by Chris Lalik - Friday, June 20, 2025
On one of my first out-of-state bow hunts, I met an old man in the Michigan hills who believed that life was a lot like hunting. When I asked him what he meant, he explained, “Just like you have to participate in hunting to get anything out of it, you also have to participate in life to reap its rewards,” explaining that the things you learn through hunting can help you throughout your life.
I’ve thought a lot about what he said over the years, and the more experience I gained, the more it made sense to me. The old man said you must go out and try new things, or you’ll miss the magic of hunting. Doesn’t that sound a lot like life? If you take a passive attitude toward hunting or life, you’ll miss out on the joy and the adventure.
Hunting has taught me that practice makes (almost) perfect. If you want to be good at hunting, you must learn many things and practice various skills. These include learning about shooting fundamentals, wildlife biology, weather, terrain, animal behavior, camouflage, the ability to sit still and stay quiet and patience. If you apply this same approach to your life, your life will be all the richer and fuller.
I’ve also learned that mentors are invaluable when getting introduced to hunting and learning how to hunt specific animals. I was introduced to duck and deer hunting by great mentors—my dad, uncles and grandfather—but I had to learn turkey hunting all on my own. I didn’t know anyone who had ever killed a turkey when we finally started getting birds on our farm in Upstate New York. I joined the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF), studied the tips presented in NWTF magazine articles, and bought DVDs and other videos that provided turkey calling tips. Despite occasionally seeing and hearing turkeys, it still took me seven years to kill my first tom. Along the way, I got to listen to many turkeys call, see ruffed grouse drum and experience the magic of the mountains coming to life in the spring. The journey was wonderful, but I might have learned faster with a mentor who could have told me that turkeys see so well that they can spot you blinking at 20 yards. I eventually learned the lesson, but it was much harder without guidance.
As you reflect on your life, think of the parents, teachers and other mentors who helped you become better parents, workers and citizens. Few of us would be who we are without the mentors who shaped us for a better life. Looking forward, mentoring my kids, friends and particularly new turkey hunters has been one of the most rewarding ways I can give back to those who came before me.
As a hunter, I’ve learned that mistakes are part of the journey. I’ve made more than my fair share of mistakes while hunting and have come to realize that some of my favorite memories (and lessons) came when I messed up. Life is the same. I wouldn’t have the wonderful wife I’ve had for the last 36 years or enjoyed working in the outdoor industry as much as I do if I hadn’t made some mistakes along the way. The only way to avoid mistakes is not to participate in life or hunting, and that, in itself, is a big mistake.
Learn to accept your mistakes, figure out why they happened and try to do better. Don’t let mistakes take away from the enjoyment of being in the outdoors or the enjoyment of life. In life and hunting there are great blessings to be treasured. You might even get a funny story out of your mistakes.
Hunting with someone also is a great way to evaluate compatibility and character. For example, this includes making sure that those you either hunt with or mentor follow not only the letter of the law but its intent. Shared values make it much easier to get along and enjoy the adventure. It’s easy to see how hard they’re willing to hunt and if they’ll do their share of the scouting and other preparation. You also can learn how they react when things go sideways. This way, you can quickly discover if they’re someone you’d like to go out with again. Sometimes, after just one outing, I’ve made a lifelong friend. I’ve also decided who I never want to spend time with or work with again. This is a valuable life lesson that can help you build better relationships at work, in recreation and particularly with a potential spouse.
Hunting also has taught me that sometimes life is fair, and at other times it’s not. Even if you put in the work and control everything you can, sometimes it doesn’t work out as hoped. The neighbor might take down that big buck you’ve been scouting all summer on his first day out all year. Other times, all you need to do is head outdoors and you’re blessed beyond measure. Life often works the same way—as long as you show up and you keep showing up.
Hunting also has shown me that, as it is in life, you need to enjoy the ride. In hindsight, there were times when I focused too much on achieving my anticipated result rather than savoring my journey along the way. I wish I had taken more pictures of the people I hunted with and the places we visited together rather than mostly focusing on taking photos of the game animals or birds we pursued.
The final lesson from the old man is to live in the present. Just as all hunts must end, different phases of your life will end. You’ll have good and bad times in both. At some point, everything ends, and the hope is that you’ve experienced both hunting and life as fully as possible. Enjoy the hunt and the journey. The old man was right. Now it’s time for the next generation of American hunters to learn these lessons.
About the Author
Hunter and NRA contributor Chris Lalik has enjoyed a decades-long career in the hunting and outdoor industry. Today he serves as Sporting Goods Distribution and OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) Division Manager at the Sellmark Corporation based in Mansfield, Texas. He dedicates as much time as possible to teaching newcomers about hunting and wildlife conservation, starting with his daughter, Katie, who now joins him on many of his adventures.