Ghost
Life Member
Great question River...
I'm kind of laughing to myself right now.....
Have you ever shared an approach to a morning stand with someone that didn't learn how to carry their feet in the timber.
You are going heal to toe trying not to snap a small twig and they are behind you sounding like there is an elephant following you.
Qualities of a woodsman.....
- The ablility to be a part of the woods, not just be in the woods.
- The ability to read the "sign" and know how to put it all together. Every deer track, rub, scrape, bed, sheds found, droppings, trails, lay of the land, all paint a big picture. Everyone can see the same picture, but it gives everyone a different meaning.
Woodsmanship is not about killing deer, but will help greatly in this effort.
A true woodsman is a element of the environment, not in the environment.
A true woodsman is a never ending student of all things in that environment. To him, it's not just the ability to identify certain deer behaviors. It's about what makes deer behave the way they do.
Wow, sorry I got a little windy
I'm kind of laughing to myself right now.....
Have you ever shared an approach to a morning stand with someone that didn't learn how to carry their feet in the timber.
You are going heal to toe trying not to snap a small twig and they are behind you sounding like there is an elephant following you.
Qualities of a woodsman.....
- The ablility to be a part of the woods, not just be in the woods.
- The ability to read the "sign" and know how to put it all together. Every deer track, rub, scrape, bed, sheds found, droppings, trails, lay of the land, all paint a big picture. Everyone can see the same picture, but it gives everyone a different meaning.
Woodsmanship is not about killing deer, but will help greatly in this effort.
A true woodsman is a element of the environment, not in the environment.
A true woodsman is a never ending student of all things in that environment. To him, it's not just the ability to identify certain deer behaviors. It's about what makes deer behave the way they do.
Wow, sorry I got a little windy
K
Kat
Guest
Wow, great answer Ghost.
That’s pretty much what I was thinking - blending in, not camo wise but actually becoming part of the land, as natural there as any branch or tree. To me it also means being comfortable with yourself and your knowledge of the land and not entering into a situation that you were not ready for, i.e. an unguided hunt for an unfamiliar species in new and difficult terrain. Plus the basics like plant identification, animal behavior, tracking and reading sign etc
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A true woodsman is a never ending student of all things in that environment.
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I agree 100%
Kat mentioned the basics such as plant identification. Knowing those little things that make up the environment always seem to add to the experience. There is so much to learn it seems a person could never know all, but it sure is fun being the student.
It bugs me not to know what kind of tree I'm looking at, or what kind of plants. I've been fortunate to have hunting partner's who are true woodsmen. One is a biologist, he's been my go to man for a long while.
I would also consider basic camping and survival skills part of being a woodsman.
A true woodsman is a never ending student of all things in that environment.
[/ QUOTE ]
I agree 100%
Kat mentioned the basics such as plant identification. Knowing those little things that make up the environment always seem to add to the experience. There is so much to learn it seems a person could never know all, but it sure is fun being the student.
It bugs me not to know what kind of tree I'm looking at, or what kind of plants. I've been fortunate to have hunting partner's who are true woodsmen. One is a biologist, he's been my go to man for a long while.
I would also consider basic camping and survival skills part of being a woodsman.
Ghost
Life Member
This topic may not get many posts added to it.
Woodsmanship is something that seems to gets overlooked these days on the way to the store for the latest and greatest hunting gadget.
Take your beginning hunters to the timber first, then to the store when you think they are ready.
Woodsmanship is something that seems to gets overlooked these days on the way to the store for the latest and greatest hunting gadget.
Take your beginning hunters to the timber first, then to the store when you think they are ready.
Shredder
Life Member
I try to envision myself as becoming part of the woods as if it were my living room when I am there. I look at the terrain , tracks, creeks, and trees as in depth as I can while trying to move thru in a stealth like mentality. Woodsmanship the way I percieve it was well summed up by Ghost in the first reply and is a constant upward learning curve.
FurDog
Member
Nice Post. . . .
I'd say part of that definition of woodsmanship is that neither man nor beast knows that you are there, or have been there...leaving no sign that you've even been through their domain.
It irks me to find trash when I'm fishing or hunting and more and more public lands are getting worse, especially fishing areas.
Regarding plant identification - great point, unfortunately I think I still need a flash card for Poison IVY !
I'd say part of that definition of woodsmanship is that neither man nor beast knows that you are there, or have been there...leaving no sign that you've even been through their domain.
It irks me to find trash when I'm fishing or hunting and more and more public lands are getting worse, especially fishing areas.
Regarding plant identification - great point, unfortunately I think I still need a flash card for Poison IVY !
hillrunner
PMA Member
I know what you mean Ghost. This is the same person who will talk in his normal voice while your approaching a piece of timber while you whisper under your breath back to him and he never seems to catch on.
I also know hunters who head out the 1st day of gun season on ground they havent set foot on since the season prior, head towards there usual spot with no consideration of wind direction or anything else for that matter.
Send the ordinary person down a trail through the woods and when they come out the other side ask them what they saw and theyll say, Uh, woods.
Send a woodsman (woodsperson for Kat) down the same trail an hour later and when they come out the other side ask them what they saw and theyll say, A lot of white oaks and it looks like itll be a good acorn crop this year, two does that were trying to circle around me unnoticed, where some turkeys had been feeding this morning, a number of good deer trails that bisect and, from the looks of it, are used to get to the crop fields a half mile to the West, a few rubs in a cluster of basswood one that has been used for several years, a shed, and I picked up some gum wrappers and an empty water bottle from the person that went before me.
