RE: Did you achieve your goals?
 

That's why the "past tense" in your thread question is inappropriate... I'm still waiting. ;)

RE: Did you achieve your goals?
 

I had a good year. 2 quality public land bucks - taken under tight time constraints. Both deer were directly attributable to observations made back in March. That's the key that really turns the tumblers...

It's just nice to finallyhave all that scouting time pay dividends 7-8 months later.Years like this one go a long way to reassuring my trust in reading the spring/winter sign and knowing that you candial in onquality bucks in March. You just don't get to drag them out 'til fall. LOL

Look out next year.

RE: Did you achieve your goals?
 

My goals for killing a buck with a certain rack size didn't happen this year. I took a real nice 8 pointer with my rifle in Minn. His horn might not been as big as I would have liked but my goals of having an enjoyable and successful hunt were achieved. On Thanksgiving I shot a nice 10 pointer in Wis. with my rifle. He will score around 120". As the comercial says, taking him by tracking was " priceless". I still want to give the bow one more shot before I call it quits.

RE: Did you achieve your goals?
 

Still have a MO bucktag..I'll tell u later;)

RE: Did you achieve your goals?
 

Hey Greg....I just got a LOT closer!:)

RE: Did you achieve your goals?
 

I've had my best yr yet...... with a bow. All bow. NO rifle or ML.

RE: Did you achieve your goals?
 

I'd say this year has been pretty successful one for me. I really didn't have any goals for the season, but I did want take at least 2 deer with my bow. I have accomplished that so far. I wanted to take a nice buck with my rifle or muzzleloader, but haven't been able to connect yet. One side effect from my posting and lurking here though is that I became a better hunter this year. In years past, my success depended mostly on luck.....I've never been very good at knowing without a doubt where and when a deer would walk a given area. I read several threads here where folks would post a topo map and ask for advice on where to set up. I learned a few things this year and to my delight, I actually pulled off 3 set ups where I was all but certain how the deer would travel through an area, what directions to look for deer in and roughly what time I thought they'd move through. I connected twice and just missed a 3rd time. I still have a ML buck tag and a bow buck tag, so hopefully I'll have to come back and edit this post!:D


GH

RE: Did you achieve your goals?
 

I wanted to kill a doe, which i did on Oct 16th. Plenty good meals ahead with that. I wanted to Kill a good Buck, If i'm not mistaken i said in the other post that i wanted to kill a buck in triple dights, hopefully over110" well i did do that also. Plenty of good meals coming from that also. Now if My son (8 Years OLD) can kill a Buck in rifle season My season will end on a tremendous High.However just being out there hunting has been a great experience and a wonderfull time. It will be even better sitting in the two man stand with my8 year old Son even if he doesn't kill anything.

Even if i should passaway the day after the first day of rifle season, i can say that this was a great life and i know that my son will carry on the hunting tradition. last year CJ was sitting in that same two man ladder standwith I, watching Dad kill a Buck in rifle season for the first time (watching),then CJ asked DAD if we can do this again next year.
(its almost here)

So in a bunch of different ways this season has been a great season, and the best is yet to come.

Sorry i got a little emotional, Its been a great season!!!!!!

RE: Did you achieve your goals?
 

No, i have not. My goal was to harvest a decent buck, and so far that has not happened. Ive come closer then any year before, but i haven't sealed the deal yet.

RE: Did you achieve your goals?
 

NO, and I just went to check the freezer to lay something out for tonight and my wife failed to tell me we are very low on deer meat. We eat it almost daily and have not purchased beef in a few years. This is the lowest we have gotten in a while and the next doe I see gets it. As for my big boy...you know the story and if I do not get another chance I had the one I needed, so I can cry but I cannot be mad.

RE: Did you achieve your goals?
 

i havent reached my goals YET. I still have 1.5 months and some of the best hunting is still to come...I love hunting the late season almost (ALMOST) as much as the rut. almost[8D]

RE: Did you achieve your goals?
 

Have Fun - check
enjoy every minute - check
I had a good year. I saw a lot of wildlife and topped it off with harvesting a great buck, my second from hunting on the ground in as many years and my first ever on public land (which just doesn't happen around here). Its still soaking in.

RE: Did you achieve your goals?
 

no

RE: Did you achieve your goals?
 

Hey Joe congrats on your buck... I never got to see the post or pic.

RE: Did you achieve your goals?
 

