Attributes of a good hunter?
- Thread starter djonathang
- Start date
Here is my opinion on a good hunter.
Shooting any animal at 500 yds is not hunting.
A hunter does not need a magnum caliber to shoot whitetail deer.
A hunter considers all game as a trophy.
A hunter treasures every moment spent in the woods be it the entire hunting season or a few days a season.
A hunter is patient.
A hunter does not shoot animals that are kept behind a fence.
A hunter can take as many deer wearing blue jeans and a flannel shirt as a novice can wearing the latest Mossy Oak or Realtree pattern.
My mentors are Jim Shockey and Ted Nugent they are a rare breed of men and true hunters/outdoorsmen.
Shooting any animal at 500 yds is not hunting.
A hunter does not need a magnum caliber to shoot whitetail deer.
A hunter considers all game as a trophy.
A hunter treasures every moment spent in the woods be it the entire hunting season or a few days a season.
A hunter is patient.
A hunter does not shoot animals that are kept behind a fence.
A hunter can take as many deer wearing blue jeans and a flannel shirt as a novice can wearing the latest Mossy Oak or Realtree pattern.
My mentors are Jim Shockey and Ted Nugent they are a rare breed of men and true hunters/outdoorsmen.
Art Eatman
Staff in Memoriam
Again: The opening post spoke to attributes for a successful hunter. He's not talking about some guy you'd invite home to meet your daughter. This isn't about "good" in the sense of ethics.
IOW, why is it some guys regularly go bang-whop-plop and others have a lot of ammo left over and a clean barrel?
IOW, why is it some guys regularly go bang-whop-plop and others have a lot of ammo left over and a clean barrel?
djonathang
New member
Wow!
I'd like to thank everyone for providing such thoughtful responses to my inquiry. Clearly, the people who participate in this forum are a special lot.
Wouldn't it be great if all refuges and wildlife areas were filled with such a collection of quality sportsman.
Cheers.
DG
I'd like to thank everyone for providing such thoughtful responses to my inquiry. Clearly, the people who participate in this forum are a special lot.
Wouldn't it be great if all refuges and wildlife areas were filled with such a collection of quality sportsman.
Cheers.
DG
sc928porsche
New member
I have seen a lot of hunters in my time. Both good and bad. For me, first and foremost is a humane dispatch (one shot, and immediate drop....no 50 or even 100 yard chases). For that reason I use something that is accurate and has as much power that can be shot comfortably. Each person has his own "comfort zone" so that I feel should be what cartridge is best for him. That being stated, I also get as close to the game as possible to insure a good hit.
I am a believer of the "fair chase" method of hunting but that is just a personal preference. I also prefer using public lands as to ranches etc. In some areas, that isn't possible and that I do understand.
You should get to know the area that you are going to be hunting in. Maps are available through state and federal sources and I would recommend them to anyone. Go early and if possible, several times to accuaint yourself with the area.
I enjoy the hunt. The stalking or sitting and enjoy the beauty of nature that surrounds me when I am afield. I would never work that hard for anyone nor would I tote a camera instead of a rifle. I like the taste of game too well.
To all of you out there I wish you many years of successful hunting and a chance to commune with the beauty of nature.
I am a believer of the "fair chase" method of hunting but that is just a personal preference. I also prefer using public lands as to ranches etc. In some areas, that isn't possible and that I do understand.
You should get to know the area that you are going to be hunting in. Maps are available through state and federal sources and I would recommend them to anyone. Go early and if possible, several times to accuaint yourself with the area.
I enjoy the hunt. The stalking or sitting and enjoy the beauty of nature that surrounds me when I am afield. I would never work that hard for anyone nor would I tote a camera instead of a rifle. I like the taste of game too well.
To all of you out there I wish you many years of successful hunting and a chance to commune with the beauty of nature.
davlandrum
New member
Good as in successful:
Patient (mentioned several times already)
Highly proficient with his/her chosen weapon
Adaptable - able to match changing conditions of weather, etc
Properly equipped - boots suitable for terrain, quality rain gear, etc. Keeps you going when others are headed for the truck.
Compass and map proficient - lets you get farther from the beaten path safely
Patient (mentioned several times already)
Highly proficient with his/her chosen weapon
Adaptable - able to match changing conditions of weather, etc
Properly equipped - boots suitable for terrain, quality rain gear, etc. Keeps you going when others are headed for the truck.
Compass and map proficient - lets you get farther from the beaten path safely
Sorry for my jump and misreading.
A hunter should first know how to walk and move in the woods.
Above all if you sound like a marching band when you are hunting chances are you will never see anything. Walk as if you have already seen the game and you are sneeking up on it. This will take some pratice but is well worth the effort.
Camo clothes are fine but they only mask your form not your movement.
Second know everything you can about the game you are hunting. From it's eating habbits to when it moves.
Third is terrain and game signs if you cannot read tracks and signs find someone who can teach you and learn from them. This is something you are going to have to see in person and cannot in my opinion be learned from a book.
A hunter should first know how to walk and move in the woods.
Above all if you sound like a marching band when you are hunting chances are you will never see anything. Walk as if you have already seen the game and you are sneeking up on it. This will take some pratice but is well worth the effort.
Camo clothes are fine but they only mask your form not your movement.
Second know everything you can about the game you are hunting. From it's eating habbits to when it moves.
Third is terrain and game signs if you cannot read tracks and signs find someone who can teach you and learn from them. This is something you are going to have to see in person and cannot in my opinion be learned from a book.
Clean and fair
I believe our main responsibility is to make a clean and fair kill. I won't take a shot unless
1. I know it's an immediate kill or can be tracked to finish fairly quickly.
2. It's a shot that will somewhat challenge me. Whats the point if no skill is required?
Inherently, I think patience is what both of these boil down to. Too many young hunters get out there and fire off at the first meat they see. I was hunting with a buddy's know-it-all teenage son and a few friends one time. We weren't a 1/4 mile from camp when he brought down a small whitetail under 20 yds. Our response - "Congrats - now clean up and we'll show you how to actually hunt." I believe that the main virtues in any good hunter are respect and patience.
I believe our main responsibility is to make a clean and fair kill. I won't take a shot unless
1. I know it's an immediate kill or can be tracked to finish fairly quickly.
2. It's a shot that will somewhat challenge me. Whats the point if no skill is required?
Inherently, I think patience is what both of these boil down to. Too many young hunters get out there and fire off at the first meat they see. I was hunting with a buddy's know-it-all teenage son and a few friends one time. We weren't a 1/4 mile from camp when he brought down a small whitetail under 20 yds. Our response - "Congrats - now clean up and we'll show you how to actually hunt." I believe that the main virtues in any good hunter are respect and patience.
Sometimes things don't go perfectly and we don't make the right choice, maybe a risky shot or going unprepared, the important thing is to learn from it an move on to be a "better" hunter.