good hunters ?

[southernhunter]

As I sat in the stand today and thought about how the deer season is slowly winding down. A thought came to mind . What makes a person a good deer hunter ? I am convinced as time goes Bye. I most likely will not get to squeeze the trigger on a shooter this year. I have had a great season so far. seen more 1.5 /2.5 bucks than I have in years. had a couple of possible 3 year bucks within range but just wasn't quiet big/0ld enough for me to harvest. I am blessed and enjoyed every min of the season I have had to this point. I am no trophy killer by many of today's standards.i have never been deer hunting outside TN all of my deer score in the 120 range with one lucky buck that's quiet a bit larger than that. I see so many guys that measure their hunting skills by the deer they have harvested. No one can deny some hunters are just better hunters but a lot compare killing a 160" Kansas deer to 120" TN deer for example. The point being lots of money can buy lots of things including a great place to hunt with bigger than average deer. Paying $5000 a year to go out of state to hunt on a managed ranch and killing a nice buck is in my book alot different than killing a mediocre Buck on your grandmas 10 acre TN farm. My dad has hunted harder than any one I know of in the past 40 years and never has killed what some think is a ( trophy ) Buck. None the less I think he is a great hunter and one I'd hope to be like. So just out of Curiosity what do y'all think makes some one worthy of being labeled ( a good deer hunter ) or bad deer hunter ? .

 

[mikemc411]

In my opinion - a good hunter knows his target animal ... And can find them in various situations, because they know the animal.

Many "shooters" like to pretend they are hunters .. Join a club , sit in a box (shooting house) and wait for a deer to come along and shoot it ... Where is the skill in that ?


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[mikemc411]

And I don't consider myself a "hunter " -- I just got lucky and have permission to shoot deer at a very target rich environment (farm) ... But I am learning and eventually hope to be able to find deer on my own (hunt them) instead of waiting for them to come consume a farmers crop


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[dirtyhands]

I would think that "a good hunter" would be someone who could walk out onto virgin public land and consistently find and kill deer. Not to say that people hunting managed private land aren't good hunters too. I just mean someone who really knows deer and how they move,think,eat, and sleep. I fall into the category of lucky learning hunter I've found success in my 2nd year hunting but I'd say it's 70 percent luck. If I had the money I would pay to hunt managed land with giants on it but I ultimately want to be able to go somewhere new and be able to successfully locate and have the know how to hunt them accordingly. I like the idea of hunting an old giant on public land that no other hunter has even laid eyes on.

 

[southernjet]

for me i would say a hunter is a good hunter it they can consistently yr in yr out get on the game he is after from squirrels to moose.it would be hard for me to relate to your way of hunting as i have never spent a single min in a blind or treestand so i really dont know what it takes in your area to have that repeat season every yr. out west if you can get into nice deer or elk or antelope every yr you are doing pretty good and would be called a good hunter.out this way i tend to only hunt spot and stock on public land or private land that is open to anybody that will ask the land owner.even out this way there are what i would call good hunters that can get into game every yr and others that even if you point them in the right direction they still come back with nothing .then you can get into how well they can shoot shotgun/muzzle loader/rifle/bow . some guys are great shots which if they get onto game sure helps and others that just can not hit the broad side of a born so this also must added to the picture of what makes a good hunter.i am not sure where i would fall into this but i do get a kick out of taking other hunters out and helping them get onto game that in the past when they try it on there own for what ever reason they just could not do it
last yr i took a guide from the UK out to try and get his first elk. he had been to mt before with little luck .on his hunt with me he got to find out what is like to pack out your first elk
this i did the same thing with a very good friends son. he grew up in the east but has been out here for 20 yrs with no luck getting an elk.
opening morning i took him with me and about 3 miles in set him on a train and told him to wait there for the elk. about 2 hrs later he wrapping his tag on an elk he just shot at 20 yrds lol

 

[Bone Collector]

A good deer hunter to me is someone that can find deer pretty much anywhere most of the time. Inevitably even the best will strike out from time to time, but more time than not they can find the deer. Keeping in mind that in some areas the pressure is so great that you may have to put up a trail cam for them to prove the deer are there, as they may be nocturnal, which would result in them not seeing any daylight movement.

I don't believe that the guys that can do what I stated above and kill big bucks even consistently are any better hunters than the next guy that can do what I stated above, but do not. If you have the right property (a property that big bucks use during daylight hours) and the time, you can kill them. If you are a novice and you can't locate deer then you will struggle on that same piece of property, unless you get lucky.

 

[Bobs8pt]

Great Question.... I agree with some of what is said above... A good hunter knows his prey.. where they live what they eat. They know what the animal is thinking before the animal knows. They can be placed in the middle of virgin land and put them self in the right place at the right time. I believe a good hunter has respect for the animal he is hunting. A good hunter knows his environment and surroundings. A good hunter knows his target. A good hunter gives back to the sport in which they are participating in. A good hunter does not necessarily shoot deer year after year they know what to take and what to let walk. A good hunter Never gives up on a wounded animal until all avenues have been exhausted. There is so much that make up a good hunter. But the most important thing that I believes makes up a good hunter is one who can pass on this great sport with our younger generation and teach them how to be a good hunter.

