AT Hiker
Well-Known Member
Attributes defined as; characteristics or qualities in someone. In this case a step further, meaning if you level the playing field, what sets a successful hunter a part from the average Joe?
Trophy (for lack of better words) in this case defined as; a solid representation the landscape has to offer yet limited in availability. The animal has been well nourished from the landscape, biologically mature, possibly rare yet not a requirement (Ie any legal Turkey at LBL).
We can debate the term trophy but maybe instead, we could start another thread later redefining "Attributes to killing B&C, etc".
Level playing field; in that everyone has the opportunity. In some cases I suppose it could be land open to everyone but common sense prevails as some private lands are pretty equal to each other, some public lands are better than others. Let's pretend that it is all equal, if possible.
The rules, if you will....First, to make sure we all understand let's try to define the trait and then give an example. This is not gloating, it's part obvious and part personal experience and/or expectations. I understand hunting is fun but sometimes it's not and explaining that is difficult. This is my attempt to explain it and see what others have to say.
I'll start....
Resilient; able to withstand or recover quickly from difficult situations.
A specific situation I've been exposed to that most would have thrown the towel in on (I wanted to multiple times) was my Arizona Coues deer hunt. El Nina hit and altered the landscape, a landscape I've practically never been exposed to in a hunting situation, after an animal I've never hunted before and with no one who could offer anymore advice on the quarry than myself. I did have a solid hunting partner, newbie to Coues as well, but thats another attribute in itself.
Blistering cold, wind and snow brought the taste of defeat up from my stomach. Lack of water made overnight backpacking the ultimate challenge and tested my desire to stray far away from the truck. Lack of finding deer tested my inner pessimism.
On the last day of my hunt, I finally put my tag on a grey ghost. If it wasn't for my resilience to shake it off after a missed shot, to muster through the pain of pulling cactus from my sore body, to sit behind binoculars on a windy peak miles from the nearest truck heater and fresh water supply, I have no doubt I would have went home empty handed. Overall the trip was a blast, but I would be misleading to say it didn't have its fair share of moments.
Trophy (for lack of better words) in this case defined as; a solid representation the landscape has to offer yet limited in availability. The animal has been well nourished from the landscape, biologically mature, possibly rare yet not a requirement (Ie any legal Turkey at LBL).
We can debate the term trophy but maybe instead, we could start another thread later redefining "Attributes to killing B&C, etc".
Level playing field; in that everyone has the opportunity. In some cases I suppose it could be land open to everyone but common sense prevails as some private lands are pretty equal to each other, some public lands are better than others. Let's pretend that it is all equal, if possible.
The rules, if you will....First, to make sure we all understand let's try to define the trait and then give an example. This is not gloating, it's part obvious and part personal experience and/or expectations. I understand hunting is fun but sometimes it's not and explaining that is difficult. This is my attempt to explain it and see what others have to say.
I'll start....
Resilient; able to withstand or recover quickly from difficult situations.
A specific situation I've been exposed to that most would have thrown the towel in on (I wanted to multiple times) was my Arizona Coues deer hunt. El Nina hit and altered the landscape, a landscape I've practically never been exposed to in a hunting situation, after an animal I've never hunted before and with no one who could offer anymore advice on the quarry than myself. I did have a solid hunting partner, newbie to Coues as well, but thats another attribute in itself.
Blistering cold, wind and snow brought the taste of defeat up from my stomach. Lack of water made overnight backpacking the ultimate challenge and tested my desire to stray far away from the truck. Lack of finding deer tested my inner pessimism.
On the last day of my hunt, I finally put my tag on a grey ghost. If it wasn't for my resilience to shake it off after a missed shot, to muster through the pain of pulling cactus from my sore body, to sit behind binoculars on a windy peak miles from the nearest truck heater and fresh water supply, I have no doubt I would have went home empty handed. Overall the trip was a blast, but I would be misleading to say it didn't have its fair share of moments.
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