How does a man learn whitetail deer hunting if he did not grow up in a hunting culture?

Recently I was thinking about all the times I had conversations with men that never hunted. They would often express how they would like to start hunting “someday.” These thoughts inspired the writing of this series of articles.

If you have not read Parts 1 and 2 of this series, I recommend reading them to get the background and context to the article below. (Read: Join the Challenge of the Wild: Hunt the Gray Ghost – Part 1 and Read: Join the Challenge of the Wild: Hunt the Gray Ghost – Part 2)

The information included in this series is based upon my experience chasing after the gray ghosts of the North American wilderness. The intention is to give you a starting point for hunting these incredible animals. This is not intended to be a comprehensive plan. There are more aspects to each topic I could have included. But what I did include will give you an excellent foundation to start hunting whitetail deer.

As I have said before, I hope these articles will stir you to join the chase! Enjoy!

Getting Ready on Stand

Once you are on stand, check your equipment. Make sure you are ready. Make sure everything is operational. If gun hunting, make sure a round is in the chamber. Operate the safety off and on to make sure you know how to do this without making a noise.

Simulate taking a shot by pulling up on trees and rocks around your stand. Look through the scope of your rifle. If you have a variable scope, make sure it is on a lower setting. A lower setting gives you a wider field of view. This will make it easier to find your target when it is time to shoot. I recommend this because I have made this mistake.

Usually, when you sight in your rifle, you will adjust the scope to the highest power to draw in your target. After sighting in, it is easy to forget to change the scope back to a lower power setting. If this happens, when the buck shows up, it will be hard to find him in the scope. The higher power dramatically decreases the field of view. This difficulty can add to the adrenaline you must control to make the right decisions and take the shot.

When bowhunting, if you have a range finder, mark the range of objects around your stand. When a deer arrives, you automatically know where you need to hold for the shot. Again, practice pulling up and zeroing in on objects.

Mentally thinking through various scenarios will prepare you. This makes a difference in controlling the adrenaline when it is “go time.” You will be confident because you played it out in your mind several times.

As you simulate possible shots, listen to the noise you make. If, while moving into position, you make noise, address it now. When the moment of truth comes, you do not want to blow it by alerting the deer with some unexpected noise.

Shot Placement

Where are the whitetail deer vitals? How does your weapon influence where you can take a shot? What about the angle of your shot?

There are many ways to get to the vitals of a deer. This is best to think through ahead of time. The more scenarios you think through, the better the chances you will perform effectively when the adrenaline starts pumping. I would encourage you to do your research. There are many useful resources online to teach you about shot placement on whitetail deer.

Here are a few general thoughts. Understand the most effective kill shots. The front quarter of the deer (chest cavity) is where your shot must pass through. In this area are both the lungs and the heart. Typically a shot in either result in a quick kill and a high probability of success. If the deer takes a step with his front leg closest to you, this opens up the chest cavity. This is an excellent time to take the shot.

Understanding a deer’s anatomy, such as the vitals and bone structure (i.e., shoulder blade and bones), is essential. This enables you to make the right decisions regarding shot placement.

Think through the angles. Your weapon plays a big part in this decision. A rifle can get to the vitals much easier than a bow. A crossbow typically delivers more speed and impact than a compound bow. A compound bow typically has more speed, and impact than a recurve bow. Know your weapon, its capability, and your ability to shoot it.

If using a rifle, make sure you understand the rounds you are using. You want good expansion when they strike a target. Expansion makes them more lethal and results in a quick, humane kill.

Do not take a shot if you are unsure. You must have confidence you are going to hit the vitals and put the animal down. The way to confidence is practice. You need to know the capability of your weapon and your ability to hit the target. Never go beyond what you have demonstrated in practice. Respect the animal and only take shots that will get the job done quickly.

Understand that often deer will run when shot, even with a powerful rifle that hits the vitals. Many times they are operating on pure adrenaline. Do not be surprised by this, and be mentally prepared for it.

