does being in the contest change anything for you?
 

Just curious if anyone looks at hunting differently being in the contest than you would if you were not in it? Some possible examples would be you feel more pressured to fill your tag, you shoot a smaller buck than you normally would like to but feel too bad to pass it up, you hunt more often than you would because of the competition, etc.


I don't think it has changed anything for me except for the fact that it is nice to have some more people to share my successes and failures with.

RE: does being in the contest change anything for you?
 

Nope!!!! I will still hunt as I have in the past, for myself....But if I do get a shot at whatI am after it will help the team....;) However,I won't shoot anything that I normallywouldn't. This is my first time to sign up for the contest and it will be fun to be checking to see how everyone else is doing as well....

RE: does being in the contest change anything for you?
 

I thought you were advocating "DOES" to be in the contest by the thread heading....lol.

MAN....I was ready for the midwest guys to start the mortar barrage, again!:D

RE: does being in the contest change anything for you?
 

The HNI contest only changes one thing for me. It gives me a chance to share hunting stories, successful or not, with the good people on this forum. It seems to make my loner style of hunting not so lonely, if that makes any sense.

Disclaimer: I just got home from knee surgery and the drugs haven't worn off yet!

RE: does being in the contest change anything for you?
 

No it doesn't. It's just fun to be involved in it and enter a buck if you shoot one.

RE: does being in the contest change anything for you?
 

It changes nothing for me, I'm still going to try to kill the biggest buck I can. And yes, I'm talking about inches. You can't score "maturity". I willallow lesser bucksto walk toachieve this.

RE: does being in the contest change anything for you?
 

Nope it's all just fun.

RE: does being in the contest change anything for you?
 

Greg, I just had that done several weeks ago (maniscus tears) in my left knee. It healed faster thanI expected...Good luck with it!!!!

RE: does being in the contest change anything for you?
 

Sure it does, in year 1 and 2 I was holding out for 200" or better and came up short. In year 3 I lowered my standards and shot a 130. Last year, year 4, I went back to the 200" or better standard...

I haven't really decided what I will do this year ;)

RE: does being in the contest change anything for you?
 

Lmao!! It don't change a thing for me either. I'm hunting for myself. The guys that I end up being on a team with might be disappointed in having me. I won't shoot anything unless he's 130"+. The odds of that happening, not nearly as good as shooting a 120" buck. I've got enough of these around the woods just not as much as the other but they are there.

RE: does being in the contest change anything for you?
 

Doesn't change anything for me except the excitement of coming home after a long day hunting and getting online to check and see if any of my teammates did any good. I passed up around 10-15 bucks last yearthat were just not what I was looking for and it will be the same standards this year. Last year was tag soup!![:@][:'(]Hopefully Mr. Right will show up this year....;)I did miss one that would have been in the high 130's, but hopefully he stuck around and will be bigger this year.:D

RE: does being in the contest change anything for you?
 

Nope not at all for me.......I could wind up with anything from the first decent legal buck to walk in front of my longbow in PA to God knows what could walk by in Illinois.
Or the other way around. :D
I hunt the same way in both states but in spite of what happened last season I realize the odds are in more in my favor to kill a big buck in IL ,so I could be one of those guys who tags a 75" buck for the contest here only to shoot a much bigger one later on that I can't use for a contest score.
Don't matter to me as long as I'm with good friends and having fun.

RE: does being in the contest change anything for you?
 

No I will still stink it up either way.

;)

RE: does being in the contest change anything for you?
 

Yeah, I am leaving that can of worms alone:D

RE: does being in the contest change anything for you?
 

Contest won't change anything for me. I am still a rookie hunter so if I am comfortable and would be proud of the shot I am definetly taking it. Afterwards I will think of the contest!

RE: does being in the contest change anything for you?
 

I know exactly what you mean and I hope your knee heals up quickly.

RE: does being in the contest change anything for you?
 

Changes nothing for me. I will probably shoot the first 4 1/2+ year old buck that I see. Where I hunt he may score anywhere from 100 to 160. It the age of the animal that matters to me.

-john

P.S. The contest it a great way to "meet" some great people.

RE: does being in the contest change anything for you?
 

Whatever team you end up on is better off for it John, that is for sure.

RE: does being in the contest change anything for you?
 

Yep it does gives me some good reads during the night shift. I just love antlers and please be sure to post em up.
Thanks Guys n Gals,
T

RE: does being in the contest change anything for you?
 

Never changes anything for me personally.

But it has produced some friends over the internet.. and I always look forward to checkin' out who shot what.. especially when its a former teammate.

The contest is real good for HNI.. and for hunters really. It gives everyone something to look forward too on an almost daily basis. I'd like to see it get bigger.. and become perhaps the largest of its kind in the world (or just Georgia).

