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Learn Why Some Bowhunters Always Succeed!

By Trevon Stoltzfus

My grandad used to say, “If you don’t mind, then it don’t matter!” about tough situations where one had to be mentally strong. While he would always say that tongue-in-cheek, I have come to realize there was truth in his words. Our minds are very powerful, and how we use them to control our desires and willpower can make us or break us.

Most successful bowhunters would agree that bowhunting is hard. The fact that an archer has to be skillful enough to trick the eyes, ears and nose of any game animal enough to get within a bow’s limited kill zone is difficult in itself. But even more difficult is the execution of a lethal shot under that immense adrenaline and excitement.

I am sure you know someone who, every year, seems to connect on a trophy animal, while others eat a lot of tag soup. It has been said that 10 percent of bowhunters kill 90 percent of the game, and I call these guys and gals the “ten-percenters.” Is it just that these successful archery hunters are blessed with an inordinate amount of luck, or is there something more? As I continue to grow as an archer and a bowhunter, I have been fortunate to meet many great bowhunters who I look up to and try to emulate. In these mentors I have consistently seen common threads that appear in what they do and how they think which helps to give them that edge. Identifying and adopting these traits has helped me become much more successful in the field.

Visualization

For years athletes have been practicing visualization as a way to prepare for competition. Dave Beronio, a good friend and hardcore bowhunter from Nevada, used visualization before ski races to mentally practice a course. “Growing up ski racing, I was fortunate to make it to an elite level,” he says, “I was a physically fit and talented athlete, and the mental aspect was something I always enjoyed working on. I would take a seat quietly at the top of the start area and prep for my run. Multiple times I would visualize myself in the start gate looking down the course, and by moving my body with my eyes closed, I would start the course in my head. Because I knew the course setting and terrain, I could see myself making every turn and feel every movement of my body. I would visualize the fastest line I needed to take to win. By visualizing this over and over before my run, I could get on the course and then it would feel like muscle memory would take over. The course would take on a second-nature effect. Even though it would be my first run physically on the course, it would feel as though I’d been down it a dozen times already.”

For Beronio, bowhunting is no different. He goes on to explain, “Visualization is something I often do while sitting on the couch with my eyes closed or before I fall asleep at night. In my head, I play the scene over and over through to the final seconds of a hunt. In my mind, I see the animal standing there in front of me. I visualize the flight of my arrow, picturing a clean shot and follow-through. I can still picture my pin on the animal even after the arrow hits its mark.”

By visualizing these exciting moments, when most bowhunters allow their nerves to get the best of them, a successful bowhunter can react calmly as if he has already been there, if only in his mind.

I have found that visualization can play an important role in keeping me sharp while in the field. If I am in a treestand or a ground blind, I visualize a good buck walking into my ambush within easy bow range. In this exercise I expect to see that trophy, and work smoothly through the steps it will take to harvest that animal. My every motion is already thought out and planned in my mind, from grabbing my bow and attaching my release to the string, all the way through settling the pin on the vitals and releasing a perfect arrow.

Be forewarned that there is a fine line between solid visualization practices and hypnotic daydreaming. The former keeps you sharp and alert, the latter just makes you sleepy and inattentive.

Preparedness

A common trait that these elite archery hunters share is preparedness. Preparedness screams success in bowhunting. But being prepared starts way before opening day. While visualization can be an important part of preparedness, there is so much more to this characteristic found in all of the ten-percenters I interviewed.

Ray Howell is one of the most accomplished bowhunters I have ever met. “My passion for hunting and being in God’s creation has driven me to be a perfectionist in accuracy and knowing that each piece of my equipment won’t fail in order for me to make a humane harvest,” he explains. “I have three anchor points to make sure of my accuracy. I practice using the equipment I hunt with. I never change the poundage of my bow for different animals or league shooting. I use paper-tuning to tune my arrows to the bow and use visual tuning with bright fletching to set up my broadheads. I practice long distance shots out to 100 yards, which makes me a good short-range shooter. My confident hunting shots are normally 40 yards or less and seem like ‘chip shots’ after practicing long distance. I use brightly colored fletching so I know exactly where the arrow hit the animal, and that will determine when I can start tracking.”

