Feb 9, 2019 4 min read

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

That being said, it is less important when calling a long beard than when I am looking for a bear or a whitetail deer. The difference is that 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 of his or her location. 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 on trying. I have beaten my head against a tree and 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 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 all 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. Now if I miss, it is my own 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. Now the buck may not have been large or in the right spot, but still I have always 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 that matter the first week but it will show. It might be in a tangle enjoying a rest or it might be heading for the next farm but I will see one. It is confidence that if you keep trying, one buck will appear. After all, the hunter can lose one day and he will still be out the next day.

Finally, on the other side of the coin, the deer or animal can make only one mistake. With odds like that, it is hard to not be confident. So when every path leads to failure, keep that in mind. Along with those three words: Patience, Perseverance and Confidence.