What makes u a better hunter

[ozzyshane]

I where only thinking yesterday as i where on a run what peace of archery gear makes me a better hunter as im a gear hore(thanks ds) 10 min of running latter i couldnt think of one thing that stood out.Maybe my carter evo.

The only real thing that has had the most impact on my hunts has be self belief i finaly after 26 years of bowhunting know that 90% of the time if i can keep from haveing a brain frezze when it is time to cut a shot i will make a great count ,hay it still happens its how you deal with that 10% that makes a big difference.

I think hunting rusa deer has made me the hunter i am today ive never had more pressure dropping the string on any other animal ive hunted and never will as a wont have the money to hunt a brown bear.They have made me want to throw my bow down in discused and cry like a little girl then ive had times when you want to pump your fist in joy.

Only last weekend i saw one of those times when you want to cry when a mate missed 4 shots at a stag sorry (Machine Gun) he was shatted didnt get his bow out for the rest of the day .

I hope he can look at what went wrong (that 10%) and turn it into a + as i know it is still hurting him.

I think what i learned on the last 10min of the run was that there really is a ZEN in archery.

I think that is way to much BS for now being the gear hore that i am i still think my carter evo has made a big impact on my hunting

What has helped you the most in your hunting
Thanks Shane

[Sparra]

Good topic Ozzy...I think time and experience are the key(thats why I get bugger all).All the gear in the world doesn't make you better but it does give you more confidence...As for the 10%...Preperation and patience help alot and thats why 10% of fisherman catch 90% of the fish...
Sparra...

[Luke]

Spending 3 and a half painstaking, mind numbing, arm breaking, leg burning hrs stalking a chital stag over 150 m's of NO cover, and to get to 25m's...

The patience I needed and the sheer will power to stalk that animal has proved a huge boost to my confidence in my own abilities. I know if I can stalk a mature chital stag amongst 50 or so does with NO cover and get to within bow range, I can stalk anything, anytime.

That and the other many many stalks I had that week up north, but mostly that morning.


Great thread Shane :D

[woodstoka]

i think the biggest thing that has helped me was a new bow with new accesories on it and now i know a fair bit about bows i can set it up the way i want and then when it gets shooting really well out to 40m like recently you feel like every shot is perfect and it boosts your confidence when taking game

[Puk]

I'm with Luke.
Hunting those Chital, and still loving bowhunting after losing to them all week showed me that i am a "bowhunter for life". I learnt so much from them, and was amazed at the difference between their behaviour and the reds i saw this last weekend.

I hunted some of the hardest deer out there. I know i can hunt the others.

Puk

P.S. But really, the single greatest thing for my hunting has been other hunters. I have watched, listened and asked questions. I have learned from them.

[Mozza]

I think time in the field hunting is one of the biggest things, hunting with more experienced hunters and learning from them is another big one and the other major one is practicing form and shooting (This is what I will be doing for the next couple of weeks, then I can get out and crack that stag ;))

[Antarcher]

Yes Shane i can fully agree that our rusa can drive us to tears. Getting one is an immense challenge and i really appreciate and credit the effort put in by anyone who gets one on the ground.

Part of the 10% is practice and the confidence that you know you will make a shot count when you cross that line where you know you always hit the target.

I've just half written an article about being a bowhunter and in it I touch on the fact that the biggest key to success is being out there on the hunt where the animals are. You can be the biggest gear whore (and yes you are Shane) and talk all you want about ethics, stalking tactics and appropriate camo, but until you are out in the field, you are going to shoot nothing.

And the more time you are out there, the more you are going to learn and most importantly, you will better your chances of an animal being in that perfect place, making the slightest mistake that allows you to draw your bow within your effective range. Too many times I have been a few seconds late and missed a golden oppurtunity. The more times i push my luck the more chances i may have of it holding out.

It's not always the best hunter, in terms of stalking and shooting ability, that gets the animal. It's the hunter that is out there the most, tempting fate, that betters their chances and hence becomes a better hunter for it themselves.

There is no secret recipe to success bar time put in learning an animals habits and time put in to pursuing them. That's where i see the bulk of the 10%.

