Goals for the upcoming fall......
 

Well, I've been at this game of bowhunting for about.......hmmmm......10 years now. But I shot my first deer just 2 seasons ago, fall of 2003. Since then I've shot several more, which leads me to the point.

The area I've most improved on in the last couple of years in stand placement. I consistently put myself in a position to see and shoot deer. BUT, the area I will seriously be concentrating on this fall is seeing more bucks. I've yet to even shoot AT a buck w/ my bow. Frankly, I just don't see very many. I think I may have saw 2....maybe 3 last fall, but I saw more does than I can shake a stick at.

So that's my goal for the upcoming season. To see more bucks and hey, maybe even shoot one. Where have you most improved in the last couple of years and what are your goals for this fall?

RE: Goals for the upcoming fall......
 

Last year was my first bowhunting. I killed a doe and 2 hogs. My goal for this year is to kill a buck. I have started working towards that goal already by practicing at least 4 times a week, and planning stand placement at my lease. I have also just gotten a nice used rear tine tiller and plan to put in a good food plot. My only problem with that is I don't know what to plant that will both attract deer and stand up to Tx summer heat. I plan on asking some local farmers what a good crop would be. I guess they would know. I also have a goal of shooting a lot more hogs and getting 2 does this year. So there are my goals and some of my plans to attain them.
P.S. Good thread idea!

RE: Goals for the upcoming fall......
 

My goal is to get a shot at a Monster this Fall in Alberta!:)Nov. 12th-19th, I'm psyched.;)

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My goal is to................

figure out how much blaze orange I have to wear and when!
For those of you not from PA just check out the requirements.[:@]

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To shoot an elk in Colo. and shoot at least 4 does on my hunting land.

RE: Goals for the upcoming fall......
 

Improved the most in recent years: I guess I'd have to say using "observation" stands more often, and then moving in tight for the kill after I pinpoint the best areas from a distance. I don't know; it's really hard to say.

Goals for this fall: Put at least one morebook buck on the wall -- but, just as (if not more) importantly -- to help a good buddy from here on HNI get his first P&Y under his belt.

RE: Goals for the upcoming fall......
 

Well after being here fora year and missing fall season last year, the goal is to be in the woods everyday that I can..... only taken one deer with a bow, but you know, just being out there this year will be satisfying enough! [8D]

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Since I was 9 years old I have been bowhunting and shot a number of deer and turkeys. I think this fall with my dad getting older, I would just like to spend as much time with him in the woods as I can regardless of whether or not we harvest a deer or an elk. I would definitely like to help him pack out another one this year!

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My goal is to kil a pope and young!:D

RE: Goals for the upcoming fall......
 

Ya figure that you may not be see'in any bucks is your shootin the does?If you want meat than hunt meat, if you want a buck to bragg about than hunt it, but don't do both in the same area. Figure out when the rut is and use the dang does to lure the bad boys out of the thicket. Just be patient and use the does to your advantage.

Bobby
**WHERE THE PAVEMENT ENDS AND THE WEST BEGINS**

RE: Goals for the upcoming fall......
 

My goal for this year is to shoot a perfect 10 point, a 5x5, or a buck that nets 150+. I've shot 14 mature bucks from 122" to 182" but none of them are 5x5's. I've got the market cornered on 8 points. I've got 5x4's, 6x4's, a 6x5, a 7x5 and an 8x6, but no 5x5. Ever since I was a kid I've thought that the perfect deer was a big 10 pointer so I'm going to try for one. However, if any deer that is 150 comes by, it will be in trouble no matter how many points its got!

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I've got a tall order. Early season 160+ mulie, or if I get drawn again Early season 47" mountain goat. Late sept mature 6x6 or bigger elk unless I draw moose, then its 45" moose. Oct I would like sheep, but realistically I'll still be chasing that moose or elk. Nov Mulie rut, 170" or bigger. and if I get that any white-tail. All archery, in BC.

Kirby

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My goal this season is taking three deer instead of two.I'm just about out of meat:D

RE: Goals for the upcoming fall......
 

first id like to get a nice early start this spring on my bear hunting trip innew brunswick leaving in 2 weeks, like 2 score with my bow ,and hoppfully for fall id like torun into a nice mature buck:)

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My goal, as always is to whack a bunch of does and take a buck big enough to make me happy (around 120"+).

