How do you rate yourself?
 

I know that I come to this board because there is a wealth of information at my fingertips. I like to help the newbies and get some tips from the pros. I'm fairly confident in the knowledge I have, but not so much that I'm too proud to take advice from others. I just wondered how everyone else feels about their own expertise. To make things easier, use the following general rating system and then add details about yourself.

Pro- You and your bow work together as a well oiled machine. Your arrows fly as if computer tuned with razor sharp precision and rarely miss their mark. Your equipment has been gone over and tuned like a piano before a big concert at Carnegie Hall. You walk into the woods and can almost instinctively find sign and if you do not take what is a trophy for your area every season, you consider it a failure.

Expert-Your bow is well tuned and you hit the mark just about every time. You have every confidence that your gear will perform flawlessly as long as you do the same. You know the woods you hunt like the back of your hand and feel that you will have an opportunity for a shot at a deer each time you go on stand.

Above Average-Your bow is tuned, but could use some micro tuning. You shoot very well and your gear follows your lead. You have scouted out your area and have a lot of good stand sites picked out and know that your favorites are likely to produce action.

Hunter-You sight your bow in and put on your broadheads then make the adjustments needed to get your gear ready for hunting. You have excellent woodmanship and this is exemplified by your ability to get within range to take deer with a bow. You are not an expert archer, but an excellent hunter.

Novice-You are new to the sport of archery/bowhunting and are soaking up as much as you can. You practice religiously with your gear in preparation for the hunt. You know the woods and trails that you will hunt and eagerly anticipate the upcoming season. (Note: you don't have to be a first year hunter to be a novice. I would say I was a novice my first 3 seasons of bowhunting.)

Woodsman-Your archery skills are adequate for hunting. You practice to make sure you can cleanly take game and have no interest in making a 60 yard shot on a bullseye. You know your hunting spots like you know your own home. You could practically name the deer you hunt and WILL have plent of meat in the freezer come this winter.

Weekend Warrior-You'll pull your bow out of the garage right around now or even in the coming weekends. You'll shoot it to make sure that everything still works. Come opening day you'll be sitting in the same old trusty stand that you've taken deer from for years, but you haven't seen since last hunting season.

I only listed positive attributes for each rating because I want everyone to be honest and there is no shame in any of these. We are all BOWHUNTERS and that is why we are all on this forum and that in itself brings us together. With that being said I would consider myself Above Average right now and working to become an Expert. Be honest this is just for fun.<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

RE: How do you rate yourself?
 

You missed my category.

Ol' Fart: Made a stop off at Pro level for some years (except I never considered not getting a deer a failure as long as I LEARNED something), but now it's great just to be able to get out and totter around in the woods. :)

RE: How do you rate yourself?
 

I would say I'm a above-average hunter!

RE: How do you rate yourself?
 

Arthur, actually a category like what you said crossed my mind (I wasn't going to call it Ol' Fart) but I didn't want anyone to get offended and think I was incinuating they were past their prime. Thanks for sticking that in there.

RE: How do you rate yourself?
 

I feel as if I've definitely dropped a few categories now that I have recently taken up Bowhunting (2nd year) and it has definitely become my passion over gunning (12yrs). I have to say that I am only a &quot;Novice&quot; and this is primarily due to lack of time in the sport, not attitude and passion. I do however eagerly await my eventual rise in status.

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

RE: How do you rate yourself?
 

In hunting terms- doing my best fighting the slobs on public land with no access to good private land. I must spend too much time shooting and not enough beating the bushes for permission. I have to capitalize on my oppurtunities which are few. Success went up tremendously since I began bowhunting. (I hate to put a label on me or my abilities and scoring period is a success for me).

My feelings about myself as an archer- I refer to myself as a student of archery and take something from everyone here and you'll rarely catch me argueing a point; I still have so much to learn and everyones opinion is valid to me. I am coming along nicely and am fitting right in on the local 3D circuit and having a blast. Actually, the time of my life. I hate to sound like I'm bragging but I can shoot with the big boys, and I'm still actually a begginner with a way to go. I owe much of that to places like this (this being my main one) and people like you. My technical understanding is far above average IMO, as is about everyone's here; for the most part. I'm very passionate about it ya see<img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>.

What a great bunch of guys. And I love sitting back and watching the pissing matches (everyone's opinion is valid ya know). Archers are just that way I've found, FTMP.

-Chief

Edited by - ChiefHeadhunter on 08/21/2002 11:41:44

RE: How do you rate yourself?
 

This could be a loaded topic if my wife gets on here. I would consider myself in the above-average catagory by your hunting rankings. Still have alot to learn although I have been hunting for a long time and bow hunting for 5 years. I rank higher in the hunting area than the bow part of it.

