Thread: what makes a true hunter?

Many man days in the field spent hunting in someones lifetime.....=.... True blue "volume hunter".

Well I'd say we're all born potential hunters. Just that most people move down a path that doesn't require them to hold onto and develop that skillset as others in their community do that job for them.

I studied zoology/ecology etc at varsity because I enjoyed being outdoors and had a genuine interest in learning about the natural world. But it was only when I started getting interested in fishing, then diving (spearfishing) and hunting that I started to feel like I could be in any of those environments and feel and understand what I was looking at. A scientist would just want to quantify it.

Early days I'd read up as much as I could but it was still a fair struggle trying to put it into practise. That would usually be about context. Being in a certain environment in certain weather conditions at a certain time of year, day, tide, whatever. It's pretty tricky to trawl through everything you've read and find the bit of information that is relevant to the moment and apply it. But the more time you put into exposing yourself to different situations, and thinking about what is in front of you, and building your 6th sense I think is what starts turning you from wanting to be a hunter into being a hunter.

Eventually you as you develop (or reawaken?) your 6th sense, it becomes so much easier to take on board tips and advice from books or talking to people, apply it against situations you've been in previously but were confused or unsure about then have that aha moment where that little piece of the puzzle clicks into place.

Really enjoy reading others stories, or being out with somebody who instantly sees something that you've never cottoned onto before. It's an endless journey....

What was the question again?

my old cocker spaniel is a true hunter......he nearly blind and slowing down a lot....but if there is a hedgehog in section,the nose drops and its all on...put him in dingy zooming around the lake and the nose is up hoovering in the smells of birds,happy as a pig in shit lieing in the sun on side of boat with dead goose beside him to smell.

what makes you a hunter??? well I dont know,I was born this way and its not going to change.take my rifles and shotguns and I will take up the bow,take that and it will be a snare or spear....sight fishing for trout is one form of hunting,but then so is drowning a worm in deep pool,in both cases you are taking on animal in its home enviroment,pitting your wits and tools against animals wits n senses......
so at what range does it become shooting and not hunting????? again its personal thing,you still have to locate animal...
hunting on well stocked farmland is more HARVESTING then HUNTING......same as fishing in a barrel/pen..... canned hunting/fishing its referred to as....its life Jim but not as we know it.

Wow, bit of an open and not well thought out question sorry.

A fisherman hunts fish

A toy hunter hunts for toys

A duck hunter hunts ducks

A stalker hunts people

A water diviner hunts for water

A gold prospector hunts for gold

The list goes on forever, they are all true hunters.

What makes a true hunter? Someone or something that hunts for something else.

I apologize for my poor wording and can of worms wasnt intended to be a piss poor post 😳

Originally Posted by quadhunter260

I apologize for my poor wording and can of worms wasnt intended to be a piss poor post

No need to apologise. Reading between the lines I think I get it. The fact that you're questioning it, makes you a passionate and evolving hunter imo.

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Originally Posted by quadhunter260

I apologize for my poor wording and can of worms wasnt intended to be a piss poor post ��

I think your question has merit. Did you mean what attitudes a true hunter has? In other words what kind of character?

If you meant discipline, restraint, patience, respect for his or her quarry, proficiency as a marksman, then these things are worth exploring.

bit of self doubt and wondering i guess i see my mates shanksponying in into decent backblocks for hard earned stags,bucks n bulls or my pig hunting mates doing hard slog kms for pork
kinda feel a pretender/wannabe with having to have it "easier" (probs bad wording) or just over thinking and confusing myself highly likely 🤔

Originally Posted by quadhunter260

bit of self doubt and wondering i guess i see my mates shanksponying in into decent backblocks for hard earned stags,bucks n bulls or my pig hunting mates doing hard slog kms for pork
kinda feel a pretender/wannabe with having to have it "easier" (probs bad wording) or just over thinking and confusing myself highly likely

That's what I read between the lines. Doesn't matter. It's all personal. And attitude.
Keep doing good things.

