Winter Woods Walks – #3: Slowing Down in the Wrong Places

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The Walk

This walk didn’t go how I expected. I headed in with a general plan, but about halfway through, I realized I was moving too fast again. Same old habit. Winter has a way of calling you out on that.

Where I Usually Rush

I noticed I tend to hurry through:

• Thick transitions

• Edge cover

• Slight elevation changes

Places that don’t look like much at first glance. Once I slowed down, the woods started making more sense.

What I Found When I Slowed Up

Nothing crazy. Just consistency. Trails coming together quietly. Beds tucked just off the obvious. Tracks using the same routes over and over. Stuff that’s easy to miss when you’re focused on getting somewhere else.

The Reminder

These walks keep teaching me that learning happens when you’re not in a hurry. Deer don’t rush through good areas — and neither should I.

Final Thought

Winter doesn’t reward speed. It rewards attention. That’s something I need reminding of every year. Knowledge is in the eye of the bowholder…🤔