How do you handle the down time?
 

Well, this time of year gets rather......well.....mundane for me. Turkey season is over in a week and bow season doesn't start for 4 months. To keep in tune I shoot 3D shoots and such, but to be honest...it get's rather boring for me. Another thing I do is work part time at the shop building arrows. That at least keeps me involved and interested. Don't get me wrong, I love shooting my bow and when I start shooting I have to make myself stop. But shooting in the backyard and at the wall at the shop gets old. Other than 3D shoots, that's pretty much all I've got.

Do what do you guys do to keep focused during this down time?

RE: How do you handle the down time?
 

Well lets see, when I am not hunting I am deployed, so that is my down time. After that when I am home I shoot in the afternoons on post at lunch, then evenings at home, 3D league and just couple times a week at the 3D range. Never get bored with it cause I got to squeeze it all in till the next time I am headed to places like hear cause I wont get a chance for a year. Never gets boring or mudane, cause I know it may end and I am off again! [8D]

RE: How do you handle the down time?
 

To be honest, I'm stepping back from 3-D. Like you I find it hard to stay motivated for shooting foam:D To keep busy I do a couple things. We are lucky enought to have open season bear, so that keeps me going.
Passed up this guy last week


Scouting, like shedding keep me going from Feb to mid June.
small moose paddle


After mid june the alpine is open so I spend some time up there, and scouting old areas, checking on antler growth till the season opens.
Alpine last year


Kirby

RE: How do you handle the down time?
 

Shoot squirrels, rabbits, and blackbirds off of my 2nd floor sundeck. Someday I'll grow up, but for now it is fun sticking these pests with an arrow when the opportunity arrises.;)

RE: How do you handle the down time?
 

Well their is always gophers/squirrels,rabbits etc in the woods to practice on. As mentioned above lots of sheds to be found then fishing. Don't always have to have my bow in my hand in stay interested in it. Just being in the woods/outdoors gets me reved up for any upcoming seasons.

RE: How do you handle the down time?
 

You oughta see my video collection... ;)

I just ordered another $100 worth from Primos in one shot just a couple days ago. :D

RE: How do you handle the down time?
 

Down time??? I have no down time. Ive got another 3 weeks of Turkey season and Ill be filming atleast one day a week for my buddy Walt. My buddy Marks season opened on Monday and now Im filming for him too. So there 2 or 3 days there and then tonight I sprayed an additional 2 acres for plots for a buddy Im helping do inprovement and taking his hunting to another level. Then Ive got to go to the lease in Southern Illinois sometime yet by the end of the month to work for 2 or 3 days and hang a few stands in spot that were hot last season. Also need to get to IA yet to meet up with a buddy to find additional ground in IL. Ill be heading to Southern IL atleast 1 more additional time in late summer to glass beans. On top of that I have a lease here in MI that needs another 5-8 stands hung since my son will be bowhunting this season. In between all that need to refletch arrows and do as much shooting as possible. So I dont have time for down time. Seems not enought time to get everything done and still spend a few Jet Ski weekends with the wife and kids.

Jason

RE: How do you handle the down time?
 

Tinkering with my setup and practicing and experimenting.

RE: How do you handle the down time?
 

hey greg i think i got u beat in the video part lol . i use my down by bowfishing and practice besides i will be huntin come mid aug here in lol .

RE: How do you handle the down time?
 

down time is only available if you let it, arrowed a pig yesterday , turkey season goe's for 2 more wks another pig hunt next weekend then coyotes and scouting and fishing annnnnnd, oh GOD there just isn't enough daylite !!

RE: How do you handle the down time?
 

I don't really have any down time either. I have almost 2 acres of food plots to put in and finish up, turkey season, then this summer I have several IBO and ASA shoots, and I have several tree stands that need to be hung as well including 2x permanent ones I will be building.

RE: How do you handle the down time?
 

Family, house work, family, gardening, family, food plots, family, trail clearing, family, equipment maintenance, family, practicing, and....oh yeah, family.

RE: How do you handle the down time?
 

To tell you the truth, I never really get bored shooting my longbow all year. I usually get in a dozen arrows before work and a few dozen after work. I try to stay as non-routine as possible though. Shooting at different angles, yardages, and positions.

You may want to give tradiational a shot in the off season and see what it's like if you never have before.

RE: How do you handle the down time?
 

BCmuley you are a lucky hunter to have all of that around you!

