Hunting and fishing might be too important
If you know somebody that enjoys hunting or fishing, then you probably realize that the word enjoy is an understatement. Most people that I run across are so passionate about their sport that many times it gets in the way of other things. Sometimes other things that are more important. Yes, I said it. There are things more important than hunting and fishing.
A recent article in Whitetail News magazine addresses this very fact. The article I read goes on to talk about an individual that took his passion so far his entire family left him! At first this sounds far-fetched. But then I started to think about the individuals that I have met and enjoyed a day in the outdoors with. Quickly I started to realize that this obsession is more widespread than we might first care to admit.
I recalled a friend from Arkansas. On his wedding day he pulled up to the church with his pickup truck and behind it was hitched a bass boat. After the ceremony he changed clothes and left to fish a tournament. Need I say more?
Another friend of mine from Nashville has had a similar issue with the decision-making process concerning spouses and fishing. His current philosophy and order of priorities has him putting a wedding band on bride number four. Ouch! And the sad part of the whole dilemma is that he openly admits to his future partner that if there is ever a decision to be made between fishing or family, fishing will win.
Another person I know of in rural New York State has also had this very same affliction. Only his is with whitetails and turkeys. His never-ending quest for trophy birds and bucks left him to quit his regular job and open up an outfitting business. The pressure of operating a successful outdoors venture has literally bankrupted him. His home is a shack not fit for rats. His vehicles are not road-worthy and worst of all, the demand to provide successful hunts has led him to violate numerous game laws. When I questioned him about this he would make up stories of the “mafia” trying to ruin his business? I thought the same thing you are right now; whatever.
There are other examples I can think of where people I know have sacrificed what they should cherish, for the delusion that a monster buck hanging on the wall will solve all the problems in their lives. I find that so ironic considering the outdoors, approached the right way, can solve many problems in their lives.
What fun is it to hang out and experience all that God’s creation has to offer us if we have no one to share it with? The outdoors should be bringing people closer together, not drive them apart. I look forward to the days this summer that I will get to spend fishing with my sons. Those days go by so fast that every moment needs to be taken advantage of.
This affliction sets in slowly and each of us has dealt with it in our own way. And yes, it is OK to put a morning in the deer stand ahead of other priorities once in a while. The real problem comes in when you start to miss many of the events your kids are involved in or your relationship with your wife starts to suffer.
My goal, although she may not know it, is to one day have her spend time in the deer stand with me. She already likes to fish so the next transition hopefully will be a smooth one.
As you pursue your outdoor passions just keep in mind how much more memorable they are with family and friends. Not without them.
