Was looking over the course material for the California hunting courses and I came across his:

www.hunter-ed.com/ca/c...opment.htm

Quote::

Shooting Stage The priority is getting off a shot, rather than patiently waiting for a good shot. This eagerness to shoot can lead to bad decisions that endanger others. A combination of target practice and mentoring helps most hunters move quickly out of this stage. Limiting-Out Stage Success is determined by bagging the limit. In extreme cases, this need to limit out also can cause hunters to take unsafe shots. Spending time with more mature hunters helps people grow out of this phase. Trophy Stage The hunter is selective and judges success by quality rather than quantity. Typically, the focus is on big game. Anything that doesn’t measure up to the desired trophy is ignored. Method Stage In this stage, the process of hunting becomes the focus. A hunter may still want to limit out but places a higher priority on how it’s accomplished. Sportsman Stage Success is measured by the total experience—the appreciation of the out-of-doors and the animal being hunted, the process of the hunt, and the companionship of other hunters.

Dimitri

I would be the Sportsman stage. For the majority of the hunting that I do, I don't care if I get anything. I just like being outdoors.

Sportsman stage. I've passed on far more shots than I've taken. I've never been close enough to a limit to worry about it. A trophy wouldn't be turned down but a big doe for the freezer is just as nice. While I do try different tools I really don't care a whole lot about which I'm using at a given time. The most fun I've ever had was taking my daughter with me for the first time this year. The whole experience was fantastic and we passed up deer I could have about knocked over with a rock.

I guess it's partly mindset, as I've been at the latter stage since day one - probably because the guys I hunt with are the best companions I've ever had the pleasure to meet (who says us Limeys don't like Americans?).
If hunting was purely a matter of taking the quarry, then I don't know whether it would be of any interest to me.

Sitting on a mountain side watching the dawn break, stalking through the woods, bullsh**ing round the fire in the evening - the sum total of the experience is what it's all about.

Roll on October 2008

I have always enjoyed all aspects of hunting. So I would say the sportsman stage. I have never bin a "Trophy Hunter" per say I enjoy filling my freezer limits never meant much, if I can put enough in the freezer to take me to the next season then I'm a happy man . I just realy enjoy being out there. A successful hunt doesn't mean shooting a deer on every outing. I quit drinking in 1990 and instead of going to AA I went into the woods or a stream fishing, the outdoors is where I turned when life dropped it's little bombs and I still turn to the woods.
Joe

I guess if I have to be honest, I'm somewhere between the last two stages. While I'm still stuck in the "how to", I enjoy the time spent in the woods, whether or not I kill something.

Hey Cody, you said a mouth full. You too Mike. It's especially true when you come dangerously close to not being able to do alot of the things you used to do.

All of them combined......

Am in constant kill mode, on purpose, to take advantage of every opportunity granted....in order to fill the tags sourced.....with a "trophy" Critter...by whatever method available in the given stage of the Season....

And doing so while promoting myself as a Sportsman and Mentor to my kids....

Hunting to me is a Quickening..................

Wildswalker,

Thats cheating!

Myself I limit myself to one deer a year (just the general tag you buy with your deer license and if I'm lucky the antlerless validation tag to go with it don't by the additional archery deer tags they sell), this year like last year ended up in me not filling that tag, but I'm still going hunting next year! Going to hopefully have a warmer October which will allow me on a nice sunny October day take a nap while waiting around for the deer. Cause to me a day in the outdoors is more important then getting a deer.

Dimitri

That's true dmitri but, if getting out in the woods is what your after you could save alot of money on tags, bows and guns and just go sit in the woods.

Yes that may be true but if I get a chance to get myself a deer I'll take it! Plus I already own the guns and bow.

Dimitri

I'm LMAO. That's typical California assume-the-worst-of-the-stupid-citizens nanny state garbage. Or maybe not. A lot of times, I do think the citizens of California are stupid - in the collective sense.

I've been in the sportsmen's stage for many years now, but I still shoot a lot of game just because I know how to hunt.
I never have been too quick on the trigger, and even when I was a young pup, I passed on many shots. [ducks, rabbits, upland birds, and deer] My Dad taught me safety well.
Like Wildswalker said, I'm always in the "kill mode".
Back home in Ely, I was know as "Road Kill Marleau"
My Wife still hates it when I bring home Road Kill, which is quite often.
She never complains when the tire treads on the meat are table fare though.
My Son Ben still has to shoot or catch limits to call a hunt successful.
We caught a limit of crappie ice fishing tonight so he was happy.
I would have had a good trip if we had caught nothing, but when fishing with me, most people catch their limit.

I just read my post for errors, and realized that I just came across as one arogant SOB when it comes to hunting and fishing.
My Dad use to say that "it ain't brag'in if it's the truth"

Eric

wildswalker wrote:

All of them combined...... Am in constant kill mode, on purpose, to take advantage of every opportunity granted....in order to fill the tags sourced.....with a "trophy" Critter...by whatever method available in the given stage of the Season.... And doing so while promoting myself as a Sportsman and Mentor to my kids.... Hunting to me is a Quickening..................

Ya know what...I reckon I'm a bit like old "wilds" here. When I go hunting, I am in kill mode too. I take every advantage offered to me...cause that's why I'm out there. Trophy Hunter...nah, but I don't pass up on a critter just cause it is or isn't a trophy...I'm just not interested in the trophy thats all.

However, again like "wilds" I fall heavily into the Sportsman category and I endeavour to be a mentor to anybody that accompanies me on a hunt...just wish it was my kids or grandkids.

Cheers, Vince

Hey Vince,
While out fishing tonight, Ben said that he would like to some day hunt in Australia.
If you paid his way over there, and buy his licenses, I'll bet he would let you mentor him.
Just a thought partner.

Eric