What’s the biggest mistake hunters make?

[FURMAN]

I think it’s misreading the wind. Tell me what you think.

 

[windypants]

Me personally: definitely the wind call, followed by not getting steady enough to get an accurate range.

For hunters I guide: not checking gear. It’s unbelievable how common loose action screws and scope mounts are! But that doesn’t apply to this crowd. We’re pretty fussy about our gear.

 

[Broz]

I will get roasted by some, but for me after seeing 100's of elk shot.... It's high shoulder shots. Lots to go wrong and a good chance you will have to finish the job when you get there. I prefer destroyed vitals and huge blood loss for a quicker dispatch.

 

[Phil Rizzo]

I will get roasted by some, but for me after seeing 100's of elk shot.... It's high shoulder shots. Lots to go wrong and a good chance you will have to finish the job when you get there. I prefer destroyed vitals and huge blood loss for a quicker dispatch.

Do they not use a bullet for the job, or just miss the “spot” most of the time?

 

[BCJR]

Me personally: definitely the wind call, followed by not getting steady enough to get an accurate range.

For hunters I guide: not checking gear. It’s unbelievable how common loose action screws and scope mounts are! But that doesn’t apply to this crowd. We’re pretty fussy about our gear.

R I think it’s misreading the wind. Tell me what you think.

I agree with the wind. I’ve been fortunate to have hunted big game over 4 decades and it’s taken me to alot of great places. However having the time to set up on a bipod or tripod has been rare. It’s been shooting off a pack or over a rock or leaning against a tree or in Africa off shakey shooting sticks or just using a sling. I think hunters would benefit from practicing without a bipod or tripod or bench.

 

[J2shooter]

One of the biggest mistakes hunters make is to let doubt creep in and then to stop believing that the animal you’re after is about to walk out and present an opportunity. Once this happens the hunter quits, or at least for the most part. You don’t hunt the same if you don’t believe you will be successful. You leave early, you stop being quiet, you move too much etc, etc. you quit.

You didn’t sleep well, you busted a big buck, your foot hurts, you’re home sick, you’re tired, you haven’t seen anything……..Keep hunting like you would if you were stalking an animal that you knew was on the other side of that saddle. If you’re hunting like you don’t believe he’s over there then he probably won’t be.

 

[Broz]

Do they not use a bullet for the job, or just miss the “spot” most of the time?

Its a smaller zone and designed to take out the central nervous system as apposed to vitals. I have seen many shots go high into no man's land and shock the spine resulting in the animal dropping very quickly. Then after the inital shock they get up and take off. It can take out a main artery, but sometimes not. I just hate walking up to a wounded elk that still has strong Vitals while it watches me in fear.

 

[Joel@LRO]

One of the biggest mistakes hunters make is to let doubt creep in and then to stop believing that the animal you’re after is about to walk out and present an opportunity. Once this happens the hunter quits, or at least for the most part. You don’t hunt the same if you don’t believe you will be successful. You leave early, you stop being quiet, you move too much etc, etc. you quit.

You didn’t sleep well, you busted a big buck, your foot hurts, you’re home sick, you’re tired, you haven’t seen anything……..Keep hunting like you would if you were stalking an animal that you knew was on the other side of that saddle. If you’re hunting like you don’t believe he’s over there then he probably won’t be.

100% this is me. I have been busted from lack of focus enough times; now I try to encourage my kids and family to keep the focus. Well said.

 

[RBanta66]

How about get over confident in one's ability! Rather it be getting close to game or ones shooting ability, whether it's with a rifle or archery equipment. Just when one thinks they're on top of there game they get a big dose of HUMBLE PIE. For me that has been with archery. I practice all year long, shoot tiny little groups. Then when that opportunity at a giant buck comes along I've been unable to close the deal. Even my first archery elk hunt went that way. They still sting!!

The buck in this Pic is just one of the animals I failed to close the deal on with archery equipment.

 

[SpeyRod]

I think it’s misreading the wind. Tell me what you think.

Making excuses to not go. I have been guilty of that.

 

[Ladd]

For me it’s not going down the checklist making sure you’re setup on the rifle with good form and foundation.

Don’t rush. Maintain consistent finger, bag, and shoulder contact and then trigger control through the shot and don’t slap the trigger.

 

[jmyers]

Not practicing enough and knowing your rifle and load and not practicing because you’re afraid of recoil. Leaving in 3 weeks for CO and 2 of the 4 are going on first elk hunt. They just shot their rifles this week!

 

[FURMAN]

Not practicing enough and knowing your rifle and load and not practicing because you’re afraid of recoil. Leaving in 3 weeks for CO and 2 of the 4 are going on first elk hunt. They just shot their rifles this week!

I’ve talked to Outfitters that are charging $10-$12,000 for Elk hunts and they’ve had customers show up with the rifle, Scope, rings, and ammo all still in boxes.

 

[jmyers]

I’ve talked to Outfitters that are charging $10-$12,000 for Elk hunts and they’ve had customers show up with the rifle, Scope, rings, and ammo all still in boxes.

Unreal

 

[jmyers]

Range I belong to close to FtWayne IN I shoot steel at 300,400,600,880 and 1000 and verify with my Zeiss RF binos off tripod multiple times before I go

 

[Joel@LRO]

Making excuses to not go. I have been guilty of that.

"cant kill them from the couch" something my uncle says. good call.

 

[Dallen0427]

For me it’s not going down the checklist making sure you’re setup on the rifle with good form and foundation.

