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Become A PredatorOne of the reasons humans aren't successful when they hunt is because theydon't become a hunter. Putting on hunting clothes and picking up a huntingweapon does not make you a hunter. Taking a weapon into the field with theintention of hunting does not make you a hunter, or maybe it does. It does notmake you what you should be if you want to be good as a hunter, what yourancestors were; which was a predator. The difference between a hunter and a predator is that the predator has anintimate knowledge of the game in the area, the area itself, and knows where tofind the game at the current time of year, time of day and under the currentenvironmental conditions. If you have hunted the same property for severalyears you know what I mean. The more experience you have on a particular property the more familiaryou are with it. The more experience you have hunting the better your huntingskills and hunting techniques will be. The more experience you have hunting aparticular species the more you will know how it reacts at particular times ofthe year and times of the day under different environmental conditions. Themore experience you have hunting a particular species on a particular propertythe better you will be at predicting where to find the animals on that propertyunder all conditions. To be successful as a predator you have to know; 1. theland, 2. the species, 3. how the species will react under all environmentalconditions, 4. have experience hunting the species, 5. use proven, successfulhunting techniques, 6. be a good hunter. One of the biggest problems for the hunter is not knowing the land.Hunters don't know the land because they may not have hunted it before or havenot spent enough time and effort scouting it. No one can teach you the land.You have to learn it yourself; and the more hours and years you spend on it themore you will about know it. You can cut corners by getting information fromsomeone who knows it, and by having and being able to use topographical mapsand aerial photos. Maps and photos will give you an idea where the preferredhabitat of the game is. But, if you don't understand the game you won't know what type of habitatit prefers and where to find it under all environmental conditions. You canlearn about the game by reading, listening to others and watching videos andthe game itself. The more time and effort you put into trying to understand thegame the better you will be at predicting where, and when to find it. The bestway to learn about the game is to research it thoroughly to gain all theknowledge you can, then spend time and effort watching and hunting the gameyourself. Knowledge is only a partial substitute for personal experience. You can learn hunting techniques, but without good hunting skills, learnedthrough personal experience, even the best hunting techniques won't do you anygood. Hunting skills (being quiet, unseen, unscented and a proficient shot)must be sharpened by putting them into practice over several years. The traitsof patience, perseverance, persistence and curiosity are possessed by predatorsand can be taught through self discipline. These traits and skills must becombined to make a good predatory hunter. Knowing you should stay downwind of big game; knowing when to sit stilland be quiet; knowing that if you hunt all day you're chances of seeing gameare good; and doing it, is not the same thing. Knowing there may be an animaljust over the next hill, and going to find out is two different things. Knowingthat sitting it out in cold, windy, wet weather will probably help your chancesof seeing a trophy whitetail buck, and suffering through the weather is twodifferent things. Knowing that putting in more time and effort will help youlearn more, see more and become a better hunter, is not doing it. Reading andlistening can help you know and understand, but you have to supply the time,effort and experience if you want to become a predatory hunter If you are interested in more hunting tips, or more biology and behavior, clickon Trinity Mountain Outdoor News and T.R.'s Hunting Tips at www.TRMichels.com.If you have questions about whitetails log on to the T.R.'s Tips message board.To find out when the rut starts, peaks and ends in your area click on WhitetailRut Dates Chart. This article is an excerpt from the Whitetail Addict's Manual ($19.95 + $5.00S&H), by T.R. Michels, available in the Trinity Mountain Outdoor Productscatalog. T.R. Michels is a nationally recognized game researcher/wildlife behaviorist,outdoor writer and speaker. He is the author of the Whitetail, Elk, Duck &Goose, and Turkey Addict's Manuals. His latest products are the 2003 RevisedEdition of the Whitetail Addict's Manual, the 2003 Revised Edition of the ElkAddict's Manual; and the 2003 Revised Edition of the Duck & Goose Addict'sManual. For a catalog of books and other hunting products contact: T.R.Michels, Trinity Mountain Outdoors, E-mail: trmichels@yahoo.com Web Site:www.TRMichels.com
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