am I a lousy hunter? I drive around all day in my SUV, only walk down hill and stay in camp each morning?

Question

cooking breakfast untill 10:00 am needless to say I have never filled any tags...

the way you only walk down hills is you have your other lousy hunter-buddy drive to the hill to pick you up.... this type of hunting worked for years all during 1980's in Utah, but we moved to Arizona and I guess you realy have to hunt here. May be this year is my year....

as far as the safty goes, I havent taken the gun out of the safe sence I posted the question.. the gun is my brothers...I saved it from a pawn shop because my father gave it to him. (just say "no", I all have to say about that) I use a marlin 336 in 35 remington. and mini-14 for smaller game. I feel better about my tactics now, I have never regreted a day hunting.

Answer 1

My family has hunting camp every year in Colorado. Some people hunt hard up before dawn everyday and out regardless of the weather. Others stick to upland bird hunting and go out when everything is cozy and the sun is out. Still others stay at the cabin, some just play horse shoes and enjoy the company and family. But we all like being at camp and that is what really matters.

Answer 2

Do you still walk down hill with your model 70 loaded and with a broken safety?

If you did fill a tag you would be doing the herd a great service by taking the animal with the poorest instinct/most vulnerable/worst DNA to pass on.......


but like said before hunting is not killing,but is about the outdoor experience, and if your happy with your experience, so then you are a good hunter

Answer 3

Just a few questions.
Do you enjoy your self?
Do you consider your time wasted?
Do you regret not felling a tag.

Hunting is not about filling a tag, or killing or even cheap meat. (especially the way I hunt, anything new and shiny, I buy it)

It’s about the personal experience, no traffic, no smog, no loud music, no annoying people ( when I was hunting public land I hiked any where from 1 to 2 miles back from the nearest road)

Last Sunday I got up at 3:30 AM and went to look over a new hunting lease in the Kiamichi Mountains ( they call them mountains, I call them Dam* fine hills ).
I spent all day on my 4 wheeler getting a lay of the land and what the deer/turkey/wild pig were up to.
About 9:00 AM I went up the trail to the top of the “Mountain” that is part of our lease.
When I turned off the 4 wheeler I reached in to my saddle bags to get my 35 MM camera
From up there I could see the other Mountains in this range and all the ravines and valleys around draped in a ground fog that the sun had yet to evaporate.
I paid little attention to the medium sized buck with hanging velvet that appeared 70 to 75 yards to right, I just keep taking pictures of the view ( I thank the buck was thanking what is this fool doing).

The day started with only 1 ½ hours sleep from the night before and the heat that day was 103 and I got one nice sun burn and covered in dirt, I got home in time to take a shower and get 5 hours sleep before having to go to work the next day.

In my book that was one fine day in the woods prepping for the up coming hunting season.
Over the next couple weeks I have to go back for more detailed scouting but that’s part of fun ( I mean hunting).

Last question.
Now are you a lousy hunter or just hunting your own way?


The Sunburned D58 ( and going to bed at 6:00PM because I am still dragging)
See you all tomorrow


Hunting with Rifle, Pistol, Muzzle loader and Bow for over 3 decades.
Reloading Rifle, Pistol and shotgun for over 3 decades.

Answer 4

If it works, it works. I started out as a lousy hunter, mainly because I was not dedicated to the hunt.

I'm still not very dedicated to the hunt. I usually shoot the first good sized buck.

If I was a trophy hunter, everything would be different.

Some people I know are major dedicated hunters, they would wait 12 hours just to get the 10 seconds of time where a clear shot is possible. That's not most hunters, though.

Don't worry about it, if you enjoy the hunt, that's great.

Answer 5

There's no need to be obsessive. I've occasionally caught an old buck getting up for a sip of water at noon using the same tactics. It may not be the most efficient way to hunt, but if it suits you, go right ahead. Of course, pre-season scouting is important, so you should in the next few weeks get a designated driver and a case of beer in your SUV and start to work.

Answer 6

If you are enjoying yourself and dont mind the money that you put out for the tags then who cares? I have a feeling that if you are really trying to get anything then you may need to change you tactics it is obviously not working for you in Arizona. Sounds like you would always be welcome in my camp to cook!

Answer 7

Heck, no! I'd love to have hundreds more like you in the woods while I'm there. That way, someone will be making the deer move around during the middle of the day.

Answer 8

No Your not. In fact Your not even a hunter. Sounds like Your just a hunting camp cook.

Answer 9

The guys at my deer camp are in there stands an hour before first light,,,,I sleep in and go out when I feel like it,,,,I shoot just as many deer as they do. I just hunt differently.

Answer 10

Yes