Grit

[willfrye027]

I have lost some “grit” which used to mean hiking farther, hunting harder, covering more country and “wanting it more” day after day.

Not sure if it was having a kid or getting older or what but I don’t usually have that same drive. Also not willing to risk life and limb for an animal.

So now I just hunt smarter. I still have a goal in mind but I am relying more on wit and experience. I’ve still got some grit but honestly I save it until it’s needed..no more grinding it out for 7 days in a row. I’ll hunt smart and realize when high exertion or extreme stamina is actually needed, and kick it into high gear to get that animal killed. It’s more calculated than it used to be.

I may be a little softer around the midsection but my brain is sharper and I’m a more successful and accomplished hunter these days than I ever was in my teens and 20s.

 

[43.6N]

a lot of people mentally and physically quit way, way before they are in any type of real danger.

Yes 100% I’m sure we all have stories about watching people give up on themselves or something they professed to care about simply because their mental guardrails were being crossed

My question is how can we as hunters (or me in this post) build our resistance to giving up too soon?

but its certainly not what it once was if you haven't been regularly testing it.

I agree absolutely. Tenacity certainly seems to be a perishable skill. Maybe not something that you ever lose completely. But live the easy life for a few months or years, and your mental calibration for what suffering is certainly changes.

Finding your comfort level and then passing it sure is uncomfortable!

 

[backcountry_hunter]

If I ever look at any form of the most difficult parts of middle class recreation as grit… my man card has been in the dumpster for a while. If you think going out on a nearly $1k tag, with thousands of dollars of equipment in an otherwise healthy body with paid vacation as grit… I have some oceanfront property to sell you

 

[43.6N]

If I ever look at any form of the most difficult parts of middle class recreation as grit… my man card has been in the dumpster for a while. If you think going out on a nearly $1k tag, with thousands of dollars of equipment in an otherwise healthy body with paid vacation as grit… I have some oceanfront property to sell you

No doubt.
We are privileged.

And yet when it’s -20, and the wind is rippin while you’re trying to sleep. What keeps you from saying “f this” and packing it in at first light?

 

[Coopsdaddy]

Don’t always have to be major stuff.
I’m off till the 2nd and getting ready to camp a bunch starting tomorrow.
Kill some deer and pack out.No reason to do that either,I can usually drive up to them but im going to focus on hunting the bottoms.
Kill some squirrels and fry them up.
Maybe do some primitive fire making.
Read deep survival.
I need to get the comfort crisis as well.
It’s cold here and she said why when you can just come home and be warm.
I told her honestly it’s just to man up a little.
Just get cold,hunt,eat some meat and just grind away alittle.
I can easily just drive back and forth the 20 miles to our land.
I just need it.
Plus I have two teen daughters so i definitely need it!
In all seriousness I hope they come out and stay a night or two.

 

[dusky]

3 week Ayahuasca retreat.

 

[backcountry_hunter]

No doubt.
We are privileged.

And yet when it’s -20, and the wind is rippin while you’re trying to sleep. What keeps you from saying “f this” and packing it in at first light?

Nothing. At the end of the day this is how you chose to spend time off and expendable income. You didn’t beat cancer or overcome any hardship, you’re fricken hunting… There’s no grit involved, just “task at hand”. Cam sold you a “keep hammering” lie if you think you’re doing something hard by killing an animal and getting it out… even if is -20

I had one of the harder pack outs ive had this year carrying an elk. Never thought i shoul put a feather in my grit hat…

 

[ReddingArcher]

I think the best way to sharpen the mental edge and build more grit is to just push yourself to do hard things. Things that you don’t “have” to do. It’s the mental aspect of telling yourself that you can do it, it’s only temporary pain. I think things as simple as doing cold plunges or sitting in a sauna at 190°. It sucks in the moment, but you tell yourself that you’re going to finish. My favorite was training for my sheep hunt, I have a hill 10 minutes from my house, it’s only 250 feet of elevation, but I did that hill every day for about 5 months. Through the summer I would do it in the hottest part of the day, it’s in full sun. If it was 110° out I was doing the hill. I figured if I could do it in that heat it would make it much easier to hunt the mountains in 45 or 50° weather.

