I think most of the big name guys are the real deal. I think they are better than your average hunter. That being said, I don't think they have super human ability to understand deer and deer movement etc. I think they are good hunters that hunt in good areas and have the kind of success that you would expect good hunters to have in good areas. I have less than 10 days in a tree in the midwest and 3 P&Y bucks to show for it and mine was all DIY hunting. So, personally I think I could at least match their success if I was hunting the same areas they were hunting. But I am pretty arrogant like that