What hunter stage are you in?

[MuleyFever]

SHOOTER STAGE​

For many who are introduced to hunting at an early age, our satisfaction can be as simple as just being able to see game and get a shot. Seeing game and getting shots are what matters most, and misses are of little concern. Our skills are being tested and refined, including field shooting skills and whether or not to take a shot.

LIMITING OUT STAGE​

The satisfaction of just seeing game and getting a shot is now not enough reward. These are replaced with the need to bring home game, and not just one, but a limit of birds or filling a tag. Limiting out is in the conversation as hunt stories are told. This stage is very much more than just being a hunter, and more about proving oneself as a skilled hunter who get his or her game every time out.

TROPHY STAGE​

Shooting opportunity and quantity of game are replaced by a self-imposed selectivity in the pursuit, and the quality of game taken begins to trump quantity.
The notion of conservation enters one’s thinking. We have seen enough and hunted enough to now realize wildlife, and quality-hunting experiences don’t happen by chance. Getting involved with conservation organizations and being vocal about issues offers it own rewards, as giving back and caring for the resource now adds to the hunting experience.

METHOD STAGE​

While a trophy may still be the benchmark, “how taken” has become more important than “what taken.” With all the technology at a hunter’s disposal, what is really necessary to be successful is employed, and what is not necessary is left behind. Self-restriction now adds to the challenge and rewarding aspects of the hunt.

The chase and a lasting experience move to the forefront over just taking game or only a trophy. An animal taken by more skill than a technological advantage becomes a memorable trophy, regardless of size.

SPORTSMAN STAGE​

All stages are remembered fondly, but the urgency to take game or a trophy fades to the background as the total hunting experience now offers its highest rewards. Planning, practicing, and honing skills are still important, but just being outdoors, reconnecting with family and friends, and taking the time to “soak it all in” happen more and more. Filling a limit or a tag means the hunt is over, as is the experience. Photo memories now include more than just that of game taken. Camp, scenery, old buildings, and other wildlife now appear in the portfolio. Macro becomes micro as every aspect of the hunt is cherished. Trophies taken in the past mean more and are converted from a prize for the wall into memories for a lifetime.

By now, activity in conservation is at its peak. Mentoring young sportsmen, seeing that they enjoy and experience what you have experienced, can replace even your own opportunity at taking game. For many, this the greatest reward in hunting.

 

[jimh406]

I don’t think I fit any those categories.

 

[180ls1]

Depends on the hunt/day but I could fit into any of them.

 

[MuleyFever]

I don’t think I fit any those categories.

Curious why not? I just found this online so its generic.

 

[willfrye027]

trophy stage and not ashamed to admit it!

 

[wyosam]

Sportsman, but I still gotta eat.


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[Mojave]

I don’t think I fit any those categories.

Yeah, I think it is Bullschnitna too.

Been married to this one 14 years, finally have some money so hunting more is a priority.

Trophy quality is nice.

Shooting is necessary, top equipment and I shoot a lot so not much missing.

Getting skunked is not cool.

Method is rifle, I have zero patience for archery any more or anything else. I just want them to die when I shoot.

I read of an old hunter that said he collected mountains. There is quite a bit of truth for that to me. I also like to hunt the same area every year.

 

[manitou1]

Been stuck at the "trophy stage" for about 35 years now.

 

[insanelupus]

You missed one:

Just Enjoy The Hunt Stage

 

[hiker270]

Now it's all about taking and teaching my grandson to love and respect the tradition of hunting.

 

[tmwtrfwler]

Trophy to Sportsman all in one.

My kids and dad are the priority so unless it’s a bigger whitetail than I already have it walks and I chalk it up as a scouting trip for my boys and dad. They’re 15/17/74 so they’re the priority.

I went on a guided elk hunt years back adn that was all trophy. I went on a DIY mule deer hunt two years ago with buddies and my dad and that was about the process and having fun. Trophy was down the list.

I guess it’s all about the particulars of each hunt.

What I’m most glad about is I’ve raised the boys not to be blood thirsty but thinking about growing bucks and managing.

 

[jayhawk]

You forgot the “FNG on rockslide and bought $10,000 worth of clothes and equipment but have never been in the field more than a quick trip to update your instagram story to show your strong opinions on how wolves will massacre all known life in CO” stage of hunting.

 

[grfox92]

My stage is unique....

I grew up in a bow only county in NY. This was before the whitetail management, social media big buck craze. For some reason I wanted to shoot nothing but big mature bucks since I was young. So through my teens, twenties and even early thirties I skipped the part where you start out shooting small bucks and move on to wanting to shoot bigger and bigger bucks.

I started passing bucks that were bigger than anything I had shot before when I was 16, and focused on shooting mature bucks only for 18 years. I shot a mix 50+ whitetail in those 18 years with a bow, around 8 mature bucks and the rest does.

