Professional or Jack of all trades?

I often have discussions with my hunting peers on various hunting styles and various species. We recently asked ourselves......what are we really good at?

We read all the hunting magazines, the incredible stories of chasing all kinds of game species across Canada. We read many online posts of everyone’s successes and mishaps. In almost all cases we are able to carry on a conversation and compare it to some kind of relatedable situation that’s happened to us. So we began to wonder. What if? What if we stopped trying to cover all the bases and focused on one or two species? Would we be experts? More successful?
Does it even matter?

I guess what im interested in, is how many of you guys chase all that Ontario has to offer versus specializing in one or two species?

Personally I have just about done it all. From small game to big game at one time or another in the last 20 years I have had the luck to be part of many hunts. I have yet to go out for Elk in Ontario, that’s about it. I am no real expert in anything, just a jack of all trades hunter. I equally enjoy all of it.

So, what’s your story? Expert or Jack of all trades?

I'd call myself and expert jack of all trades. by being versatile it keeps you busy 12 months out of the year. Granted there activities I do when there is nothing else to do and activities I do above all else. I fish and hunt to have fun it may not be the way the expert specialist might do it but it works for me.

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Originally Posted by Birdbuff

I often have discussions with my hunting peers on various hunting styles and various species. We recently asked ourselves......what are we really good at?

We read all the hunting magazines, the incredible stories of chasing all kinds of game species across Canada. We read many online posts of everyone’s successes and mishaps. In almost all cases we are able to carry on a conversation and compare it to some kind of relatedable situation that’s happened to us. So we began to wonder. What if? What if we stopped trying to cover all the bases and focused on one or two species? Would we be experts? More successful?
Does it even matter?

I guess what im interested in, is how many of you guys chase all that Ontario has to offer versus specializing in one or two species?

Personally I have just about done it all. From small game to big game at one time or another in the last 20 years I have had the luck to be part of many hunts. I have yet to go out for Elk in Ontario, that’s about it. I am no real expert in anything, just a jack of all trades hunter. I equally enjoy all of it.

So, what’s your story? Expert or Jack of all trades?

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Interesting querie.

From my standpoint, every time I become "a professional " the excitement fades. I wish to be challenged in what I do be it outdoors related or otherwise. I will gladly stay a jack of all trades and continue to enjoy the excitement of being outwitted by nature more times than not.

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I don't think I would even call myself a jack of all trades for hunting. I'm somewhat knowledgeable but I am always learning.

I think I am a jack of all trades because I enjoy building the entire house(hunting all game), from choosing the right plan (scouting) to picking the finishes, (tree-stands/decoys/setup locations etc...) maybe my drywall taping isn't too good at times (shot hit ratio) and at times frustrates me but building the entire house on my own, makes me feel a sense of pride. If I only focused on one thing (drywall for example) then it would feel like a job and I already have one of those... :)

Most of all, I identify myself as a deer hunter. I’ve had hunting licences for over 40 years, but only started hunting deer with passion for 35 years. I read a ton about deer and deer hunting and take that knowledge into the field to ground truth it. I’m not vain enough to call myself an expert or professional but consider my skills and knowledge to be above average. I could fill my tags annually but normally don’t as I like to hold out for a mature buck. I get more enjoyment locating and exploring new locations than actually shooting a deer.

Seeing as no one pays me to hunt and instead I pay to do it I would definitely rule out professional. I will hunt anything and laugh at myself when i fail in epic fashion. Lately been focused on deer, bear, turkey, grouse and bunnies with the odd coyote thrown in.

What is a professional hunter anyway? . Just because someone is on T.V i don't consider them an expert or professional. As for myself, Im like an all season tire. I'm good at everything but not best at just one thing and i'm happy this way. Theres always things to learn and that keeps me interested. When I find hunting or fishing easy, I most likely won't do it anymore. I like getting deer fever and I love my heart pumping when a Tom gobbles behind me. These things keep me alive.

For few years i was trying and doing everything-grouse,rabbit,waterfowl,turkey,deer,moose.And bear- as a "side"activity along the annual moose hunt.
Way back i realized ,any time i am out hunting "any"species ,i am watching everything deer related(rubs,scrapes,beds,trails etc)so i dropped all small game,and do hunt deer.Mostly.
I am into moose almost every year again,and bear as a "side"activity along the moose hunt.
I think i got a lot of knowledge about deer hunting from many trials and errors,books,friends and videos ,yet hunting Pay for use Public land in Southern Ontario can be a challenge..........

