Do you think you're special?
 

The jokes from that title are endless so I will just get right to it.


Pretty simple really...........do you believe that you have/do something "special" or better then other hunters do that allows you to have success where others would fail.

Basically, if someone else was afforded your EXACT same opportunities do you think they would have similar success?.......less???..........more??


I guess my answer is two-fold.

I feel like most guys with a decent skill and knowledge base would be just as successful as I am on my private farms with less pressure.........perhaps even more if lady luck shines on them. I would say that I am a little above average at the big woods public land game then others and I base this soley on my ability to consistently tag deer in this arena well above my state and local average success rates.............we are all playing on the same field so I think that is a fair comparison.

So how do you think you stack up against the masses??..........put in your shoes could another guy step right in and accomplish what you do??..........or do you believe you have/do something "special" that allows you to succeed where others would fail??

RE: Do you think you're special?
 

He's Back:D

and

NO

For example the differnce between you and average hunter in your area is time. I would bet on average you put more time in then the average guy. Same here, I just put more time in and focus on a few more details.

RE: Do you think you're special?
 

I think if someone else hunted my land it would be a cycle. At first I think I would be more successful since I already know a few of the normal routes traveled as well as some feeding and bedding areas. However, given time I think the new hunter would be more successful than me. The reason being is that I have hunted the land so long that I'm set in my ways. I typically stick to the same stand locations and hunt the same manner that I have become used to. The new hunter would have a fresh insight and probably find locations and deer that I may never think about. Other than that I don't believe I have any special general hunting skills that are greater than most other avid archers on the forum.

RE: Do you think you're special?
 

Good Question. My quick answer which may revise over time is:

I think the majority of regular posters on this board are probably pretty equal. Obviously, we have the drive anddesire 365 days a year. I think most of us could go hunt in Texas or Canada or Pa and in a short amount of time be comfortable with our stand placement and have success.

I'm in no way saying we are the average Bowhunter..I would like to think on a scale, that we are much higher on the curve. We all know most other bow hunters who may fling a couple arrows prior to the opener and then go hunt for a week or so with their buddies.

But like your answer there are so many other factors that are involved. Are you married? do you have kids? Do you hunt public land, private? What's your job? How often can you get out? mornings? evenings?

There is never equality. Most of us have to have balance between our daily lives and our hunting pursuits. We cannot just move to a big buck state. We can not hunt 60 days a year. Does this make our skills less?

RE: Do you think you're special?
 

My answer is "no". Not right away. I have put in an extreme amount of time for over 15 years, hunting mature bucks. During these years I have learned a lot of little intricate details of the mature buck that can only be gained with time. If a guy starts putting in the kind of time that I do, it would still take him/her 3-5 years to get up to the knowledge base that I have earned. I learned most of my lessons the hard way. There were no computors to help with knowlege sharing, nor were there any hunting shows on TV like we have today. That is why a person today can learn faster than years back.

RE: Do you think you're special?
 

I haven't had a lot of success, so I couldn't say that any average hunter couldn't come in
and duplicate my success or lack thereof.

I need a lot of work on scouting and strategy. But, one thing I had last year and will have this
year that I feel gives me a small edge is desire. Most of the hunters I know only hunt about 6
hours out of the day and take food to the stand and all that. I feel like I'm pretty good at being
patient, quiet, and fairly movement free on the stand. I hunt hard and stay late on my stands.
I also feel that I am more profficient with my weapons than the average hunter (most of whom
get out their bow or muzzleloader right before season).

That doesn't make me special, it just means I might be more dedicated than the average hunter
at this point in my limited hunting career.

My enemy right now is time. With demanding job, baby and another on the way, and my best
hunting spot almost 3 hours away, it is frustrating.

RE: Do you think you're special?
 

Exactly. A big part of hunting is simply exposure. Both being out there enough and exposing yourself to areas/specific places that allow you to be successful.

Man, that sounds so simple:D

RE: Do you think you're special?
 

That's fair.....................and something I guess I didn't give enough thought to. My success on public land vs the rest of the state could very well be patience and time on stand. I guess I was assuming all things being equal but I shouldn't have applied that to my public land statement because I'm sure they are not........we are all on the same playing field but I may get to play way more then others. Given that someone was allowed the EXACT same opportunities as myself I think they could step in and do just as well if not better with a little good or bad fortune probably being the swing factor.

RE: Do you think you're special?
 

Define success.....


Ummm....no, I don't think I have anything special......I think most folks could go out and whack a doe or two every year....It is all about location after all..........:D

RE: Do you think you're special?
 

I think there's a lot of "special" people around here:D:D
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.






Age:
16

Occupation:
Cleaning tables at Yanker Burger

Residence:
Yankerville Suburbs with his Grandma

Likes:
Fried Chicken, Hawaii, Snowglobes and Scooters.

