RE: What percent of "success" is determined by "Location"
 

To an experienced and competent bowhunter location is every thing,meaning at a certain level of competence the only distinction between you and I and the Hollywood hunters is where each of us hunts.
I am absolutely certain that there are many folks here that could take many(not all) of the Hollywood hunters to school.
The person who is consistently killing top end bucks on pressured/public ground is as good a hunter as there is! Take that hunter and put them in the locations that the hollywood hunters hunt and it would be like taking candy from a baby as it relates to their success.
For many folks their success is not appreciated to the degree it should be because of where they reside/hunt.

RE: What percent of "success" is determined by "Location"
 

Sorry Jeff.. I didn't answer because the question was far to broad to cover. In hunting, and especially in bowhunting whitetail, there are far to many variables to compare between hunters.

Yes, it's VERY true that in order to kill big deer you musthunt where big deer live. And we all know that the midwest holds many big deer and great genetics. So.. a gentleman/lady who hunts this area of the country will kill bigger deer if he/she is so inclined to. But they still have to learn too.

But to say another hunter in a state with smaller deer and a much poorer deer herd could compete with a person who has hunted big mature deer ina better state is probably innaccurate. Why? Because I didn't become a big deer hunter until I learned to hunt big deer. And I only did that after several years of hunting BIG DEER. They are completely different animals. A person in Florida would probably not have that experience in them to hunt those type of deer because he doesn't hunt them. ..nearly ever.

By no means do I consider myself a great big deer hunter. But I do live in Illinois and have been fortunate to hunt many big deer. It is only my opinion that a great deer hunter needs to hunt particular deer to be great. For that, Florida would not be the place to start practicing.

RE: What percent of "success" is determined by "Location"
 

Not that what I say will be much different than anyone else but I just talked to a friend about this. I associate "prolific hunter" with deer size, I know this is wrong but that is the first thing to pop in my head. At any rate, deer size or deer population depends on area (hunters in the area)and management of that area. After reading a well written book by Mr Higgens I decided that location is very important. Don was able to spot deer that a season or 2 before he harvested them. There is no locations that I hunt were I can have this ability. I think, if I were in an area with a very low hunting pressure and good QDM practices that I would be much better than I am. I concider Fred Bear to be a great hunter (I'm reading his field notes now) but I think he was known more for his style (traditional shooter). As far as I know he has killed a lot of game but not necessarily B&C game. Also, if I may mention, he had to pay for quite a few of his trips to hunt bear, moose, and other game. Sorry for so many words not to have said much.

RE: What percent of "success" is determined by "Location"
 

I would say 25% tops.....

Most "prolific big buck hunters" aren't the kind of people who just decide to "go hunting today". They plot, plan and scout year around. If their hunting grounds don't have the quality ofdeer they are happy with they find new ground to hunt which does. They hunt smart, they hunt hard and they don't give up.

RE: What percent of "success" is determined by "Location"
 

I agree withthe journeyman I believe a hunter is successful when he consistantly takes the game he his hunting by fair chase no pay hunts where the guide tells you to wait another 10 minutes and ole grandaddy will be making his rounds,although I know that is still hunting it is not the same thing for "avereage" folk.

RE: What percent of "success" is determined by "Location"
 

If you are talking about success in terms of killing big deer. You can't kill'em if they are not there. The more of them that are in the area, the better your odds of connecting. It's really as simple as that;)

RE: What percent of "success" is determined by "Location"
 

It depends on your definition of success. If you're saying big bucks, it's 95 percent location. If you're saying deer kills, it's probably 20 percent. Somewhere sometime ago and many years before that they put out this blurb that 10 percent of the people kill 80 percent of the deer. I believe that. There's a lot of yapping and chest thumping goes on on these boards... but for the most part there is a small group that kills their deer(usually multiples) year after year. If you take out the folks that have access to private paradises, the success really does fall. Inspite of the fact a lot of people have soulrun of private haunts, you don't repeatedly take macho bucks if they aren't there. We all know the macho deer states where 130 or 140 class deer is considered a little thing. We all know the states that have never seen a 200 inch deer or anything close to it. So who determines what success really is. I'm successful. I don't have to post a picture or tell you of my deer. My success would probably be poo poed in Kansas... but that's OK. Success is in knowing you went, you hunted and you completed your quest. It's not a competition.... it's an adventure. It's suppose to be fun.

RE: What percent of "success" is determined by "Location"
 

Agree a 100% with that!!

RE: What percent of "success" is determined by "Location"
 

Location is the most important thing in successful deer hunting. Because if you hunt where there are no deer, you can’t be successful. Get it. End of story.

RE: What percent of "success" is determined by "Location"
 

I also agree with this.
HOWEVERwith that said. If you want to add "size" in the equation. You take a hunter that can consistanly take record book deer in an area that isn't known for "big" deer. Then that to me is a "successful" hunter.

I would hold a hunter from SC who consistantly kills 150'', in higher regards that I would a hunter who consistantly kills 150" deer in IA or KS. Why? Because to consistaly kill 150'' deer in SC, you have to know something that 99% of the other hunters don't.

To consistaly kill that size deer in IA or KS all you have to do is put up a tree stand.

There is a guy who lives not far from me by the name of Hugh Gaskins. Mr. Gaskins has taken a 170 5/8 typical that is 3rd in the state, a 170 5/8 non-typical, and has another one, but I can't remember what it scored......All of these deer were taken in SC, two in the same county and all (if i am not mistaken) by bow. Now, thats not only a "successful" hunter. Thats an Idol!!! ((((this is if you are talking about size))))))