Deer hunting: luck or skill?

Question

You read all of these hunting magazines which go into great detail about hunting positions, odor control, scouting for deer etc.; then you talk to the old timers who get something every year and they tell you it's all luck. Who is more right?

I was not inviting comments on the ethics of deer hunting, an activity pursued my millions of Americans. The comment was rude, uncalled for, and I object to being called by the term mentioned in the post. If someone wants to have an intelligent debate I am happy to have one.

Answer 1

Personally I dont think skill is involved with it at all. All of the items you have listed are things to better your chances only. It remains a fact that most of the people who write articals in the magazines you speak of are not even hunters at all. On top of that, if you were to stick them in an area where they have never been and tell them to find that trophy buck, 99% of them would come home with nothing.

The problem is that like fishing and hunting shows, these people are hunting and fishing on stocked land and waters. Areas that you and me are not allowed to hunt on or be cought fishing in. The Game has been logged for long periods of time and the guide in that area knows that that 8 point is going to be in this area at 2:25pm. I have had the pleasure of doing this one time myself and to be honest, you cant even call it hunting. Basicly you wake up in a lodge and your guide takes you out to the area where this is going to happen period. However much you paid determines how much of a trophy you get. They do this and become great hunters in their own mind, writing articals and making shows as we all sit in awe wondering what they are using for bait and how many times did they grunt before that buck come charging in for a perfect shot.

Keep in mind you hunting for an animal that can smell, hear & see better than you and me. I say see because they pick up on movement which allows them to notice any small move you make. Using cover scents, camo, etc. only allows you to drop their game a few notches, it does not mean you have become a skilled deer asassain. The skill involved in hunting would be the ability to scout the land and find signs that once again only allows you to narrow the search down. Making those screwed up shots to take the buck that is just not willing to come to the mark on the ground where you want to shoot him would be skill. The rest is entirely LUCK !!!!!!!

I have a friend whom I talked into hunting for the first time this year. He went to a management area and set up a stand. He arrived at the stand late that morning as the sun was allready coming up. Climbed up and fired up a cigarette. Five minutes later a 12 point walked by and he shot the deer where I told him to. Keep in mind I have hunted this same area for 2 years and never seen anything close to this deer. I use cover scents and camo, he smokes and wears blue jeans and red tee shirts. Does that sound like Skill to you ?

The answer is simply Luck !!! and I wish you lots of it !

Happy Shooting !

Answer 2

I think if you are after that one big trophy, then probably both luck and skill and maybe all the other things like smell control etc.

I hunt for freezer food. I have got skunked one time in 19 years but not because I am so good. Where we hunt and have land happens to be deer central for Illinois so the presence of deer is great. Trophy sized just as good .

I usually get two tags but I will take whatever nature is willing to offer to me and do so as cleanly as I can. My average sized deer is probably 125-135 pounds. I never use scent covers or keep my hunting clothes outside or use camo paint etc. If I followed all those tips, I may get a bigger deer but since I shoot for food, I usually take the first I can get a clean hit on.

Answer 3

I always say it depends where you are hunting and what are the deer use to. Are they use to the smell of people? I have shot many deer right after smoking a cigarette. A deer around here smells wood stove smoke, I don't believe they know the differences. Other people that I hunt with do the whole odor thing and disagree. They even put their closes outside. We have a lot of deer on our surrounding area So I know their habits. Between my wife and I, we usually harvest at lest 3 or 4 a year. As far as luck It is always luck when you are able to spend time in the woods, and when you harvest a deer even more luck. The one thing is though you have to spend the time in the woods and learn your deer.

Answer 4

A lot of it is luck. Just being in the right place at the right time. You can't make deer go anywhere. It's like the old saying you can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink. You can do everything the books tell you but that doesn't mean a deer with appear. And F!!! all the bow hunters that say it doesn't take skill. With all the gear bow hunters have, hunting with a bow is just as easy. They don't even have to wear that stupid orange. Hunting with rifle would be much easier if we could wear full camo. Tell me a shoot at 125 yards full brush with wind and rain doesn't take skill. At that distance any twitch or screw up will result in you having to change position since you scared all the deer away in a 3 mile radius. If you miss with a bow nobody hears it.

Answer 5

A wise man once said, "Luck travels with those who are prepared." He was right. Experience and education is the best thing to have with you.
The old timers generally know where the deer are hanging out, as they see them during their daily routine. Farmers and ranchers get to travel through thousands of acres while feeding cattle, moving equipment, etc. .

One of the things a lot of people don't realise is, being out in the field, and observing deer's habits, gives you an edge, by giving you the experience to have some intuition on where deer go, and where they are most likely to be. Education and experience works a hell of a lot better than luck. Luck is for beginners.

Answer 6

I think it is a combination of both, but unsure of the proper mix.
The more skill you have the less luck you need. But there always is some luck involved. These things you mention: odor control and scouting; they all help a great deal but luck comes into play when you stumble accross a deer rather than another hunter bagging the deer that could have been yours.

Answer 7

You have to have the skill to hit where you're aiming, make sure of your shot, and the discipline not to shoot without an exact and perfect scenario. This is done to make sure the animal does not suffer, and no arrows or worse, bullets, are flying downrange.

Now, seeing deer is all luck. I've sat in my treestand a zillion times (rattled, grunted, used scent, didn't use scent, etc) and never saw a deer, yet got caught taking a leak (bow too far away) by an 8 pointer on my way back from my stand.

Answer 8

Deer are creatures of habit, and they usually range within a mile of where they were born, that is if they have Food and Cover and water available.. Skill is not Luck, but Luck is Luck...There is Skill involved in Hunting and very little Luck if any..One has to be able to identify Deer signs and Trails and study the area in which you will be Hunting in Deer Season. By doing so you practically are guaranteed to be Successful...Its very important you Scout the areas before season in order to put yourself in the right place at the right time...

Answer 9

Well, for me it's skill when it comes to shooting a deer. But I think it's more luck when you actually see a nice sized buck with a decent rack. Last year the biggest thing I got was an 8-pointer, but the spread on the rack was huge. It was a little old whitetail about 160 lbs. But you don't get lucky every year.

Answer 10

If you work hard at it, scouting, picking out the particular deer you're going to hunt, learning his patterns, and putting yourself in position during the season to get him, there's some of each. But lots of guys just go out there, take a nap in the woods, and happen to wake up with a good one in sight. Take your pick. The older I get, the more tempting the latter approach seems.