I can’t quite remember the stages of a hunter but I feel like it starts out with “shooting stage”. I’ll have to re visit the course of HT Education.
It’s funny how you evolve. This time last year I would have felt compelled to take a small deer; which I did with my first compound bow harvest… but I had no desire for the same scenario today. Not that it would be wrong or illegal, but because I would like more meat and wanted to let the little one go…
Same kinda goes for trapping. I know I can catch raccoons , but I want to get better with bedding my traps and hopefully catch my next fox or a coyote.
When did you all realize you were not satisfied with yourselves and wanted to challenge yourselves?

I think it’s a beautiful thing. To be self aware and not get caught up in any type of competition or feel pressure.
I had a great day. Hope younz did too

And that’s okay too!

FIVE STAGES OF A HUNTER

Hunters change through the years. Factors used to determine "successful hunting" change as well for each hunter. A hunter's age, role models, and his years of hunting experience affect his ideas of "success."

Many hunters may fit into one of the following five groups. In 1975-1980, groups of over 1,000 hunters in Wisconsin were studied, surveyed, and written about by Professors Robert Jackson and Robert Norton, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. The results of their studies form a widely accepted theory of hunter behavior and development. Where are you now? Where would you like to be?

SHOOTER STAGE

The hunter talks about satisfaction with hunting being closely tied to being able to "get shooting." Often the beginning duck hunter will relate he had an excellent day if he got in a lot of shooting. The beginning deer hunter will talk about the number of shooting opportunities. Missing game means little to hunters in this phase. A beginning hunter wants to pull the trigger and test the capability of his firearm. A hunter in this stage may be a dangerous hunting partner.

LIMITING OUT STAGE

A hunter still talks about satisfaction gained from shooting. But what seems more important is measuring success through the killing of game and the number of birds or animals shot. Limiting out, or filling a tag, is the absolute measure. Do not let your desire to limit out be stronger than the need for safe behavior at all times.

TROPHY STAGE

Satisfaction is described in terms of selectivity of game. A duck hunter might take only green heads. A deer hunter looks for one special deer. A hunter might travel far to find a real trophy animal. Shooting opportunity and skills become less important.

METHOD STAGE

This hunter has all the special equipment. Hunting has become one of the most important things in his life. Satisfaction comes from the method that enables the hunter to take game. Taking game is important, but second to how it is taken. This hunter will study long and hard
how best to pick a blind site, lay out decoys, and call in waterfowl. A deer hunter will go one on one with a white-tailed deer, studying sign, tracking, and the life habits of the deer. Often, the
hunter will handicap himself by hunting only with black powder firearms or bow and arrow. Bagging game, or limiting, still is understood as being a necessary part of the hunt during this phase.

SPORTSMAN STAGE

As a hunter ages and after many years of hunting, he "mellows out." Satisfaction now can be found in the total hunting experience. Being in the field, enjoying the company of friends and family, and seeing nature outweigh the need for taking game.

Not all hunters go through all the stages, or go through them in that particular order. It is also possible for hunters who pursue several species of game to be in different stages with regard to each species. Some hunters feel that role models of good sportsmen, training, or reading books or magazines helped them pass more quickly through some stages.

^^^^thank you

Fill the freezer then hunt stage for me

Definitely at Method for deer, ducks and turkey. I went through the phase of having to limit out every season. I think it all changed once I had kids to start bringing with me and even more so when I got my own land.

Imagine I’m at the shooter stage for trapping, but I do get into the placement, concentrating on sign and funnels, etc.

Literally just sat down from a hunt this evening. Our 2 week muzzle loading season just went out. Gun season started today. Haven’t had the gun off safety yet. Been on deer roughly 80% of the sets and bucks on over 60% and have hunted every day. Just haven’t seen ‘the one’ yet. I’m passing on deer that I would have been blessed to see 10 years ago. My kids have killed good deer and that’s all the satisfaction I need.

Nothing wrong with you passing on a smaller deer. I don’t know your tag situation or deer density where you are, but just be prepared to not harvest if you aren’t taking the opportunities presented and be okay with that.

Gunnleg I am cool with it.
I always favored trapping over hunting and plan to take my time off next week to pursue it. I just hope Chuckie stops giving away so much of his deer! He gets very generous and says “we are gonna get another one!” But so far we haven’t!!
I can’t get mad at the guy.

x2

Savell if I don’t have a spiritual aspect about it, then I might as well hang it up. That’s just my personality. Doesn’t apply to everyone and I don’t fault them. As long as they do what is right!

There has been a sixth stage added.

“Give-Back” Stage
At this point the hunter is motivated by the desire to pass on the proper hunting values, safety skills and responsible attitudes to others. They want to preserve our hunting heritage by introducing new hunters to the sport in the most rewarding manner. The hunter may choose to join a conservation organization that improves habitat through wildlife management and promotes hunting.

I like that thank you Rob!

Soul only comes out when they sneeze Savell! That’s why people say bless you!!! Ha ha
Nonsense!!

I like the total hunting experience of hunting one mature buck using mostly archery gear, but I also enjoy taking my Georgia limit of mature bucks and I revel in the shooting experience. I do all this and enjoy giving back too.

What stage am I in?

The retired green jeans phase. Lol

The Uncle Swamp stage!!!! I applaud you!!

You do bring up a good point Swamp.

Most folks after a while are a little of each. It’s a general list of stages. Most people have been or will be in one of them, and it isn’t really a checklist of sorts. You don’t move from 1-6. Maybe you bounce around and you are some or them or “several” of them. You go out of one and move back into another one from time to time. Maybe you’re multiple at the same time.

It’s all fluid and ever changing.


Just be safe, be legal and enjoy your time outdoors.

I’m at the stage where I enjoy helping and watch others be successful. My daughter is busy with college and is unable to accompany me on the line or hunts at this time. It has been very rewarding to watch my wife hone her skills in the woods and to help out on my trap line. I helped a young man harvest a buck today. Not a wall hanger by any means, but the excitement he showed after his kill meant the world to me. Eric

Yes^^^^

I taught this phase concept in many hunter ed classes over my 27 year career.

After dealing with thousands of hunters during my GW career, I realized that most folks are a combination of multiple phases.

But, a few are hung up in the "shooting" or "limiting out" phase. None of the other phases are remotely interesting to them.

But, we are killing buck deer..

Several of them in some cases.

Lol