I’m in Wendover Nevada right now about to attack the stage for my 6583rd rockout on my summer tour 2017. I could not be further removed from deerhunting than if I were at an animal rights festival on Pluto.
Well, maybe not that far removed, but the outrageous high energy sonic bombast my killer band and I will unleash each and every night for three firebreathing months provides as an extreme contrast as is available to mankind.
And I like it.
Seeing as how my life has been a nonstop orgy of rock-n-roll and bowhunting for more than 60 years, it is important I remain in touch with both camps in order for me to be successful and excel at these two diverse and polar opposite lifestyles.
And believe me when I tell you that just like our hardcore dedicated life of being a proficient reasoning predator, so too is the necessary dedication and passion in order to create and perform the killer music that is mine, night after night, year after year.
We all have our individual professions and responsible workloads in life in order to take care of and provide for our families. To maintain that acute situational awareness that makes us a successful backstrap procurer, we must constantly exercise those special predator touches and talents of stealth and marksmanship that hunting demands.
I am able to continuously practice with my Mathews bow backstage even on tour in a different city every day. With my Morrell 3D target, daily practice not only keeps my hand-eye archery focus tuned up, but the mystical flight of the arrow takes me as far from the slamming music as one can possibly get, thereby keeping both my archery and my musical perspectives fresh and keen.
Meeting nightly while on tour all these many years with fellow hunters from every imaginable walk of life, profession and hunting style, we excitedly discuss the upcoming season with much vigor and also share always thrilling stories of past hunts.
These backstage “campfire” sessions have provided us all with critical information from many varied personal experiences afield that go a long way in preparing us a little bit better for when these inevitable scenarios will unfold for all of us.
Not many hunters are as lucky as I am to have so many hunting roundtables and share so many hunting experiences all across the country every year, but I am convinced that it is always a great idea and I highly encourage everyone to get together and talk about hunting and share experiences as often as possible with our fellow hunters throughout the summer months to learn the many lessons that each of us have.
I have been reminded many times how an otherwise imperceptible rub or squeak from our bow or arrow rest or treestand can completely blow an otherwise hard earned opportunity.
Timing the shot is always critical and much can be learned from those of us who have miscalculated that magical and elusive window of opportunity.
Reading telltale deer and other critter’s behavioral signals can teach us much about timing and other critical decision making kill-assist moments.
New technology and changes in product designs constantly coming and going in our sport can confuse us and keep us guessing, but when a fellow hunter can provide a first-person, hands-on experience and review, we can avoid costly mistakes and misjudgments for ourselves.
Even with the unlimited lessons learned, I have found the most beneficial result of such bull-sessions is simply the contagious positive energy that flows, keeping us in the proper mindset for the upcoming hunting season.
When they say talk is cheap, they must not have had many talk sessions with hunters about our beloved sport, because I have found that every word has the potential to fortify, enrich, enlighten and educate our predator arsenal for a more effective, efficient and deadly hunting season.
Pull up a stump and sit a spell. The campfire burns strong and hot, and knowledge is power.
With more than 40 million albums sold, rock legend Ted Nugent is equally well known as the nation’s most outspoken proponent of our 1st and 2nd Amendment rights, conducting thousands of pro-gun, pro-freedom, pro-American interviews in major media worldwide. Nugent is a New York Times best-selling author whose works include “Ted, White & Blue —The Nugent Manifesto;” “God, Guns & Rock ‘n’ Roll” and “Kill It & Grill It.” This year, his award-winning Ted Nugent Spirit of the Wild TV show celebrates its 500th episode! For allthings Nuge, visit www.tednugent.com