RE: Goals for the upcoming fall......
 

to kill a deer with my bow and if it is a doe then it becomes to kill a buck with it

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Goal for '06 is to get my first bowkill whitetail. I haven't hunted with a bow since 1993. I missed a six point twice in 5 minutes from 15 yrds. I was picking out individual letters on a bag of mulch, and nailing them from 25 ydsat my parents house before the hunt. Left to go get in the stand and when I get there I reach in my pocket and my release isn't there. An hour later, a nice 6 pt comes under me and I miss him twice with my fingers. Will never forget that day. Big bummer. I wasn't shaking or nervous- I just wan't used to shooting with fingers. Since then I have lived in 5 states on the east coast. I have not bowhunted since that day. I'm now back in Va and plan to get one this year. This forum has helped immensely with info and advice. I now have a more modern setup and am shooting great. I have a couple of good spots and plan on connecting this fall...Thanks for everyone's help

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My goal for this season is like any other, restock the freezer full of meat!:) I'm running low!

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My pesonal for this fall is two bucks in two states, kentucky and kansas, I have a great chance for two pope and young quality bucks. I'm hunting great spots in both states.

Kelly

RE: Goals for the upcoming fall......
 

my goals this year which I already started was learning to scout in which i got with a whole bunch of guys with scouting knowledge and learned to scout hopefully all this scouting help me to get my first deer with a bow!!!

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Shoot a buck thats big enough to do a head mnt. I have been bowhunting
3 yrs now and I have taking a buck and a lot of does all 3 yrs,but like
the rack attack would say DINKS.

RE: Goals for the upcoming fall......
 

My goal is my first P&Y. Best so far is 113. I also let 5 bucks go last year that did survive, so I'm hoping for a chance at one of them. They should be in the 120-140 range this year.

No matter what happens though, I plan to have a great time trying!!!:D

RE: Goals for the upcoming fall......
 

shoot 3 does and watch for a mature buck. get 2 kills on video me or my friends have my younger brother shoot a deer.

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My goal this year is to be well prepared long before the season starts. I want have a few bucks feeding and bedding areas pin-pointed for the early season which is when I have shot my biggest bucks and when I have had an easier time catching them off guard which is usually the first 2 weeks of the season. I scout our soy fields from a few hundred yards away so I dont go in the woods much at all and disturb them. I watch where they are coming out to feed and assess where they are moving to and from.

scout, scout and scout some more, from July to September.

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To just do more "hunting the hard way"...... Spend more time with my son in the woods....

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I have improved in getting plenty of stands out and never hunting one if the wind isn't right and never overhunting a stand. I have around 15 permanent stands and one climber and this gives me options to hunt. My goal is to get a really nice buck. I refuse to shoot a buck unless he is a mounter. Period. I see some real nice bucks in my timbers and it all a right place right time for me deal. I have shot a lot of deer over the years with archery. We have been having generous doe tags here and I have been shooting 3-4 of them a year to keep me in meat and tuned for the big buck kill. My nicest buck bow kill is a 150 class and now I let them walk. I want 160 on up. Chuck Adams says set your standards high and that is what I do now. I had a 180 class buck within bow range two seasons ago but a bush prevented the shot.

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I'm going into this season w/my mind made up that I'm not going to harvest a buck. I have 13 deer that score above 125". Most of these deer are in the 130's net. I have three that net 153+ and one that scores 168 4/8. I haven't harvested a 150+ since 2002. I have just had a hard time passing up the 130's. I've always been freaked out each season that I want to kill atleast one deer that makes pope and young, and I have the problem that a few times I've been out of buck tags a few times before the rut kicks in by killing 130's before prime time begins. So I guess what I'm saying is that I'm really going to shoot for 150 + inch deer or nothing at all and be happy if I pass up several 130's in the process. But saying and doing are two different things.

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I just realized that our goals are very much determined by geography......:(:D

RE: Goals for the upcoming fall......
 

In the past, my problem has been hunting stands in marginal winds. I wont hunt the stand if i know it isnt right, but if its ify i have gone in the past. I can hunt more or less whenever i want and have multiple properties to hunt, so i need to be more selective on when and where to hunt.

As for goals for the upcoming season, i shot 2 bucks and a doe this past fall and am already out of meat since about the beginning of march. This fall im looking to shoot 10 deer, with hopefully 3 bucks. Here in jersey we can shoot unlimited antlerless deer and can shoot 3 bucks in the fall bow season, and then 2 with a shotgun and one with a muzzleloader. I know it sounds like alot of deer, but i figure could use atleast 5 for myself and room mates along with 1 for each of my 2 brothers and then 3 for extended family and friends. Some of my properties are so out of wack with the buck to doe ratio that i dont even think this will put a small dent in them.

RE: Goals for the upcoming fall......
 

