Big Bucks luck or skill?
11-12-2007, 05:58 PM
#22
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Northwest suburbs, Illinois
Posts: 2,075
RE: Big Bucks luck or skill?
Their are WAY too many variables in hunting. I could list them but it would take years. They would include location, area of the country, time of year, wind direction when you are in your stand, the crop the farmer yielded that year, time to even get out into the woods, moon phases while your able to hunt, temps when you are able to hunt, trespassers, unleashed dogs, pressure, high water in your typical bedding areas, hunters on neighboring properties, ETC. ETC. ETC!!!
But I know this one very true thing...
And I don't consider myself a GREAT deer hunter at all.. but when I first began hunting 12 seasons ago I believed that you put yourself in a tree and waited to get lucky.
Today.. I work very very hard at deer hunting. My library of read hunting books will blow away any bookstore and any public library (combined) that I have ever seen. I have kept a journal for the past 7 deer seasons now. And fully detail each hunt to learn.. and learn again. I do spend nearly all free time (and I own 2 businesses) perfecting any useful skill I can that I may use oneday in the woods. I can identify most tree species and many, many plant species that deer browse on. I am a constant studier of all things deer. I want every advantage on a deer by simply knowing and understanding their behavior. And I make my own luck by never getting "lazy" when in the deer woods. I am in hours before shooting light and in my stand in the afternoon while most guys are still watching football. I work very very hard for every deer I have ever gotten.
Take a walk in another mans shoes before you judge him. Then you may think much differently.
But I know this one very true thing...
And I don't consider myself a GREAT deer hunter at all.. but when I first began hunting 12 seasons ago I believed that you put yourself in a tree and waited to get lucky.
Today.. I work very very hard at deer hunting. My library of read hunting books will blow away any bookstore and any public library (combined) that I have ever seen. I have kept a journal for the past 7 deer seasons now. And fully detail each hunt to learn.. and learn again. I do spend nearly all free time (and I own 2 businesses) perfecting any useful skill I can that I may use oneday in the woods. I can identify most tree species and many, many plant species that deer browse on. I am a constant studier of all things deer. I want every advantage on a deer by simply knowing and understanding their behavior. And I make my own luck by never getting "lazy" when in the deer woods. I am in hours before shooting light and in my stand in the afternoon while most guys are still watching football. I work very very hard for every deer I have ever gotten.
Take a walk in another mans shoes before you judge him. Then you may think much differently.
11-12-2007, 06:05 PM
#23
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Central Minnesota
Posts: 9,445
RE: Big Bucks luck or skill?
I said skill but I think it's a combination of both also. Being that i'm bow hunting and shootingbucksunder 20 yards, that takes more skill then luck to get them that close to ya! A person's also gotta be in the right spot at the right time, so there is some luck involved too! More skill then luck but i'd be lying if i said just skill.
11-12-2007, 06:21 PM
#24
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Missouri
Posts: 3,763
RE: Big Bucks luck or skill?
ORIGINAL: quiksilver
It's not that simple. For example, I think finances have a lot to do with a lot of guys' success in the field. That's one aspect of "hunting" that is oft-overlooked. Any schmuck can fork out $3500 for a fully or semi- guided hunt and kill a PY class animal every year. Or they can easily buy 3500 prime acres of whitetail habitat and wallpaper the place to help bolster their odds. So add "Money" into the equation.
Same thing with retirees and guys who can take an entire month and devote it to hunting. I guess in fairness, you have to also add "Time" to the list, as well.
"Location" plays a big part, also, obviously.
It's not as simple as luck versus skill. There are other factors
hysical abilities, weapon, outside hunting pressure - just to name a few others.
All that said.... I know a skilled hunter the second I meet them.
It's not that simple. For example, I think finances have a lot to do with a lot of guys' success in the field. That's one aspect of "hunting" that is oft-overlooked. Any schmuck can fork out $3500 for a fully or semi- guided hunt and kill a PY class animal every year. Or they can easily buy 3500 prime acres of whitetail habitat and wallpaper the place to help bolster their odds. So add "Money" into the equation.
