I spent the bulk of the winters in my younger years shivering out there in the cold while I was hunting, bundled up in every piece of cold-weather gear I could get my hands on. No matter how much clothing I could get on, though, and still be able to use my bow, rifle or shotgun, I still wasn’t warm enough.
Fast-forward a few decades, and now I have a decent job that allows me to afford good, efficient, yet lightweight and compact gear. I can now dress in just a few layers that are warm enough to actually have to shed a layer or two throughout the day. The problem is, I don’t have as much time to get out in the cold, if I want to keep that job that lets me buy all that gear.
Someday, I’m hoping I’ll be able to retire while I’m still fit enough to get out there, but with my luck, when that day finally comes, I won’t be able to venture far off the beaten path. I’m hoping I get at least a few years when I’m healthy enough to hunt and don’t have to worry about having enough vacation days to get out there before I’m too old to do it anymore.
Until then, though, I’ll do my best to get out there as much as I possibly can, because I finally have good gear that makes it much more pleasant. As much as I loved hunting when I was younger, it’s even more fun now that I’m not shivering to death while I’m also trying to stalk, aim or shoot.
If you have a young person in your family who likes to hunt, but maybe isn’t far enough along in his or her career to get the good stuff, maybe that would be a good gift idea for Christmas. Outfit that young hunter with the type of gear you can now afford. I wish I’d been smart enough to ask for that for Christmas when I was younger.
