Backcountry Hunter.

It was a term introduced to me some years back. A philosophy surrounded by the idea of abandoning the comforts of your home, a camp with modern conveniences and vehicles to drive with... A philosophy that entails hard work, physical labor and a steady mind to meet the challenges afield. To me, the term backcountry hunter has always meant, the ultimate predator. It's a journey of dedication and pure hard fought ambition. In addition, the term, "backcountry hunter" represents something I have never been able to call myself, something I have never been able to say that I did, maybe that's why I was always drawn to the idea of becoming such a thing and hunting in such a way. Not only that, but I want to experience something as close as possible to those who inhabited this land well before my time. In a sense, I want all the weight to be put on my shoulders alone, no one else's, where my skills and knowledge, and maybe just a little bit of luck will determine the outcome of a hunt.

One thing that has challenged me to pursue backcountry hunting now, more than ever, is for the fact that I never want to be defined as a lazy hunter, nor do I want to share stories about how I was driving down this road, and saw this buck, to which I stepped out of my vehicle and pulled the trigger. To each his own, but I haven't been able to find any glory in that way of "hunting", for myself.  Road hunting to me is something reserved for old guys, my wife and children. I'm abandoning the practice in my quest.  

Another way of hunting that I'll be giving up, is stand hunting, at least for the most part. Even though it is a very effective way of hunting, especially if you do your homework, but it bores the heck out of me. I like to pursue, I like to be on my feet, hunting, not waiting. I want to see new areas and search for the unknown. To go somewhere few have been, to which few are willing to go to. So that's exactly what I am going to do, and that's exactly what I am preparing myself for this September.