Each hunter defines success differently

[Scott M]

An interesting and often overlooked fact of all hunting experiences

Each Hunter defines success differently

by Doug Leier, Fargo-Moorhead InForum

Nov. 27, 2012

Fargo - Quality and success are two of the more difficult terms with which fisheries and wildlife managers struggle. In fact, many hunters and anglers would probably nod in agreement that defining quality and success is about as easy as explaining a normal weather pattern.

It boils down to each hunter and angler’s personal definition of what makes a quality outing or a successful hunting or fishing trip. Trying to meet those expectations is an ongoing responsibility for natural resource management agencies.

During a typical North Dakota deer season, the State Game and Fish Department expects hunter success to come in at around 70 percent. Even at that high level, however, about 30 percent of hunters don’t fill a tag.

If you think about it, though, not everyone who gets a deer is completely satisfied or feels they had a quality hunt. On the other hand, some people who don’t get a deer have much more positive experiences than some people who are successful.

The bottom line is, simply filling a deer tag is not the only factor defining quality or success. It’s kind of like going to a restaurant. If your only expectation was to leave the place no longer feeling hungry, you’d be pretty easy to please. Wouldn’t matter if the food was cold, or you had to eat out of a pot with 10 other guys at the same table.

However, if you wanted a choice of steak, chicken or seafood, with a side salad and a table by yourself, all with red carpet service, you’d go to a place with higher expectations for quality.

Some people go fishing with hopes of catching two walleyes, and if they catch three, they feel more than successful. Someone who expects a limit and only gets three might call the Game and Fish Department to complain about the lack of fish. Or, they might catch zero fish and call it the best outing of the year because the weather was great and they were out in it.

Some hunters would rather walk several miles to a place isolated from vehicles, just so the potential for interaction with other hunters is limited. Others prefer a two-track trail on which to drive to closer proximity of their hunting stand.

Keep this in mind through all of your outdoor adventures, from late season pheasants and archery deer into ice fishing or winter predator hunting and trapping. Only you are in control of your expectations and attitude.

Also remember that most natural resource management agency employees also don camouflage and cast Zebcos. They face the same obstacles and also have varying definitions when the terms success and quality are thrown around both in business and pleasure circles.

Odds are that if you asked three different hunters and anglers for their definition of quality and success, you’ll be hard pressed to find any consensus.

We’re fortunate in North Dakota to have enough wildlife and space so most hunters and anglers can have a reasonable chance for achieving their personal expectations. The challenge for managing agencies is to maintain that variety so most people – we’ll never please everyone – are satisfied with their outdoor experiences ... most of the time.

Leier, a biologist for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department in West Fargo, can be reached at [email protected]

[CC Hurl]

+1 Well said da_chise31. So much truth to what you just posted. Being out there is first for me and filling a tag or catching a fish is the bonus. Our expectations are all different but the opportunity is there for those willing to get out there and experience it. Just wish I had more time to take it all in.

[Musky Buck]

Good article, really good, thankfully I don't expect anything, I try my best and if it works out it works out but if it doesn't it doesn't. I don't have to purchase a hunting or fishing license and it doesn't come with any guarantee's, if it did I wouldn't want to hunt or fish anymore. At my age now, it's all about my nephews, my aging dad, the others I hunt or fish with, I've been there done that, have 33 deer on the ground, roughly 200 ducks, 400 geese, 250 muskies, enough walleyes, some pheasants, I don't need to put anything in the back of the truck anymore, I'd like to see more bigger bucks around so I'm trying to work with the neighbors on that, that's about it, good article.

[B. Amish]

Doug Leier does some good stuff. i hear him on the radio all the time giving messages for nd game and fish. i wish mn dnr would do something similar.

[dustin85]

Good article! One of the better posts I've seen in a long time!

[pikerliker]

I like this too da_chise. I would also like add "success" or a "shooter" is all relevent to what you have available to you IMO. It might take someone just as much (or more) work to get a doe or a basket rack on public land as it would take somebody else to get a wall hanger who is hunting private land, food plots, etc. Sometimes it's apples and oranges.