You literally have never tried a thing, have no knowledge of that thing, but believe you know all about the thing. That is Dunning-Kruger effect in action.
“Climbed the ladder and tried it all” except that you have not tried it all- you are talking about something, and trying to convince others to ignore something that you have no experience in. You have a belief system that you say is based on less animals than some people kill in a single 24 hour period; and one buddy who apparently shoots small groups but is slow.
How is it that you are so convinced that you have enough information to make any decision, let alone an informed one?
I’m not trying to belittle you or say you shouldn’t discuss the topic; I’m trying get you to ask yourself if it’s possible that you don’t have enough information and/or experience in the entire subject to have such strong beliefs?
My walls and freezer and the many people I've helped fill tags to and introduce to hunting over the past few decades disagree with your assumption I haven't done anything. Somebody here is bragging and it's not me. You feel volume of the same thing over and over is the only way to be good? or have a full understanding? Well carry on then and keep trying to tell people they could never live up to your awesomeness because they don't do the same thing over and over. For this game you don't have to go that hard, you can have a life and do a bunch of other things. Like while guys were shooting 3d's in winter I was out calling coyotes, better practice for big game hunting or hunting period than anything your competitions will give you...that was 10-12 years obsessive every winter straight...but hey you're the man right?
The dunning-kruger effect, people of low ability or expertise or experience in something and over estimate their ability or knowledge. Not me, not me, not me, not me. And I have proven this to competitive shooters before, just not you, could care less at this point in life to do it again, the outcome is known while you are making assumptions. More importantly the field success I've had over the decades which maybe you don't know as I don't speak much on it anymore as I'm without ego there. I engage in these topics on experience and the topic itself, not to blowhard what a rockstar I thought I was. How old are you? You appear to need to check your ego. Apparently because you have volume advantage on culling ungulates etc. that means you understand it more and can speak with more superiority to those who have a much more diverse and full life and dabbled in more than just smashing gophers over and over...I mean elk or steel squares.
You think it's that hard to get proficient afield to 450-600? That you need your kind of unrealistic volume to be the only voice or to be the 'best way' to be good at this. Not a chance that's correct. Volume isn't thee answer, it's just an answer, competition isn't thee answer (unless against yourself is included), it's just another answer, less of the right practice is far more beneficial, less is more on gear selections as well. Not hard to do too much and lose your confidence, open that can of worms trying to get back to square. Not hard to over complicate things and get lost in rabbit holes.
You haven't figured out minimums required yet, just go go go, kill as much as you can, shoot as much as you can, compete against others as much as you can...volume is the only way. But you're wrong in this assessment and trying to discredit the message by going after the messenger, old hat, people always move to this when they simple refuse to agree with someone or see their perspective and experience due to some ego issue. I've been called out and showed up with my simple solo set up and you'd be a fool to bet against me when it's time to fill a tag, just as I wouldn't underestimate you but I'd never waste my time calling you or anyone out. If you think a guy can't hang with you in the field because he doesn't do 30-40 elk a year or compete then you live in fantasy land. You seem hell bent on going after the messenger by any means possible and right now your method is the volume you kill, and or, shooting competition vs the common man who can think and do solo. See right through it.
It's been telling over time here 'discussing' with you about some of these things. You have an ego and superiority that is unquestionable eh? Whatever. Bet you've never said sorry to anyone for anything. Some 'disorders' coming to mind that could apply to you here and we could get right into some psychological digging if you wanna continue on this path which you started btw with your false assumptions.
There's enough people around here that been around long enough to see all the crap I killed and posted about all the time. Some from other forums local that go back before I ever came here. I'm way beyond that phase, and zero desire to focus on my accomplishments but rather keep perspectives on some of these topics from my own experiences. I built lots of moderate to long range rigs, used them in many field situations, tried all the methods for elevation and wind corrections. You come down the other side and you remove the fat and you find there is realistic ranges of proficiency that no matter how much extra you do or carry...you're fighting a losing battle and spending way too much time trying to get an extra percent, and then you realize don't need much in terms of method or gear to get there. If you continue to focus on me rather than the topic you'll end up wrong, and wrong again, etc. It's not a good strategy. You're not the only cat in town who's figured this shit out.
I don't really care to dive in on you psychologically and you shouldn't try to do that to others, you may not end up the most prepared guy in the room. Your lack of humility is somewhat telling though. Want to get the microscope pointing at you then captain volume with zero humility?
Where were we? Oh yeah...shooting competitions against random people being best way to be a good long range hunter....eh...wrong.
