Garandimal
member
Still-huntin' in the woods - is like fishing w/o a fish-finder.
There is no substitute for skill.
GR
The “Average” Hunter..
- Thread starter BigBore44
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Still-huntin' in the woods - is like fishing w/o a fish-finder.
There is no substitute for skill.
GR
stillquietvoice
Contributing Member
What is long range, it's different for everyone. I've shot out to 550 yds, but don't do it enough to hit 95 % of the time on an 8 in vital zone. I do practice at 300 meters and shoot moa or better most of the time, but most of my hunting, shots on game are 75 yds or less.
I'm with young's have trouble in real mountainous terrain as well, have to get in much better cardio shape.
Had one of those land 30 yds from me a couple years ago, watched it for 20 minutes.
I don't know if I'm an average hunter, but have still hunted into a lot of animals since I started, gotten myself into range to take game with a black powder revolver, 15 yds, taken one with a 60 flintlock at 109 yds. Come face to face with a 7 point at less than 10 yds and he only tried off a few yds when I walked past him.
Let other animals walk away. I've spent time in cornfield hedge rows looking at 500 yd possible shots and spent some time in tree stands, 3 times only, I prefer to be on the ground, moving, or using natural blinds.
9x56MS
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caribou
Member
In my village, I am an average Hunter.
I personally know some exceptionaly GOOD Hunters.
I personally know some exceptionaly GOOD Hunters.
Kano383
Member
What surprised me when I started knowing more and more of them "average hunters", was that so many did not really know how to hunt, or rather that so few were actually hunters, with the basic knowledge and - most important - the instinct, the drive. And quite a few didn't really know how to shoot...
Talking of "drive", I have a niece who's vegetarian. Not vegan, vegetarian, and for no real philosophical reason other than she doesn't like the taste of meat, especially supermarket meat. When she was 24, she came to visit and we spent a few days in the bush. I gave her a .22 and set her on some guinea fowls... If someone has ever seen a good breed hunting dog on his first trip in the wild, that's exactly what happened. She took to it like if she had been born for that, she understood cover, and wind, and shadows, and stealth, and she loved every bit of it - and ate the fowls.
She's a hunter. Not an average hunter, she doesn't even go hunting at all, but a real hunter: she's got it inside.
Talking of "drive", I have a niece who's vegetarian. Not vegan, vegetarian, and for no real philosophical reason other than she doesn't like the taste of meat, especially supermarket meat. When she was 24, she came to visit and we spent a few days in the bush. I gave her a .22 and set her on some guinea fowls... If someone has ever seen a good breed hunting dog on his first trip in the wild, that's exactly what happened. She took to it like if she had been born for that, she understood cover, and wind, and shadows, and stealth, and she loved every bit of it - and ate the fowls.
She's a hunter. Not an average hunter, she doesn't even go hunting at all, but a real hunter: she's got it inside.
9x56MS
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Some are born to it. For most it comes hard unless they have a good mentor. As for shooting it amazes me the dismal lack of shooting skills in hunters today. I was able to teach my son to hunt but for shooting I signed him up for my rod and gun clubs 22 rifle team when he was 10. The instructor was a retired USMC gunnery Sargent. The boy shoots better than me now. Riflery is fairly easy to fix. Hunting skils take much longer.
I consider my self to be average, maybe I am, maybe I'm not. I don't know. I killed my first doe at 320y last year, the second at 92y. One shot a piece. I own one hunting rifle, my Winchester Model 70 in 375 H&H. Last year I used a Winchester Model 70 in 308 that was loaned to me by H&Hhunter.
I own little gear, but what I have is quality. Even before I became a hunter, I was an outdoorsman and understand the importance of staying warm and dry. Everything I carry has a purpose.
At 41 I doubt I'll ever get the chance to hunt caribou on the north slope of Alaska. But I'll happily cruise the open prairie of NE for deer or the mountains of CO for elk. Who cares what's average or what someone else does or uses, I enjoy being outdoors with a great friend. Meat in the freezer is a happy bonus.
I own little gear, but what I have is quality. Even before I became a hunter, I was an outdoorsman and understand the importance of staying warm and dry. Everything I carry has a purpose.
At 41 I doubt I'll ever get the chance to hunt caribou on the north slope of Alaska. But I'll happily cruise the open prairie of NE for deer or the mountains of CO for elk. Who cares what's average or what someone else does or uses, I enjoy being outdoors with a great friend. Meat in the freezer is a happy bonus.
Definition of average as an “adjective” is “typical; common; ordinary:”
So by definition there are going to be SO many different types as there are areas in which we hunt.
