How much of hunting is confidence
 

How big a part do you think confidence plays in hunting? I know that once I've had some success I go out and just believe that I will find animals and get close, and then when I don't get one them I feel likes its more of a bump in the road rather then a failure. The same is true when I don't find animals as it seems like I just get frustrated and can't get close to save my life. Is there any way to stay confident when nothing seems to be going your way?

RE: How much of hunting is confidence
 

Our Bow season opens 10/15. I have done my scouting, placed my treestands (14 of them) set-up & reviewed the game cams, etc. and am Highly confident of success....just as I always am on opening day. Opening day comes (judging from many seasons past) and nothing....LOL. BUT...I have confidence in my hunting and shooting abilities and spend lots of time in the woods as I also turkey & coyote hunt. Attitude is a big part of hunting for me, but most times they win & I lose, but usually it all ends up working out in the end where they let me win a few too. Curiosity may kill the cat, but patience kills the deer. Just my thoughts.

RE: How much of hunting is confidence
 

i think luck plays a much bigger role than confidence. because no matter how you prepare, how much scouting to do, how much time practicing, that deer still has to walk past your stand at the right time and at the right location.

RE: How much of hunting is confidence
 

I think confidence is a huge part of bow hunting alot more than I think luck has anything to do with it. Like If you are confident in your shooting skills than you will have no problem taking the shot at any range you have set for your self(if you feel you have to rely on luck to make the shot then maybe you shouldn't take the shot) You also have to be confident in your scouting skills if you put the proper time into scouting and set yourself up in many different locations to compensate for wind, watering holes,feeding areas and bedding areas than you will be prepared for anything( if you scout an area and see deer and thats the only time you have scouted the area and you hunt it then yes you would have to rely on luck to see an animal walk by your stand) when I scout an area and I see deer i return to that area more than a few times(from a distance of course) and make sure I know exactly where the deer are moving to and from. You have to remember that before the rut and sometimes even the begining of the pre rut deer are very predictable and lazy animals they will take the easiest fastest route from bed to water to feed as they can. so once you know their movement it should be confidence in the work you put in prior to your hunt that gets you that animal not luck. This is my personal opinion and the way I hunt I do not intend to offend anyone do not critsise anyone who does or feels differently. Good luck and happy hunting to all.

RE: How much of hunting is confidence
 

I think confidence is everything. It will keep you in your stand longer and make you more persistent. Have you ever noticed how the really dedicated hunters have all the luck? Blind luck surely plays into it some as it does in most everything else but hard work and dedication to your sport will make you successful and that will build confidence. Just my 2 cents worth after 26 years into bowhunting.

RE: How much of hunting is confidence
 

I think it is critical to have confidence in your gear and your shot. If you question any of it, you may not make a good decision when it comes time to take the deer. But on the other hand its patience, luck, and educated trial and error that will put you in the right spot. As long as I am seeing deer I am happy. If I get the buck that is just a bonus to my time spent in the woods.

RE: How much of hunting is confidence
 

Confidence is the most important thing to worry about when doing hunting in anything, none the less bowhunting.

RE: How much of hunting is confidence
 

Confidence breeds patience. The more confident you are the more patience you will have.

RE: How much of hunting is confidence
 

Very true !!

Confidence is the most important aspect of bowhunting to me...........from equipment to target practicing to actually hunting !!

BTW.........best thread I have seen in some time ! ;)

RE: How much of hunting is confidence
 

I think you can have confidence in your gear and in your setup, but in the end there is unavoidably a dose of dumb luck or coincidence to have that animal walk near you. You can apply skill to your scouting, and make your best GUESS as to where to hang that stand, but it's not all about the hunter's skill.

By definition hunting is unpredictable, and if you could base success entirely on your skill, then it just wouldn't be hunting.

No matter what we might tell ourselves, or what the magazines and television shows tell us, a deer is going to do whatever it darn well pleases.

RE: How much of hunting is confidence
 

All the confidence in the world ain't going to make the deer walk by your stand. Where I feel confidence comes into play is making the shot. When you take a shot you should have 100% confidence that you are going to kill that deer. Anything less and you shouldn't be shooting at it.

RE: How much of hunting is confidence
 

IMO confidence is knowing you can make the shot. Knowing you did your homework and set up stands in the right locations. Knowing you've taken the precautions to remain scent free. Confidence will keep you on stand on a slow day when a warm shower and a beer sound better then freezing and seing nothing.

I think confidence is an important part of hunting. If you're prepared for the hunt and your ducks are in a row then you should be confident. (Second guessing yourself is a bad habit I try to avoid. I setup the way I do for one reason or another and I've found over the years that my first responce is usually the correct one.)