 

[Poser]

If I ever look at any form of the most difficult parts of middle class recreation as grit… my man card has been in the dumpster for a while. If you think going out on a nearly $1k tag, with thousands of dollars of equipment in an otherwise healthy body with paid vacation as grit… I have some oceanfront property to sell you

Please, do enlighten us further.

 

[goalie]

Short answer: yes

Infantry in the Marines probably helped. In the end, nobody rises to the occasion, they default to their level of training.

Don't have a wimpy level of training.

 

[Billy Meyers]

For me, grit comes from responsibility - I think it’s knowing you’re in control of the decision to push or to pass — and choosing to push for the right reasons.

 

[43.6N]

Nothing. At the end of the day this is how you chose to spend time off and expendable income. You didn’t beat cancer or overcome any hardship, you’re fricken hunting… There’s no grit involved, just “task at hand”. Cam sold you a “keep hammering” lie if you think you’re doing something hard by killing an animal and getting it out… even if is -20

I had one of the harder pack outs ive had this year carrying an elk. Never thought i shoul put a feather in my grit hat…

Respect.
I think it’s obvious I’m not asking about how to find that glitzy, high test, super masculine, keep hammerin line.

Just like it’s obvious you’re putting in hard work, enduring discomfort, and staying committed until your task is done.

What im asking is for those people who literally cannot see themselves giving up, how did you get there?

 

[thisguy]

Little different line of thought here. I've heard guys talk about the "grind" of hunting. Like its something they're doing because they have to. I figure theres 2 kinds of guys out there. The kind who are "grinding" for the glory of that grip n grin and the status they think another kill will bring them. Then theres the guys who are out there because they love it. Plain and simple. Its no grind to do something they love. The worse or harder it gets they smile because those are the memories that will get them through the next 9 months of work until they can get back out there where they belong. All that to say, it seems like some guys have it and some guys don't. The ones that don't are always searching for that motivation. Sounds like you had it in the past, a wife and kids sure change us but I don't think you lose that part. The butterflies are your old self who can't wait to get back out there and see if you still got it.

 

[Dave0317]

Lots of Marines commenting on here. I like it. I’m not sure if the service cultivates it more, or attracts those that have it already. Maybe some of both.

I know I got tougher from seeing the guys more senior to me just dig in and accomplish what we set out to do regardless of the weather, lack of sleep, crappy food, etc. Having an example to see what is possible is half the battle.

More practically, in the moment, you just have to see each day as a laundry list of tasks that get checked off. Especially when solo. With a buddy, the best thing you can do is put yourself in a position to help them more than yourself. You can’t be miserable when you are checking on your team mate. Help them with shelter, prepping gear, going over maps, routes, plans, etc. Thinking of them keeps your mind off your own troubles and makes their day better is well. When your buddy does the same…we call that a team.

Solo, I tend to view days in small chunks of tasks and lists. The worse the conditions, the smaller each task may need to be.
Like:
Wake up, put on warming layers and socks.
Tie left boot.
Tie right boot.
Go pee.
Make Coffee, light breakfast.
Exit tent.
Take tent down and put it in pack.
Dry it out later when the sun is out.
Now, what else is there to do but put yourself in a position to find or kill an animal? Your tent is packed, so you can’t just sit and think how cold you are.
Get walking.
Warm up.
Check the map.
Can you kill an animal here, if no, find that spot. Repeat until dark.

That’s kind of where my mind gets to.

Edit to add: I am passionate about this stuff and love it, so reading the above I realize may sound like, “man he is really having to talk himself through every moment”. That’s not really what it is. More just keeping task focused, not allowing myself to take the time to think “it sucks putting frozen boots on”. Once I’m out “doing the hunt” I have to remind myself that I need to eat, should add some layers, etc.

