For this article we are excited to share an entry from friend and fellow outdoorsman Kyle Hamilton. Recently, Kyle and friends Ansel and Cooper pursued a do-it-yourself (DIY) Sitka Blacktail Deer hunt in Southeast Alaska. Below, Kyle poetically reflects on his hunting philosophy and how we internalize our successes and failures as hunters. For more articles like this, stay in touch here. Thanks for reading!
Sitka Blacktail Deer, A Hunter’s Philosophy
My primary approach to hunting Sitka Blacktail Deer is guided by intuition. I could go on endlessly about how intuition has shaped nearly every hunt I’ve had, but for now, I’ll focus on the Sitka blacktail rut, which serves as the perfect muse for this method.
My strategy during the rut is anything but passive. It’s a constant process of calculation, driven by the hunter’s instincts—every minute, hour, and muskeg analyzed. Do I call here? Do I wait and watch? Skip this spot? Some might call it “luck” or “right place, right time,” but I disagree. Hunting involves both conscious and unconscious decisions at every turn.
I’m an opinionated hunter. I don’t believe in “we’ll see what happens.” Yet, it’s impossible to avoid those words entirely. I don’t subscribe to rigid hunting systems—like waiting a specific amount of time after a call before moving on.
To base your hunting on a strict, systemized approach is to ignore thousands of years of accumulated hunting wisdom. Trust that nearly imperceptible voice in your head—that’s where the real knowledge lies.
Every step must be deliberate. No step is taken without thought. No step should extend further than necessary, for we intend to kill where we stand, right here and now. We are not on our way anywhere; we are here.
Feel the ground beneath you, each potential twig snapping under your Xtratuffs. Pause if intuition strikes you suddenly. It should be exhausting—both mentally and physically.
Let your eyes unfocus slightly, receiving visual information from every corner of your periphery.
To think outcomes are mere happenstance is naive and unsustainable. We make our own luck, and every opportunity the bucks offer is crafted through our own actions.
The Muskeg
As I approached the final few yards of a muskeg, nearing the deer trail that leads to the next, a voice whispers “you’ve gone too far”.
Perhaps I was distracted—comfort, hunger, or a moment of dissociation. In an attempt to correct myself, I turn and look back, but it’s too late.
Now, it’s Ansel’s turn to shoot. But just as I realize my mistake, a tall, forked-horn buck bounds from the edge of the muskeg. There’s no time to course correct. I messed up. I should’ve stopped 50 yards earlier. The buck won, and Ansel won’t fill his second tag with what would’ve been his biggest deer.
Our actions in the field put four bucks in our packs, but failures often weigh heavier than success. I won’t soon forget the lessons learned from our mistakes. Don’t let the pull of anticipation push you from the muskeg’s edge—too soon, or too late.
Kyle Hamilton
Kyle is an avid hunter and outdoorsman living in South Central, AK. Stay engaged with Kyle’s outdoor pursuits here!
Thanks to Kyle for the introspective reflection on what looked like a stellar hunt!