dukemichaels

I used to do alot of things.. some things quite well.

Eventually each one faded and all I do now is think bowhunting... read bowhunting... scout bowhunting... practice bowhunting.. learn bowhunting.. talk bowhunting... and get ready for bowhunting... whitetails that is.

I still enjoy to fish and take my niece's and my wife out several times every year.. but it only helps to 'displace' my one true desire.. the hunt of mature whitetail deer.

I'm not saying that all I ever do is whitetail hunt with bow... I shed hunt too!

Bottom line... I wouldn't do too well at that competition. My competition runs on four legs.. is very adaptable.. and elude's me more than I care to admit. That's the only challenge I prefer these days.

BigJ71

I'm pretty multi dimensional when it comes to hunting. I've hunted all types of game with a lot of different weapons...Did I master any?? Hell I don't know but I do know I have fun getting out there and trying.

If there was one thing I mastered it was football.....

Growing up I was all football, I knew what I wanted at a very early age, my problem was my size. I was too big to play pee wee football and had to wait till I was in high school before I played organized ball.

I had played for years in the back yard with my two brothers and my friends and I couldn't wait to put on the pads for real.

From that moment on there was no stopping me, I lifted and worked out non stop, I didn't drink, stay out late, nothing.....just football and school. I had many scholarship offers from many big time schools. I took my recruiting trips and decided on BYU. Partly because of it's location, I knew I'd be able to hunt a little but mostly because of the program, and high emphasis put on education as well as athletics. While the rest of the NCAA keeps a fairly low standard to be eligible to play, BYU made you grade much higher in order to. As it turned out, it was the right choice as we (BYU) ended up winning the college National Championship in 1984 (13-0).

Through my training for football it lead me to weightlifting. This was something I took to like a duck to water. I soon got into all of the local power lifting competitions and actually won the Illinois teenage power lifting championships (heavy weight div.) my senior year in high school.

From there I continued to lift and competed in manystrongman competitions throughout the country trying to get a spot in the Worlds Strongest Man finals while in college.

I came close but was never able to secure a spot. In all honesty I was not willing to compromise my integrity in order to make gains where I needed to, in order to make that level. I'm not saying all the others did (but I know for a fact most do) I'm just saying I wouldn't put anything into my body that didn't belong there. Nows a different story....just ask Mr. Capt'n Morgan!

I excelled at my position and was a 4 year lettermen, a3 year starter, team captain,all conferenceand all American offensive lineman and capped it all off as a started in the Hula bowl (college all star game) to end my college football careerer. I was able to reach the pinnacle of my sport the day I signed with Denver and played in the NFL. I didn't play as long as I would have liked, my careerer was cut short by injuries, but I played enough and have many great memories of my playing days both in college and the NFL. I made a decent amount of money (nothing like today) and was able to make it work for me.

Looking back on it I can't even believe it was me. All the hours in the gym, on the track, in the training room. The miles of tapeI must have had put on me throughout the years. My hands and fingers still wear the scars of countless brokenbones and cuts sustained from getting caught in face masks and being stepped on.All the injuries, playing throughthe pain, the surgeries, the rehabs, the surgeries, the rehabs the surgeries, the rehabs....it truly blows my mindthat I was able to endure it all for so long.

I probably should have picked something else to master eh??


Well I've rambled enough.....

virginiashadow

I think I have always been a jack of all trades, master of none. Although most anything I have set my sights on, I have achieved fairly high levels within a short period of time. I focused on football through highschool and into college (IAA)...got a full football scholarship. I was a two sport first team all state performer in highschool( football and 100 and 200 meters). Then I headed out into the working world. Was bored so I picked up Brazilian Jiu-jitsu and started fighting no holds barred fighting for a few years...Was very succesful from the beginning because I trained like a madman to fight and excelled in grappling and fighting...really loved that stuff but I got married and had the 2 kids thing that most people have these days(another on the way). I had to give up training to be a dad/husband/ and leader at work. I needed to focus my energy on things that were more than just me, but people that surround me and their success. I picked up bowhunting after my dad bought me my first bow about 10 years ago. I was a gunhunter before that, but have gradually just started focusing more and more on just bowhunting...I will never go back to a gun...I love it too much to do anything else. I might sound crazy, but even in the heavily hunted area I frequent, I WILL kill a mature brute of a buck within 2 years. I have steadily progressed and have the confidence to do it---that is my sole sporting objective these days, so I will do it! I also play no limit poker and have been succesful in the short period of time that I have played...online and in the casinos....sometimes I wish I could just focus on one thing!

But you know what, sometimes I wish I would have just focused on one thing only and been great...but then I think, I love life and all the cool things that are out there!

DeerStalker80

everyone else has added theres and I will add my many abilities. Started hunting at the age of 10 before that was stuck to a BB gun in the back yard and when dad was up at the lease working on stands during the off season. At 12 started going on the annual 4 day dove hunt in south texas. Thats awesome all the guys from the family knocking down birds. Thats were I gained the passion for ducks and goose hunting at the age of 13 i finally pestered my dad enough to take me duck hunting. I had heard stories of My dad and grandpa when my dad was little and it sounded so much like fun. Shot on thing that first trip and to this day that has been one of the best trips I shot a nice snow goose. Then that started the next 9 years of duck and goose hunt with the ocassional deer hunt at that age deer hunting was to boring most of the time. Started shooting a bow when i was 11 never hunted with it just pretty much sucked if I could hit a piece of ply wood I was happy at that time. Gave it up at 16 girls and my car were more important then shooting a bow everyday. Made eagle scout at 15 as well. Never gave up duck hunting it was awesome I loved it. Shot deer here and there up in Kansas but was still never that impressed with it. I all pheasant hunted a few time.. The squirrel hunt every know and then and then there fishing on one of the best lakes in the country where we have a lake house at Toledo bend spent many summers and springs there. All of this I did until at the age of 21 I went into the Military and got married gave it up for 2 years. Then I knew there was something missing. I needed to be back out hunting and fishing So I started fishing again started remembering what to look for and everything. Boughtmy firstboat after my second deployment to IRAQ.Caught my biggest bass in virginia 8 lbs and a 9lbs 10 ounce on a little lake in suffolk virginia and then decide that after I had taken deer my bigger problem wasnt deer hunting itself it was the fact that I didnt think it was much of a challenege. Well I started shooting my bow again decide after 11 years that the browning wasnt going to cut it anymore. So I bought a reflex Had that for like 3 weeks until the limbs warped. So then I decided to get a diamond which was an awesome bow for the money shot it and shot it and was so much better then when i was 11. Hunted that year with it scouted deer all most every time i went in the woods I would see deer except never could seal the deel. The I sold that bow and bought a Bowtech love that thing better then the diamond. Moved 2 florida and this year Iwas lucky enough to get my first deer and second deer in one day a 7 point and a doe I have to say unless I am know managment hunting I will have a bow in my hand. I also was able to take my first turkey this year while bow hunting deer it is awesome. The 7 point by the way i shot at 7 yards in the military fighting for our freedom to hunt and fish yet still have a wife that puts up with all of the time weekends away hunting and fishin just because she knows I love it so much.