 

[MTtrout]

Be prepared for once you xc ski or snowshoe in, get a good shelter setup that will keep you warm and dry, and then settle your mind in for the hunt.

The times that had me on edge was extreme adverse weather along with remoteness while establishing a camp. A good camp is a great moral boost for anyone.

Not sure if this helps your grit but it’s what would be on my mind

 

[43.6N]

Be prepared for once you xc ski or snowshoe in, get a good shelter setup that will keep you warm and dry, and then settle your mind in for the hunt.

The times that had me on edge was extreme adverse weather along with remoteness while establishing a camp. A good camp is a great moral boost for anyone.

Not sure if this helps your grit but it’s what would be on my mind

Solid advice
Thx

 

[Speaks]

I like doing hard things generally, including winter camping. Im not super excited about hunting or camping out in much below zero though especially in high wind.

If I decided it was what I wanted to do though I would have a real hard time backing out or packing it in early.

 

[Dave0317]

Respect.
I think it’s obvious I’m not asking about how to find that glitzy, high test, super masculine, keep hammerin line.

Just like it’s obvious you’re putting in hard work, enduring discomfort, and staying committed until your task is done.

What im asking is for those people who literally cannot see themselves giving up, how did you get there?

To add to that specifically. How did I get here?

Lots of Jack London as a kid built the passion or romanticized wilderness environments for me.

USMC and, later, Army NG service, put me in a lot of situations that I couldn’t have ever planned to put myself. Both in training and overseas. Some schools actually really helped with this mindset stuff. Learning from others better than me played a huge role. Mark Twight’s kiss or kill book showed me some are even crazy enough to suffer for fun.

Now, I definitely feel that tug of family responsibility vs challenging myself with a tough hunt. I mitigate risk with planning, GPS communicator, fitness, etc. Once I’m in the woods (or mountains, or wherever) I have no more butterflies, just get into that task focused mindset I described. I love it.

Put yourself in those situations more often and you won’t lose the ability to jump back in so easily.

 

[Pony Soldier]

After more than 60 years of hiking from the river to the ridgetop and back, I am starting to question my endurance and limits. I haven't experienced a time that I couldn't finish what I started but I question if there is a failure in my future.

I have experienced the aftermath of too far and too much where each of the muscle groups have gone into spasm (cramps) for 4-6 hrs aftervIctried to sleep.Then I had to gather myself together and return to get my meat.

Now I look a where I need to go and question if I can make it back- today.

 

[Marbles]

Grit and "never quit" are not the same.

Wisdom frequently entails quitting and "never quite" frequently entails more pride than grit, especially in sports or hunting.

My question is how can we as hunters (or me in this post) build our resistance to giving up too soon?

Do things that make you want to quit, and don't quit.

Take things one step at a time. Perhaps you can't cover 50 miles without a stop, but you can always take one more step if you can still tell yourself how bad it hurts.

What im asking is for those people who literally cannot see themselves giving up, how did you get there?

Anybody who cannot see themselves giving up isn't there, they are comfortable, no matter how impressive what they are doing is. It is being able to see yourself failing, even wishing to fail because it would be easier, but pushing on that represents grit. The pushing on assumes safety thresholds have not been exceed. Read "Alone On The Ice" that is grinding through.

I think for the true pushes (he times when we are on the ragged edge of our ability for extended periods) are limited. There are only so many times a person can go to that well before it runs dry and it takes a long time to fill back up.

Go out, learn, push, be realistic and only hazard what the end is worth. Let's be real, we are talking about hunting, hunting is not an end, hunting is training so that if ever called you have some experience of hard things, while being fun enough we will actually go out and train.

Grit is like physical training, you only get stronger by pushing, but push too hard and you no longer get stronger, rather you break yourself down. You save that kind of destructive pushing for the "event", but you do not train it specifically, rather you train components at useful doses that don't break you over time.