I agree with the 50/50. I always say that sometimes it is better to be lucky that good.

Got a story to that effect. Just last week a neighbor boy and his brother were rifle hunting. They were walking and saw a doe. Both shot and missed. 30 min later they were walking near some brush and he grunted and tickled a rattle bag. They heard crashing and out popped a big buck. The 14 yr old boy killed the buck with one shot. It was only 160 lb dressed 16 pt that rough grossed BC 165. Better to be lucky than good.

I have read that 20% of hunters account for 80% of the kill...does that mean that the 20% is simply luckier?? Not in my opinion.

You will always hear about somebody on their first hunt who stumbles onto the big critters, that is luck...simply being in the right place at the right time. You have all heard the old saying, "even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in awhile".

However, I do not believe you can attribute being consistently successful to luck. Is that big buck stepping out of the brush for a 20 yard broadside luck?? Or maybe the boss tom flying down right to your set-up?? I guess if you are superstitious it is, but in most circumstances you wouldn't be in that position if you hadn't done your homework. I do feel that there is a certain element of luck that goes into some hunts, but often it is facilitated by doing the right things to begin with...then you can look at it as a reward for hard work.

Doing your homework, studying your quarry, scouting and practicing with your weapon of choice will put more meat in the freezer than a rabbits foot.

Pat in WV

I have to agree with Tazman. 75% skill and 25% luck. I believe the more skilled you are the luckier you will become. This may sound funny but believe me it is true most of the time. Yes, there are those that have never been hunting before and go the first time and don't even know what a track looks like or what a scrape or rub is but they sit down the first hour and harvest an animal. But, I have found over the years the more knowledge that I gain the so called luckier I get. Being in the right place at the right time certainly helps but knowing where that right place is on your property or the place that you hunt dramatically increases your odds. Just my .02 cents worth.

I agree with Tazman. Luck comes with skill. The phrase often used when somebody puts a big buck down is "I was in the right place at the right time" Often it is seen as luck...but if you know what the right place is, that is skill and it will maximize your chances at harvesting. They sort of work hand in hand...but think the skill portion over time will out produce plain old luck any day. I however like to have both...sometimes it is just nice to be good...but great to be lucky. However of all my animals i would say less than 20% were luck basis only...the rest was knowing where and when to get lucky.

Thanks for writing on my question and I do belevie that hunting is more skill than luck. 69% skill and 21% luck

while it does take luck it does take skill, at least to be sucessful. if it was all luck then why do older(more expireicened) hunters get more and better deer on average than a brand new hunter. by that simple line alone we must be able to say its not pure luck.
i do belive though that the more skill you have the more luck you will have

propmahn
save the world, reload your brass

I'll take a skillful hunter over a lucky hunter anyday . It does seen the same hunters shoot most of the deer year after year .

Anyone can get lucky now and then, but in order to consistantly (year after year) find, hunt and kill big bucks (and any buck in NH), you need MANY skills, practice Patience and dedication. It can get extremely cold, windy and/or wet outside, and if you do not stick it out and put the time in, you will not be successful. There is often many hours of sitting in one spot (or tree stand), waiting for action. BTW: it is a very FUN and challenging sport that is not for the cushy people. Thank you and good night.<font face='Times New Roman'></font id='Times New Roman'>

For me, I'd have to say 90% skill 10% luck. I spend 90% of my time scouting & watching the deer & 10% of the time hunting them. I'm not spending the day freezing hoping to get lucky!! I don't hunt during the slug season (I'm a diehard bowhunter) but there are guys &quot;slug hunters&quot; who ask me where the big bucks are at? There are 3+ B&C bucks in my area (one's an 8 pointer) & I can tell you at any given time where they are, & the only way any of them will kill one is to crawl on their belly about a half mile.. unless they get &quot;LUCKY!!&quot;<img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle> these deer didn't get that big from being dumb!!

Skill and experience has a lot to do with it, but without a little luck on your side it would be 100 times harder.