Just thought it might be fun to hear if anyone has some resolutions related to their hunting that they are going to try to achieve over the next year. I think mine will be to shoot more consistently throughout the actual season and winter. I tend to shoot a ton June through September and then once I get hunting I spend every spare minute hunting and very few on the practice range. I want to fix that this year.
I've bee saying it for years.....and next year I'm gonna make it happen. I want a doe mount. I'm gonna make that happen in 2010. Funny thing is.....I've got 2 euros and (soon to be) 3 shoulder mounts (all bucks). In my 5 seasons, I've only seen (from stand) 2-3 does I'd like to have mounted......and I've only taken ONE of them. I don't regret not having that one mounted, but I'm gonna make it my goal for 2010. I actually don't care if I take a buck in 2010 or not.
My goal is to gain permission on more private land. I'm going to start earlier in the spring talking to the land owners whose land I have already scouted via internet and target specific farms. I will also going to try and gain access this winter on some farms for coyote hunting w/ the hope of turning a "yes" for yotes into a "yes" for deer.
Take two 140+ deer with a bow next year. That is my goal every year. This year I accomplished a Halloween buck and a doe kill in December. Both were accomplishments I haven't done before.
My off-season work will dictate most of my success. My first goal will be to kill a 3.5+ year old buck the first two weeks of October. My second goal will be to acquire 3-4, 3-5 acre spots in the right areas around my county. My family is growing and I am busier than ever. I don't have the time to go through the process of hunting on the military base I currently hunt all the time. I will still hunt it, but I hope to reduce my time on the base by 30% or so by getting some spots in the right areas in mostly suburban areas.
Securing a small farm near home for hunting permission. Scouting said farm. Tweaking my plot strategy just a bit.
Scout and hunt 2000 acres of public land that is 10 minutes from my farm. That way I will have more options when the deer aren't cooperating at my place. And what Dan said, this year was definately a struggle.
I have several, but topping the list is to get back into shape. I have let myself get into poor physical shape the last few years and it has severely limited my hunting. Number two would be to get set up to do out of state hunts on the cheap so I can hunt at least two other states each year. A few more would be to start scouting year round like I used to, gaining permission on private land, scouting out of state, a couple equipment upgrades and extending my range with my bow. If I do all these thing's then everything else will fall into place and I will have an awesome season next year.
Find The Beast! :D He will be the obsession for 2010. I'd also like to video my wife taking her first deer! Maybe both at the same time :D
I would also like to gain access to more private land near my school, where I spend 90% of my time during bow season. That being said, I just want to be able to spend more time in the stand and see more deer.
Spend as much time as possible right now scouting the sign that is relevant for next years season. Tear it up shed hunting. If my 7x7 makes the winter he may be a true Idaho giant next year. Most of the guys here scored him from 166 to 172 this season on the hoof. He will be 6 yrs old next fall. This is the toughest buck I have ever hunted as far as seeing him on the hoof during daylight hours and he lives in such a tough spot to hunt him without the wind or noise getting in... tipping him off..speaking of him, I am out the door right now to go do a little snooping around in where I found his sheds last year.. I am not gonna go in deep but gonna go see what the snow has to say.
Quit smoking and get in better shape for next fall. This morning hunt was a killer... dam cattails. LOL Even the deer aren't going through them this year. What a tangled up mess to bust through getting to my spot this morning. Was worth it. Had a pretty nice buck coming until he saw a doe and headed off. He younger dumb side kick come by at 15 yards. I hate does !!! Otherwise do a lot more shooting/practicing during hunting season. I don't think it is possible to do anymore shed hunting/scouting then we do already. I will try though!! Tim
I'm going to hunt some new property a little bit more next year. I hope I can put down another 2.5yr+ buck, I would have to say that is my goal.
1. Possibly more post season scouting (either this winter or this spring). 2. Definitely more glassing In early August. I promise this one will happen!!
