Everyone needs a personal way in which to calm down, and relax, because basically this world we live in is stressful, no matter what you do. Some people read, some people listen to music, some people sleep........for me I love to hunt and just get out in the wilderness with nature. I love to walk through the woods expecially at night to full moon, and just listen to the sounds hunters of the night make. There is nothing like the cry of a wolf, bobcat, or mountain lion on a quiet night while in the woods.
Anyway here are a couple of pic's of my hog hunt this weekend.

NIGHT Dragon

Nothing quite like it Mate..When i was a "bushy" i hunted everyday,both with my bow and rifle.Now days i'm all civilized and living in the bloody city..The extent of my hunting is knocking birds off the fruit trees with a slingshot..These bloody "townies" dont have a sense of humour about random gunshots......CHEERS BOOF

We do it a wee bit differently in Ireland....but the results are the same.

    I can't imagine why!!!!

Ron and I take the kids out shooting to relax, and to teach them responsibility in owning and using firearms.

Another thing we like to do is go out to the lake, or wherever, especially during the winter when the eagles are around.  I take a lot of photos, and I mean a LOT.  The one below, I waited ten years to take.  Ron and I watched him for about five hours and when I finally took the shot, I thought I'd missed it.  When I looked at my camera screen, it showed him flying away.  But when I hit the "scroll" button... the photo below is what I saw and believe me... I bawled like a baby!!!  I've been going to Lake Perry here in KS for nearly eleven years now and it took ten to get that shot.

We also go as a family to get tattoos... we travel to Houma, LA to our artist Trinity.  No one else touches my boys...

And of course... we ride...

I ride!

Me too Rufcut - there is absolutely nothing like bimbling or razzing along on the bike to blow away those cobwebs and set the world to rights. 

Used to enjoy 3 & 4 position shooting matches - Had to discipline yourself, right down to your heart beats. Had so damn much self control could hold breath for 2 minutes, get in a lotus position w/o using hands & run a sub 3 hour marathon.
Life intruded & lost the discipline - Might get it back someday

I ride alot and like to stop along the way and wander around taking in the scenery where ever I happen to be.

Got to agree with ya there Dragon, nothing more calming then the wildness at night with nothing but natural sounds.  Just wish I had more time to spend away from civilization!

Now just two two questions...  Did you get any hog? and when's the BBQ?

Anybody that enjoys motorcycles & marksmanship should like this one - a BSA Martini, target rifle.
Used it for iron sight only matches before I lost my self discipline. - Really, really sweet iron

Thats a bloody nice rifle mate..There used to be alot of Martini's around down here but havent seen one in awhile..Yours look to be in perfect knick...CHEERS BOOF

I love the woods, I love the full moon for riding, I love target shooting my .357 nickle plated Ruger. If someone could come up with a way to do all three at once, I'd do it. But lookin' down the scope on that rifle, I just don't see how that would be relaxing. My adrenaline jumped just lookin' at the picture. Maybe I've been playing too much Halo Reach...
RIDE FREE (in the moonlight)

ND, I have a 30-06 needs some exercise. Wanna join me?

I do many things to relax, dependes on the time of year, and my mood. now its deer hunting, watchin the sun come up and the sun go down, just being in the woods around nature waiting on a deer to show up....After the first good snow, I enjoy goin horseback riding. Then its wrenchin on the bike, winter projects. After that its ridin time, anything above 50 degrees is good!

Don't confuse hunting w/ marksmanship.
Hunting is a head game w/ physical elements - Speaking only for myself, aside from when resting & petting the dog am never relaxed while hunting
Marksmanship is the ultimate in zen, done properly the self almost disappears & you become acutely aware of your heartbeats. At the conclusion of a match it seems you were a spectator not a participant

I just relized you only live in Tyler.....heck that's not to far away. I think next week I start a new job, so let me see what kind of work scheduel I'm facing.

Also, when I'm home, I'm often up to Denton where my daughter attends UNT, at least until May.