With a bow, this is the norm. When you make the shot and are confident of a good hit, mentally mark the place where you hit the deer. Look at all the landmarks around that area. Be aware, if you are in a tree when you get on the ground, things will look different. So it is crucial to make these mental pictures in your mind. Mark the distance with your range finder if you have one.

Now you must wait. If you made a rifle shot, your wait is typically not as long. With a good hit, 15-20 minutes is usually adequate in my experience. But if using a bow, I would say you need to wait at least 30 minutes. A pushed deer will travel a long distance, even with a good hit. Many hunters push deer and never recover them. Unfortunately, many of those deer eventually die. Exercise self-control and give them time.

When you go to the spot where you hit the deer, mark it somehow. Use a stick in the ground, pile up rocks, or do something to mark the site. Look for signs of a good hit such as blood, stirred up leaves, broken branches, etc.

Every so often, mark the places you find signs. If the deer stops bleeding or you get off the trail you will be able to backtrack to the last sign. Track quietly. You do not want to jump the deer and push it. Look ahead as you are tracking and take your time. Be ready to take another shot if needed.

When you see the deer, watch for movement before approaching. If no movement, then approach. Approach the backside rather than the leg side of the deer. If the deer still has some life, you do not want to get kicked. When close enough, poke the eye with the end of your rifle, an arrow, or a stick. If there is no movement, the deer is dead. Now you have work to do.

After the Kill

Again do your research and understand how to properly field dress a deer. Countless articles on the internet get into the details, so I will not cover step by step.

Over the years, I have done many things after the kill. I have strung deer in a tree and quartered them and packed them out. I have done the same on the ground. I have gutted and dragged deer to my vehicle and butchered them later. I have used four-wheelers or trucks to remove deer from the field. I have butchered them myself, and I have taken them to a butcher for processing.

No matter what your situation, plan for success. Have a plan that you have put some thought into. Know how you will get the deer out of the woods and processed. Think about what you will do if you shoot one just before dark. Do you have a light with good batteries? What about people waiting for you to return from hunting? Have you prepared them by telling them if you are successful, you will be late coming home? Have a plan.

Essential Equipment

There are several items you will need to get started hunting whitetails. Here are a few. Keep in mind many of these are dependent upon your hunting situation.

Know the safety orange requirements. This usually means you will need an orange hat and possibly an orange vest. You will need camo pattern bibs and a jacket. Think about the material. You want something that will withstand the weather in your area. It also needs to be quiet when you move. Some materials just should not be worn when hunting. They make too much noise when moving. Avoid these materials.

If you hunt in the cold, buying the right materials makes all the difference. Do your research and get suitable clothing. Long underwear should be the synthetic breathable products that will wick the sweat away from your skin. The right stuff will provide warmth for those long hours on stand. If you have a long hike, think about what you will wear into the stand and what you will wear on the stand. I highly recommend you buy detergent designed to wash your clothes and remove scent that might alert deer. After doing this, store your hunting clothes in a sealed container with scent wafers. (Visit my “Recommended Equipment” page)

Other essentials include cover scent or spray designed to cover your scent. Of course, your weapon and ammo/arrows/bolts, a sharp knife, a bone/wood saw, headlamp, drag rope, pulley, and spreader bar if you plan to quarter the deer yourself, plastic bags for packing sweaty clothes and for packing deer meat. A compass, a map of the area you are hunting if it is a large area. GPS, range finder, and a couple extra batteries for these devices. If you are using a stand, you will need your stand and buy a backpack that will easily attach to that stand if you are hiking deep in the woods.

The bare essential/minimalist list:

Weapon and ammo/arrows/bolts

Knife

Light/Headlamp

License and tags

Camo/orange clothing

Boots

Drag rope.

Wrapping Up

Now you have a foundational understanding of how to get started hunting whitetails. It is your time to make it happen. Get out there and join the challenge! Go get your Gray Ghost!

In closing, here are a few websites I have found helpful in learning more about deer hunting. Click and enjoy!

