Jack of all trades or master of one?
 

After reading an ad for the utlimate outdoorsman challenge and then a subsequent article in Outdoor Life written by a past competitor, it got me thinking. That competition involves all aspects of the outdoors (fly fishing, shooting, archery I believe right?, atv navigation, survival, etc). Obviously those who win or do well (or even compete really) are very well rounded sportsman. Now, I get the feeling from many in this forum that most are very archery oriented. I know of several members on here who could probably have beaten the winner each year in the archery competition, but may not be all that well rounded in everything else. So my question to you guys, especially those competiton archers, do you enjoy devoting yourself more to one pashion (archery) and trying to master it as much as possible more than being well rounded (tying flies, working on bows, shoot ~400-420 vegas rounds, etc)? Sort of the jack of all trades and the master of none scenario?

I've found that archery is really something I love to do, and I'm getting more into it just in the past year or so, but I also love fishing, and want to pick up flyfishing soon which may lead to the desire to tie my own flies. I've always been a bit of an amateur photographer, and I'm now finding myself getting into that a little more seriously, so I see a new DSLR in my foreseeable future. Too many hobbies not enough time. For me, I'm not sure I could just dedicate myself enough to just ONE thing, and is that what it takes to become a shooter like (not trying to suck up here) Matt (Rick James)? <And Matt, don't think I'm saying you're only really good at ONE thing, lol:D So how do you guys feel? Is archery really your main hobby that you dedicate much of your time learning about, practicing, and competing, or do enjoy being "well rounded"

This also may be offtopic (actually I'm sure it is), but I wanted some bowhunters opinions since I was referencing archery in the initial question.

RE: Jack of all trades or master of one?
 

bump?:D

RE: Jack of all trades or master of one?
 

At times I wish I had 10 days in a week in order to spend enough time doing many of the things that I enjoy. I would say bowhunting has certainly gotten most of my attention the last 6-8 years. Before that I still was heavily into it, but spread my time around much more evenly. Fishing takes up my next biggest chunk of time, and now I’ve started dabbling in fly fishing. I doubt I’ll get into the tying part, even if I had time. I’m not artistic enough to deal with all that. Reloading and arrow building is enough DIY for me.

RE: Jack of all trades or master of one?
 

As much as I love archery, I love being in the outdoors period - more. I spenda good chunk of my time devoted to archery and bowhunting, but I also do many other outdoor related activities. I fish a lot during the summer (fly fish, too), I camp, I backpack with friends, we've gotten into off roading recently with our trucks, we ride ATV's, I duck hunt... You name it... I spent a summer teaching myself to tie flies, which was interesting. I make my own jig heads, we do a lot of walleye fishing, so they come in handy during the summer months. I also tie my own rock dancers for steelhead fishing during the winter months.

RE: Jack of all trades or master of one?
 

Washington, that's how I feel really. I've always been into so many different things, it's very hard for me to simply devote a large portion of my time to just one thing. Once hunting season is in, that really is my life, but outside of hunting, I enjoy doing all sorts of different activities. I find myself reading the scores shot by some of our Indoor League guys and it makes me want to really get into shooting competition regularly, but for me to practice enough to really take it very seriously, I wouldn't have as much time to do other activities I enjoy during the offseason. Really, I think it all comes down to setting priorities and finding a balance.

RE: Jack of all trades or master of one?
 

I was a fly fishing guide / casting instructorfor years out West as well as here in the East, a National Champion archer, shoot a gun about as well as I do a bow, raced motocross, and was a Boy Scout.

Given a day or 2 to learn the format..........I like my odds.:)

RE: Jack of all trades or master of one?
 

I, too, simply love being in the outdoors. I have spent much of my life camping. I love to fish and shoot. I haven't done much ATV riding, but Ilove horseback riding. My job is off-road navigation, sothat is a strong point for me. I have focused on archery lately because I have had a significant break from it and I need a lot of work in this area. I have never tried fly fishing, but would like to give it a go this year. I think you will find most on here (although they may not cover all disciplines) enjoy many things outdoor related.

RE: Jack of all trades or master of one?
 

Impressive. Maybe you're just a machine:D Did you pursue each of those more intensely at the time you were at the peak, or are you just very talented? Balancing motocross racing, staying competitive enough in archery to competitive at the national level, and guide fly fishing all at once, my hats off to you...seriously.

RE: Jack of all trades or master of one?
 

What do you do that involves offroad navigation if you don't mind me asking? I love offroading (moreso expedition style than rockcrawling although I was into that for a while>>see my sig).

RE: Jack of all trades or master of one?
 

Definitely not a jack of all trades. I'm no fisherman.Hate motorsports, not a survivalist (although I'm sure I'd never starve to death or die from exposure in the woods), and definitely not a small game hunter.

So, I'd like to think of myself as a master of a few...
[ul][*]Whitetail Hunting/scouting.[*]Picking/growing wild ginseng. Before I die, I'd like to own/operate a wild cultivated ginseng farm - as a hobby[*]Turkey hunting. I'd like to perfectthe mouthcall and eventually compete in a national calling championship- just to see how I match up against the best of the best.[*]Zealous conservationist.[/ul]
I also got pretty wrapped up in long range riflery. I'd eventually like to build a custom rifle and get serious about shooting big game at long range (600-1000 yards). I have no desires to dabble in gunsmithing- would leave that to the pros - but I know what I wantin a rifle, and how I want it built-but just don't have the money to blow on it yet. Along with all the peripherals (great spotting scope, top-end laser rf).For now, I'm relegated to a custom-job .22-250 and varmints.

I also think that I could really get into saltwater big game fishing. But, that requires more blingblingthan I'm working with right now. Freshwater fishing just doesn't do it for me at all.

Time and money:my only 2 limitations. Just like everybody else.