I was 53(?) when I took my first deer (Doe) my first year of hunting. So I would say I’m definitely not average, as most in my area, CNY, start hunting in their early teens.
But, I think if you put a bunch of hunters in a room with me now, seven years later, I would not stand out.
And, I feel in some cases I may even be above average compared to some who’ve been hunting most of their lives because I’ve tried to become a “student of the game”.
Now, were I to compare myself to someone from out west, say Colorado or Montana, I would not consider myself average at all because of how different it is there from where I’m at.
So by definition there are going to be SO many different types as there are areas in which we hunt.
I was 53(?) when I took my first deer (Doe) my first year of hunting. So I would say I’m definitely not average, as most in my area, CNY, start hunting in their early teens.
But, I think if you put a bunch of hunters in a room with me now, seven years later, I would not stand out.
And, I feel in some cases I may even be above average compared to some who’ve been hunting most of their lives because I’ve tried to become a “student of the game”.
Now, were I to compare myself to someone from out west, say Colorado or Montana, I would not consider myself average at all because of how different it is there from where I’m at.
Choctaw
Member
If you hunt and do so legally then you're a hunter, period. You don't approve of my hunting methods, firearms or skills? Well, stay off my property and we'll both be content.
T.R.
Member
Here in Florida, my impression of an average hunter is a person who seeks to down a wild pig with whatever rifle suits his fancy.
TR
TR
But does he have any particular skills? Does he excel at anything? Does he lack in anything?
Shanghai McCoy
Member
Garandimal
member
Hangingrock
Member
I am a property owner whom up to last hunting season allowed deer hunting on my property by permission only. What got to be problematic were the incidents of hunters on the property that did not have my permission to hunt on the property. Thus we decided to post the property with no trespassing signage. When the property was open for deer hunting I never charged a fee for hunting. I've been approached by several individual's abut leasing the property for hunting but I'm reluctant to do that.
T.R.
Member
Many wild hog hunters here in Florida use bait and hunt from a climbing tree stand. All sorts of rifles are used but I've observed an increase in AR type of rifles. I prefer spot and stalk hunting. My method is to slowly walk along a stream where hog sign is abundant. I use Bushnell 10X binoculars to scan the area ahead and often locate hogs before they're aware of my presence. My rifle is quite light and easy to manage. It's a Mossberg 464 featuring 16 inch barrel and fitted with a Simons 2-7X scope. 30-30 is a keeper!
TR
TR
9x56MS
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All you need is your gun some shells a sharp knife and a way to carry your game. Everything else is extraneous BS. Maybe a call or 2 depending on what you are hunting.
Maybe some clothes also.
9x56MS
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.308 Norma
Member
Bare hunting???Hunting can be painful without clothes
I've heard tell of more than one critter back home getting offed buy an older guy in only his tightie whities.....at least a couple of the stories I knew the shooter, and I believe they happened.Bare hunting???
Most of the folks I hunt with carry water, range finder and/or binos, hopefully knives (cause I forget mine all the time), and that's about it....I used to keep a 6x6-8 tarp folded up between the bag and the frame of my ALICE pack, but my badlands doesn't support that as easily....I DO carry a little umbrella now tho because it fits perfectly in the quiver pocket of the pack. It can also carry my tripod.
For hunting out here that's really all you need.
GPS is nice, especially in the forest, but if you have looked at the overheads, and carry a cell phone, then you don't really need to worry about getting lost.
Snacks are nice, but again we don't usually stay out overnight, and foods only an hour or two away from wherever you left your vehicle.
inclement weather can be annoying, but your not going to freeze to death (normally).
hunting elsewhere I think the list of gear at least available, if not actively carried, would probably be a lot higher.
You should consider leasing to a small group or a couple of hunters in a small club. The Hunting Lease pays my annual property taxes, and these
hunters insure the lease, against hunting accidents, police the land of stray hunters and trespassers, and keep an eye out for the welfare of the land, in general. If you go year to year, you are protected, inasmuch as if the group leasing this year screws the pooch, you can always rent to somebody else, next year.
Howland937
Member
For there to be an "average hunter", there must be a group both above and below average. Problem with the description of average by some folks here is that it would lead most to believe that the actual level is quite low. If average is that low, it can only mean one of two things:
The number of below average hunters is a lot bigger than the above, OR those who are above average aren't as above average as they believe.
Very similar to the portrayal of gun owners in general.
The number of below average hunters is a lot bigger than the above, OR those who are above average aren't as above average as they believe.
Very similar to the portrayal of gun owners in general.
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