Feb 9, 2019 3 min read

If I were asked what part of a person’s psyche makes them a better hunter or angler than some other fellow, I would list three important traits they need to have.

First, I would say they must be patient. This is especially true when hunting big game. In that big-game category, I would like to add the turkey. It is less important when calling a long beard than when I am looking for a bear or a whitetail deer. The difference is, in many instances the deer hunter might be standing and waiting for many hours while the turkey hunter is a bit more active and is calling the animal to them. This keeps the person in the woods more interested and it is far less boring than waiting and wondering if there is a tom within hearing range. Regardless of where or how he hunts patience is necessary.

Second, perseverance enters the picture. Failure on one attempt or a single day doesn’t stop the hunter and he keeps trying. I have tried again many times only to see that white flag going the other way. It is then that I need to persevere. So if you missed that big buck, instead of crying over what happened, be it a small stick you stepped on or a twig that diverted your arrow or bullet from your intended target you need to keep on trying. I have had some success hunting both deer and spring gobbler. I have had just as bad a batting average striking at black bear. Still, I will be found in the woods of Warren or McKean counties looking for a bear. I even own a special rifle just for bear. Even in the face of failure, I persevere.

Of the three important factors leading to a successful hunt, it is the third that I think is the most important: confidence.

Confidence allows us to win. It is hard to shoot well when one doubts his or her own rifle. That is why when deer season approaches and the rifle is hitting where it should, I don’t shoot it anymore. I have confidence in the placement of the shot. if I miss, it is my fault not the gun. On the other hand, if I shoot it one last time, and for some reason the grouping is terrible, my confidence goes out the window.

As I drive to a favored hunting spot, I wonder, like many others, what kind of day is in store for me. The question that goes through my mind is not will I see a buck but more likely when and where. I have never hunted a deer season when I did not see a buck the whole season. The buck might not have been large or in the right spot but still I have seen one. When the hunt seems to be falling apart, or when some other hunter has set up camp right in front of me, it is this confidence that has kept me out there. The buck might not show up the first day, or for the first week, but it will show. It might be in a tangle enjoying a rest or it may be heading for the next farm but I will see one. It is confidence that if you keep trying.

Remember, the deer or animal can make only one mistake. With odds like that, it is hard to not be confident. Keep that in mind, along with those three words: patience, perseverance and confidence.