Dislikes:
Ghosts and Spiders.

Favorite Quote:
"YAY, YAY, YAYYY!!"[/align]

RE: Do you think you're special?
 

No popcorn needed............very simple...........could someone else step into your EXACT situation and have similar success (whatever you do year after year).........or do you believe you are in some way more able to draw success where others would fail if given the same chance.

RE: Do you think you're special?
 

There's no need for false humility here. :eek:

You guys are not "average" weekend warrior hunters. Your years of experience and
your dedication automatically set you apart from the average hunter who just wants some
time to get out of the house and hang out with his buddies.

RE: Do you think you're special?
 

I have a friend that I have put in my stands for the last 6 years. He has yet to take any buck over a 100 inches. His first three seasons were a bust. He is dedicated but therealways seens tobe something that goes wrong and ruines a potential wall hanger. On days he comes with me I let him pick any stand that is right for the wind that day. 9 times out of ten I think he makes the wrong choice for various reasons. Greg H could come here and get on a big buck. The guy that has never killed a mature buck would probably never even see one.

RE: Do you think you're special?
 

I don't think I have anything really special about me and hunting. There are few people that thinking about it more than I do and plan more about upcoming hunts, but as far as in the field, I think I am on par with most dedicated hunters. My brother and I have hunted together since I can rememebr being able to hunt, and between he and I, 99 times out of 100, I am the one who gets a deer first. We have hunted the same areas our whole life (until now, that I am in IL) but I just seem to be "better" at it than he is. I definitely read more than he does, so I think I just may know more about sign and things than him, but I think I am just lucky sometimes too.

RE: Do you think you're special?
 

I may have road the short bus, but I don't think I'm special. I'm not really know how to define an average bowhunter. I work hard to afford what I love to do and have been very lucky, so if someone else had the same opportunity to hunt the same places I do then most would be as successful although I do feel I've made the most of those situations. Most of us on this site work hard on the sport.

RE: Do you think you're special?
 

That's a pretty straightforward definition......For some reason, I expected something a little more.....complicated...[8D]

Given that, no I don't think I have anything special. The one thing I have that most of the guys I know don't have is patience. The farm I hunt the majority of the time requires time, and to just sit there, most of the day if need be. And to be still on stand, and quiet. If the average person can do those things yes, they could whack does as well. Most of my buddies around here though just don't have the patience for it. I just don't have many deer around, yet I see them fairly consistently.

RE: Do you think you're special?
 

My response, Yes somebody with more experience could easily step into my spot and probably do it better right now. I have only been archery hunting for a little over 2 years. I am still learning the ins and outs.

RE: Do you think you're special?
 

I think someone stepping on ground for the first time has a better chance(they seem to hunt every square inch)than i do after all these years hunting the same property i've gotten used to the spots where i've seen deer more and kind of just try to get to the "honey hole" instead of being on full alert everywhere i go.Have you ever noticed how many big bucks are taken by people who don't know where the good spots are at?Beginners luck?my .02

RE: Do you think you're special?
 

An experienced hunter, yes I think they could. I don't believe I'm anything special but some of my spots are. I think an experienced guy could likely come in and do better than I do. A guy like Myles Keller, Chuck Adams, etc would take deer out of my spots that I would bet you didn't exist prior to them finding and killing them.

RE: Do you think you're special?
 

:D:D:D

Yep!!!!!! I dont think for a minute that I couldn't do the same thing that any of these so called trophy hunters do...

Unless your killing those big P/Y bucks in some kind of big woods emviroment... I'm not impressed

Anybody can kill a decent buck on a farm period!!!!

I hunt 99.9% HEAVILY HUNTED PUBLIC LAND and I kill plenty of deer... Not quality deer... But never the less I like hunting big woods whitetails. To me that is real deer hunting!!!!

I did have the chance to get on this small farm and hunt 2 years before it was leased out from under me:(... But in that 3 year period the hunting was a joke... It was literally like taking candy from a baby!!! I didn't really even worrie about my sent that much... In 3 years I killed like 10 bucks off this farm... 3 were decent 8points... I didn't even mount these deer just for the fact that they were NO CHALLENGE!!!! I had does see me in my stand and just pay me no mind... I had to laugh a few times with how bumb these deer were... I've had fawns with spots bust me in my stand on my public land and blow and run off... I've said it once and I'll say it a 1000 times...I hunt 18 month old does that are more weiry than a 5 year old buck on PRIME private property.... Notice the word PRIME... You guys know who youare... If you take a video camera in the woods with you. You might be a PRIME private propert hunter... If you thought about getting on the dream seasonteam you might be a PRIME private property hunter

RE: Do you think you're special?
 