Someone mentioned geography. Definitely. the guy who lives in IL might scoff at our Georgia bucks. I can see alot of 100 class bucks where I hunt, but something 120 or better would be a prize. The same 120 would be more like the 2.5 yr average in IL.

Let's just say our goal might be the best buck in a given area or a mature buck 3.5 yrs or older. We'll score him after we get him on the ground.

RE: Goals for the upcoming fall......
 

06' will be my second archery hunt. I got a small buck last year at 20yds. My goals this year include :have fun, shoot straight, put meat in freezer, see more bucks and hopefully harvest one w/something bigger than a basket on his head. In that order too.
I hunt Crown land thats big woods in MB. This past year was my most productive when it comes to learning. I found a few more stand locations that look better than some of my others. I saw more bucks last year than any other...... including a real nice mature 5x4 during rifle season.Every season I hope to hunt smarter than the last.
Another thing that I would like to see...... have some hunting buds who don't do so well. My BIL, hunted w/him for 7 yrs and yet to see him harvest a big game animal. ANd a friend of mine who has come w/me for 3yrs now...... he also needs to take his first whitetail. At first we were all on our own, go our seperate ways and meet up for lunch and so on. Now I have to show them where my tree stands are so that they can use them. At least since then they have SEEN deer w/in range since then. One guy saw a hot doe w/3 bucks chasing her pass in front of my stand no more than 30yds and didn't even raise his A#s of the seat to try and get a bead on one of them??!

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My life changed considerably last week for the positive, which is going to really free me up to scout these big public landslike I love too. I have a few goals. I enjoy finding bucks as much as hunting them. I have done a lot of research this past winter and will branching my hunting areas out into 5 different counties here in Northern Idaho.


GOAL 1. To bowkill two bucks from my home state that go over 150 a each. I have came close twice, oncein 2003, I archery killed a 180 class and a 140 classbuck. This past year a 160 and 140 with the bow. I have yet to get two over 150. I know I can do it if I spend enough time finding the right bucks, and starting in June, I will begin my scouting 5 different counties for the right bucks. one other note, I killed bucks in every class but the 150 class and 190 class...those slots need filled. ...oh and of course anything in the 200 + would be awesome, its possible here. Not like other states but there a few running around this state with 200 + gross of bone on their head.

Goal 2. I want to get my XX team members all bowshots on bull elk this coming Sept. I would also like to harvest a 300+ 6x6 bull or better.

3. I want my team the XX to repeat as HNI bowhunting champs, I believe we have themembers to get it done! :D:D:D

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My goal is the exact same as last year. To arrow a specific WT deer that I have been following for nearly 2 years. I have shed antlers of him from the past 2 years, and even had another sighting of him just this last week. He is 5 1/2 years old this year, and is very special, to say the least.

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Based on past performance, I know the farm that I hunt will have at least 3 110"+ bucks on it. Ican also take it to the bankthat there will be at least one deer in the area that will scare 140-150. I also know that at least 2-3 of these bucks will fall to poachers and vehicle collisions before October ends. My goal would be to cross paths with one of these guys before somebody else does. Around my parts and with my work schedule, a 100 inch buck is a reasonable goal to set.

Another goal is to knock on some doors and find some new stomping grounds, as usual.

Like Shed33 said, Team XX hopes to defend the crown, so we'll make sure that we make every reasonable effort to do that.

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Just to get out and enjoy the sport.
If I happen to get what I'm after, bonus.

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The same as last year.......a 100" buck. I ate tag soup last year waiting on one.......I saw a few but nothing worked out right. Last season was the first time I got skunked in a LONG time.

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My goal is to have the patience to wait for the high racked 8 pointer I had seen last year.I estimatedit to be at least 110-120 when I had it broadside at 10 yards last year. (I had taken my buck 3 days prior). I'm pretty sure it survived as another hunter missed him late season. I would also like to take 2 does, 1 early season and one late.
If this doesn't happen so be it--as long as I enjoy the time I spend in the outdoors.

Mike

RE: Goals for the upcoming fall......
 

my goal is to get my first animal with a bow this year. this will be my first yeah of serious bowhunting.

RE: Goals for the upcoming fall......
 

Well, I haven't decided about this fall yet, but my goal for this summer is at least one250+ lb boar. Now that turkey is over it is time to get serious about hogs for a couple of months.

For deer, I will have to see exactly what properties I will get to hunt this fall and what kind of bucks are around. Antlers aren't far enough along yet to be making decisions, and I generally hunt specific deer.

RE: Goals for the upcoming fall......
 

Take my first deer after two previous years of encounters but no shot. Hopefully take a buck with a second tag. Plan to start shooting a recurve this year.