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Originally Posted by quadhunter260

bit of self doubt and wondering i guess i see my mates shanksponying in into decent backblocks for hard earned stags,bucks n bulls or my pig hunting mates doing hard slog kms for pork
kinda feel a pretender/wannabe with having to have it "easier" (probs bad wording) or just over thinking and confusing myself highly likely ��

Understandable given your situation. The implication is that hunting needs to be hard work to be truly valid. I'd say not necessarily.

Originally Posted by quadhunter260

bit of self doubt and wondering i guess i see my mates shanksponying in into decent backblocks for hard earned stags,bucks n bulls or my pig hunting mates doing hard slog kms for pork
kinda feel a pretender/wannabe with having to have it "easier" (probs bad wording) or just over thinking and confusing myself highly likely ��

not at all ol chap.....you are doing the best with what life has thrown at you.....hunting to limits of your ability....and utilising what you shoot,you are doing good in my books bud....but selling that zastava....tut tut...

Originally Posted by quadhunter260

bit of self doubt and wondering i guess i see my mates shanksponying in into decent backblocks for hard earned stags,bucks n bulls or my pig hunting mates doing hard slog kms for pork
kinda feel a pretender/wannabe with having to have it "easier" (probs bad wording) or just over thinking and confusing myself highly likely ��

As long as you can get out and enjoy what you do it’s all you need, everyone’s style is different if your happy it’s all that matters

Originally Posted by quadhunter260

bit of self doubt and wondering i guess i see my mates shanksponying in into decent backblocks for hard earned stags,bucks n bulls or my pig hunting mates doing hard slog kms for pork
kinda feel a pretender/wannabe with having to have it "easier" (probs bad wording) or just over thinking and confusing myself highly likely 🤔

This is a bullshit statement @quadhunter260. The fact that you have a love of the outdoors and gathering food doesn't make you any less of a hunter than anyone else. If others walk for miles and do the 'hard yards' because they can doesn't make them better than you or anyone else. Each to their own and their own abilities, if it's legal and ethical do what you want/can and be happy mate.

"Hunting" and "hunter" as a term or definition are very subjective and what you think qualifies to be called a hunter and what I think qualifies can vary so much that it's also impossible to answer.
Until you first define what a hunting is.

I'll have a go, and this is my opinion on what I believe "hunting" is.

In my opinion "hunting" is an activity a man or woman under takes to hunt/search for "wild" unrestricted animals for sport, food and enjoyment. (wild and unrestricted been the key words) In my opinion "hunting" should NEVER have a pre determined outcome guaranteeing success or likewise before engaging in the activity.

Once that's done you can iron out traits and skill sets that really set "true" hunters apart from lack of a better word "wannabe hunters" I've seen the lot.

IMO what makes a "true" hunter is someone not driven by numbers and they hunt for the right reasons, They do not care when they come home from a weekend hunt where they saw 6 young stags and some pregnant hinds and the work mate asks why you didn't shoot any you must be useless? The true hunter just laughs... He knows what's up and he doesn't have to justify his decision to leave animals that he was not targeting to know one. They are also extremely resourceful and capable humans that can survive on an oily rag when needed, aren't precious about small stuff, have a huge heart and mental strength for hardship, and when things aren't going their way and the tent poles snap in the middle of the night they can still laugh and get shit done. They don't blame anyone for there unsuccessful hunts, They never go hunting just to kill "something" they ALWAYS have an idea of what animals they are targeting and more importantly WHY. They have 100% respect for there quarry and never intentionally aim to cause unnecessary pain to any animal. A true hunter is also someone you trust your life with, someone you know when your hunting with them if shit goes south this bloke or lass has your back and will make the right calls under pressure to save there mates life.

IMO a "true" hunter is made, not born and if you engage in the activity long enough around the right people you will become a "true hunter"

Bloody good first post ^^ Welcome.