My bow season goal was to shoot a 100+ buck as well as a doe. Even though my buck taped out at 94" I still feel like this year was another milestone year (I say this every year), but I really feel like I learned a lot more about the deer that I am hunting, thus leaving me better prepared for next years bow season.

I cannot wait to see what '09 will bring!:)

RE: Did you achieve your goals?
 

YUP, I had a lot of fun and still managed to have a life outside of hunting. Got a freezer full of venison and shot a couple really nice bucks with limited hunting. Both away from home in woods I don't get to explore and scout in. The first buck was shot at a location I found 2 years ago and wanted to hunt. The second was on the way into a new spot I wanted to hunt. Go figure.

RE: Did you achieve your goals?
 

Thanks for all the great responses, guy's.

Good luck to all that are still trying.

As for me, I just got back from the last weekend of rifle season and I think that with all the winter projects (my basement) I have planned, I may be done for the year. I had a good year, A turkey with a bow (1st). A moose and a nice buck. I couldn't ask for more.

It was slow up north rifle hunting. I had a few opportunities but decided to pass. Just sitting in the woods and seeing the sights gave me the chance to reflect on the year that I had and to share some time with good friends. It also gave me the mindset to start to unwind after a long season and to get used to the idea of resuming normal life, if there is such a thing for me!!

Thanks again

RE: Did you achieve your goals?
 

Work has killed me this year. Couldn't go on my elk hunt due to work. Harvest is still going on. [&:] We've never had a fall like this and I hope to hell Inever have to see another one like this. The only time off is crappy weather not fit for combining nor hunting for that matter. [:'(] I've never hunted in the rain as much as this year, a sleet/ice storm and strong winds. It has been miserable weatherwise.

With that all said... I have had good bucks in range and had a lot of fun. Pulled a stalk on one and shot right under him.[&:] Had a another walk up to my shooting lane... thenrun through it only to stop just past itand walk a way. :eek: :D Tonight I had one behind me at 25 yardsand no shot. Neat looking buck !! Then thereare all the 3.5 year old bucksand under encounters this fall till now. While my time to hunt has been bad... the hunting has been very good even with the crappy weather.

I still have over a month left to hunt and think the best hunting is yet to come. Work has really put things in perspective for me this year. Instead of setting 150"goals and putting unneeded pressure on myself (get all the pressure I need at work )... enjoy the time I get to hunt, hunt hardand have fun. A 150"would be icing on the cake though. ;) :D

RE: Did you achieve your goals?
 

I tried to be strong Greg, but I caved...

Arrowed my 6 pointer after watching him for 40 minutes and he finally busted me - 4 days into the season.
Actually he and his brother were within 4 and 8 yards of me, for some time feeding, it was so close I could hear them pull the grass from the ground and chew!!...
My reasoning was, that I did not want him strolling into my setup and looking for me every time I sat in this stand.
I was OK with this, as I choose to use one of my tags to get some meat and take the pressure off me, I do like deer meat!:)

My 8 pointer with my muzzle loader was also a deer I was going to pass. I watched him for 15 minutes up to 40 yards in front of me.
After I shot him, he had "ground growage" (not shrinkage), as when I walked up to him he was bigger than I thought (I though he was a 6)(way more mass).
However, he doesn't break the magical 100" mark I was hoping for (needs another 7-8"), but he is a perfect 8 with chocolate colored bases - beautiful.
Again I was OK with this kill, seeing it was a great memory of my Dad's 15th anniversary of his death.

I still have 2 tags left - An antlerless deer tag and my regular Archery tag which I can take either sex with.

So my remaining season (new plan), if I'm lucky enough, will be a big Doe and a real good buck!

RE: Did you achieve your goals?
 

My season is not done until Jan31st so I will get back to you on this Greg. (East of the I)


T

RE: Did you achieve your goals?
 

No, not yet anyway. My goal was to take a P&Y in each of the 3 states that I hunted. It was/is a pretty lofty goal. I knew going in that is was going to take a pretty special season to accomplish it. Although, I haven't yet accomplished my goal (and quite honestly probably won't) it's been a great season nonetheless.

RE: Did you achieve your goals?
 

I did. Shoot a P&Y and a doe with my bow....and spent time with my family the rest of the season.

I wish every season wouldbe as nice as this one.

RE: Did you achieve your goals?
 

