because of the excitement (it still happens to me after 40 years of hunting), and the shot is not placed spot on, or in the excitement we take a shot we should not, with the same result. I vividly remember the first time this happened to me. I will never forget the expression in the eyes of that impala. I skipped hunting the next year. Then I realized that it was all due to human (my) error, and that I should just take the lesson from the experience, and become a better hunter.
I've had similar experiences over the years, and every time I could actually pinpoint why the shot was not a good one. After that first experience I just became more aware of exactly what I was doing when shooting at an animal. This awareness just helps to make a better hunter out of you.
Life is full of highs and lows. Most of us has had a bad experience with regards to loving someone at some point in our lives. Did that stop us from loving again? Certainly not. We just were more careful the next time.
Keep hunting lovey
