Building Confidence on the Hunting Field: Why It’s Important and How to Do It

There are a lot of factors that go into becoming a successful hunter. Learning tracking techniques, developing shooting skill, studying animal behavior, and determining the best spots to go are a few of the most important ones that come to mind. But hunting is not just about the equipment you use, the knowledge you have, or what you do with them, it’s also about the mentality you have when you’re out on the field.

Part of being a successful hunter is also being patient, disciplined, and dedicated. The crucial ingredient to achieving those things? Confidence.

Why Confidence Matters to Your Hunting Success

Simply put, without confidence, you lose motivation. If you don’t believe you CAN find or hit that deer or moose, you won’t see things through as long as it might take to find out. Every hunter knows that your luck and circumstances can change in a minute. You might spend hours in the same spot and decide it’s time to pick up and move, when suddenly a black bear emerges from the trees across from you.

If you quit too early, believing that your chances at bagging your game are hopeless, you could miss out on the shot of a lifetime. When you trust in the process and believe in the possibilities, it’s easier to practice the patience and discipline that is often necessary to succeed on a hunt.

When you second guess yourself, your performance suffers.

Think about the type of quiet and focus you need when you’re about to take a shot. When there’s a voice in the back of your head constantly wondering if your aim is right, when to time it, etc., then your mentality will be disrupted and your shot won’t be as precise or your hand as steady. When you’re confident in your abilities, you’re more likely to take chances, learn new skills and tricks, and have more opportunities for success.

How to Become a More Confident Hunter

Fortunately, low confidence on the hunting field is something that can be solved with enough time and effort on your part. Just as you would with any aspect of hunting, such as learning how to use a new weapon or track a new animal, you need to address your lack of confidence by first identifying the problem, determining what you need to solve it, and putting those solutions to work in the field.

Determine the areas in which you’re lacking confidence.

If you’ve been feeling insecure in your abilities as a hunter, take some time to really think about the specific areas that are making you feel inadequate. Do you spend hours trying to find a moose with no luck? Or, can you find the animal easily but then choke when it comes time to take your shot? Parsing out your strengths and weaknesses will help direct your focus and give you an initial confidence boost by recognizing which of your skills you DO feel good about.

Do some research.

Once you’ve determined what you need to work on, spend some time researching information that will help you improve. It might be studying the best locations for your preferred game, learning more about the animal’s behavior, or researching tracking strategies. Either way, the more knowledge you have, the more confident you’ll feel putting it to use on the field.

Practice, practice, practice!

You probably already know this, but the more you do something, the better you get at it! Hone your skills at the shooting range, practice tracking local wildlife, and put your other research to the test before you head out on a hunt. Practice during the pre-season, off-season, in between trips, and whenever you can. The more you practice, the more confident you’ll be when your moment finally comes.

If you’re looking for the perfect spot to build your moose hunting confidence during the upcoming season, look no further than Lawrence Bay Lodge! The hunting grounds in our area of Saskatchewan are some of the best for hunters looking to take home a bull moose. Plus, if you choose to go with one of our guides, they’ll share the best tips and tricks to help you build the confidence you need when you take your shot.

Contact us today to reserve a guided moose hunt for this fall!