Also, be sure to visit my “Recommended Equipment” page. I will continue to post more products that can help you get started on your journey and join the chase.

In the meantime, just get started. Do your research, learn and begin to apply. The best learning occurs while doing. If you read these articles you have enough information to get started this season. Why wait?

If you do start hunting whitetail I would love to hear about it. If you have questions or comments, contact me by clicking “EMAIL” on my main menu bar.

As always I appreciate your visit to Men of Grit!

In your corner,

“As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.”

How does a man learn whitetail deer hunting if he did not grow up in a hunting culture?

Recently I was thinking about all the times I had conversations with men that never hunted. They would often express how they would like to start hunting “someday.” These thoughts inspired the writing of this series of articles.

If you have not read Part 1 of this series I would recommend you read it to get more background and context to the article below. (Read: Join the Challenge of the Wild: Hunt the Gray Ghost – Part 1)

The information included in this series is based upon my experience chasing after the gray ghosts of the North American wilderness. The intention is to give you a starting point to hunting these incredible animals. This is not intended to be a comprehensive plan. There are more aspects to each topic I could have included. But what I did include will give you a good foundation to start hunting whitetail deer.

As I have said before, I hope these articles will stir you to join the chase! Enjoy!

Types of Stands

Ground Stands

An easy stand to build is a ground fort. This involves utilizing fallen trees and branches to make a small fort that provides concealment. This stand costs nothing more than a little sweat equity.

Hunting from a ground fort can be an effective way to hunt. This is especially true for gun hunters or crossbow hunters that do not need to get as close as bowhunters. However, I have successfully used ground forts for bowhunting.

When gun hunting, I like to build these stands in locations that allow me to see a reasonable distance and cover more ground. I use them often while hunting in the mountains. Normally I will build them on the side of a ridge looking into an area below.

Ground forts are good options when learning a new area. In this situation, you will likely move around until you figure out how the deer move. After you understand how deer travel, you can zero in on the best location for stand placement.

Covering your scent is always critical when hunting whitetail deer. When hunting from the ground, this is even more important. Be mindful of wind direction. Attempt to understand where deer will travel through the area and build your stand downwind.

Ground forts are an excellent option when hunting with a youngster. When my son and I hunt together, we build several stands a distance away from each other. If he gets cold or is just ready to move, we hike from one fort to the next. This has worked well for us.

Portable Tree Stands

The most portable stands are climber stands. They are light enough to pack on your back and haul deep into the woods. When I go deep in the woods, this is my preferred stand. They wrap around the tree, are used to climb and then secure 15 to 20 feet off the ground. These stands give you a significant advantage because you are above the ordinary sight of deer and can see well.

It is an advantage to be above deer. Depending upon the wind and air currents, this can help with scent control. With that said, you should still make sure you are diligent in doing the things you need to do to cover your scent.

Climber stands do not have ladders or steps. Because of this there is nothing at eye level that would grab the attention of a deer. This is another advantage of the climber stand.

Safety is vital with all stands that are at heights. Many hunters have fallen from tree stands and died or suffered severe injuries. Make sure you are wearing fall protection. A climber stand used correctly with a harness is safe. Use your harness. Also, thoroughly inspect your harness and your stand prior to use.

Permanent box or Ladder Stands

Hunters place these stands intending to leave them in their location. Because of this, they use them while hunting private land or land no one else hunts. Hunting from these stands is comfortable and they offer more room than others. Because they are heavier, hunters generally do not use them when hiking deep into the woods.

Placing several stands on a property gives you hunting options. You can position them based upon deer activity and have morning stands and evening stands. Because they are permanent, there is no set up needed. This makes it easy to move in and out of these stands without alerting deer.

Stand placement

When placing a stand, think about cover. If using a tree stand, look at the location from the ground. How does it look? Is there cover in the background and foreground? The best stand locations will break up your outline both in front of you and behind you.

Make sure your stand is not in line with the deer’s regular line of sight. Think about where the trails run and where you expect deer to travel. Locate your stand, so deer must move their head off their normal plane to look at you.

