The science is final…

[Ozarkansas]

Well boys, the verdict is in. Some egghead did a study on factors that make for a successful deer and elk hunter, and it’s about what you’d expect: See the study here

To summarize:
-deer hunting success correlated strongly with hours per day spent outside of camp (success increases 18% per hour spent outside of camp)
-elk hunting success correlated strongly with hours per day spent outside of camp AND scouting (scouting increases success by 418%)
-experience, age, gender, or use of a vehicle did not predict success. Effort expended had a small impact on success

 

[Miflatlander91]

Well would you look at that who woulda thought more time in the field and not at camp hangin out drinking beer = better chance at being successful


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Dos Perros]

Effort expended had a small impact on success

The title of the study is:

Success is dependent on effort: Unraveling characteristics of successful deer and elk hunters

 

[Ozarkansas]

The title of the study is:

Success is dependent on effort: Unraveling characteristics of successful deer and elk hunters

My bad, I misquoted part of the study that referenced another study looking into perceived effort vs success, thinking it was one of the variables assessed here

 

[Dos Perros]

Eh might as well post the abstract!

Abstract

The pursuit of ungulates as game animals, whether for recreation, cultural tradition, or meat, is a dominant activity on public and private lands in North America and much of the world. Strategic regulation of hunting is key for managing game population abundance, age and sex structure, and distribution, with harvest rates a function of both hunter success and participation. Hunter satisfaction is often linked to success and ultimately with hunter recruitment and retention, a growing concern for wildlife agencies. Yet knowledge is lacking about what hunter characteristics or behaviors are linked with success, and how these may differ among common hunt types. We used survey and spatial data from hunters (n = 416) during a 6‐year observational study in northeastern Oregon, USA to characterize hunter traits associated with success for 3 hunt types for antlered males: rifle deer (Odocoileus spp.), archery elk (Cervus canadensis), and rifle elk. We modeled the success for rifle deer and rifle elk hunters using logistic regression models in a Bayesian hierarchical approach. Annual success rates were highly variable, ranging from 4 to 76% for rifle deer and 20 to 56% for rifle elk hunters, and from 0 to 14% for archery elk. Age distributions of hunters were similar across hunt types (x̅= 47.2 years), and male hunters were ~8 times as common as females (n = 370 vs. n = 46, respectively). Success rates for men and women, however, were comparable within hunt types. Successful hunters spent more hours per day outside camp (x̅= 7.4 vs. 6.4 for unsuccessful hunters) and expended a slightly larger percentage of their hunting effort on foot (x̅= 87.8%) than did unsuccessful hunters (x̅= 84.6%). The best model predicting success of rifle deer hunters was based on hours per day spent outside camp during the hunting hours, with each additional hour increasing odds of success by 26%. For rifle elk hunters, the best model included time outside camp and a binary covariate for scouting. The odds of success increased by 418% for hunters who scouted versus those who did not, and by 18% with each additional hour per day spent hunting outside of camp. Summed model weights indicated that hours per day outside camp and scouting were most informative, and that use of an all‐terrain vehicle, age, and experience were unrelated to hunter success. Both models performed reasonably well (correct classification rates of 0.74 and 0.70 for rifle deer and rifle elk models, respectively). Our study augmented the relatively limited published information about behavioral factors associated with successful harvest of deer and elk, and we recommend additional research to better unravel the nexus of success and hunter characteristics and behavior to help sustain recreational hunting and big game populations.

 

[feanor]

I’m still going to buy that 90k truck though- ok???

 

[Reburn]

I’m still going to buy that 90k truck though- ok???

it will only make you a better hunter if its a taco.

 

[taskswap]

Did it say anything about choosing calibers, and time spent discussing the choice of calibers online?

 

[feanor]

it will only make you a better hunter if its a taco.

I wanted a Chevy though. I guess I’ll buy them both.

 

[Traveler]

Time in the field…in the right places. Wonder how they controlled for population density

 

[CobraChicken]

Lol who would of thought, a little effort and time away from your smelly ass tent made a difference.

 

[philos]

This data is inconclusive as it doesn't have a data point for hours spent perusing Rokslide.

 

[HighUintas]

I would to see one done that involves success rates by cartridge. This of course would be skewed by the tendency of one group of folks tending to use X cartridge more than the other group that happens to not practice as much.

People that love numbers just feel the need to analyze everything. Regardless of whether it's meaningful. That is a pretty silly study

 

[doc holiday13]

it will only make you a better hunter if its a taco.

a taco truck...?

 

[Team4LongGun]

As a mod, I was thinking this was about covid, and figured it wouldn't last long.

As a red blooded American, I was hoping it was about covid, because we have some epic arguments.....

 

[Reburn]

a taco truck...?

@fngTony
Remove this guys WKR please.

Taco = the most badarse truck of all time. Makes a million miles on a gallon of gas with 1 oil change and no maintence.
Toyota Tacoma!!!

 

[Trial153]

The Bino harness you use is the best indicator of success. There is a direct correlation.

 

[fngTony]

How much does it help your success if base camp is at 12,800k?

 

[Pacific_Fork]

Yea but what about going to those “master” classes and escouting tutorials!? Has to up your success by 7,000,000,000 % easily.

 

[ddd-shooter]

How much does it help your success if base camp is at 12,800k?

Everyone knows you need a 50 year old rifle with a leupold if you really want to up the odds!