In my woods, yes I am. I have been hunting that woods for 15 years and know a lot of the patterns the deer use. That would give me an edge over anyone just walking in there for the first time.

Plus I practice shooting year round. I know a lot of guys who pick up their bow a week before the season and THINK they are ready to kill a monster. I promise you I am special compared to that guy.

RE: Do you think you're special?
 

I think you're speacial too[8D]

RE: Do you think you're special?
 

It really depends on who would be stepping onto the land I hunt as to whether they would have the success I have or not. I think that if I randomly picked from the regulars on this forum they could come into my situation and do as well or better than I do.

On the other hand I know guys that do hunt a lot that I would not be threatened by if I had to share a spot with them.

For example, a very good friend of mine had invited me to hunt some property that he has several years back. I had very good success, and he has had very good success on this property. However, the land was obtained by his father, they have hunted it for decades, and for the most part nothing has changed. They don't scout, because they don't need to. I have hunted 4 states with very different climates and had to adapt. At the time that I started hunting with him I would have said that my skills and knowledge were superior to his. Since that time, he has obtained new properties, learned them, and put in time and effort to learn the game. That margin has become much smaller if not disappeared.

So, it's kind of subjective as to who comes into the equation.

RE: Do you think you're special?
 

Well not quite that simple, it all depends on who the someone else is!

RE: Do you think you're special?
 

No, I'm not special.

I may be a dedicated hunter, but I do not have the years under my belt nor the experience yet to even be considered close to special. I've had moderate success, but have yet to harvest a mature whitetail buck.

I'm average. The average hunter could step into my shoes and be just as successful as I am at this point in time. This is no one's fault but my own. Working full time while going to school gives one very little time to hunt.

Perhaps one day I'll have enough time to spend in the woods and I'll consider myself special, but until then I'll be content with being average.

RE: Do you think you're special?
 

I think it's about 75% location and 25% execution...

I have buddies that I can put on an excellent stand location, but they have problems with the execution...

I usually have no problems with the execution when the shot presents itself...

RE: Do you think you're special?
 

I'm pretty much totally awesome in every phase of the game... So yeah. I'd say I'm special.

RE: Do you think you're special?
 

Depends on what you consider average. Stick a weekend warrior who scouts a few times a year in my spots and he will be hard pressed to enjoy the same success as me. Put a seasoned guy who knows what to look for and he could probably step in without skipping a beat and be very comparable. Put in a real slick guy and he couldteach me athing or 2 on land I've hunted 20+ years.

RE: Do you think you're special?
 

Do you help him out by telling him his mistake or just keep letting him making it over and over. I ask because my oldest brother is not a good "spot picker" for lack of a better phrase........and I flip flop on whether I should keep telling him because a few times I tried he also got skunked so then I wondered if something else was the problem..........and it just snowballed from there. I finally just started keeping my thoughts to myself.


I don't doubt the first phrase...........but the logic for the second phrase doesn't compute........if it did no one would ever kill a mature buck........and we know that's not true because they fall to first timers every year.

RE: Do you think you're special?
 

People seem to be getting hung up on the word "average". Don't make it more complex then it needs to be. Forget the extremes. We aren't talking about a weekend warrior who shoots his bow for an hour before the season and goes to camp just to take a beer fueled vacation every fall...........and we aren't talking about Chuck Adams or Fred Bear either.

Just a regular solid hunter..........good shot, good knowledge base, and good hunting skills. Nothing great.........and nothing terrible either. No extremes either way.

RE: Do you think you're special?
 

atlasman,

In certain areas you might be confusing "average" with "competent." I'm not sure where
I hunt that "average" would reach the level of "competent," if you define average as splitting
the number of people who claim to be hunters by 2.

Maybe that's why I think most HNI hunters would be above "average." Could anyone luck into a
nice deer? Sure. Do I think that most of the names on here would have a better chance of killing a
nice deer in my area then the average local hunter? Sure.

Most of it seems to boil down to experience and dedication.

RE: Do you think you're special?
 

A solid hunter with good, but not exceptional skills could have the same success I have. That's all I really consider myself. I know when a guy REALLY knows what he's talking about, and that's when I shut up and listen.

RE: Do you think you're special?
 

Welcome back, Atlas.....and a great question.

In your definition....I think the "average" hunter has a good chance of pushing the deer I hunt off the property I'm allowed to hunt (they have options). But....any hunter with a lick of sense (I don't give the "average" hunter much credit, do I?;))....could come in here and take deer. I say it all the time.....this isn't rocket science. I do some things that I think help my odds.....but I'm not foolish enough to think others woudn't learn the same "methods". The only thing I know, really, is where they are.....where they're going....wher ethey eat....where they sleep. These are things that could be picked up on by anyone over a period of time.

