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.

…. I ain’t killed several hundred… but I’ve killed more than my fair share

… and the freezer is full

… my freezer is the gauge wether to climb or not lol

They would but after 27 years I've had enough. My wife is a certified HE instructor also, but we have turned the reins over to the younger crew.

… how old are you ?

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?

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?

Method stage. Sadly, (at least imo), more and more these days deer hunters often never advance beyond the trophy/method stages.

The retired do as I want have all the time in the world stage just like me

I love to experience the closenes!!!

This has become a bigger game than the actual killing. Trying to be invisible in the woods is becoming an obsession. Thursday afternoon I was in an open ladder stand, not 16 or 20 feet off the ground, just 10’ and a buck came within 28’ and stayed a couple minutes before he made me. Friday morning one passed by me 10’ away as I sat in the crouch of a couple limbs on an overturned tree. Didn’t even know I was there. I do get disappointed when I don’t capitalize on selected opportunities but what a rush to have them unknowingly get that close.

This has become a bigger game than the actual killing. Trying to be invisible in the woods is becoming an obsession. Thursday afternoon I was in an open ladder stand, not 16 or 20 feet off the ground, just 10’ and a buck came within 28’ and stayed a couple minutes before he made me. Friday morning one passed by me 10’ away as I sat in the crouch of a couple limbs on an overturned tree. Didn’t even know I was there. I do get disappointed when I don’t capitalize on selected opportunities but what a rush to have them unknowingly get that close.

What u trying to do? Grab them by a leg?

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.