dan wrote:I hunt a lot less now, than when I was younger... Kinda like U.P.Bowqhunters answer, less hunting now, but more precision... I would say that now I go out about 40 to 60 hunts a year, but bit used to be a lot more than that. Deer hunting is a big part of my life. Probably headed into the woods more than 2600 times in pursuit of deer in my life so far. But there is much more time spent in the woods scouting, observing, and watching.
Even though increasing the number of actual hunts helps. The real key is in what Dan stated here. Way way more time scouting, observing, watching and learning while putting Boots on the ground. A new hunter could never read a book or watch a video. But if he spent time out in the field observing and learning. It wouldn't take all that long to catch onto what's going on.
As for me in my late teen and early 20's I rarely missed a day of early archery season and gun season. So probably a minimum of 50 days a year. As I got older more responsibilities reduced that down but at least 30 days hunting a year. But much more scouting off season.
At 30 I moved to Montana mainly to hunt elk. I probably hunted at least 20 days for elk. More if my job left me in my home area so I could get out evenings. Plus at least 10 days deer hunting with most days hunting whitetails only a few after mule deer.
With plenty of summer scouting.
I remember reading someone quoting Fred Bear. He stated success is directly related to time spent afield.
I don't hunt as much as I did when I was younger that is for sure.