Same thing with retirees and guys who can take an entire month and devote it to hunting. I guess in fairness, you have to also add "Time" to the list, as well.
"Location" plays a big part, also, obviously.
It's not as simple as luck versus skill. There are other factors
hysical abilities, weapon, outside hunting pressure - just to name a few others. All that said.... I know a skilled hunter the second I meet them.
There are SO many factors that contribute to this success
11-12-2007, 06:30 PM
#25
Dominant Buck
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location:
Posts: 21,043
RE: Big Bucks luck or skill?
95% of the people I work with (my peers) have engineering degrees. I don't. I think they might get mildly offended when I say to people that what we do isn't rocket science. It's just "not".
I think a lot of deer hunters take offense when other hunters say similar things about deer hunting. I'll put it this way......there sure must be a LOT more "skilled" people in the states that hold big bucks!
What we need to do is not take this personally. We all have friends that we KNOW work their asses off for the deer they take. We need to look at this as a "whole" and relaize that the numbers don't lie. There are huge bucks taken in big numbers every year in certain states. You can't tell me all the deer hunters taking those deer are "skilled". Let's just not make this personal.....and it's an easy answer.
It's a little of both.....but you can't kill what isn't there.
I think a lot of deer hunters take offense when other hunters say similar things about deer hunting. I'll put it this way......there sure must be a LOT more "skilled" people in the states that hold big bucks!
What we need to do is not take this personally. We all have friends that we KNOW work their asses off for the deer they take. We need to look at this as a "whole" and relaize that the numbers don't lie. There are huge bucks taken in big numbers every year in certain states. You can't tell me all the deer hunters taking those deer are "skilled". Let's just not make this personal.....and it's an easy answer.
It's a little of both.....but you can't kill what isn't there.
11-12-2007, 06:41 PM
#26
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 1,206
RE: Big Bucks luck or skill?
While I am no expert, at only 25,I have shot my fair share of big bucks. That being said I stick to my three words of what it takes to CONSISTENTLY kill big bucks:
Patience, Persistance, and Dedication.
Patience, Persistance, and Dedication.
11-12-2007, 06:51 PM
#28
Dominant Buck
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location:
Posts: 21,043
RE: Big Bucks luck or skill?
I wonder how the guy in FL who is patient, persistent and dedicated feels?
Like I said....we all know who the guys who go at this with a special type of vigor are. But....where one lives (luck?) DOES have a HUGE bearing on how others will view his success rate (if "success" is based on killing big bucks).
It's really hard to dispute this.......
Like I said....we all know who the guys who go at this with a special type of vigor are. But....where one lives (luck?) DOES have a HUGE bearing on how others will view his success rate (if "success" is based on killing big bucks).
It's really hard to dispute this.......
11-12-2007, 07:08 PM
#29
Site Buck Guru
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Racine, Wisconsin
Posts: 5,922
RE: Big Bucks luck or skill?
ORIGINAL: GR8atta2d
Both along with time! Finding them and seeing them is the skill. There is still a luck factor as to getting the proper shot.
I'd say 85% skill 15% luck. With "hunting time available" being the equalling factor to make it, trend more towards the skill side.
Both along with time! Finding them and seeing them is the skill. There is still a luck factor as to getting the proper shot.
I'd say 85% skill 15% luck. With "hunting time available" being the equalling factor to make it, trend more towards the skill side.
NY Bowhunter
You make your own "luck".
James Vee
..... my three words of what it takes to CONSISTENTLY kill big bucks:
Patience, Persistance, and Dedication.
It seems that for every 100 hours I put into hunting for big bucks, I get luckier and luckier.[:-]
11-12-2007, 07:08 PM
#30
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: NW Oklahoma
Posts: 1,166
RE: Big Bucks luck or skill?
I don't really believe in luck. A skilled hunter has a much better chance than one not so skilled, but if you're in the right place at the right time, that's all that matters. If you hunting where there aren't any big bucks, you're not going to kill one. Along with skill it is the same principle as real estate. Three things. Location, location, and location.