I have been putting off starting this but since all the cool kids are doing it I figured I would start. Work, family, and more work has dictated my pre-season thus far. I have done little prep.
I have been shooting as much as possible but even still it has only been 2-3x per week. Not bad if I am just keeping the rust off, but I am still getting acquainted with a new bow so I don't feel it is enough.
Gear is all washed up and tucked away. I have checked most of my tree stands already. Today i managed to hang another stand I feel will be either a nice early season doe stand or an all day rut stand. It rained and while I should have been working inside a house I am preparing to rent I just felt the need to escape. My foreman tagged along to help out which was much appreciated. A bit late to be hanging stands but it is what it is. I did hang one on Father's Day and a buddy and I hung one and moved another in late July or early August.
Cameras have not been the priority this year they have been in the past. Several reasons why. 1) I have been hanging them high and angling downward and wasn't getting it right. This frustrated me and I kinda said screw it. 2) I had some issues with a couple cams which frustrated me and said screw it. 3) I was really trying to be diligent in staying out of hunting areas. 4) I just haven't had a ton of luck locating a pile of shooters this year. I know there are some dandies out there. Not having them on camera doesn't mean I don't know they are there. I am sort of looking forward to an element of surprise from the stand. i am going to shoot what trips my trigger. If I later find out I am disappointed and regret what I shot then I will rethink my plan next year. I think I have a decent idea of what it takes to meet my personal goals by judging on the hoof. If I eat a tag, I don't care.
That said, I am simply going to keep my nose to the grindstone. I have a pile of work to complete before the season begins. I have 3 kids with activities I will be attending. I am not overly pumped about the season at this point. Although it is only 16days out it feels very surreal to type that out. It just doesn't feel like it is close yet. Maybe as busy as I have been and with as much stuff as I need to accomplish prior to season I am just keeping myself from getting too worked up about it. I have a feeling as each day draws nearer to the season my enthusiasm will intensify.
Strategies for early season? I don't even know. We really could use some meat in the freezer. Momma has been working her butt off canning and keeps mentioning how little burger there is left. I guess my early season goals are to do some scouting from the stand with hopes of an early season doe. If I am surprised with a shooter buck then it would be wonderful. It would allow me the rest of the season to focus more on my son's hunting and running off trespassers. Time will tell. I guess I am really entering the season with low expectations. The last two years have been great but I have saved money at the taxidermist.
I have been shooting as much as possible but even still it has only been 2-3x per week. Not bad if I am just keeping the rust off, but I am still getting acquainted with a new bow so I don't feel it is enough.
Gear is all washed up and tucked away. I have checked most of my tree stands already. Today i managed to hang another stand I feel will be either a nice early season doe stand or an all day rut stand. It rained and while I should have been working inside a house I am preparing to rent I just felt the need to escape. My foreman tagged along to help out which was much appreciated. A bit late to be hanging stands but it is what it is. I did hang one on Father's Day and a buddy and I hung one and moved another in late July or early August.
Cameras have not been the priority this year they have been in the past. Several reasons why. 1) I have been hanging them high and angling downward and wasn't getting it right. This frustrated me and I kinda said screw it. 2) I had some issues with a couple cams which frustrated me and said screw it. 3) I was really trying to be diligent in staying out of hunting areas. 4) I just haven't had a ton of luck locating a pile of shooters this year. I know there are some dandies out there. Not having them on camera doesn't mean I don't know they are there. I am sort of looking forward to an element of surprise from the stand. i am going to shoot what trips my trigger. If I later find out I am disappointed and regret what I shot then I will rethink my plan next year. I think I have a decent idea of what it takes to meet my personal goals by judging on the hoof. If I eat a tag, I don't care.
That said, I am simply going to keep my nose to the grindstone. I have a pile of work to complete before the season begins. I have 3 kids with activities I will be attending. I am not overly pumped about the season at this point. Although it is only 16days out it feels very surreal to type that out. It just doesn't feel like it is close yet. Maybe as busy as I have been and with as much stuff as I need to accomplish prior to season I am just keeping myself from getting too worked up about it. I have a feeling as each day draws nearer to the season my enthusiasm will intensify.
Strategies for early season? I don't even know. We really could use some meat in the freezer. Momma has been working her butt off canning and keeps mentioning how little burger there is left. I guess my early season goals are to do some scouting from the stand with hopes of an early season doe. If I am surprised with a shooter buck then it would be wonderful. It would allow me the rest of the season to focus more on my son's hunting and running off trespassers. Time will tell. I guess I am really entering the season with low expectations. The last two years have been great but I have saved money at the taxidermist.
