I guess by your definition I'd be a woodsman/ hunter. I'm not able to hit the 12 or ten ring every shot but as long as I put em in the lungs they still end up on the ground.In the woods I work hard to put deer in range of my shooting ability and pass small and medium bucks looking for a nice one. When it comes time to get serious and put meat in the freezer then I start filling doe tags. I'm 25 I've bowhunted long enough(13 yrs) to know there is always something new to learn and never act like you know it all. When trading stories listen to what other people have to say instead of trying to out do them with a story of your own.

Id have to say im a woodsman, I can shoot good at 15-20yards because thats all i practice at because im not going to make any shots on deer past that. I dont care about shootin well at 60 yards because ill never shoot a deer at that range with my bow. i keep it close range. I wish all you guys a good and safe hunting season<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=icon_smile_approve.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

I feel that I'm above average There's always room for more knowledge in this PUNKIN of mine <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>
AL

HuntingBry,

Your rating system kinda reminds me of a Xerox self-review performance rating system! Only upper management would rate themself a &quot;Pro&quot;!! <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle> Because the Xerox &quot;mindset&quot; has clouded my thinking I would rate myself an Expert. If you give me a 3 week vacation and then ask the same question,..I would give myself above average!

I'm glad to see that you guys are taking my rating system and modifying it to fit yourselves. That was really my intention, but needed some sort of method to distinguish the differences. I will admit that the &quot;Pro&quot; rating is a bit loaded. I believe that this is a very rare individual and while there may be some lurking on this board you could probably count them on your fingers and have some left over. My journey through the ranks started when I was 15 which was just 3 years after I started hunting as a novice. I stayed a novice for about 3 seasons because I was pretty much self taught. I then would have moved to hunter phase and concentrated more on hunting and the game than to archery and stayed that way for almost 7 years. And in the last several years I have gotten very much into the technical side of archery putting me above the average bowhunter in archery knowledge. I hope to one day be an expert, but I am fairly certain I will never be a &quot;Pro.&quot;

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote<font size=1 face='Verdana, Arial, Helvetica' id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
In hunting terms- doing my best fighting the slobs on public land.... -Chief

Edited by - ChiefHeadhunter on 08/21/2002 11:41:44
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face='Verdana, Arial, Helvetica' size=2 id=quote>
Hey! I resent that! I do about 1/3 of my hunting on public land. Morals and ethics are not to be debated; on private or public land I always represent the sport and my aproach to it the same. With great pride as if a committee was judging my actions.

&quot;Measure twice, shoot once <img src=icon_smile_evil.gif border=0 align=middle> &quot;

Expert? But I never scout my woods (small &lt;50acres), I know where the deer are and stay out of the area till the rut. Been hunting the same honey hole for 9 years and its like Christmas morning every day of the rut. The biggest challenge is deciding if I have seen the biggest buck that I'm going to see that season when deciding to release or not.

Come on Oct 28 that’s when I quit fishing and start hunting

I did consistently arrowed deer in the state land by my house, but just to many idiots there now, I do miss patterning deer in that 1500 acre woods, and it did required more skill & effort than my current situation, I was a better hunter then, now its just patience and picking that spot and release. But I'm not complaining<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

Good luck to every one this season,
Tony

I'm in the Hunter Class. But if restricted to your categories I'd rate myself as above average.

I work very hard and shoot very well and accurately and I tune to a fault. But most of all I pray every single day for Good - Clean - Quick Killing Shot.

Dick

20 + years of bowhunting and I know more today than I did yesterday.

If tomorrows the same as today, that is all I can ask for.

I rate myself somewhere between a warrior and a pro
Closer to either depends on the day<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

I hate to pull my own chain but by your definition I would say Pro was the one that fit the closest execept for the &quot;if you don't kill a big one you consider it a failure&quot;. I am always disappointed if I don't kill a big one but I never consider it a failure. If I have a big one with in bow range I consider it a victory.

Protect your hunting rights, &quot;Spay or neuter a liberal.&quot;