I had two goals that should have been met by now, neither have been accomplished. I had a chancetoreach both goals within 2 minutes of each other, butmade a mistake that cost me dearly. I've got until Jan 15, although I'm mentally and physically exhausted, I'll be out there until the final bell rings.

RE: Did you achieve your goals?
 

Thanks - pics and the story is on my team's (26) thread. I also have late muzzy season to look forward to but archery is over for me. There are a couple of monsters around I found out about after I tagged this one - not that I am complaining!

RE: Did you achieve your goals?
 

No, not yet. My goal was to atleast harvest my first compound bow buck. Although I did release an arrow at one (he would have been my best buck yet) my bow hit my treestandcausing me to miss him. But I have until Feb 1st.

RE: Did you achieve your goals?
 

Nice buck Joe. Did you know that a couple of years ago IA made it legal to use a bowinstead of aMuzzleloader to tag your any sex deer with in case you don't want to use a muzzleloader? Didn't know if you knew this.

RE: Did you achieve your goals?
 

NOPE...I don't use firearms, bow is the only way to go. I've been picky and passed up a buck a few weeks ago, now I"m regretting it. BUT, me and gri22ly have been chasing a 170" TANK and haven't had any luck yet. I'M NOT GIVIN' UP!!!

I've several, several does, but now that I want to take one out...I can't find'em....go figure.

RE: Did you achieve your goals?
 

Hey Greg....I went back and found the goals for the season I'd made on a previous post. With the exception of the doe count right now (with 3 weeks yet to go)....I'm just fine with how it's turned out.

RE: Did you achieve your goals?
 

Not yet... My first goal was to kill a buck, I got that one. My next goal was to kill a good buck on public land. I'm still working on that one.

RE: Did you achieve your goals?
 

Goal #1 See my first deer from stand - Accomplished
Goal #2 Shoot my first deer - Fail
Goal #3 Shoot my first buck - Fail

I only saw one deer in about 15 sits and it was a small doe at about 30 yrds who stayed behind brush the whole time she walked. I dont feel too terrible about it because I still have a lot of hunting to do, but I really wanna put some meat in that freezer.

RE: Did you achieve your goals?
 

Thanks for this thread Greg. I needed a boost. I have not met my goals yet. I haven't put a deer on the ground yet. This is only my 4th year bowhunting. In the previous 3 years I have killed 7 deer with a bow. I have been feeling a bit frustrated lately. On the new land I'm hunting I've seen more deer this year than in the last 2 combined. I just haven't been able to put it all together. I will be out every weekend and as much of the Christmas break as I can be. It may not happen for me this year and I'm OK with that now. I got on this new land late and didn't have much time at all to scout it. I've never hunted this type of big woods before either so its been a year to learn. If I eat tag soup I will eat it with a better knowledge of the land I'm hunting and high hopes for next year.

RE: Did you achieve your goals?
 

My goals were met to a point. I want to shoot deer that or older than 3.5 which I did arguably. But I really wished I could have dialed in an older buck. With family matters and the lack of deer on my trail camera's meant shoot the firdt 3 year old or older to show up. I had a great year hunting with Quiksilver and scouting with hoyttail hunter I wouldn't change a thing.

RE: Did you achieve your goals?
 

Tony, where do you even find anywhere to hunt there? From memory, there's zero public land there. You'd have to be in someone's backyard or close to, really.

Dan, next year let's see if we can do opener or something. I hunted Tichigan twice with no luck. I'll do some more scouting post season.

As for my goals being achieved...

Absolutely! If I am blessed enough to even be given the health and means by which to sit in one of God's trees, I'm already happy. Given that on top of that, I met some quality people from this forum, that's icing. Considering I've killed more than my fair share of good bucks and does in this one season, I'm not sure what comes after truly blessed but that's me.

RE: Did you achieve your goals?
 

My goal was to get a deer under my belt with a bow. i did and it was a decent buck too, so my season was better than expected.:D

RE: Did you achieve your goals?
 

Give me a call we can go shed hunting and scouting the kettle moraine.

RE: Did you achieve your goals?
 

I definately achieved what I set out to do this year. I tagged out all on perfect shots. The last few years I've been in a shooting funk. But this year my shooting has came back to where it should be and I made good shots and short recoveries on all of the deer that I shot.

RE: Did you achieve your goals?
 

My parents use to live near Jelly Belly in Kenosha County so Ifound a few spots near there.
Knowing a pleasant prairie cop also helps.