It’s a fact of life that people don’t succeed at everything they put their minds to, and hunting is no exception. Hunters can put forth their best effort, be as prepared as possible, and feel great while they’re outside, but it’s still possible to fail.
Many people feel disheartened about hunting in situations like that and might blame themselves, the universe, or karma for their failure. But in reality, hunting failure doesn’t have to be an end-all-be-all – as much as it hurts, it is something that hunters can learn from, deal with, and grow beyond.
If you’re coming off an unsuccessful season, here’s your guide to coping with getting skunked.
Learn the reasons why hunts fail
One of the best ways to cope with the negative feelings of a disappointing trip is to use the failure as a learning opportunity. Doing so will help demystify your frustration, giving you clear insight into what went wrong and helping you avoid the feeling that the universe is out to get you.
You can start by learning the reasons why hunts typically fail. For instance, one of these reasons is bad luck, but another is lousy gear. If your equipment is subpar or unfit for your situation, or if it’s simply not comfortable for you to use, it can seriously throw off your game. The next step might be to look for some new equipment.
When searching for new hunting gear, it’s best to find clothing that fits well and feels comfortable. For an added boost, you can consider high-tech outdoor hunting clothing that blocks your body’s electromagnetic signals and makes you stealthier. When it comes to other gear like your firearm accessories or technology, you should always read plenty of reviews before purchasing to ensure you’ve found the right products for your hunting needs.
Alternatively, it might be that your method is the problem. This problem is common with hunters of all stripes, whether novice or veteran – if you do too much to alert animals of your presence, or if some factor is making you shoot inaccurately, that will hamper your success.
The good news is that none of those issues have to be permanent. Once you’ve determined what went wrong, you can begin to make adjustments so that you’re better equipped for success when you return to the field.
Don’t be hard on yourself
Beating yourself up for a lousy hunt is a short road to nowhere.
It might sound like a difficult piece of advice, but one of the most prominent mistakes hunters make is hyper-fixating on a bad hunt. Doing so can actually make things worse. It can damage your confidence, make you obsessive, and drain all of the joy out of the sport.
Once you’ve come back from a failed hunt, take a breath and pause. Do what you need to put yourself in a balanced state of mind so that you’re ready to try again. Try practicing mindfulness to stay focused on the present rather than getting hung up on the negative aspects of your failed hunt.
By remembering that you’ll have future chances to do better, you can embrace hunting as the sport and beloved pastime that it’s meant to be.
Parting shot
Failure happens to everybody, whether it’s your first hunt or your fiftieth. Although it’s tempting to throw in the towel and give up hunting forever, that’s the last thing you should do. Instead, take your time, invest in the right gear, assess your methods, and get up and try again.
