Hunting is not usually a pursuit where instant gratification abounds. It takes a lot of time, practice, resources and patience to be a successful hunter. So when someone decides that an area they hunted only once without taking an animal is worthless and devoid of game, I don't quite understand it. These people usually jump from game management unit to game management unit; trying a new one every year.

Now don't get me wrong, there are people that just enjoy scouting and hunting new places. They enjoy the challenge and discovery that this brings. I am solely addressing the people that become discouraged in an area after hunting it only one year. I would argue that it takes time to discover the nuances that different areas have. It takes time to figure out terrain and find those really good spots. It takes time to learn how animals will react, once the blaze orange clad army hits the field. I suggest doing your homework, deciding on a unit that fits your group's preferences and then sticking with it for a couple years to figure it out.

There is a certain kind of pride that one takes once he has accumulated a large amount of knowledge on a specific area. Others in the group will seek out these knowledgeable types in order to get information about where to go in the morning. This is because they consistently take game. No doubt they are probably sound hunters as a whole, but much of their success is derived from their intimate knowledge of their hunting grounds. Native Americans knew this. Yes, they would follow migrating herds, but the specific places that they would make ambushes were past on from generation to generation.

I also suggest making scouting trips to your area on a yearly basis. Just because you have hunted the area for a long time doesn't mean that stochastic events won't alter wildlife populations and their movements. I don't believe that you can spend too much time learning an area. The areas that are typically hunted here in Colorado are so large that it is impossible to set foot in every drainage in a lifetime. You need to get out there and find out for yourself what the area is all about.

There are people who move from unit to unit every year with great success. But I would argue that these types of hunters are the exception to the rule. So decide on a unit and stick with it. Don't be discouraged if you go a year or two without success. That is just part of the game. But when you finally gain that mental library of knowledge on a specific area, rest assured that success will follow.