I have fished the Detroit river for about 45years now. If you want spring walleye I can bring you to some guaranteed spots. :)

Started out hunting bunnies & moved up from there.

Now I concentrate on Deer & Turkey hunting. I'm not in the position & don't have the time to trophy hunt. I hunt and fish for food & now prefer the good eating animals. Big bucks and big Tom's are nice to see when there mounted but not the best on the plate... :)

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Originally Posted by bellerivercrossbowhunter

Big bucks and big Tom's are nice to see when there mounted but not the best on the plate... :)

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I'm not trying to steer this off course but is this the general consensus? Moose, yes, I've had big old hamburger bulls that refuse to be chewed, but deer? I have never had a "tough buck" I have taken a few decent deer over the years and so long as its looked after it has always been great.

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I'm 69 yrs. old. Hunted since I was 8, on the farm in Sask. The older I get, the less I realize what I know about the sport!

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Originally Posted by oaknut

I'm not trying to steer this off course but is this the general consensus? Moose, yes, I've had big old hamburger bulls that refuse to be chewed, but deer? I have never had a "tough buck" I have taken a few decent deer over the years and so long as its looked after it has always been great.

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Over many years of hunting, my family and I have had several bucks that were very chewy, and they tasted like they smelled, terrible as they were in full rut.
Our dogs however enjoyed them , and we had to do the cooking of them outside as the smell was awful.
Moose on the other hand , I have shot more than most since I have been hunting them now for 58 years, and only one was rather chewy as he was quite old.

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Originally Posted by oaknut

I have never had a "tough buck" I have taken a few decent deer over the years and so long as its looked after it has always been great.

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It difficult to attest to what is tough based on what your comparing it to. If you buy your meat from a supermarket etc, you're not always getting the best meat, so a 7yr old Buck may taste pretty good.

But if you're used to eating 2-3 yr farm raised beef from a local Butcher, then you know why it's best to ground the old Buck up and make pepperettes :)

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Originally Posted by MikePal

But if you're used to eating 2-3 yr farm raised beef from a local Butcher, then you know why it's best to ground the old Buck up and make pepperettes :)

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I grew up on 18 month old steer from the family farm, I will still turn an old buck into steaks and roasts but I will not cook it like 18 month old steer.

I was given moose in the Yukon that was from a 60in bull, this was an old animal, not tough at all, not a great cut either, this guy was the guide and was given all the meat that was not good enough to ship to the states, it is all how you cook it :D

If you want to be a professional then become a guide. If you want to enjoy hunting/fishing DON'T.

I think the OP was inquiring whether people focused on one species only (professional) or everything going (jack of all trades), In that case, I am a jack of all trades, depending on the season of course. Turkey in the spring, summer on the water in the boat, early goose/duck until OCT 1, where I focus on deer, and then have started trapping this fall out of necessity because the raccoons/coyotes were more frequent to the bait pile then the deer. Once the deer season is over and the hard water sets up, I am on the lake in my hut until March, and then its time again to start thinking turkey. Pretty vicious cycle lol. Anything I can do to get out into the bush more is what I am "hunting" for.

I got my hunting license when I was 15 years old and, like a lot of people, I tried to hunt everything and every open season. I especially spent a lot of time in my teens chasing cottontails with beagles instead of chasing girls. Now more than 30 years later I focus on (in order of priority):
1. My family;
2. Deer hunting with hounds;
3. Upland hunting (grouse, woodcock & preserve pheasants) with my lab and a SxS;
4. Spring turkey hunting; and
5. Late season deer hunting with my crossbow.

I'm a jack of all trades birds, bunnies and big game. I'm to lazy to be a professional.😆

My hunting days started at a very early age, and I do learn something new every single time I am out hunting.

Yep, same here. I was born at a very young age and living in a small northern town was able to lie my way to a licence at 12. So, I was 15 for 3 years . Obviously there were not too many restrictions back in the day. And BTW, the 'gun licence' was $1.00 back then. Like most we grew up hunting 'partridge' and snowshoes and when I got a bit older got into moose hunting. So I became a so-called expert with those species. The only turkey we ever saw was on the table at Christmas and deer were non-existent.
Once into a full time careerof fish and wildlife it didn't take too long to realize, even with a rounded education background, there was always some guy who knew a heck of a lot more than I did about a particular species be it fish or a 4 legged creature.

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Originally Posted by sawbill

Yep, same here. I was born at a very young age

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please explain how old you were when you were born and how old everyone else was when they were born???? Haha couldn’t resist.

Waterfowl and turkeys for this guy.