🔥 Hunting Season Reflections: Words of Wisdom from the Bush

The dust has settled. The last brass casings have been picked up (hopefully), the biltong is hanging in the garage, and the WhatsApp hunting group is suspiciously quiet. Yes, hunting season is over — and what a season it was!

Some of us came home with full freezers. Others came home with tick bites, sunburn, and a story about “the one that got away.” Either way, the bush always teaches us something new. So before we pack away our rifles and hang up our veldskoene, let’s look back at a few words of wisdom from this past season.

🎯 1. Always Check Your Gear (Twice)

Remember how Oom Harry's scope fogged up because he “didn’t have time” to clean it last season? Ja, don’t be like Oom Harry. A little TLC for your rifle and optics goes a long way. Whether it’s that scope, the silencer, or just remembering your ammo — gear checks separate the hunters from the hikers.

🦌 2. Patience Beats Panic

How many of us rushed a shot this year because the buck “was about to bolt” … and ended up ventilating a bush instead? Patience is the name of the game. The difference between a proud freezer filler and a campfire embarrassment is often just five more seconds.

🥾 3. Fitness Still Matters (Sorry, Oom Geo)

Every season, someone says: “Ag, I don’t need fitness, I’ve got a bakkie.” Then halfway up a koppie, we’re all waiting while that same someone is gasping for air like a Land Cruiser with a blocked air filter. The truth? A bit of fitness before hunting season makes the whole experience a lot more enjoyable (and the jokes at your expense a lot fewer).

🔥 4. The Campfire is a Classroom

Some of the best lessons aren’t about ballistics or bushcraft — they’re about people. Around the fire is where you hear the real wisdom: which bullets worked, which rifles jammed, and which hunter fell asleep in the hide (again). If you’re new to hunting, listen closely around that fire. If you’re experienced, share your stories — rookies are hungry for it.

🦾 5. Hunting is About More Than the Shot

We love the meat, the trophies, and the bragging rights — but hunting is also about camaraderie, the quiet moments in the veld, and reconnecting with nature. Sometimes, even when you don’t pull the trigger, you still come home richer.

👊 Final Words from SOG

At Sons of Guns, we’ve seen enough hunting seasons to know that every year teaches you something new. Whether you’re a rookie still figuring out your first scope, or a pro debating the finer points of bullet drop, we’ve got your back. Need advice, gear, or just someone to laugh with about this season’s “missed shots”? Pull in at SOG — your hunting buddy with the know-how and the jokes.

Now it’s your turn: What’s the funniest or most valuable lesson YOU learned this hunting season? Drop it in the comments, or share it with the group — we’ll all be wiser (and probably laughing) by the time next season rolls around.