RE: does being in the contest change anything for you?
 

I find a little garlic, onions, and ceyenne pepper makes that soup go down a little better.:D

RE: does being in the contest change anything for you?
 

The contest changes everything! Whichever team I am on, it will be a total concentrated effort focused on nothing but winning. I will talk my teammates into shooting whatever I deem it necessary for us to win. WIN WIN WIN is what it’s all about. There is no sweeter glory than that box of goodies that comes in the mail in early march for the contest champions! I will not tolerate newbies or those not 110% dedicated to winning. And that means putting inches on the ground. Nothing too small, but don’t hold out too long either.
And if all else fails, and my teammates don’t score, well I’ve planned for that too. I’ve become a master photoshop guru. I can create realistic images that not even the NSA could refute as authentic.
Mark my words, it is ALL about winning and WE WILL WIN!

























:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

RE: does being in the contest change anything for you?
 

WOW!!! I hope I end up on your team.;):D:D:D

RE: does being in the contest change anything for you?
 

Doesn't affect me at all, that shakey bow syndrome will be due to age not nerves. Yeah, I meant to shoot that little spike buck behind the world class 16 pointer!

RE: does being in the contest change anything for you?
 

Now that demands respect! LMAO!! That's the spirit, but be careful someone may question your reading comprehension! [8D]

BTW, I hope I get on your team also.... you know.....like minded individuals and all. [:-]

RE: does being in the contest change anything for you?
 

Thanks Huntingson, with any luck we might end up being on the same team again. I will be keeping my fingers crossed.

-john

RE: does being in the contest change anything for you?
 

Nope no change for me. Ill shoot what makes me happy and if eat a tag then so be it. I do enjoy the talk with the team members and all the smack talk that goes around ;)

RE: does being in the contest change anything for you?
 

Same here minus the knee surgery, get well soon Greg.

RE: does being in the contest change anything for you?
 

I think I will hunt more this year. Because I'm more exited to go, and also, I feel more pressure because of the contest. I will be spending more time on stand.

RE: does being in the contest change anything for you?
 

I'm guessing there's allot of that?? I couldn't tell ya being its my 1st year on HNI. No way you would ever smack talk Dan, I just can't see you doing it!! Yea right, I'm kidding!! I know better then that!![8D];)

RE: does being in the contest change anything for you?
 

Shultzy, my quiet self changes when the teams roll out :DIm telling you will see a big change in thr forume when it gets closer to the season. A lot of termites will come out of the woodwork to. By the way, my team is beating the pants off your team << smack talk teaser :DAnd ps: rybohunter is full of it. I know the guy and know he is really a ***** cat!! and a good frog catcher as well :DMaby we will draw the same team big guy ;)

RE: does being in the contest change anything for you?
 

I've been on Rybo's team twice. He's not joking. Only one of us actually killed a deer during the 2 year Team XX reign. That, of course, was the undisputed king of archery himself. Rybo cut, copied, and nearly pasted our way to HNI's first repeat championship.;)[8D]

RE: does being in the contest change anything for you?
 

Thats what its all about big fellar!!;) I'm looking forward to some good laughs and times. It wouldn't hurt my feelings to have you on my team as well Crick.:D

RE: does being in the contest change anything for you?
 

BBM ixnay on the utcay & astepay! ;)I'd have had it too if not for windows XP! ;):D

Bloodcrick,
I'd be honored to draw the same team as you, but if not....look out. May your hunting lands be plagued by frogs. :)I've been stock piling them [8D]

RE: does being in the contest change anything for you?
 

It sure does change something.




My post count climbs rapidly!!!!!:D

RE: does being in the contest change anything for you?
 

RE: does being in the contest change anything for you?
 

Doesn't change a thing with me...

RE: does being in the contest change anything for you?
 

The only thing it might change for me is that I might stick it out and hunt on one of those days where I'm leaving work late, tired as a dog, and only will get about 45 minutes of quality stand time if I go.

Knowing I can share some stories and maybe contribute to the teamgives me that little extra incentive to get over the hump on days like that.

Other than that, nothing else changes.

RE: does being in the contest change anything for you?
 

If you can drag your buck out of the woods with NO REGRETS.....I'll congratulate you and share in your experience with nothing but praise.

RE: does being in the contest change anything for you?
 

swampghost,
This was only a joke. Notice the row of smileys at the bottom of rybo's post. This is what indicates it as being a joke.

Everyone is welcome to join a team which is all for fun. The contest should have no bearing on how you hunt. Do what makes you happy, you'l be congradulated for your efforts reguardless of the outcome of your season.