Mark Kayser, accomplished outdoor writer and television host, has his own theory on being prepared. “Bowhunting isn’t an exact science and that’s mostly due to the variety of personalities bowhunters bring to the field,” he says. “Aggressive, passive and off-the-wall hunting styles all combine to bring diversity to the hunt. Although I miss shots, flub stalks and move in the treestand from time to time spooking mature whitetails, I still find consistent success. This is due to following a loose series of rules with the most important being my ability to operate on autopilot. You’d think this would come from hours of shooting arrows. While I do practice nonstop, particularly in the months leading up to bow season, I follow a rule I learned from professional archer and successful bowhunter Randy Ulmer. It goes something like this, ‘Practice is great, but not if you’re polishing your accuracy. Instead of trying to shoot as many arrows as possible, shoot each arrow as if it is the only arrow you get to shoot.’ It makes sense. You generally only get one shot during an encounter, so you have to make it your best shot. I practice in all different shooting positions, angles and ranges, but I don’t shoot hundreds of arrows. This routine prepares me to go on autopilot when things are happening fast, and over the years I’ve discovered my best shots have been when I have the least time to think about what’s happening.”

As I continued to interview many successful archery hunters, a theme of preparedness continued to surface.

Marc Smith, an accomplished western backcountry bowhunter states confidently, “I prepare mentally for the hunt by understanding what elements I will be up against. I pack clothing, food and equipment accordingly. I also shoot my bow so much that my shot is automatic. I then inspect every inch of every piece of my bow rig. Confidence in my bow setup is paramount. I plan for the worst and pack extra parts that are field-replaceable. I have spent countless hours in bow shops learning to be a bow technician. Knowing how to repair anything that may go wrong and having a portable bow press back at camp allows me the confidence to go as hard as I need to and as far as I can in order to be successful.”

Jace Bauserman is an outdoor writer and a spot-and-stalk genius that always seems to get the job done in the field. He says, “The most important tip I can give when it comes to being successful in the woods is having a balanced off-season routine. It’s one thing to blow smoke and regurgitate the common, ‘There is no such thing as the off-season’ phrase, but it’s quite another to actually live that lifestyle. During the off-season be sure and implement a solid physical training routine and a good diet, and shoot your bow as often as possible.”

Jerod Fink, a ten-percenter from the Midwest who has fallen in love with the challenges of western bowhunting, reveals, “Always being prepared steps a bit beyond just the physical aspects of a particular hunt. Being prepared means that you try to keep somewhat of an edge throughout the year, so when an opportunity pops up you are ready to take advantage. I’ll never miss an opportunity to go hunt something in June because I haven’t shot my bow for two months.

“Shooting and working out year-round enables us to keep that edge and be ready for any opportunity that comes our way. I’m reminded of a last-minute business trip I took to Texas in July a couple years ago. I was asked to attend a trade show only days before it started. I found a hog hunting operation close to where I was staying, brought my bow along and had a great hunt (after my work was done, of course). If I looked at hunting preparation as a September-to-November phenomenon, this would not have been possible.”

Bill Winke, popular outdoor writer and host of Midwest Whitetails says, “The best hunters are very thorough. They eliminate all the variables. Randy Ulmer comes to mind immediately as a bowhunter who is very thorough in his preparation both mentally and physically. If there is an aspect of the hunt he can control, no matter how seemingly minor, he controls it and masters it.”

“Keep up with your equipment, not just shooting daily but checking every little detail. One ‘oops’ can cost you a lifetime of work,” shares five-time world-champion turkey caller and accomplished big game hunter Chris Parrish. “Always be prepared for the big encounter. For example, I always expect to shoot a Boone and Crockett deer every time I put my foot in a stand or a 350-plus bull every time I head to the high country. I do this to prepare my mind for the monster encounter; this way a trophy animal suddenly appearing will not surprise me. Along with this, I go through shot scenarios in my mind constantly while setting up. This way no matter what happens I am mentally prepared.”

This section wouldn’t be complete without getting some words of wisdom from the master himself, and what he shared was somewhat surprising.

