I was thinking about deer hunting. (Bowhunting mostly) I know when people are determined to do something in life, they seem to have the utmost confidence. Yet, others seem to never be determined, and lack confidence as well. I think there are some bowhunters that never really gain the confidence they need to get the animal they want. They seem to want it bad enough, but yet, are always doubting that it will happen. I have found that doubt is a failure waiting to happen. What do you guys think of confidence and believing?

I say, I have determined to be more confident this season than I ever have in the past. I really just want to see how much difference it will make overall thru the season. I know we all say we are confident in our equip., scent control, stands/setups, etc, etc, but what about confidence in ourselves? We seem sometimes to have more confidence in the material aspects and the animals than we have in ourselves as hunters. There is something wrong with that picture to me.

Just thinking out loud I suppose.

LT

LT,
I think your confidence level has a lot to do with making good hunting decisions. I know with me, when I am sitting in that stand for hours on end without seeing a deer, I really start 2nd guessing myself. Then when I am in a good spot, on the right day, I hope I have already stuck a doe before that good buck comes by. If I have not, I will get the worst case of buck fever ever seen. With this said, I hope I am able to stick a doe within the first few days, to get that out of my system and get the confidence level where it needs to be.
Chris

i think this happened to me last year, i went out every day with a bowbut really i did not think i would ever see a big buck and guess what......i didnt............so this year, every time i go out im planning on killing the next world record!lol no , but i plan on seeing a good buck at least one time every day

All the confidence in the world isn't going to "will" a deer to come by.

But its better than wandering around hoping something will happen. For any given hunt my confidence can be anywhere for seeing deer. For I season I'm pretty confident I will have action. And when I release an arrow, that is as confident as I will ever be in regards to hunting.

I go to the woods everytime thinking...today will be the day!

I think your confidence is one of if not the most important things that you can carry to the woods or water with you. I have always been a confident person but I have gotten more confident as I have gotten older. I ALWAYS expect to kill one or find and catch the fish etc. I think you hunt with the expectation that you are going to kill one, you hunt better. That is to say that your are more alert, you move less, you stay longer etc.

Confidence is what makes it happen in the deer woods.
Confidence in you stand location.
Confidence in your equipment.
Confidence in your camo.
Confidence in your shot making ability.
I could go on, but you get the idea.

I guarantee it plays a huge part in how successful a hunter is. If you are confident in your spot. You will sit still and scan the woods for movement and see more deer than if you don't believe a deer will ever show up.

Very well said, and very accurate as well!

I would agree that confidence is greatly both mis-understood and a huge factor not just in hunting.. but in life.. in general.

I have often said that confidence.. common sense.. and an imagination are the biggest keys which seperate hunters from one another.

That's great, Duke.....and in your "confidence","common sense", AND "imagination".....(IMO) it forms your "Intuition". Intuition is that little voice in the back of your head that tells you when to go in; where to go in; HOW to go in; etc....EVEN WHEN some "other" spot may look better "on paper". THIS (IMO) is your killer instinct.

That same intuition can also tell you when NOT to go.