[ozzyshane]

I think the saying 10% of hunters fishers take 90% of the game is so true but why?????.

I dont think it is so much time spent in the feild as what you do with the time you have if you dont have what it takes no mater how much time you have it wont help i think the old X factor plays a big part .

Some guys are one of these/ great shots ,great stalkers,great with there glasses,very fit but still dont consistently take animals .

I think it comes down to if you are just an average joe at all of the above and do it for your own self satisfaction not to have your name in some bloody record book you will take some of those animals that we dream about all dat long at work just to get through the day.

Dream on and bring it on.

[XTfreak]

What I believe makes me a better hunter is the following.
Experiance
Practice in all weather and all positions.
Paitence when hunting.
Confidence in myself and my equipment.
Knowledge of the game Iam chasing...
Bill

[GREG D]

Patience is the biggie for me. It takes a lot of discipline to wait for the right time to take the shot. As a young bloke I was all to eager to bag that boar/goat/whatever and rushed the stalk or shot at a less than optimal angle.

Now I find that the stalk is as satisfying or more so than taking the animal. So I take my time and get as close as I can. If a shot presents then all the better, if not I know within myself that I can close to that distance again someday and a shot will present itself.

[PeterM]

What I believe makes me a better hunter is the following.
Experiance
Practice in all weather and all positions.
Paitence when hunting.
Confidence in myself and my equipment.
Knowledge of the game Iam chasing...
Bill

Spot on IMO too......

[rory]

Luck ;)

A bowhunter told me not to long ago in person a great quote.... 'to arrow a deer they have to do everything wrong, and you have to do everything right'...

Therefore it is those guys who 'make their own luck' who are the most successfull. They do the preparation, spend the hours a'bush, and get themselves into possies that give them the best chance of a killer shot.

Bowhunting seems to be such a numbers game. Hunt lots, and hunt in places where there is lots of game. Gives you the most chances, and hopefully one does 'everything wrong' ;)

BTW, I'm yet to kill a deer with the bow, lol....

...oh, sorry shane, I'm getting carried away here....lol ;)

[ozzyshane]

Rory i was wondering how long it would take for old LADY LUCK to turn up some say you have to be good to be lucky.

Bill hit the nail on the head except no.2 is that about hunting ????????????

Where are all the young guns and newbies to the sport you guys should be fine tuneing your gear as you get more experience what have you guys found helped the most.

Thanks Shane

[Hefty]

I think the saying 10% of hunters fishers take 90% of the game is so true but why?????.

I wonder the same thing. I've got a couple of mates who go fishing together a lot and the one guy almost always outfishes the other - and me when I go with them.
We make fun of him and tell him it's coz he smells so much:P
I'd love to know what it is tho.

Jono.

[GREG 2533]

For me working in the local hunting shop helped me become familiar with bowhunting and the equiptment and as for what helps as a hunter i belive that time in the bush and having a strong knowledge of your targeted species is what will bring you results, you have to know where the animals will be, at what time and WHY.


Greg

[Jeffro]

I wonder the same thing. I've got a couple of mates who go fishing together a lot and the one guy almost always outfishes the other - and me when I go with them.
We make fun of him and tell him it's coz he smells so much:P
I'd love to know what it is tho.

Jono.


ha I know what you mean ive got a mate that does the same thing.outfishes everyone.He works weekends and fishes all week and has done for years.

Hefty the reason is your mate is a better fisherman:)face it.

[Arra Slinger]

What is luck?
The point in which ‘Preparation’ meets ‘opportunity’
So if someone prepares them self properly, when that
Once in a lifetime opportunity comes along they will
be successful
IMO people do make there own luck. I so often hear He/She is
so lucky to have taken that pig/deer/goat what ever the case
but if that person didn’t prepare himself/herself for the opportunity
it wouldn’t of happened

This is a great read, very interesting

IMO time in the bush is a big part, as you do get more in tune with
things the more time you spend out there
Where the game will be at what sort of time.
When you can and can’t move while stalking.
There are lots of little things that once learnt your brain just goes into auto
and does it for you without you knowing it.
And at the end of the day you’re not going to shoot the big fella watching the TV
got to be in it to win it
Now my brain is hurting :)
Great read fellas
Catchas later

[ozzyshane]

Arra slinger well put the 3Ps are what i go by
1 preparation
2 persistence
3 patience

one other thing is to control what you can and dont worry about what if by that have your gear in the best shape it can be wether its your bow tent stove.