Randy Ulmer admits that he in fact gets nervous when it comes down to crunch time. He also had an interesting take on the theory of a bowhunter going into autopilot mode at the time of the shot. “In my mind, I don’t want to go on autopilot when making the shot,” he says. “To use that metaphor of flying, the lethal shot on a game animal is like the landing of an airplane, and if you are on autopilot you will crash. In my opinion you have to be aware of everything and still make the shot.

“It is okay to be scared and nervous, and it is what you do at that point that I call ‘courage under fire.’ One thing that helps me is I admit that I am scared and yet do the best that I can, and just understanding that fact really helps to calm me down.” Ulmer continues, “For me being prepared comes from the mistakes I have made in the past and learning from them. I try and leave no stone unturned, especially my equipment.”

As we were wrapping up our conversation, Ulmer paused and said, “I feel like I need to share one more thing.” He had my full attention as I leaned in as if I were about to receive the Holy Grail of archery. He continued, “When it comes to being prepared, one of the most important things in consistently harvesting animals is accuracy. A lot of bowhunters take it for granted, but it is in my mind one of the most important things.” Driving home the point, Ulmer cleared his throat and went on to emphasize, “There are a lot better hunters and archers out there than me, but the difference is at 40 yards I hit what I shoot at!” He went on to clarify, “I am not try to be a braggart or egocentric but the importance of a lethal shot over missing or wounding an animal is huge. You have to be able to shoot accurately to consistently kill trophy animals.”

Persistence

Persistence was another common factor that was spoken of eagerly by almost every one of the distinguished panel of bowhunters I interviewed. Jace Bauserman states, “I have found that persistence covers a multitude of errors. Understand, I am not saying to take the savvy out of your bowhunting, but everybody messes up. It is the guys who keep going, keep trying and never quit who bag their game on a consistent basis.”

As I continued to compare the notes and comments from the successful bowhunters I interviewed, I was surprised by how much they talked about failure. It was even to the point where they seemed like they expected it. Randy Ulmer discussed his thoughts on failure by saying, “Bowhunting is a sport where you fail the vast majority of the time, and you have to realize that somewhere between 1 in 5 to 1 in 10 stalks will actually be successful. If you can live with those odds and still enjoy bowhunting then you will be more successful.”

Understanding and accepting that failure is a part of bowhunting and persevering through that is vital to your success. Dan Staton, an accomplished archery hunter and fitness guru, succinctly shares his philosophy on persistence saying, “Resilience is the key—you only fail when you do not get up!”

Another key factor that runs commonly through elite bowhunters is a competitive tenacity. I noticed that the majority of them hate to lose at anything. This trait comes in handy when the going gets tough. Kirk Edgerton, a hardcore bowhunter from northern California states confidently, “You have to never give up. You have got to have a do-or-die attitude on the mountain. Do not accept failure as the final result, but rather make things happen. Use the entire day to hunt, glass and study animals. Ask yourself what you’re doing to find and harvest your target animal every minute of the day.”

Chad Baart, another successful archery hunter from Idaho and founder of Hunters Journey Magazine puts it this way, “Just when you think that it’s time to head back to the comfort of your easy chair, that is the time that you need to focus the hardest. Weather patterns and moon phases alter favorable conditions that one may be used to, but even then that bull elk or buck of a lifetime may be just around the next bend. Pushing through difficult times to make it happen yields a satisfaction that is second to none when it all comes together.”

One point that was brought up by Jerod Fink was the issue of time. I had never really looked at time in the field as a factor in tipping the scales in the favor of a successful bowhunter. Fink made a great point in saying, “In the context of bowhunting, time means structuring your life to maximize the time you can spend in the field. Having a job or career that takes 90 hours a week of work from August to December is not something conducive to hunting success. Work and life schedules need to be structured to maximize your amount of time in the field when seasons are open.” Time is important, as persistence is born out of time and a resilient attitude.

I have also come to understand that when these future bowhunting hall-of-famers say that they will never quit, it is said with a grain of salt. Ulmer said it best when he told me, “There actually is a time to quit, and there is a time to back off. Weather, safety issues or understanding that you as a bowhunter may have a very low-percentage chance of taking that buck or bull on a particular stalk, might be the exact time to quit. You might need to back out and try again on another day or regroup and use another technique. Quitting, under some circumstances, can actually help you be more successful on another day.”

