Unread postby phade » Fri Mar 06, 2015 10:00 am
Prime is a deep word for this topic. People have correctly IDed physical and mental, and there have been hints of family and work commitments, and time available. Add in opportunity (whether that be travel, ownership, luck, etc.) to hunt quality ground, and there are alot of factors that go into determining prime.
If physical and mental is all there is to calculate, you would have two inflection points, one for each. The problem is the peak of both likely do not or will not intersect, much of it being outside of your control. Even so, say you are at that intersection point where you are the highest you can be for both, but you have crap ground, or limited available time, or family commitment. So, in your peak, are you really the most effective deer hunter you'll ever be in that situation? Maybe, maybe not, because its not realized performance. Maybe you are most effective a couple years later where the body is slightly less capable, but the mind is sharp and the time and opportunity is there for the taking, making you more effective as a deer hunter because the performance is there. Chances are you are not most effective at your respective "peak" because the stars do not align often.
At 33, I'm not physically near my peak because I am past it due to back issues. I certainly have room to improve that however. I try to hunt smarter now as a result. No idea where I will be or when I was most effective as a hunter. I hope there is better to come, because I am working toward it.