&quot; I do not hunt to kill,but rather kill to have hunted&quot;(quote)

RE: How do you rate yourself?
 

Archery knowledge, shooting ability and hunting ability can be so completely unreleated that I wouldn't know where to begin.

How 'bout, aspiring to be better at them all, practicing a lot but making only minor progress. Trying to learn more all the time, but my memory is fighting it all the way. And a better hunter in my own mind, than I probably really am.<img src=icon_smile_approve.gif border=0 align=middle>

RE: How do you rate yourself?
 

I'd rate myself as above average . . . or slightly higher. I have friends and acquaintences who have hunted for scores of years that fit your decription of weekend warrior--they pull the bow out, shoot 5 or 6 arrows at a target, and then go hunting. <img src=icon_smile_sad.gif border=0 align=middle> They miss/wound a lot of deer.

Today's small bucks are tomorrow's trophies.

RE: How do you rate yourself?
 

i would say i am an above average hunter...i shoot all year long and i hunt all the time

RE: How do you rate yourself?
 

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.

RE: How do you rate yourself?
 

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>

RE: How do you rate yourself?
 

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

RE: How do you rate yourself?
 

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!

RE: How do you rate yourself?
 

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;

RE: How do you rate yourself?
 

<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;

RE: How do you rate yourself?
 

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

RE: How do you rate yourself?
 

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

RE: How do you rate yourself?
 

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>

RE: How do you rate yourself?
 

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;

RE: How do you rate yourself?
 

I think Im gonna be a strong canidate for &quot;Rookie of the Year&quot;... <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

RE: How do you rate yourself?
 

IM GOING TO SAY EXPERT, AS TO YOUR RATINGS. THE WAY I LOOK AT IS THAT OUT OF 10 DAYS YOUR ONLY GONNA SEE WHAT U CAME TO SEE 1 TIME OUT OF 10 SO THE DAY U STAY HOME OR MISS A HUNT COULD BE THE DAY U MISSED WHAT U CAME TO SEE SO U HAVE TO GO ANOTHER 10 DAYS. U CANT GET EM SITTING ON THE COUCH, AND ITS ALWAYS A LEARNING PROCESS.

RE: How do you rate yourself?
 

I would say Expert. I think we all learn with every year of experience and I have been hunting for 21 years. I think that I take archery hunting very seriously. Probably too serious!! I prepare for the season all year long. I do have a job that allows me to take three different weeks of vacation during hunting season and I have access to private lands which really helps alot. I would not consider myself an expert at shooting record book class deer but that is mainly due to the area that I hunt. I am very consistant at shooting a decent buck every year.

RE: How do you rate yourself?
 

Some where between above average and hunter.

Hunt the thickets

[Deleted]
 

[Deleted by Admins]

RE: How do you rate yourself?
 

I would rate myself above average. I have been competive archer and hunter for 25 yrs and I always willing to learn more everyear. I know when it comes to hunting, I learn something evertime I go to woods and animals never fail to amaze me.
I have several animals mounted and walls full of trophies from competion. I still shoot archery all year and compete on weekends. Im a addict.

RE: How do you rate yourself?
 

Good thread, its interesting to see how everybody rates themselves. I think its hard to rate with that system, because a trophy to me may not be a trophy to someone else and vice versa. If I had to pick one I would say Above Average. My bow is tuned, and I know where its gonna hit, and know what shots I can make. I do not score everytime I go out, but I attribute that more to external factors as opposed to me making a mistake. If I could invent a category it would be:

Avid Bowhunter: Bow is tuned with broadheads, and you shoot very often. You know your quarry well, as well as your limitations. You eat, sleep, and breathe bowhunting. You are anal about stand placement, shooting lanes, scent reduction, calling, etc. However, you never claimed to know it all, always jump at a chance to learn something, and strive to teach as well.

RE: How do you rate yourself?
 

Somewhere between expert and above average. I lean towards expert with my archery skill but above average with my hunting skill but getting much better at it though.

Brian

RE: How do you rate yourself?
 

Bowhunting for 25 years, learn something new everytime I hit the woods, I would say still a novice. Just a baby on this Forum.

RE: How do you rate yourself?
 

I would like to think of myself as a Novis. I am starting my second year of bowhunting in a few weeks. I dont have the time to put into it like I would like. That would be 24-7. I think that just being in the woods can be reword enough. However I still havent harvested my first deer with a bow. As long as I am able I will be out there trying.

RE: How do you rate yourself?
 