RE: How much of hunting is confidence
 

"Confidence, with it you can"

RE: How much of hunting is confidence
 

There is no such thing as luck. You make your own luck. You can place stands all day and never have deer walk by them. If a deer walks by your stand that is not luck that is you placing the stand in an area the deer will walk by. I think confidence is 90% of hunting. It allows you to make the shot, place the stand, and do whatever else you need to do to take that deer.

RE: How much of hunting is confidence
 

That is the one thing that surprized me the most about archery and bowhunting - the mental aspect. I'm always working a mental program in my mind and battling the negative ones. Its happening before, during and after the "moment of truth" It one thing that makes this sport so damn dynamic and exciting. Confidence is an important part of your tool box. It takes time, practice and a positive attitude.

RE: How much of hunting is confidence
 

deertale, its funny that you mention the mental aspect of the hunt. My hunts usually get more of a mental game after the fact. When you have 2 bulls down and are 5 miles from any road, you are not only physically wooped but also mentally wooped. Usually when I get into the elk I have already packed in camp to 3.5 miles and hike another mile and a half to get to my spot. Without confidence there is no way in heck I would put myself into that situation and go that far back in. I killed a bull one year and was all by my lonesome way back in the canyon. It was my confidence that made me go that far back in and also confidence that got me back out in one piece. As far as my hunting. Yes, lady luck does come into play, don't get me wrong. But I beleive that confidence seals the deal. Year after year my tags get filled early on in the season. Homework pays off and patience bred by confidence keeps me where I need to be. I am already tagged out this year. Bull elk, Antelope buck, Mulie buck, and a hen turkey. And I am confident that I can do it again.--If i'm Lucky---

RE: How much of hunting is confidence
 

This is a good thread!! Its gettin down to the roots of what hunting is about! It should stay at the top a few days so people will check it out.

Good luck to all. One shot, one kill!

RE: How much of hunting is confidence
 

I think it has A LOT do do with confidence to answer your original post. A confident hunter knows he did his homework, and his follow thru....
When I start questioning myself I try to break everything down. I concentrate ......really concentrate.... I ask myself questions like, " why would a deer pass through this lane " or "is this a SMART location or a convenient one...... If your not seeing game ask yourself WHY ? Is it you ? Are you downwind ? Are you REALLY being still. Are you scentfree ? Are you getting to your stand QUIET ? Can you be more quiet ? If not - can you act (sound) more like a deer on your way in, or a squirrel)
Are you setup too close too a bedding area for your approach direction and noise level ?? Can you approach the stand from another vantage point ?
Is your stand silloetted against the sky ?

Just ask yourself questions - smart ones and be honest with yourself. Then if your doing things right - get hardcore...... stay on stand longer - and get there earlier.

Well thats enough for now..... ;)

Good luck - keep your head high.....

RE: How much of hunting is confidence
 

I think confidence plays a definite role. I hunt better when I am confident. For example I a much more apt to stay on stand longer when I am confident. I move less and have more focused when I am confident in a spot etc. So yes it plays a role in my hunting success. I also agree that luck plays a role. However, when folks are consistently "lucky" it's probably not luck!

My favorite saying is:

Must be present to win!

RE: How much of hunting is confidence
 

Its a lot of confidence and strategy, hardly any of it is luck i think...

RE: How much of hunting is confidence
 

I don't beleive in LUCK , freinds that call you lucky after harvesting a mature deer is like a smack in the face. You made your own luck, countless hours of preperation, scouting, shooting,and setting up stands, getting up before the sun to find out its raining but you still go anyway.
You call this LUCK? I call it WORK and hard work pays off.
I dont meen to get off the subject but all this talk about luck just gets me going.
Some people rely on luck others just make it happen, and yes confidence plays a good part in making it happen. Good Hunting ;)

RE: How much of hunting is confidence
 

good question....
Hunting produces confidence....Just being out there is success in itself. If we learn something everytime we go out, small or big, it is a successful hunt.

I like my bringing my daughters with me so they can become more confident in life. They may not bring home a harvest every time. But, they are becoming confident in ways that other kids have no chance of seeing, knowing, or understanding, that never get to go into the woods.

Enjoy the journey.....

RE: How much of hunting is confidence
 

I can tell you as a coyote hunter of 30 + years confidence plays a huge part of your success in the field and success helps to build that confidence. Sound like I'm talking out of both sides of my mouth but they go hand in hand.
I am just starting to get into bowhunting and know getting that first deer, no matter doe or buck, big or small will be a large boost to my confidence.
One of the biggest advantages I thought I always had over many of the guys I hunted with was just enjoying being out in the woods. Yes, they enjoyed it too but not to the same degree. They turned a enjoyable time of life into a job. Get in get it done and go home. Enjoy it. I know for sure I will and confidence will come too.:)

RE: How much of hunting is confidence
 

...Confidence is sexy!

Without confidence there is no reason to stay in the stand...