 

[soshock1]

I'll add something else. Figuring out where the deer and eventually hanging a stand somewhere is a start. Anyone can get lucky though. However, being committed enough to stay in the stand has always been key for me. Once late October gets here, I rarely leave the tree before Noon and in November will stay as long as I possibly can. Why would I do all of my summer work and then only sit for a couple of two/three hours and then go home. Guys do it though and then complain about why they aren't seeing or killing deer. I have killed four of my five biggest deer at 10am, 10:30am, 11am, and Noon. My biggest was killed at 6:30am. Stay in the tree.

 

[7mminatree]

A good hunter, makes his own luck.

 

[southernjet]

the only problem i see is finding a place for you to hang your tree stand where i hunt mule deer :rotf:
p.s. we can not bait any game animal or even use trail cams while hunting

 

[Land Between the Lakes]

Location is the most important factor in my opinion.

 

[Shed Hunter]

A good hunter doesn't concern himself with how "good" he is percieved to be. A good hunter may never kill his target animal. A good hunter? Well he's good at doing what he loves simply because he's enjoying doing what he loves. A good hunter has figured out that no.. killing a big antler deer is not what its about.. mature bucks mean nothing. Public vs private doesn't matter. He doesn't need to cheat to enjoy what he does..

I'm a pretty good hunter. Not because I can out still hunt most for whatever reason.. nope not because I consistantly see mature bucks on public land.. not because I killed a deer I targeted.. none of that matters. I think I've reached the point of being a good hunter because I no longer give a d*** about why anyone else hunts, who's ego is too big, who thinks my ego is too big, who's good and why, and all of that non sense. I'm a good hunter because I love doing what I do. Im a good hunter because if I dont feel like going, the thought of the big buck walking by my stand doesnt haunt me anymore. If I kill one I do, if not oh well.. killing a deer isn't very important to me.. may be why I've only pulled the trigger once all year. I've sat maybe 10 hours total in a still position this year. I'm a good hunter because I've had a ton of fun watching deer.

 

[muddyboots]

A good hunter. I qualify a good hunter is a guy who can consistently kill deer with a bow and consistently kill mature bucks. With that being said I think the most important part of me trying to be a good hunter is finding a good piece of ground. To me that is the hardest part.

 

[Snake]

Humm some good comments . I think a good hunter don't mean you consistently kill mature bucks that IMO is a hunter that kills mature bucks nor IMO mean your a good hunter if you kill mature bucks consistently on public land . Where am I going with this ? The question phrase " Good Hunter" . To me a good hunter repects others in the field , a good hunter is a good steward of the land he hunts , a good hunter is very appreciative of the animal he has a killed and a good hunter even though he may be persistent other hunters success doesn't make him jealous !! We build shooting houses and make good plots to take our children out to watch a field and wait to shoot deer , not wrong but really does this teach them to hunt ? How many children can tell you how to find a good place for a stand ? Sure some can and are very good at it but most are spoiled . A successful hunter that kills mature bucks on public land consistently earns my respect ,may know the animal inside out but that IMO don't make him a good hunter ! A good hunter can be asurred every place he hunts he will be welcomed back and a good hunter will always have others seeking his company .I personally work at the same place another guy does who used to kill big bucks all the time and most can't stand him , those who really know him and he was considered to be a GOOD hunter just because he killed big bucks .

 

[gobblinfool]

my thoughts are since you said...."Good" hunters and not Good deer hunters is....you can be dropped off anywhere in the world and use your skill to harvest an animal to survive, use for food/clothing etc.....Today's technology is crazy amazing and helps us over compensate in areas we lack....especially in the area of clothing. Can you imagine of guys in the 1800s had our gear?

With that said, there is something to be said about being dropped off in the middle of nowhere with a topo/gps, your tag and equipment. I don't think the average guy could do it. Hunters are pampered today....the average ones that is. Most men wouldn't survive if you dropped them off in the middle of nowhere, or would just plain quit/suck their thumb. Hunting in the lower 48 for the most part is pretty easy.

Its all about how much time you are willing to invest in what you are doing.....to become that expert.

 

[jejeffrries71]

OK. I'll weigh in on this one for my "virgin" post.

A lot of these posts describe good as skillful or proficient. To me a good hunter is one who respects the game they are hunting and is grateful for the opportunity. They approach the hunt with humility, cognizant that the animal is giving its life. They hunt in an ethical, legal, manner with a high regard for the safety and enjoyment of others who may also be hunting around them. A good hunter is a good steward of the land and game resources involved. We are so lucky to live where there are so many opportunities to enjoy hunting in such beautiful surroundings, with plentiful game. A good hunter carries out their hunt in a manner that protects these resources and ensures they will be as good or better for those coming after us.

Jenn

 

[Winchester]

So much could be said to fill in the answer, but I will say consistent success on the animals you have set your sights on, year in and year out, is hard to argue with when being achieved. I could go on and on but everyone has their own opinion.

 

[smalljawbasser]

I consider myself lucky to know 2. They are different. One consistent thing I see is that they are both willing to not hunt until it's right, and they know when it's right.

 

[W.Seay]

In my opinion, which isn't worth much the difference between a good hunter and a great hunter is this; a great hunter can consistently kill mature bucks on less than prime private property.I've killed many mature bucks on private properties but if I was thrown onto public land, I'd probably be stretched just trying to see a deer.

 

[hughedj1]

A good hunter to me is anyone who can enter any environment and locate whatever animal they are after and leave without disturbance.
I am fortunate to have a dad that emphasized this point when teaching me to hunt. He would always emphasize, leave the land as you found it, never disturb the wildlife that live there, and respect them both and you will be a good hunter.