Think about wind direction and air currents. Do not place your stand upwind from the area you expect deer to travel. If in the process of getting to the location you hunt, you must walk across deer trails, cover your scent. If you can, avoid leather boots or boots with material that absorbs moisture. These boots will carry scents that will alert deer to your presence.

One way to combat this is to tie scent rags to your boots that will drag as you walk. Cover them with something like fox urine. Fox urine is strong and covers scent well.

Hiking into the Stand

When hiking into the stand be sure to cover your scent. There are many products on the market today to do this. Do your research. I will include a few on my recommended equipment page. Ensure your hunting clothes are free from smells not normal to the wild. Again there are many scent-free products available to use to wash your hunting clothes.

Learn how to walk in the woods without making noise. Avoid stepping on small branches and dried leaves. When possible walk on worn paths or trails or roads that are typically cleared of debris. Think about wind direction. Think about bedding areas or well-used deer trails and avoid them on the way to your stand.

If you choose to hunt using a portable tree stand you will likely be setting up your stand in the dark. So, get familiar with your stand. Know how to set it up and do it quietly. Fix rattles and metal on metal noises. Use tape or something to minimize set up noise so you do not disrupt the natural way of the wild. As a hunter your goal is to blend into the wild around you. So think through the things you will need to do to setup your stand and be prepared.

Plan ahead on what you will wear on stand. Sweat on cold days will shorten the time you are able to stay on stand. If your hike is short and you can pace yourself to not sweat and you will be fine. If you have a long hike you may consider wearing something light to get to your stand. Once you arrive you can change into dry clothes before climbing into your stand for the day. When I do this I wrap all my sweaty clothes in a plastic bag, tie it up and bury it under the leaves at the base of my stand. I will also put some kind of cover scent around the area before getting into my stand.

Next Week: Part 3

Next week we will continue with the last part of this series, “Join the Challenge of the Wild: Hunt the Gray Ghost.” Upcoming topics in this series will include getting ready on stand, shot placement, after the kill, and essential equipment.

Also, be sure to visit my “Recommended Equipment” page. I will continue to post more products that can help you get started on your journey and join the chase.

In the meantime, do your research. Learn safety, the characteristics of the whitetail deer, places to hunt, and types of stands. If you have questions or comments, contact me by clicking “EMAIL” on my main menu bar.

As always I appreciate your visit to Men of Grit!

In your corner,

“As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.”

How does a man learn whitetail deer hunting if he did not grow up in a hunting culture?

Recently I was thinking about all the times I had conversations with men that never hunted. They would often express how they would like to start hunting “someday.” These thoughts inspired the writing of this series of articles.

I grew up in rural Pennsylvania. In rural Pennsylvania, deer hunting was ingrained in the culture. It had been this way for generations. Hunting whitetail deer was something that was handed down from fathers to sons. My grandfather taught my dad how to hunt. My dad taught me. For years this was something I took for granted.

But now I realize many men would like to start deer hunting but did not grow up in a hunting culture. As a result, they have a difficult time understanding where to start. What they need is a plan.

This reminds me of when I wanted to learn how to blog and write. I did not know enough to ask the right questions. But men that were more experienced provided me a plan to get started. If I followed it and did the work, I could be successful.

This series of articles are written to help men build a plan. I do not claim this is THE PLAN. But I do claim that if you follow these steps, do the research and work I suggest, you have a good chance of successfully hunting whitetail deer.

I have successfully hunted whitetail deer for over 40 years and in over seven states. This has been with both gun and bow. I have harvested many deer utilizing these principles.

Having moved quite a few times, I had to learn different state regulations, find new places to hunt, scout out new areas, determine optimum stand locations, and do the things I write about in this series.

These simple steps are based upon my experience chasing after the gray ghosts of the North American wilderness. This pursuit is challenging, wild, requires mental toughness, patience, and determination to be consistently successful. It involves time in God’s creation and connecting with the wild inside the masculine soul. For these reasons and many more, I love this sport. I am convinced that if you start, you will too.