Don’t rush. Maintain consistent finger, bag, and shoulder contact and then trigger control through the shot and don’t slap the trigger.

Especially true on archery hunting. Range, pin guard centered in peep, pick the right pin, pick a tiny spot, release, follow through…….hard stuff to remember when you had a bull run in screaming……..it gets the heart pumping

 

[elkguide]

When I was guiding, my favorite time was having a hunter ride into camp and pull out a beat up, old 30-06 that they had carried for many years and shot and shot and shot.

One year a film crew was in camp and wanted to interview me as both of my hunters filled their tags opening day. The "famous hunter" asked me what I recommended that a hunter do to prepare for an elk hunt. I replied, "shoot their rifle and get in shape." He then asked, "shouldn't they get some of the perfect camouflage clothes, (that they were selling) or the scent blocker, or lure scent," (that they also sold). My reply was "if a hunter can shoot their rifle and was in shape enough to keep up with me, I would put an elk in front of them." Don't know why but they didn't use that film.

 

[BCJR]

I’ve talked to Outfitters that are charging $10-$12,000 for Elk hunts and they’ve had customers show up with the rifle, Scope, rings, and ammo all still

 

[BCJR]

After seeing Furman’s comments about hunters showing up in camp with guns and parts in boxes it reminded me of one hunt. In the early 90’s I went to the Wrangell Mts for dall sheep and caribou. I booked thru Atcheson’s as they had an excellent relationship with the outfitter who had decades of experience in the family business in that area and great horses. At the start of a hunt a group of hunters would eventually make their way to the main camp and overnight. The next day bush planes would fly each hunter into his area to meet the guide and set up for your hunt. At the main camp I spent one night with one of the hunters who was from Argentina. He had booked a 21 day hunt for sheep, moose, caribou, grizzzly and wolves. This guy was a wealthy gentleman and had never been hunting with a rifle. He shot birds in Argentina. So every piece of gear was brand new. I think Atcheson set him up with LL Bean for buying his equipment. I mean socks, tee shirts, knives, pants, hats, coats, underwear, binos, gloves, flashlights, boots….even his duffel bags were all new and unused! He had two new sako rifles in .375 and .270. I spent that night telling him what to expect and how he should work with his guide and horse. After I took my ram on 5th day my guide and I and rode back to main camp to prepare to move to o a better caribou camp. I ran into my new Argentina friend. He had a scope bite from the .375 and had taken a small moose and minimum dall sheep. He told me he was going home as he was homesick. I told him he still had over two weeks and just rest a few days at main lodge. He said no as he wanted to go home. He wanted to give me his two new sako rifles but I refused. He did go home and I doubt he ever went big game hunting again.

 

[yaremkiv]

One of the biggest mistakes hunters make is to let doubt creep in and then to stop believing that the animal you’re after is about to walk out and present an opportunity. Once this happens the hunter quits, or at least for the most part. You don’t hunt the same if you don’t believe you will be successful. You leave early, you stop being quiet, you move too much etc, etc. you quit.

You didn’t sleep well, you busted a big buck, your foot hurts, you’re home sick, you’re tired, you haven’t seen anything……..Keep hunting like you would if you were stalking an animal that you knew was on the other side of that saddle. If you’re hunting like you don’t believe he’s over there then he probably won’t be.

This is it. When I get in a pissy, doubtful headspace I'm useless as a hunter; bumping moose I should have seen from 50 yards away, forgetting to mind the wind, no longer curious about what may lie just over that hill or in that valley etc.

 

[Quicksilver]

Making excuses to not go. I have been guilty of that.

"cant kill them from the couch" something my uncle says. good call.

Exactly it. I have taken 2-3 animals on days where the night before or when the alarm goes off that I really don’t feel like it. Long season, tired, etc. but I tell myself the couch motto and wouldn’t you know it I go out and fill a tag.

For me personally it’s wind calls. I try to not take a longer shot if there’s wind, or if I’m not confident in it. Wind is something I will always have to get better at reading.

Other hunters I know…is testing your gear/rifle ahead of time. It’s always the week before the opener that someone needs me to load more ammo for them or to come shoot and check their zero. Then later on I hear about them missing a shot. I’m sure life wasn’t so busy the 10 months prior after last hunting season that would couldn’t get some range time once a month…

 

[lefty7mmstw]

Broz and a few of the others made some very valid points with shot placement and gear. That said, around here it seems a lot of hunters don't know how to read the surroundings to get a decent chance at finding game.
That glint of light from the antlers. The twitch of a tail in the bush. The fact that you need water nearby or the critter count plummets. Are there actually any tracks/ beds/ scrapes/ etc.? If not, you are likely just out for a Sunday stroll with a rifle and not actually hunting game.

 

[kww7199]

All previous posts offer very valid and meaningful points…all equally important. One I would add is patience. All too often hunters, myself included, lack sufficient patience to stay in their stand; to keep slowly working the dark timber…etc. Adequate patience dovetails into persistence…two very important ‘P’s”…

 

[Full Curl]

Buying an expensive rifle and using cheap optics and mounting hardware.

 

[tdogg]

I see too many hunters that never get out of their truck/side by side. Not putting in the work during the hunt or ahead of time to figure out the animals patterns and locations off the road/trail. Just driving around hoping to run into them literally.

Not knowing their rifles capability/dope nor their capability to shoot. I've seen first hand hunters shooting at animals that they had no chance of hitting (shooting at elk with a 308 at 600 yds that the bullet hit the dirt at about 400yds). Taking off hand shots at animals on the move.

It's the wild west out there at times!

Cheers,
Toby