Where to invest to improve success?

[WstrnCP]

I haven't had the pleasure of using image stabilizing binos, but one of the best upgrades I've made when I moved away from my starter binos was buying a pair of Vortex binos with an integrated rangefinder and ballistics. I didn't spot more animals than I did with my cheap starter binos, but can make long range shots faster, call out ranges for hunting partners, and feel like I practice more effectively when I can go out in the field and find rocks and other targets at various ranges and try different positions and angles.

Maybe I should have titled this thread how to be efficient vs successful. It sounds like I’m thinking along the same lines as you.

 

[K9kodi]

Yeah. I guess I was kind of taking working on fitness for granted. It’s always a good reminder though.

Bro, one can have the best rifle and scope money can buy, most comfy shoes and highest quality clothing. If one can’t get where they need to in a predicted timely manner, if one can’t haul out their kill, if one is their gears limit, sounds like they need to spend a little time on themselves. I find it easier to improve myself and in theory maximize my current gear than buy more and better gear limping me along. I’m not saying this is you, but this is a lot of people and even in theory me. I’m 5’10, 220-225 pounds and can lift substantially more than many others, I look in better shape than most , but my blood pressure sucks and my cardio blows. I could buy lighter gear, but id be better off getting my cardio back and controlling my blood oresssure better. Lord knows I won’t be easy to drag off a mountain after my top of the line gear gets me further than I should have been hahahahahahaha

 

[dusky]

Sounds like you already plan to shoot a ton this year. That's awesome. Just at the range or out in the field, too? I heard on a podcast recently how spending a big chunk of money on ammo for practice is a better investment than buying the latest piece of gear. I call this sage advice. Offhand shooting to 200 yards, positional shooting in all types of terrain, with whatever gear you have handy, and timing it all so that you get realistic... If you have good enough basic gear, aside from time spent on the land and studying, I think shooting practice is the way to go. If I had the time, I'd consider NRL Hunter.

 

[Oregon]

These threads make me chuckle. Better glass, better equipment doesn’t make you successful.
Being absolutely mad with a deep hatred makes you successful.
You truly have to have a mental thought that if you’re not successful you are a lesser man.
I spent years and years killing nice bucks and bulls with this philosophy. Scouting everyday, etc.
I hit 50. Then I realized it was entirely too consuming. I kill a deer every year, an elk every other. Inches mean nothing.
If you want to kill good critters, stay extremely mad at them. If you want roasts in the crockpot just go forth.
Binoculars and calibers don’t make a difference if you’re mad at them.