It is my hope you will join in the chase and the challenge. Enjoy!

Safety

Safety is key. You need to understand that what you are about to do will take a life. The equipment you will be using can take your own life or the lives of those around you. This must be taken seriously. I highly recommend you take a hunters safety course. As far as I know, every state has one of these, and for many, it is a requirement to buying your first hunting license.

Do your internet research to find your state hunting regulations. Understand your state requirements and laws. The hunter’s safety course will cover many things like how to safely handle your weapon. But this course will also cover things specific to hunting and decision making while pursuing your game.

Hunting can be a great experience but make one wrong decision, and your life or someone else’s will be changed forever. Do not begin this journey unless you are willing to learn how to be safe in the wild.

Learn About Your Prey

Do your research and learn everything you can about this incredible animal. If you are like me, the more you understand, the more you will be amazed. You will develop a healthy respect for the deer you pursue.

Food, cover, and water are keys to finding deer. Find all three, and you are likely to see deer. Here are the questions you should be asking.

What do deer eat in the area I plan to hunt? Agricultural areas offer specific food sources like cornfields, soybean fields, and apple/fruit orchards. These will draw deer. Mountains offer different food sources such as acorns and mushrooms.

Deer have preferences. For example, whitetail deer in the mountains of Pennsylvania will pass through groves of red oak acorns to get to the better tasting white oak acorns. You need to know the difference. Research the area you plan to hunt and understand the critical food sources. Understand where they are located. Deer will travel to and from these areas.

What types of cover do deer like? Deer do not like to be exposed. This is especially true with older bucks. When hunting pressure begins to increase, deer move to cover with escape routes. The more pressure, the thicker the cover. I tend to look for areas that have food, water, and dense cover in a relatively small area. Deer go to these areas when the pressure increases. Hunting the outskirts of these areas has served me well over the years.

What signs do whitetail deer leave in the woods? Start with the basics. Understand what deer tracks and deer trails look like. Then learn about buck rubs, buck scrapes, and licking branches. Do your research. Familiarize yourself with what these look like and what they mean. Learn how to tell if they are fresh.

Learn how deer move in mating season (rut) versus outside mating season. In mating season buck movements are dominated by finding does and breeding. Outside mating season they tend to move based upon food and water. If hunting pressure is high this will influence their movement. These are things worth researching to understand what they typically do and when they typically do it.

What senses do deer rely upon most often? Whitetail deer use their sense of smell exceptionally well. This is the number one thing you need to take into account if you are going to get close to deer. Think about covering your scent. There are many products on the market that do this well. But as critical is to think about wind direction and where you expect deer to be.

Consider wind direction when you decide on your stand position versus deer trails. Bowhunters especially need to take this into account. They must get close. Deer will work hard to get downwind of a suspected threat. If they smell something that does not align with the norm, they will not hang around to figure it out.

A whitetail deer has large ears and can hear well. You need to take this into consideration. Think about the clothing you wear and the sound it makes when you move. Today’s deer hunting clothing often takes this into account, but you need to ensure you can be quiet when moving. This also means you need to learn how to walk in the woods without making noise. Avoid branches, dried leaves, loose rocks, etc.

Whitetail deer have decent eyesight though they do not see color. They do notice movement. So your actions need to be slow and smooth. Quick movements often result in seeing a large white tail in all its glory.

Because they do not see color like we do, you can wear bright orange and still get close to deer. The key is to wear patterns that break up your outline. Avoid wearing clothing that is all one color. This makes you stand out amid the many lines in the woods.

These are only a few aspects regarding the characteristics of the whitetail deer. Do your own research. I think you will enjoy learning about them. They are fascinating animals. As you understand, think about how you can use this knowledge to develop hunting strategies. The uneducated hunter will struggle to consistently win against one of the wariest animals in the North American wild. Don’t be that guy! Do your research.

Finding a place to hunt

Public land

Do a search for public hunting land in your state. Be aware that some public lands, such as national forests, may have slightly different regulations. Familiarize yourself with these regulations before hunting there.

