[timetohunt]

Something i am always interested in hearing from other hunters is how they define themselves as a hunter. This can be a favorite species, season, or any other way to divide hunting activities. To start this thread out, I'll give my take. I would define myself as a Bowhunter. I started out hunting deer with a bow and cant get enough of it. I love the extra challebges that go along with it, the quietness of the woods, and having the first chance at all the deer in the woods. I haven't yet killed the big one as my biggest buck was a 3 pointer taken last year at 2 yards. One of my deer seaon goals is to harvest a deer with a bow, rifle/shotgun, and muzzleloader. I've missed one leg the past 3 years. I hope many more of you post your stories here!

 

[on_the_fly]

What defines me as a Hunter, I belive it is the knowlage of knowing that I'll never know every thing about hunting, but in my persute of becoming a better outdoors man haveing enough commond sence to do a little resurch first to help learn. that is why I like this site and a few others. not only do I learn but sometimes I am able to help someone else learn. ( althow I seem to be the one doing most of the learning lol)

as far as my hunting, I use to be a run and gun kinda guy. shoot first deer seen and try to fill tags during early gun and be done. as the years have gone by for me now I like to tag one with each, my bow, rifle, crossbow, and black powder. I belive I enjoy just being in the woods more than anything. now that my son is 10 and he is pumped about getting his first deer with his bow. I will probable spend most of my deer seasson trying to help him out on that.

 

[hunt NH]

i gess what defines me is that if i cant get a clean kill, i dont want to take the shot. i feel that if im going to take the deers life i owe it to the deer to be as humaine as possible. i spend hours and hours at the rainge to enshure acouracy. then when im out in the woods if i cant get a good voew of the kill zone i wont even think about taking the shot.

 

[wmi]

I am an outdoorsman. Hunting and fishing is what I do. I enjoy teaching and helping others raise the bar as they progress up the ladder to become a more successful deer hunter. As a deer hunter I am a trophy/mature buck hunter. The quest to locate, pattern, and close the deal on the biggest and wiliest buck I can find. One on one his instincts against mine is what drives me. Each one different, each one with a thousand pieces to his puzzle. Man, I love this game of cat and mouse.

 

[guppy11]

I define myself simply as a hunter. Big game(deer, elk, and antelope) is my favorite, but I hunt doves, pheasant, quail, varmits and rabbits. I am the type of person who likes to do something different all the time. Started muzzleloading last year and hope to start archery this year. Just enjoy the chase. I use to think the kill defined the hunt but like most others as we mature we understand the chase is really what makes the hunt enjoyable.

 

[joel the signman]

i consider myself more of an OUTDOORSMAN rather than HUNTER.I enjoy all things outdoors,hunting,fishing,hiking,camping,wildlife observation,basicly just being outdoors in the wild.

 

[buckfever]

I would have to also go with being an outdoorsman. My thrill is the chase as well. I get alot out of the fact that if we did not have a grocery store I could still survive on fish and other wild game. I like the old school way of life. The slowed down pace. Making it on your own without help from anyone.

 

[Hunting Man]

I consider myself extreemely lucky. The man upstairs instilled in me the ability to fully appreciate Nature's glorius wonderment and with-in those desires I have been able to share the great outdoors with many really good friends and family members over the years. I also, in my youth, thought that a filled tag was the measurement of success, boy was I wrong. I would consider my outdoor life to be more like a water painting having some details but mostly a lot of faded edges (memories). I take more pride chasing a buck around the mountain playing chess on his table in his backyard than anything else. I'm not a trophy man per se as I still will fill a doe tag for freezer meat. I would rate my hunting priorities as Bow #1, flintlock hunting #2, then rifle/shotgun last. Fully appreciating Nature and taking a moment to take it all in can be the greatest rush ever, that's where I'm at today in my evolution. I'll never get enough sun rises, mountain streams, forrests, and sun sets to fullfill my wants, however, like many of you I've gotten my share. I have always said Nature and the great outdoors is God's greatest acheivement!

 

[timberghost]

I'll never get enough sun rises, mountain streams, forrests, and sun sets to fullfill my wants, however, like many of you I've gotten my share. I have always said Nature and the great outdoors is God's greatest acheivement!

HM you hit that one right out of the park. I couldn't have said that any better and that's exactly the way I view hunting. Heck I may not even consider myself a real hunter just somebody there to be able to take game if it happened to walk by me.

 

[critter gitter]

I hunt just about everything in my State from deer to bear ducks to turkey

 

[Slickhead Stalker RN]

I guess what defines me as a hunter is always learning from my mistakes and trying to be the safest hunter that I can. My number one mistake is rushing the shot. I always miss a close up shot before a long shot it seems because I get excited and rush. If I can remember B.R.A.S. (breathe relax aim squeeze), good things happen.

Aside from that I just like being outside and hitting the stand by myself. The days that I don't even take a shot are some of the days that I learn the most.

 

[Doe]

What defines me as a hunter is that i can never get sick of being out in the woods waiting for the right moment to come. The day i dont get excited to be out in the woods hunting is the day i quit! I like how no matter how old you are you will never really know what works and where to go. Deer move and your not guarenteed to get a deer every day out there. You may know tricks and what usually works but every day, every minute is different from the last. Some people have great luck and know what works for them, but i love not knowing what will walk up on me next or what new moment i will experiance and remember it for the rest of my life.

 

[tchunter_va]

what defines me as a hunter

first of all i love the outdoors hunting,fishing,camping,boating etc but i love deer hunting with my muzzleloader and i want to go elk hunting with it

 

[Guest]

I think it, a definition, can be different from each hunter. Being a hunter from the time i can remember its just who i am. my wife says she's going to bury me in camo and with a rifle. i tell her she's being a bit presumptuous. grin

 

[youngblood]

Great question, tough to answer. I believe the good lord installed into all of us the ability and gifts needed to provide for our families. Though in todays age, many have lost sight of what we have been given, and without use the instincts fade. What makes me a hunter? The urge to provide, the need to succeed, and a genuine desire to appreciate all that was created in this world for us to enjoy.

 

[tnrebelguitarist]

Bowhunter

I have to say that I am above all else a Bowhunter. I love the fact that I am participating in something that has been done for millions of years. I love the extra challenge of having to get close to outsmart that big ol buck.

Also, I believe being part of the world and enjoying it is the meaning of life. You see things people pass by every day. You learn that the animals you hunt have an intelligence, they have a personality, and it is just neat to realize that life has soooooo many forms. Technology is something we have made for us to enjoy, but (for me at least) nature (mountains, valleys, streams, rivers, wildlife, etc) is what God made for us and wants us to be a part of and enjoy.

I actually have two more years before I get my degree in Wildlife and Fisheries Management at the University of Tennessee and every day in class I realize how fun life can be with that degree rather than being couped up in a office all day