I don't have to describe the thrill of opening morning to most of you. You already know well the anticipation. For me, the buildup is rarely misleading. It's pleasant anxiety, enhanced by friends and expectations of a good hunt. We talk about success as if it depends strictly on numbers.
Hunters enjoy debating the odds of bagging the game before the chase begins.
Inevitably, this leads to lamenting previous hunts and the ones that got away. Or perhaps the post-hunt banter turns into lighthearted bragging on prowess. It's what we do, part of tradition, but not necessarily what's important. Beneath the bravado are images and impressions that linger. We remember these when the more tangible fades.