When hunting public land, you need to take into consideration that others will be hunting there also. Be mentally prepared for interruptions. One way I have accounted for this is by building in a Plan B and a Plan C. I usually scout out at least three different locations when first hunting public land. That way, if I find others hunting in the area, I have options. I can quickly pick up and move to another location and still have a good day in the woods.

Private Land

Sometimes, you find people that have land and allow you to hunt. This can be a great situation. If you have this opportunity, talk to the landowner and learn as much as you can. He can be your most powerful resource for information. Many times landowners help you get on deer quickly.

Ask him where he sees deer or deer signs. If he does see deer, what time does he see them? Ask him if others have permission to hunt the same land. If so, ask where they have stands so you can avoid them. Ask him where the boundaries of his land are. Also, ask where there are houses or structures are that you need to take into account when hunting and shooting.

I also like to familiarize myself with the land. To do this, I use something like Google Earth or a mapping app that gives me a satellite view. Sometimes landowners allow you to place trail cameras. This can be a great tool in discovering deer patterns and what kind of bucks are moving in the area.

Above all else, respect the landowner. Ask him where he would like you to park. Make sure he is aware of what your vehicle looks like. You want to be sure he knows it is you on his land and not someone that may not have permission to hunt. If you successfully harvest a deer, offer some of the venison to him. Be respectful.

Next Week: Part 2

Next week we will continue with Part 2 of this series, “Join the Challenge of the Wild: Hunt the Gray Ghost.” Upcoming topics in this series will include stands, stand placement, hiking into stands, getting ready on the stand, shot placement, field dressing, and essential equipment.

Also, be sure to visit my “Recommended Equipment” page. I will continue to post more products that can help you get started on your journey and join the chase.

In the meantime, do your research. Learn safety, the characteristics of the whitetail deer, and places to hunt. If you have questions or comments, contact me by clicking “EMAIL” on my main menu bar.

As always I appreciate your visit to Men of Grit!

In your corner,

“As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.”

The challenge comes in every boy’s life to break into the world of manhood. Many times, this happens through traditions that are deeply ingrained in his culture. Today I write about my story and one of those traditions that led me into the world of men. Looking back, I now see it as a key moment and the start of my journey into the world of manhood. It also brings to light the importance of building these experiences into the lives of our sons.

Anticipating the Exciting Challenge Ahead

The first Monday after Thanksgiving probably did not have significant meaning to the rest of the country. But if you lived in Pennsylvania, this was a state holiday. You see, this was the opening day of buck season. Workplaces and schools were closed, unions worked it into their contracts to have this day off, and almost the entire state shut down to allow people to go deer hunting. To those from other states, this is surprising, but to those of us from Pennsylvania, this was normal. This is the way it was. Deer hunting in Pennsylvania had been a significant part of the culture for generations. Most people I knew hunted, and most people hunted deer on this day.

Growing up, I could not wait to go to hunting camp with my dad. To be a part of this long-standing tradition was a dream of mine. I heard all the stories of tracking down bucks and the hard work of dragging them through the Appalachian mountains. (we were not allowed to use four-wheelers or drive vehicles on state-owned land to retrieve deer) I read every copy of Pennsylvania Game News. I hung on every word and studied all the details of every story and article. I listened to the stories my dad told me, asking questions and learning everything I could learn about pursuing the legendary whitetail deer. To me, going deer hunting was a rite of passage for a young man. Getting a buck was a trophy that meant more to me than all the trophies I earned by playing sports.

Those first few years of going to camp were my time to prove myself as a hunter and as a man. I was the first of the sons to go to camp, the oldest of the group. I was the only youngster among a group of 10-12 men. At 12 years old, I was wide-eyed and full of excitement. This was my first time entering into the “world of men,” and I was ready.