Motivation

One of the most fascinating portions of my interviews was when the panel of archery hunters, who I respect as the cream of the crop, spoke of fighting to stay motivated. I was a little surprised to hear that even these guys have to work to stay sharp in the field, and excited to hear how they do it.

Kirk Edgerton shared some secrets he uses in the field. “One of the main things I focus on is past success. When things are tough and critters sparse, I think about past hunts that ended in success. You’ve got to stay positive and avoid the ‘funk.’ I’ll even flip through my camera looking at old photos; this always keeps me mentally in the game and motivated.” Edgerton went on to explain, “I also think about what I’ve called the ‘six-second rule.’ In six seconds I can shoot the trophy of a lifetime—am I ready? This keeps me looking, scanning, and eagerly awaiting what’s around the next hill, canyon or around the corner. It takes a brief second to spot an animal, a second to range him, then a few seconds to anchor and release. Six seconds is all I need, it sounds odd, but on tough days, it keeps me going.”

Competitiveness again rings true in a bowhunter staying motivated. Edgerton finishes his thoughts about staying motivated in the backcountry by sharing, “Even seeing other hunters inspires me. When I see other hunters on the mountain, I get competitive and think about where they won’t go and what they won’t do. I know I can out-hunt, out-think and out-climb them, and I think about a new strategy. More often than not, it gets me fired up and exploring a new locale or changing up my tactics.”

Chad Baart explains, “The contest for me is not shooting the animal of a lifetime, getting bigger horns than the next guy or even earning bragging rights. The contest for me is within my environment and myself. I have often enjoyed warm campfires, comfortable beds and microwaves, but the hunts that have meant the most were those waking in a cold camp with several inches of snow on my tarp wondering ‘Why am I here?’ To me it’s proving to myself that persistency and perseverance pays off.” To Baart the competitive struggle within is a huge motivating factor.

Dan Staton states plainly that a bowhunter has to “believe they will succeed,” and quotes Viktor Frankl to make his point, “Success, like happiness, cannot be pursued; it must ensue.” Staton also believes that his bowhunting success comes from seeking the edge, which in his words is, “The ability to take more out of yourself than you’ve got.”

Another interesting tactic that most of these ten-percenters shared with me was that most of them looked up to someone who, in their opinion, was a better hunter. I continually heard stories of the importance of emulation, and in Staton’s words, “There’s always someone better than you—learn from them!”

Aggressive Adaptability

In this last characteristic I found a quality in common that I did not expect. To be honest, I would have bet the farm that consistent hunting tactics would have been what has paid off so big for these bowhunters over the years. The opposite proved true, and many of the bowhunters I interviewed attributed much of their success to their aggressive adaptability.

Mark Kayser explains, “I tend to toss tradition out the window. Instead of following what books, magazines and TV shows tout as the best tactic, I’ll break the rules. I love going on the ground for whitetails, especially during the ruckus of the rut. If the elk aren’t cooperating and coming to a call it’s a no-brainer for me. I go to them and try to sneak in as close as possible. I also enjoy deceiving animals with calls and decoys and oftentimes not in the manner described in the instruction manuals. I once decoyed a whitetail from the ground by sitting in standing corn, rattling, grunting, thrashing corn and moving the decoy. A buck saw the commotion out in the picked portion of the field and ran straight to the edge giving me a 20-yard shot.”

JT Harden, co-host of the popular Hardcore Hunting TV show, attributes a lot of his success to his adaptability and says, “Your reaction to the animal and the situation is critical. You have to have the ability to change your tactics quickly no matter what happens.”

Over the years I have seen many unsuccessful hunters that sit the same treestand or sit over the same elk wallow because six years ago they took a buck or a bull from that position. By being flexible, reading the animal and making the necessary adjustments in your calling, hunting strategies or hunting area, a hunter can be more of a predator than simply a creature of habit that leans heavily on luck.

You Can Succeed!

This journey of understanding the mind of a successful bowhunter has been a voyage of over ten years. No one can deny that there is a drastic difference in the bowhunter that consistently takes trophy animals and the ones that don’t. With the traits and characteristics I have shared in this article, I hope to bring each one of us closer to understanding what it is and what it takes to be a ten-percenter.

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