Send a woodsman (woodsperson for Kat) down the same trail an hour later and when they come out the other side ask them what they saw and theyll say, A lot of white oaks and it looks like itll be a good acorn crop this year, two does that were trying to circle around me unnoticed, where some turkeys had been feeding this morning, a number of good deer trails that bisect and, from the looks of it, are used to get to the crop fields a half mile to the West, a few rubs in a cluster of basswood one that has been used for several years, a shed, and I picked up some gum wrappers and an empty water bottle from the person that went before me.
Windwalker
Life Member
What it means to me: Tracking even on dry ground. The calls of every bird and their alarm calls . Feeling whats there that you can't see . Knowing what a animal is thinking by their stance .Watching the the wind and its shifting gusts.
Reading the clouds knowing what the day is throwing at you.
Reading the clouds knowing what the day is throwing at you.
alaskanwhtail
New Member
I always liked the phrase "Blend In or Go Hungry". To me this means alot, a life long preditor that thrives off the land, and never comes home empty handed. Woodsmanship, to me means to be able to live off the land, a talent in every department. We as humans don't gain woodsmanship sitting on the couch every opportunity. Time spent afield is the only way you get it, magazines, and other lititure tell you about it. Its up to you to be a better woodsman.
Ghost, I hear you about some Joe out there across the ridge draging his feet.
I met a true woodsman, It was a hunting trip into the Brooks Range, with grizzlies on mined. Jeff Poor was his name, he has been living out there by himself since vietnam. This guy lives off the land. He is a true woodsman, He is now 68 and can still pack a very hefty pack. If he needs a new axe handle he shoots older caribou bulls, His wife lives in a bush town and flys in to see him a couple times a year. The knowledge this man taught me in ten days was absolutly incredible. He is my role model.
Ghost, I hear you about some Joe out there across the ridge draging his feet.
I met a true woodsman, It was a hunting trip into the Brooks Range, with grizzlies on mined. Jeff Poor was his name, he has been living out there by himself since vietnam. This guy lives off the land. He is a true woodsman, He is now 68 and can still pack a very hefty pack. If he needs a new axe handle he shoots older caribou bulls, His wife lives in a bush town and flys in to see him a couple times a year. The knowledge this man taught me in ten days was absolutly incredible. He is my role model.
J
JakeF
Guest
Great post, I believe Ghost and the rest of you guys and gals hit my feelings perfect.I like to learn something new evertime I go out and ever day out there is priceless. That guy behind you dragging his feet behind you is classis what about when a turkeys on top of you or coming in and the guy you take hunting is moving around and bobing his head around trying to see the bird.
kbgibby
Threebeards
Ditto to all that's been said. I think it takes being out there enough that you don't simply see, hear, feel and smell the outdoors but can take the experience from your senses and use it to recreate that environment in your mind and how all the pieces fit together. The more in tune you are (i.e. the better the woodsman) the quicker and easier your mind processes the sensory information.
Think crisp November morning ... can't you already smell the damp leaves or a fresh scrape, hear the rustle of wind, catch sight of that horizontal line of a buck's back against the vertical tree trunks ...
threebeards
Think crisp November morning ... can't you already smell the damp leaves or a fresh scrape, hear the rustle of wind, catch sight of that horizontal line of a buck's back against the vertical tree trunks ...
threebeards
I hope I don't offend but I think most of the woodsmen are older hunters who grew up hunting small game as kids when there wern't any deer or turkeys arround here. To hunt squirrels you had to know how to move quietly through the woods and how and where to find food sources and how to slip into a grove and become part of the folage. You talk about plant identifacation. I'm amazed at the number of people who don't know common trees let alone the difference between posin ivy and creeper or grape vines. we all need to both learn and teach these skills instead of relying on modern technology to hunt. The Cherokee never had climbing tree stands, or scent loc, or fall a way rests, but they ate venison almost every day when there were fewer deer than there are today.
Blaster
PMA Member
[ QUOTE ]
Have you ever shared an approach to a morning stand with someone that didn't learn how to carry their feet in the timber.
You are going heal to toe trying not to snap a small twig and they are behind you sounding like there is an elephant following you.
[/ QUOTE ]
Been there many times! It's like someone draging there nails across a chalk board!
Have you ever shared an approach to a morning stand with someone that didn't learn how to carry their feet in the timber.
You are going heal to toe trying not to snap a small twig and they are behind you sounding like there is an elephant following you.
[/ QUOTE ]
Been there many times! It's like someone draging there nails across a chalk board!
THA4
A Few Steps Ahead Of You
It is a skill that is earned and learned, not necessarly gifted with, but one that takes develpment. and not classroom development either, time in the woods is the only educator.
to me, as mentioned above a few years ago, woodsmanship is the ability to become a part of the woods, understanding what makes it what it is, (every aspect) and being able to exist, then leave with as little disturbance as possible. like i was never there.
i take great effort in this and pride myself at being a woodsman.
my .02 cents
to me, as mentioned above a few years ago, woodsmanship is the ability to become a part of the woods, understanding what makes it what it is, (every aspect) and being able to exist, then leave with as little disturbance as possible. like i was never there.
i take great effort in this and pride myself at being a woodsman.
my .02 cents