The first step of entering into this new world was to learn the behavior and fun men have together. It was good to see men busting on each other and getting a little crazy. I was amazed at how bodily noises occurred as if they were a planned part of the conversation. I sat in the corner laughing so hard I had tears in my eyes. It was fun to sit and watch and listen. I heard the stories of hunts from years past and conversations and the banter that goes on between men. I learned of the names of different hunting areas like “the Gifford Road,” “the tar paper shanty,” etc. The stories grew in their color and became more grandiose the later in the night, and the more beer that was consumed. I just tried to stay out of the limelight, help with the menial tasks of camp life like washing dishes after meals, setting the table, and just “paying my dues.” I was there to earn respect, and my dad prepared me well to just help out, watch, and learn.

After a couple of days, it was Sunday night, and things started to take on a more serious tone. The grit and drive of men started to show as they prepared for the day ahead. I could see it was a big deal to these guys. They were deer hunters and for the first time, I was one of them. But in my mind, I knew I still needed to prove myself and show I belonged.

That night men were packing lunches, laying out equipment, talking through safety, and of course, ribbing the new kid. I was asked if I had my hose. Not knowing what they meant, they went on to tell me that with all the layers of clothes I would have on, if I didn’t want to urinate on my hunting clothes, I should carry a small hose to use as an “extension.” I was also taught how to wrap toilet paper in case of an emergency in the woods. I was asked if I know my leaves. If there is no toilet paper available and you go to plan B, make sure you do not use poison ivy or poison oak. So needless to say, we pretty much covered all the essentials!

The Time to Prove You are Up to the Challenge

The next morning came early. The alarm clock went off at about 3:30 am. I did not sleep much. Partly because I was excited and partly because of the snoring. Never in my life had I heard snoring like I heard that night! Since then, earplugs have been an essential item when going to camp.

Men started rolling out and getting dressed while a few made eggs, bacon, and toast for the camp. We ate, got dressed, and everyone wished “good lucks” and “shoot straights” and off we went to our separate hunting spots deep in the mountains. We were usually deep in the woods before daylight. Walking in the mountains at night is an experience in itself for a young man. In this culture, it is all part of the challenge of breaking into the world of becoming a man.

The Challenge from the Wild Side of the Wilderness

That first year of hunting was unusually cold and presented an even greater challenge to the normal deer hunting in Pennsylvania. There was snow on the ground, and we were going to the “big mountain.” We would be hunting further back in the mountains than anyone else in our camp. We drove deep into the mountains on dirt roads. We parked and started hiking back into the woods to the area we had scouted out.

The Challenge of the Equipment of the Day

I had a full snowsuit on that was fluorescent orange. I carried a small single-shot 30-30 rifle. At that time, we did not have scopes on our guns. We both shot open iron sights. Because we did not have a lot of money in those days, my dad hunted in blue jeans and carried a lever-action Winchester 32 Special Model 94 like the ones you would see in a western movie. We did not have hot seats; instead, we took plastic bags to sit on, so we didn’t get wet. We also did not have synthetic materials for warmth. We wore cotton long-underwear and cotton socks and boots with felt liners in them. When dad and I sat down at the base of a tree, we had a system. He would sit facing one way, and I would sit facing the other way so we could cover more area. We had a short piece of rope that each of us would hold onto. If we saw deer, we would tug the rope, so the other guy knew to keep still. We saw lots of deer in those days. In the first couple of days, we saw well over one hundred and twenty deer.

The Challenge of Motivation and Grit

Because it was so cold, we did a lot of walking to keep warm. We climbed several mountains on those two days of hunting. It was so cold at one point we talked about returning to camp to warm up. This was a difficult decision for me. It felt like I was wimping out, and I did not like it, but I was colder than I had ever been in my life. We started to make our way back, and we ran into another hunter along a small mountain stream dragging a buck he had just shot. Seeing that buck changed everything for me. It was the motivation I needed to push through the challenge of the cold. Deep inside I found the grit to overcome. So we pushed on and roughed it out.