[HOOD]

The 5 P's

perfect
preperation
prevents
piss poor
peformance.

As much as I'd hate to say it............I must agree with Bill. ;)

And also the day you stop learning something about yourself or your abilities as a hunter/person is the day you die.
There is always something to be taken from every situation out hunting/in life to teach you and make your a better hunter/person.
JMO:cool:

[wazza_X force]

The 5 P's

perfect
preperation
prevents
piss poor
peformance.


hold on a second.... isnt that 6 p's:rolleyes:

wazza

[HOOD]

hold on a second.... isnt that 6 p's:rolleyes:

wazza

You picky mongral, I knew someone would say that.:P

[Al Kidner]

Some good points made on this thread that's for sure. And as stated, time spent in the bush as well as knowing the critter being hunted is also a must. Keeping a positive outlook as well helps too. One must have the hunger to take life.

A.K.

[ozzyshane]

Alan great point if you dont have the hunger you will give in when the going gets hard .Your mind will give in way before your body

The only way to find your limit is to go over it

ds can tell us about not giveing in he has taken a few blokes to NZ that couldnt hack it and just walked out of the bush early .

great stuff guys Shane

[jamie]

Respect for the life you are prepared to take is big on my list of what makes a good hunter.
Time spent in the bush ie bush craft.
Knowing the game you are hunting.
Being competent with your equipment you chose to use.

The 5 hours I spent crawling around on belly/hands and knees after a Chital deer only to over cook the shot was the best hunting I have had.

IMO the taking of game is only a small part of hunting.

[Scott]

Gee's how can I put this in words? I believe it is having faith in yourself! To be a hunter has many learning curves and we all know we learn something everytime we venture out on a bowhunt. Having a positive approach and knowing that you can hit a tin can at 40m's with every shot is a confidence booster. But! why is it that as soon as you draw on an animal at the same range ( or closer) you miss? I firmly believe its peer pressure as to why we miss them easy shots. How many times has it gone through your head, just before that crucial shot, I can not wait to show everybody this fella, and you want to brag to your mates about what you have taken??? This has what made me a better hunter I can assure you! Now, I do it for my own self satisfaction and my own ability to hunt with the bow. In other words I do it for me, no one else!
As you all know I recently went on the Admin hunt. Before I left I said to Jo and to myself, I would just like to take a nice skin and my 100th pig! Well blow me down! I did both! As I said, I was doing it for me! Yes I had the opportunity to take a Stag, and I blew it! I shot over his back! Doh! But hey, am I worried, not in the least! I set myself a goal and a mind set and I achieved it. Now a few hunters spring to mind that have the same mind set as I do. My wife Jo, ( because I taught her) Mick Baker, Peter Morphet, Maxy, Brad Smith, Antonio Laras, Paul Rae, Adam Greentree and to all the others that I have not mentioned ( I would be here all night with a very long list if I didn't pull up now) they do it for their own satisfaction, not to show off! Their belief in thier own ablility and to be out there doing it for no one else but them selves is what makes them productive in this sport of Bowhunting. WOW! Isn't that in depth! I think I better stop now before I have a brain fart! cheers guys!

[NormGunston]

Spot on IMO too......
As Wild Bill said- spot on. Just practise and more practise- sorry Shane I can't really identify any particular item; as much as I love my gear, I know it won't hit &^%^ unless I can shoot it.
I can prepare to teach an English lesson with the biggest and best media presentation, great handouts, awesome study material.... but if I don't know how to deliver it, the lesson goes to poo.

[wazza_X force]

i think that uts pretty safe to say that being a learned hunter is thanks to nothing but this the TBGA. but in terms of learning how to apply the stuff, sures its absolutely imperitive to be able to hit where ur aiming at, but whats the point if you cant get within range... i think the only way to get good is to do it... theres no training for the real thing i dont think... just give it a go...

wazza