Anyone keep records?

[MichaelT.]

I have kept track with my sightings on the computer in my head, but my problem is I keep forgetting to back up the information and wind up losing it when my brains computer crashes. The only retained information is my best hunting always is the week Nov. 18 and 19. That is when the rut starts to pick up momentum here in South Arkansas. But a notebook might be a better way to keep records. Far less problems with crashes...LOL

Thanks for the idea. But I might also consider a small digital voice recorder to keep up with the sightings while in the stand, then put it to paper at home.

[Proff]

I also keep a journal in a notebook. I do like most of you guys, date, weather what woods, what stand, what I saw and what the deer did. I pretty much write down the whole hunt, as to what the deer did, where they came from and where they went, whether they were close enough for a shot, whether they were down by another stand ( that happens too often!!) etc. Basically I tell a little story of the hunt.
For the past 5 or 6 years I have also been a part of a Bowhunters Survey that the Ohio DNR does. They send me the form right before the season starts. It is a computer sheet that you fill out for them. You put the date, county hunted in, hours on stand, then the number of each deer you saw ( buck, doe and fawn). Then the numer of other animals you saw. Coon, opossum, fox, coyote. At the bottom they have lesser seen animals like beaver, bobcat etc ( for the southern boys of Ohio). Then you send it in at the beginning of the slug season ( I won't get into that !!! If you lived where I did you would know what I mean). I always make a copy of it and keep it. It is pretty cool.
It is fun over time to go back and really relive the hunts by reading them again. Brings back some good memories.