The Challenge of Missed Opportunity

Later that day, while sitting on a flat bench on the side of the mountain, we saw a group of deer over the edge. Dad snuck up to the edge and looked over and saw a spike buck with a few does. He stepped back and asked me if I wanted to take the shot. I tried to pull the hammer back on my single shot rifle but it had frozen and I could not get it to move. Dad pounded on it to try to get it to break free and then he pounded on his. I told him to go ahead and take the shot if he could get the hammer to break free. Finally, it did break free and he stepped up to the edge. Unfortunately, the buck was now in the midst of the does and the shot was a challenge. He had to try to take a shot at the neck with open sights at 75 yards in the woods. He took the shot and missed it. The deer broke down the bottom of the mountain and up the other side and stood there looking at us. At the distance, we could not see which deer were the does and which was the buck. If only we had a scope! That was our only opportunity that year. But all was not a loss.

Overcoming Challenges Results in Respect

That year I earned some respect in camp. I stayed out in the mountains all day that day and the next day in some bad weather. At the same time, many long time hunters returned to camp because of the cold. We hunted all day both days and covered more ground than probably any other man in camp that year. That experience gave me the opportunity to show grit in the face of some pretty tough conditions. I was starting to feel like I was on my way toward becoming a man.

It was another two years until I got my first buck. It was a small buck with one short antler, barely legal. My dad made a sign that we hung on the back of our jeep that read “Don’t laugh, where’s yours?” We got many honks on the way home and the thumbs up as people passed us on the highway.

Eventually, I became a fairly good deer hunter. I had some long streaks of hunting success year after year. The bucks got bigger and I mastered much of the sport with a rifle and a bow. I now have my own stories of long drags, overcoming obstacles, and battling the elements of the outdoors.

As a younger man, I was driven to prove myself and step up to the challenge of hunting deer in the mountains of Pennsylvania. I often missed the incredible things around me. But later I settled in and really began to enjoy my time in the woods whether successfully bagging a buck or not. I still love hunting success but today I enjoy everything about the hunt, the camaraderie of the men, the challenges the wild presents, and the incredible aspects of God’s creation. My enjoyment is at a much deeper level today.

Creating Challenges for the next Generation of Boys Entering Manhood

I often think about how experiences like hunting and being exposed to hunting camp were instrumental in my transition to manhood. My dad was intentional in making this happen in both my life and my brother’s. I will always be grateful to him for this. These experiences helped mold us, and were used to establish us as strong men with the grit to succeed in life. At the same time, it makes me realize how important it is for me to build adventures and tough experiences into my son’s life.

When my son was old enough, he went to hunting camp. (We now have our own camp) He too washed dishes, did the camp work that had to be done, and “paid his dues.” He experienced men, the banter, the bodily noises, the camaraderie, that comes when men gather together around the challenge of hunting.

But the challenge that has meant the most to him has been hiking. Hiking has been his thing. He loves the mountains and has become an avid outdoorsman. I would match him up against any young man his age. He is tough and has been hiking since he was 5 years old. He has stood on top of mountains as the only young boy among many adults. He has faced the challenges that nature presents and has overcome many. We have sweated together, been through severe storms, and pushed through difficulties that would have caused the average kid to give up. He has found the grit deep within that will serve him well in life. These are the experiences that mold boys into men.

These days, we are working out to get ready for a backpacking trip in the Rocky Mountains. This will be our second trip to the Rockies. The workouts building up to this trip have been great times. They have afforded the opportunity to work hard, talk, be present and stay engaged. The excitement is building as we are anticipating the challenge ahead. We can’t wait to test ourselves against the challenges the mountains bring.

What Challenge Awaits Your Son?

So what are you doing to help your son transition into manhood? What is your son’s rite of passage? How are you putting him in positions to learn manhood from other men? What challenges are you working through with him? How engaged and present are you in his life?

Build the relationship of a lifetime with your son! Pour into that young man. He is our future. He is your legacy. It is never wasted time. It is the best investment you will ever make.

In your corner,

“As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.”

If you have comments, questions, or feedback put them in the comments section below or send me an email. I am always interested in hearing from you.

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