Since then, I've patiently been waiting for the hunting season to return. As of yesterday, I found out I'll be able to go pronghorn hunting again, thanks to an organization Doug introduced me to, which helps disadvantaged and disabled people go hunting every season. Hopefully, I'll be just as successful as I've been the last two seasons I've gone hunting. 

Wild game is essential to my diet, and hunting has definitely given me a different perspective on things. It's a different feeling to eat the meat I hunted myself. I've gotten to see the side of the wilderness not a lot of people see today. It's not innocent, but it's not corrupt either. It's just pure survival, and it's beautiful and amazing to come face-to-face with it, and be part of the ecosystem as the apex predator every season. Not a lot of people can say they've come within arm's reach of any wild animal, let alone an animal like a turkey that has amazing sight and hearing. Not many people can say they've been slightly disappointed, yet in awe of stampeding elk chasing away turkeys before an approaching storm, and even less people can say they've been so close they could feel the rumble below them. Hunting isn't really about killing. It's about becoming one with the surrounding ecosystem. It's about tapping into our primitive brain, and doing something that predators have been doing for millions of years, and will do for millions more. For as long as I can, I'll be out hunting. I made that promise to Doug, and later on to my grandpa, and will make the same promise to all the guys that have taught me and provided me with the opportunity to hunt. 

Hunting is life changing. It saved me from feeling so sick all the time, and gave me something to really enjoy. Hunting isn't just about going out and killing things. It's about getting out into the true wilderness, hanging out with your buddies, sharing stories, sharing food, and learning more and more. Killing is one of the last things on my mind whenever I go hunting. In fact, I'm more interested in the lessons each hunt teaches me, and the stories and food I'll have for later.

Hunters love telling stories. It's our way of respecting and remembering our prey beyond the meat and taxidermy. When hunters talk about hunting, we usually talk about our prey like it was an old friend. We can spend hours talking about and describing one animal. 

 (talk about the respect hunters have for prey more)

 (hunters love sharing stories)