6 Stages of Hunter Development
1) Shooting Stage
2) Limiting Out Stage
3) Trophy Stage
4) Method Stage
5) Sportsman Stage
6) “Give-Back” Stage
https://tpwd.texas.gov/education/hunter-education/online-course/responsible-and-ethical-hunting/six-stagesI am a meat hunter without the benefit of a plethora of bucks to see in daylight. I envy those that have decent bucks to PASS UP in order to chase a single deer. I am not so fortunate.
I am perpetually stuck in STAGES ONE (1) and TWO (2).
I have does, and should have bucks, but the doe do not participate in the only three designated days of antlerless deer in FL and the bucks remain nocturnal.
One doe and one buck per day may be taken for a bag limit of three bucks and 2 does, which is the season limit. The truck must not have more than four FL deer in it or that will be a violation...as if.
Yes, it is true that there is an overabundance of feral hogs here, a LOT of trigger time expended, we kill a lot of them, and apparently there is no End of Line in shooting hogs. It is good white meat, but venison is better RED MEAT, and I would love to shoot a deer for a change.
Perhaps this year on or after Nov. 3rd, our modern gun season opening, I hope to be on stand that day, but it is looking rather glum as I am still recovering from a pulmonary embolism surgery with lower weight, no muscle, following 60 pounds (1/5 of my body weight) of muscle weight loss in under 11 weeks (three surgeries - back, brain, and embolism), which has knocked me back by a significant amount and left my mind wanting to do more than my body can.
I cannot drive due to the last (second) seizure being in June in ICU. FL law says no driving for 6-months after the last seizure, to which I agree to abstain. I do not feel like driving - yet.
I can barely sit to stand and it has been 7 weeks since the embolism surgery. Two hours and fifteen minutes (2.25 hours) I was on the operating table while Dr. Schue "catfished" the embolism off of my lungs. There was a lot of blood loss and the attendant loss of an additional 12 pounds of muscle following surgery has me roped and tied.
That's a big fat ugly SOB, which took a year(s) to accumulate (Long Covid spike protines?) the Dr. said would ordinarily be identified on an autopsy table. I dodged another bullet.
I am alive and Life is Good. I will take life, and temporary weakness, over the alternative, which is in Him and His plan for me is apparently not over. My Faith is strong.
Still, there is significance in the passage of time. The passage of time...oh, you know, you know the thing!
I still have a sense of humor but it isn't having any real fun. I WANT TO GO DEER HUNTING WHERE THERE ARE MORE DEER THAN SHOOTERS! Before the embolism, I was looking for a Georgia lease. They have a better bag limit than FL (10 deer), reasonable non-resident licensure, and a long season.
I am still searching for something within four hour's drive with two- and one-half hours to the FL/GA line from Cocoa, FL. Know of anything?