Well,when it comes to archery I would have to say pro on some days but usually expert.Hunting,I would be considered above average.I can easily get a deer just about anywhere I hunt but that big one still aludes me.I do let a lot walk each year and have seen and passed on some not so good shots on 160 class deer.I have seen much larger where I hunted but now I have to start over.Lost my hunting ground.I have more but am not familiar with the deer and their patterns.<img src=icon_smile_dissapprove.gif border=0 align=middle>

RE: How do you rate yourself?
 

well if i got to shoot more i would rate my self highter like i did in the last 8 years but right now i have to say hunter because i don't get the time like i did in the past 8 years ,,,



nybowhunter

RE: How do you rate yourself?
 

if i had more time like i did in the last 8 years i'd say higher but sents i don't i say hunter ...




nybowhunter

RE: How do you rate yourself?
 

A couple years ago, I'd say Expert. I knew every piece I land I bowhunted as good as my backyard, and I practiced almost every day. Even got bumped out of bowhunter category and up to Pro category at a few 3-D shoots. But now that I'm in college, I don't get the practicing in as much as I need to. Even though I'll still have good shots, they're not always fist sized groups at 40yards anymore, more like lung sized groups. But I still know the land as good and know the products I use a lot better and use some better products for bowhunting that I didn't used to use. So I'd say I'm a strong &quot;above average hunter&quot;. College and college life have bad influences, especially when it comes to hunting.It all just takes too much time from it.<img src=icon_smile_dissapprove.gif border=0 align=middle>
Visit My Hunting Page

Edited by - kshunter on 08/22/2002 01:35:23

RE: How do you rate yourself?
 

This is tough because I took up bowhunting because it adds a level of difficulty to the mix. Just because you get close dosn'r mean you harvest an animal and that dosn't mean it was unsucessful!
I hunt mostly public land and because of the changing conditions and pressure I can't call myself an expert due to the &quot;.. know the woods like the back of your hand...&quot; Above Average due to &quot;... know your favorites...&quot; so I guess I am a lowly hunter.

I ground hunt mostly also because of public land and that makes things tougher yet.

Most important to me is just being in the woods watching wildlife.... If I bring something home.... Wonderful .... If not .... Wonderful!





Greg

&quot;Getting close to the game is the joy of Bowhunting for me, the harvest is a bonus.&quot;

Live 15 ft Python after eating a small Antelope!

RE: How do you rate yourself?
 

I am finding it interesting seeing how people rate themselves. I have seen a number of people rate themselves below what they probably are (modesty is a good thing) and some are rated around where I expected, and others have overrated themselves IMO. Like I said before the categories are just a jumping point to be expanded on.
kshunter, I know what you mean about college. Girls, beer, parties definitely take a toll on hunting time. When I was in school, opening day of archery was after bid acceptance night at my fraternity the year I pledged. I woke up an hour and a half after passing out reaking of booze and headed for the woods. Luckily there was a downpour so I got to go back to bed.
Greg, there is nothing lowly about being a hunter. Bowhunting isn't about being crazy about getting perfect arrow flight. Some guys are so fanatical about it that they forget that they need to scout so they can see a deer to shoot that finely tuned arrow at. Pros are guys that not only have their equipment tuned perfectly, but have their shooting form perfected, have excellent property to hunt with trophy potential, know every deer on that property, and know every trail that the deer use. People like that aren't common and they usually have jobs that afford them the opportunity to spend more time than the normal guy working on their equipment and scouting.
Nobody should be ashamed of any of the rankings.

RE: How do you rate yourself?
 

As far as knowing and understanding my equipment I would rate myself as significantly above average.

As a shooter I would consider myself slightly above average but not by much.

As a hunter I think of myself as average. I enjoy scouting starting in July but I don't go out of my way to locate one big buck to hunt exclusively. I have at least one stand location in each of the sections of woods that I hunt and yet I am always willing to look for new locations.

All in all I have fun with both friends and family while being moderately successful in harvesting at least one or two deer each year.


















Edited by - PABowhntr on 08/22/2002 11:44:23

RE: How do you rate yourself?
 

I would rate myself as an above average archer, but a novice when it comes to hunting. I'm fairly handy with a bow and with today's modern equipment, accuracy and stealth are easily achieved. The aspects of hunting that I am not experienced in is deer habits, seasons changes, and going to a location I haven't hunted before and being able to predict the best location, simply by watching and listening. These are the skills I need to work on, but couldn't think of anything more enjoyable.

RE: How do you rate yourself?
 

I would also rate myself as an above average hunter/archer.

If guns kill people...

Pencils cause spelling errors...
Cars cause people to drive drunk...
And spoons made Rosie O'Donnell fat.

RE: How do you rate yourself?
 

Above average/expert archer, bow tuner. Average hunter.