Hunter Skills

We agree that most hunters advance through stages.

The Shooter Stage: can be somewhat bloodthirsty, but it should only last a few seasons until a new hunter feels he has proven himself. We sometimes revert back to this stage briefly when we get a new gun, bow, or gadget.

Limiting Out Stage: This stage's goal is often to bag more, or limit out. A more important stage for small game and bird hunters. Some deer hunters may be happy with getting one or two deer each season.

The Trophy Stage: For deer hunting this is the big one; pun intended. From our very first hunt till our last we want a good buck. Rare is the hunter who will choose a doe, or a young buck, over a trophy buck.

As our hunter skills improve we naturally seek new challenges. Most continue to go after bigger trophies. Most of us will never completely leave the trophy stage. But! We don't need to be obsessed with it.

On the TV show "The Methods Stage", was the final stage. To keep it simple we could call it that. But there are more hunter skills to talk about.

What they call the "Methods Stage" we'll call:"The Tool Stage" . A big change for the hunter, this is where the focus begins to shift from the trophy to the hunting. Bow hunting deer, or using a more limited firearm.

The change can come for different reasons, but it's often a hunter who wants to extend his season. The hunter may or may not be thinking that much about the new challenge involved.

"The Tool Stage" hunter's skills are good, and will get better as he hunts with more limited tools. He still wants a trophy, but by switching tools, from a rifle to a muzzleloader, a handgun, or especially shooting a bow; the challenge increases. He will probably be happier about taking a more ordinary deer with these new challenges.

What 'we' call the "The Methods Stage": may be less common. It is where a hunter begins to experiment more. He has likely tried: calling, using scents, lures... He may leave the blind or stand; he may try stalking or still hunting more... He may begin to simplify what he once did, to rely less on technology, and more on his own skill. He may become a more authentic hunter.

When a new hunter we may have given little thought to the spirit of the animal. But with experience we may be more thoughtful, more selective, and less aggressive. We may not feel as strong a need to prove something. We may become more comfortable with our skill; we now know what we can do.

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