I tend to gravitate toward things for which the process is at least, if not more, important then the ends. Fly fishing is like that for more me, and so is traditional archery. Both have given me a great excuse to go to amazing, remote and wild places, spend time in them, and learn. And at the end of the day, that’s really what it’s all about for me – lifelong learning and spending as much time as possible in wild places.
I also feel that in this day and age, the outdoors have come to be viewed too much as some sort of personal gymnasium. Climbing, mountain biking, skiing, even hiking at the pace that most people do it, has become too frenetic, too about the “person” rather than the “place.” I partake in these activities too, and I realize I’m making a sweeping generalization here for which there are lots of exceptions, but I think most of you get my point – the whole “push your limits, extreme, on the edge” culture that has come to define what so many view as being outdoors. Fewer and fewer people go into the outdoors simply to sit, listen and observe as quietly as possible. Bowhunting does this for me – so much so that it’s what I prefer to do even outside of hunting season, to simply hike out somewhere and sit and listen and watch.
I’m amazed at how much people miss, being so focused on moving fast and “pushing their limits” while traveling outdoors. The funny thing is that I think for a lot of people, having to sit quietly and observe for extended periods of time in the outdoors would probably “push their limits” more than anything. I have friends who simply can’t do it, and don’t understand why you would.
In addition, I’m a Sagittarius – we’re born to have a bow in our hands…:wink:
