Hunting/Fishing quest

[missed mallards]

As outdoorsmen, we all face challenges. These challenges become fuel for our quest. Our quests, or goals, are present in every outdoorsman. It is the reason we are there, we spend countless ours searching, dreaming, and then doing.

One of my favorite pastimes is reading. It allows me an open playground which I enjoy immensely. A hunter telling of old times, the pursuits, their quest, and their experiences are something I enjoy reading about. I find that when I read it allows me to let my mind float free and the days stress is no longer there. Here of lately my mind has been cluttered, of nothing really, just clutter. Therefore I have spent an enormous amount of time reading old books, magazines, and internet forums to keep my mind free.

I happened to run across a post on http://www.duckhunter.net titled “Waterfowlers Trophy Room” that caught my attention. Opening the thread I could not help but be amazed. This gentleman had spent his life on a waterfowling quest. This quest had taken him to different countries, different states, and in search of different quarry. I could only imagine the experiences this man has had over his career as an outdoorsman. The people he has met, the hunts, the adrenalin, and lastly the stores which he could tell. This gentleman has overcome challenges that I couldn’t fathom to obtain his goal, and his room collaborates all of his hard work.

While scrolling through the pages I started thinking of my own quest, my own goals as an outdoorsman and what I have done to fulfill them. Looking at my own quest, I started thinking of the quest that other outdoorsman would like to accomplish. So during your outdoorsman career what types of quest or goals have you set? Why?

For me it’s a rather large list.

Kill a “large” whitetail with my bow. This goal may seem easy, but for me has been one of the toughest. I have spent my life chasing whitetails and have yet to see the one I want. As my dad use to say "it'll have your name on him, you will know then". Seen plenty of good bucks, just not the buck yet.
Hunt out west so that I could experience something I have dreamed about as a small boy
Hunt the Dakotas for pheasant, ducks and geese. I have always wanted to see ducks by the thousands, roosters flushing, and the morning’s sunrise full of honkers pilling in.
Hunt wild quail. Growing up my Granddad would start telling stories of some of his younger outings. The stories themselves would fire me up, just to sit behind a good pointer as a covey flushed would be a dream come true.
Mount a large mature fox squirrel with a blaze face. One of the most memorable hunts with my dad, I managed to kill one. At the time funds wouldn’t allow my dad to mount it, the squirrel would have more sentimental value than anything.
Kill the turkey grand slam. Imagine running over the country hunting different environments, listening to the gobbles, seeing the colors.
Fishing the coastal waters. Seeing miles of water, experiencing something I haven't been able too yet.
Hunt Bighorn sheep. It is a challenge both fiscally and mentally. Not too many people can say they harvest a bighorn, it is the greatest challenge for me. I will never forget the day, my dad came in woke me up and said where doing to Louisiana. Not knowing what for i was game. Arriving at our destination my dad informed me why we where there. The gentleman had played a large part in my dad’s life, he figured it would be fitting that i meet him. Walking in the house was pure amazement, on every wall there were mounts. Marlins, Polar bears, Whitetails, Elks, the whole spectrum was there for my viewing. On the top corner of his giant display were 4 sheep, the grand slam. As they caught my eye the gentleman just snickered, "Yep son, those took me 10 yrs to get". "It was a challenge I want ever forget". He had actually 2 grand slams. We talked for a few hours before my dad loaded me up and we headed back. I wish I could go back and talk, or better yet hunt!!


So what are ya’lls quest? Why?

[champcaller]

hunt dry field mallards in canada

hopefully one day, hunt with my son and dad

chase the flyway from canada all the way down to ms

shoot a banded mallard (just a matter of time... i hope)

hunt over a great dog of my own

a long list of calling goals...

kill a redhead and a pintail

catch a ten pound bass

this is all i have for now... i dont have much of an interest of chasing exotic waterfowl.... yet

[olemissduckhunter]

follow the migration from Canada to to South LA (promised myself i would do it after my 1st million)

Kill a black duck

Banded Mallard

Watch my son kill his first duck

win a world duck calling championship (halfway there)

would like to kill an elk one day with my bow, but really have no other interest in other big game

kill a turkey with my bow

[rustypjr]

I would like to deer hunt in Saskatchawan (sp)
Duck hunt in canada
Take a turkey with my bow
Dove hunt in South america
go deep sea fishing
Pheasant hunt in South Dakota - (supposed to do that this fall we will see if it happens.)

[jdbuckshot]

#1 Kill an elk with my bow on a DIY hunt
#2 Load up the dogs and go on a rooster killing spree across the midwest!
#3 Shoot wild Quail standing beside my Dad and two brothers (dads old pastime passion)
#4 kill a buck with my Fred Bear Kodiak Hunter Recurve
#5 Own my hunting land

[leadsthebest]

1. marlin
2. elk
3. peacock bass

[crackhead]

1. Fill up my lanyard with bands
2. Kill a reward band
3. Hunt canada to mexico
4. Catch a 7lb speckled trout
5. Catch a 3.5lb crappie
6. Keep on Duck hunting with my dad every chance I get

[LawDawg]

Kill a big deer, 150+ and not pay for it (bow, gun, car, I don't care how).
own my hunting land one day
have my own 10 acre lake managed for trophy bass
catch a 10+ pound bass
catch and mount a 15+ pound peacock bass
catch a 20 pound striper in jackson
kill an elk with my bow
kill a turkey with my bow
make my own duck calls and use them
hunt argentina
hunt africa

That will keep me busy for a week or two.

[Unkljohn]

#1 Would be to follow the migration from Canada all the way to LA shooting ducks all the way down. That would be an incredible experience.
#2 Kill a giant Whitetail with my bow.
#3 Is a recent addition to my list, Turkey grandslam. I've got a long way to go on this one. I only started Turkey hunting last year, and managed to call up and kill my first last weekend.
#4 Elk with my bow.
#5 Moose with my bow.
#6 Argentina dove hunting.
That's all I have time to fantasize about for now! I'm sure I could list several more...

[cwink]

#1 A good Elk hunt out west.
#2 More dove hunts on my place in South Texas.
#3 More Quail Hunts
#4 More Timber Duck hunts in the Delta
#5 Finally Bag that Buck of a Lifetime
#6 Make sure my Sons grow up to appreciate the outdoors.
#7 More Red and Speck fishing down on the Tx Coast.

[WhiteRiverWill]

1.Pheasant hunt in South Dakota
2.Mule deer hunt in Colorado and/or Wyoming
3.Elk hunt in Colorado and/or Wyoming
4.Trout fishing out west
5.Land a 30# + brown trout
6.Land a 20# + rainbow trout
7.Own a cabin and acreage on the White River of Arkansas

[ACEINTHEHOLE]

1. Spend one month in Alaska hunting in fising out of tent.
2. Turkey grandslam.
2. Elk with bow
3. Peacock bass fishing
4. Chase the ducks on the way down.
5. Have that dog that makes everybody and me say holy crap.
6. Would love to go on a hunt, any kind with my grandpa, dad, brother, and daughter.

[stang67]

1. Kill a deer or turkey on property that I own. As quests go, that is really the only big "outdoors" goal I have. I can't imagine the feeling.

[chattahoochee]

1.Follow the migration from Canada to Louisiana.
2.Go on a cast and blast in LA in September.
3.Get my lanyard full of bands.
4.Own my own timber hole or join Fighting Bayou or Six Shooter.
5.Kill a world class elk, mule deer, and a whitetail.
6.Cordoba,Argentina dove hunt.
7.Complete a grand slam for turkeys.
8.Wouldn't mind hunting at the Grenada Lake hunting club for a weekend.
9.Kill a double banded Black Duck.
11.Kill a trophy gator.
12.Get a lab and make him my best friend and hunting partner.

[cwink]

Go on a hunt with Mudsucker where he..

#1 - Doesn't drive around in his truck the whole morning..
#2 - Actually loads his gun and pulls the trigger
#3 - Kills a duck..