I'm just picking a name, here....someone I follow on the board and respect the way they go about their business.......Rybo (AN example of the aforementioned). Stick him in my woods.....and he'll light 'em up (as soon as he finds them...which wouldn't take long....given the size of my woods). Put me in his woods.....and I'd likely have to work a little harder to find them.....but I would.

Ive learned about all I can about the woods I hunt (+/- 60 acres).....and the deerthat "I" hunt (not all deer). I'd be taxed with learning another man's woods.....but let's take the mystique away......their brains are about the size of a pear. They need cover, water and food. We catch them around or on their way to these things.....or when they're amorous.

I stated a while back (in your absence)........I'd like to see what you (Atlas) would do in Buckeye's woods. In all seriousness.....I don't think anyone here would be surprised at what you drug out.;)

Nothing special about my hunting abilities.

RE: Do you think you're special?
 

I pecial atwis. I wu til a deewa wi mi beawa hanns iff i tould det mywa hanns awoun hi neweck. Huh huh.

No seriously, GMMAT has a good point. You put a skilled hunter in a good population of deer, it won't take him long to figure out the travel, feeding and bedding patterns and begin to take deer.(Notice I did not say "mature" deer.) Those will be left to folks like GregH who have put in their time.(Speaking of maturee deer in pressured areas)Like he said, 15 yrs. to him may now be 4 to 5 years because of information handed down from people such as himself.( Easier to become educated now.) I will add this also (GMMAT touched on this also). To consistantly kill "mature" whitetails, you must be in an area that holds them. I have mature whitetails where I live but the mature buck to hunter ratio isway out there in favor of the deer. Now someone who hunts here knows that being meticulous is an understatement when pursuing our deer. Take that same person and throw him in an area with about half the hunting pressure and he will probably immediately be more successful or at least as successful as the local hunters there. Why? Because he has become tuned to not screwing up at the very least. Most people who hunt deer in areas that are not pressured a lot have become lax in their efforts because it's just easier to kill unpressured/low pressured deer.

Just my 2c.

And GMMAT: I bet you won't be saying that after this season when you whack more does than mobow counts to get to sleep every night. Can you say mobo'd? LOL

LT

RE: Do you think you're special?
 

I'll try to answer this.

I'm not special but yet I am special.

Let me explain. I have a pretty good nack for filling my tags. Friends and family recognize this. The thing is, I'm not a trophy hunter and very few of my bucks are even considered nice. I just fill my tags with both bow and rifle. Most of my kills are does or fawns ( 6 month old deer)Started hunting at age 12, I'm now42 and have taken over100deer. Hunted 2 states for a while.

I do feel that I understand deer and their habits. Over the years I've learned the deer's habits on several pieces of property.I'd take all my vacations and personal days during hunting season.I was always scouting and loved being in the woods.So "time" is a BIG factor in all of this.

I've guided my 2 kids, my father and several hunting friends to tag deer. Probably about 50 total, where I was right there beside them whispering instructions. When my tags were filled, I was always taking someone else.

Here is something similar to what was stated about someone else being in your shoes and being able to do what you do. Here is the story;


There was this guy I worked with. Everyone would laugh and make jokes about him behind his back about his lack of success when hunting. He hunted for about 15 years with only one deer to his credit.

I decided to take this guy under my wing and help him out. I got him to practice heavy with his bow. Puthim in my best tree stand the first day. He got a nice spike and was tickled pink. Later he got a buck with a rifle during the rifle season. The guys at work were jealous. They even thought he was making up stories until I brought in the pictures. Some even accused me of shooting the deerfor him. The next year, he took several more deer. He was proud of himself and soon no one was making jokes about his inability to connect with a deer.

In the lastseveral years, he has taken many deer all on his own including a few with muzzleloader.

So yes, if a hunter were put in my shoes, he could be just as successful and I proved it. That is as long as he practices enough with his weapon of choice.


The same can be said for my step son. The kid has taken around 16 deer by the age of 16 and started hunting at age 12. He's taken 5 with a bow by age 15.I helped him get the first few and he caught on quickly. He also hunted with his uncle in Maryland.

Sadly he has all but quit hunting. Just isn't as interested in it.

RE: Do you think you're special?
 

When I said "average"............I meant it as a measure of ability........nothing else. I'm not trying to figure out the definition of the average bowhunter.........that could range from a slob right up to the best of the best depending what room you're in.

Just a good solid "B" student..........right in the meat of the curve.........not a world beater but no slouch either.

RE: Do you think you're special?
 

They made a song about me... you know, "Oh Lord it's hard to be humble......" LOL I have one thing that sets me apart from most. I can sit in a tree for hours without having to pee.:)

RE: Do you think you're special?
 

My mom says i'm special..

RE: Do you think you're special?
 

I am special Ed.

My friend says I am the luckiest bow hunter he has ever seen.