Then I got into western hunting and moved to Wyoming in 2020. When I got here I started over and went right into the shooter stage at 34 years old. My first antelope was tiny and I didn't care, my first muley was 80" and I was stoked, my first bull, archery, was 289" and 9.5 years old, but that was hard work meets opportunity because I would have shot a raghorn.

It's also interesting because since I've killed nearly everything with a bow for the first half of my life, now I want to shoot everything with a rifle. The second animal I ever killed with a gun was that tiny antelope in 2021.

I still want to kill bulls with my bow because I like hunting bugling bulls. But most guys rifle hunt and then move into archery after they have a bunch of animals under their belt. I'm the opposite.

This year for mule deer I was going for 150+, my biggest is 126 as of yet so I'm working my way up. For elk, I'll be happy with any branch antler bull (for the most part).

So moving out west and starting a new journey kind of reset me to square one in terms of my hunting.

I have a great wife and hunt more than most because next to my family, there is nothing more important to me. I look back at my Trophy stage and have alot of regrets. I took it way to serious and sacrificed alot of fun trying to shoot big bucks only.

Get out there and do whatever feels right.

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[5MilesBack]

From the time I was a youngster with a BB gun, I was in the "shoot whatever moves" stage for quite some time. Then when I started big game hunting it was all about filling tags. Then when I switched to archery, I suddenly got picky and it all became about trophy hunting and the experience. These days I'm more of a combo of all of the stages I guess. I like to maximize my opportunities for multiple animals and filled tags, and rifle meat hunts are also a thing. And the method and species matters......for bowhunting elk, I just really like chasing mature bulls so still all about method and trophy. For deer, I have no interest at all in hunting or shooting smaller bucks or does.

 

[Szwampdonkey]

This is my 37th season bow hunting whitetails. I’ve gone through most of these stages and just the last 3-5 seasons or so transitioned away from the Trophy Stage back to the Limiting Out Stage where i resided many years ago. Filling my tags and the venison/memories it provides for me and my family is far more rewarding for me than killing trophy class animals anymore. It was fun chasing those trophy bucks but honestly, no one else cares about those racks other than me. Most who come over never even ask about them. I’d imagine they’ll end up in a land fill when i’m dead and gone.

 

[Ucsdryder]

I like to kill shit. My family likes to eat deer, elk, antelope. They eat a lot! I don’t see myself changing anytime soon. I always threaten to enter the trophy stage, but somehow I seem to eff it up!

 

[sierracharlie338]

I would rather take someone hunting to teach them, mainly my kiddo. Lately the wife has expressed interest in hunting so that would be another scenario. I was lucky enough to kill a whitetail I’ll never be able to top so my hunts are to put meat in the freezer. Now an elk or caribou hunt is the top of my list one of these days. An antelope or mule deer hunt would be cool as well but definitely not set on any kind of trophy.

 

[Tradchef]

For me personally I am a mix of limiting out and method stage. I grew up in Vermont so seeing and getting a shot at a deer in all three seasons was how you were successful. Once I left and moved to areas where game was rich and plentiful I wanted to just stack animals and work on hunting skills. I love killing and eating them due to my profession but I love being in the mountains and seeing things most people never see. I also am enjoying seeing this through my lady's eyes now. She has been gun hunting now for 7 years and I love seeing the excitement and just the WOW factor of wild animals, life and natural beauty. I'm 50 now and love laying it down just like I did when I was 16. But, more methodical and wiser in most regards. I love getting my ass kicked in the mountains and pushing limits, hunting with my longbow and watching the lady lay it down and get totally immersed into it. Is guess mostly a mix of a few of the choices given.

 

[Mule3006Elk]

Variable.

Freezer is low or empty I want to limit out. I will pass bucks but happy to get a descent one down.

Solo: mostly trophy, I am comfortable passing on smaller bucks, this was not the case when I started.
When solo, this can be trophy or limiting out depends on freezer status.

Sportsman: when I'm with my son I'm basically his guide and it's all about helping him, teaching moments when they come up, and enjoying father/son time in the woods. He is 16 now and has been hunting since he was 10. This was the first year he really seemed more like a solid hunter, me less like a guide, and us more like hunting partners.

 

[KurtR]

Depends on what I am hunting and what tag I have. Only shot one elk so if I have a tag it’s the first legal shoot on site stage

Killed a bunch of deer/antelope and now only want hard to draw tags and it’s either a taxidermy bill or tag soup stage.

Waterfowl my true love because of the dog is I want to get them in my face finish in the decoys and watch the dog work stage. With the dog work being most important to me and if the dog can’t go I’m not going.

Upland I would rather go with one or two people let the dogs do their thing than a big group and making piles of chickens.

Meat wise it’s just me and my son eating it so we always have plenty and more than enough fresh walleye living right on lake Oahe