I would have to agree with Bob and Davidmil for the most part. I think numbers do (usually) have something to do with skill. If you can consistently kill (any) deer with a bow...obviously you are doing something right. The size/quality usually ends up being a personal choice, and also has something to do with the area you hunt in. Personally...I haven't killed a buck with a bow in 6 seasons...by choice...but I have shot alot of does during that time, and passed on shots at dozens of bucks. I have just chosen to let the small/medium sized bucks walk...looking for a big one. It may take a long time to harvest the quality of buck I'm looking for...based on where I hunt, and the amount of time I get to spend in the stand...but that's my choice and I'm happy with it. I think all of us have plenty to learn...and if we say we don't...we're fooling ourselves. I know I learn something each time out. What wolfen said....spending time on stand observing....this has probably been the greatest help to me over the years. I'm a firm believer that experience is the best teacher.
I consider myself a faily skilled hunter, that still has alot to learn. This season I had opportunities to harvest deer (or at least shoot at) on every trip out, and many of those were bucks...to me that was a successful season....to someone else, maybe not. I only chose to take one shot...and double lunged a nice doe.
I think if you based "skill" by the number of trophies on your wall, that could be inaccurate. Like C903 said of the hunter he talked about. I believe that many (adequately skilled) hunters...such as many of you here, could consistently take a trophy, if you were put in the position to (IE: put on stand by a guide in a fantastic spot). Of course, you still have to make it happen, but your odds go way up...when you are in the "right" location, in an area that holds numbers of trophy animals. As was said...many so called "skilled" hunters....are not much more than "wealthy" hunters.
Good thread C. <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>