Growing up in the mid-west, hunting was always a part of every November in my house. As a child, my brothers and I would excitedly wait for my dad to pull up with his deer in the back. I know there are many people against the thought of hunting or some that may just not know what all it entails.

So here’s what it is like…

Preparation for hunting takes a lot of time, thinking, and effort. Obviously, there needs to be a gun with ammunition. This also means taking the time to go sight-in your scope on the rifle; also known as target practice. Another task is finding a place to be able to hunt. Many hunters are fortunate enough to have grounds of their own to use, but some need to ask permission from friends or family to use what they have instead.

After the main priorities are taken care of, you are ready for the next step. There needs to be the correct amount clothing ready for opening morning. It is normally extremely cold in the mornings. This means making sure you have coveralls, coat, hat, insulated boots, gloves, and whatever else will keep you nice and toasty. Another requirement that is needed is wearing hunter’s orange. This normally means some type of vest or sweatshirt and a hat in the correct color. Making sure that your scent is covered is another part of hunting some may not think of. Depending on the type of wind, it may be a good idea to shower with no-scent shampoo and body wash.

Having a schedule is also necessary when it comes to hunting. For me, I wake up at 4:15 a.m., leave by 4:45 a.m., arrive to my hunting destination by 5:45 a.m., and make sure to be in the stand by 6:15 a.m. before sun-up. It all depends on how far away you are from where you need to go.

Hunting is simply the American way to provide for your family. We do not shoot deer just for the fun of it, there is a purpose. We clean the deer ourselves and make use of every part of the deer we can. The meat that we put away each November is then used the whole rest of the year until the next. This is something that some people may not recognize about the whole idea of hunting. Being a part of this tradition has taught me the benefits of having patience. After waiting hours in the blind for the perfect buck to come out, it is all worth it after the shot. The boredom, nerves, and cold is all part of the hunt.

I will always be proud to call myself a deer hunter.

I feel privileged to have a dad that has shared his knowledge with my brother and I. Each year I become more confident in the hunter I am becoming. Hunting is a way to bond with my dad and build experiences to someday share with my future children.