Y'all are right about food plots, they take a lot of time. Which is nice in some ways and a pain in others. To be honest I don't really shoot much from December - April. Start it back up in May and shoot everyday through November. Never got into 3D shoots, always wanted to but I am too chicken to go by myself. This spring I am spending trying to get my wife into hunting. At least she likes shooting a bow. I can live with that.

RE: How do you handle the down time?
 

The possibilities... Bowfishing. Hog hunts. Hunting non-gamevarmints/predators. SOMETHING isalways legalto hunt in Texas during the so-called 'off season.':)

I'm with you.Shooting 3D with fully decked out compounds is b-o-r-i-n-g! Especially when you're with a bunch that gets annoyedat the slightest sound, so the whole place is quiet as a morgue. :eek:Get yourself a recurve or longbowand shoot 3D's with traditional gear.Tradfolks know how to party and have a good time on the 3D course.[8D]

I've made my own arrowsfor years and years. Got back into making selfbows about 5 years ago.A little bowyery is a good way to stave off boredom.Since myshoulder told me no more bow shooting, I've switched from making selfbows to learning how to make midieval-style crossbows. I'm well along into making my second one now.

You've got no excuse for being bored.;)

RE: How do you handle the down time?
 

It gets easier with age.:) I used to do all the things mentioned, but as you age you have other things to do and it takes you longer to do them. When I was a young whippersnapper I shot tournaments which required hours of practice about 5 days a week. There was no down time. Now I start earlier every year tuning my bow, body and broadheads. I'll have that all done before I go to Canada fishing at the end of the month. This summer I'll be selling the house and movingand I'll wish I had MORE time.[&:] I've already lined up my hunting in Georgia for the coming year. I would like to do some scouting and glassing which will require some time. I've got several hunting trips in preliminary stages to Texas, Ohio, Indiana, NY and maybe Idaho or Montana. Need to do a lot of organizing somehow between now and then. AND, as you get older the body gets really REALLY rusty. I got to do something about that or I will have to forget any mountain trips this fall. I get along fine in flat lands and the states like Ohio etc, but I know dang well I'd just be kidding myself to start out for 9,000 feet in the condition I'm in. Down time?????? Dang, I wish I had more time already.

RE: How do you handle the down time?
 

Downtime. My downtime is busy working and saving for more gadgets and time off in the fall and scouting. There is little time for downtime. I'm working my rear off now so later, I don't have too.

RE: How do you handle the down time?
 

I reallly have no down time....... I spend the spring and summer trying to push myself to become a better shooter...... No matter what your level, you can always improve.....

RE: How do you handle the down time?
 

Like Arthur P said, theres never a down time.. There is something always legal to hunt.. I am getting ready for some bow fishing this year. Shoot a few ASA tournaments, hunt a few rabbits and squirrels and hopefully kill at least 5 pigs before you know it, it a full circle again.

RE: How do you handle the down time?
 

I go fishing alot in the summer time. Maybe a few groundhog hunts as well.

RE: How do you handle the down time?
 

Bowfishing, fishing, and target shooting.

RE: How do you handle the down time?
 

VERY POORLY!:(:D;):(:(:(:):D:(

SPEND TOO MUCH MONEY!

RE: How do you handle the down time?
 

Hunt pigs. bass fish. build and hang stands. native vegetation management. food plots. hunt pigs. go camping. landscape yard. shoot jackrabbits with bow. 8 million honey-do's to buy "off time" during hunting season. hunt pigs again. All that keeps me over untill September when dove season opens,then dovesdistract me for the last 30 days untill archery opens.

RE: How do you handle the down time?
 

That's actually an idea I've been tinkering with. I've never been able to hit water standing on the Arc w/ one of those.......but I think it's high time I learn.

One of my other projects this summer is my form, specifically, learning to use back tension. We just honestly don't have much around here legal to hunt after turkey, so I have to stay busy other ways.

RE: How do you handle the down time?
 

I plan on buying a recurve to practise with, just something to keep me occupied till hunting season;).

RE: How do you handle the down time?
 

i fish and that is about it

RE: How do you handle the down time?
 

fish and take advantage of the rain at our favorite muddin hole with the buddies. Then starting may 24th the day i get out of school ill be placing stands clearing shooting lanes and stuff like that for probably a week or 2 then its just fishing.

RE: How do you handle the down time?
 

Chasing my kids and getting ready for my elk trip in Aug. Oh and shooting my new toy.

RE: How do you handle the down time?
 

Scouting and game cameras...in addition to those other activities you mentioned. I put out two or three of the inexpensive Stealth game cameras each week to see what type of animals I have to expect for the upcoming season. I also do alot of scouting both in the vehicle and on foot.