The Evolution of the Sportsman

May is knocking on the door and that means turkey hunting for those of us who prefer consumptive outdoor pursuits like hunting and fishing. Lately I am finding that I get as much satisfaction out of introducing new hunters to the sport as I do drawing a bead on a gobbler myself.

Some studies have been conducted to determine the evolution or stages hunters (and I think fishermen) go through as they age. Those stages in my words are:

SHOOTER STAGE
This is generally a very young person who gets satisfaction from lots of encounters. Easily bored, he wants and needs many opportunities at game and fish. Success is less important than the sheer excitement of a lot of action.

LIMITING-OUT STAGE
Action is still important, but at this stage the sportsman ultimately wants to be successful. Limiting out, filling a game tag, and hefting a stringer of fish are most critical.

TROPHY STAGE
At this point the sportsman becomes more selective. He seeks out the biggest deer, the most mature turkey gobbler, and the largest trophy fish. Getting a “wall hanger” is the barometer for success and satisfaction.

METHOD STAGE
Hunting and fishing has now become an obsession. The sportsman scouts year-round for the best stand sites and the most productive waters. They want more of a challenge and will often start hunting with a bow and muzzleloader and fishing with a fly rod. Being successful is still important, but how he goes about it takes priority.

SPORTSMAN STAGE
Our sportsman is now a bit long in the tooth. It’s the journey, not the destination, that is now important. The company of friends and family in the outdoors takes precedence over the game. He may start joining conservation groups and volunteering to mentor young sportsmen and women. A personal ethic has been established and he has developed a love and respect for the natural world and wants to share that with others.

These are generalities—not all sportsmen go through these stages, in this order, or even reach the final level. Factors such as how and when one was introduced to outdoor sports, geographic location, role models, and how many years are under a person’s belt will often determine the evolution.

A more recent study condenses the evolution of hunters into three types and may be more accurate for those of us residing in Maine:

UTILITARIAN/MEAT HUNTERS
Many of us in Maine hunt strictly for the meat. Some will even pass on a mature buck for a plump spike or a tender doe. “Can’t eat the horns” is a common phrase up here. Throwing back a trout in the catch-and-release model doesn’t make a lot of sense to a utilitarian hunter. Many of this type have raised farm animals for slaughter, creating a pragmatic outlook, where wild game is seen as a “harvestable” renewable resource.

NATURE HUNTERS
This is when an individual values his role and participation in nature as a crucial element in his hunting and fishing life. This sportsman is likely to be as much a hiker as he is a consumptive sportsman. He has a high knowledge of animals and nature in general and understands his role in wildlife management. Being a predator is seen as a natural opportunity to become an integral part of nature.

SPORT HUNTERS
These are the hunters that are most maligned by the nonhunting and antihunting contingent. Studies have shown that this group has less knowledge of nature and animals than the other two types. Hunting is more of a competition and mastery over the natural world—an exercise less for procurement of food or integrating into nature, and more for trophies to display to other hunters.

Looking back, I can recognize how I progressed through the various stages, stumbling a bit and getting mired in one or another. My guess is I am a blend of the Utilitarian/Meat Hunter and Nature Hunter phases; I like venison and trout on my plate but also enjoy the challenge of outwitting a racked buck and catching a cow striped bass.

But as old man time tracks me down, an overall stewardship and appreciation for the natural world has become my focus, and opportunities to share that with others, my ambition.

How about you? Where do you fit in at this point in your outdoor career? Where would you like to end up?

Brad Eden is an artist, writer, Registered Maine Master Guide, and owner/editor of the online magazine www.uplandjournal.com.