2018 2019 Goals thread

[cspot]

My goal is pretty much the same as it always is. Get out and have some fun and hopefully my kids get their deer tags filled. Hope to do a little more small game hunting this year.

 

[cspot]

My goal is pretty simple, get a few days on stand. I've not lost the desire, but the physical ability is slipping. I took a bad fall square on my back in early July and tore it up pretty good. I have hopes of hunting a little with my grandson, but we will see.

That really stinks. Hope you are able to get out some.

 

[cspot]

I complicated my hunting career for over a decade with goals. Keeping it simple has restored the desire to be out there.

1. Have fun.
2. Be safe.
3. Stay in the moment.
4. Hunt smart.
5. Hunt hard.

First and foremost, it has to be fun. I've been trying some new things and hunting new places the past few years and that's been enjoyable. I've also lost all expectation of being a routine big buck slayer, so that's helped with the overall enjoyment too. Obviously staying safe and returning home to my family is important. Last year, I learned from Giles and really tried to enjoy each moment I was on stand for what it was and it tied in well to not having lofty expectations. I had some great hunts last year thanks to that shift in mindset.

The last two are the ones that keep the competitive part of me fed. I want to make good decisions on where/when to hunt, then learn to live with the results, whatever they may be. Starting with a smart decision makes hunting hard a little easier. I want to hunt some public ground this year and go way back in. I plan to sit longer and be as observant as possible. More glassing, less reading. If I make good decisions on when/where to hunt and I hunt hard while I'm there, I'll leave satisfied and that'll feed right back into Goal #1.

Is the daughter hunting at all this year?

 

[Isaacorps]

Good stuff guys. For me it’s pretty simple:
-Be safe
-Enjoy it for all the reasons I got started in the first place
-Put 2 in the freezer to get us through the year
-Thank God for every chance I have to enjoy His creation
-Take advantage of the quiet solitude to reflect on the time cut way too short I had with my brother on this earth
-Read lots of IKS threads!

Good luck everyone!

 

[Hortontoter]

That is being realistic. Hope you see a few deer along with the squirrels.

I'm just ready to sit in a tree and watch squirrels. Is it time yet???

 

["J"]

That is being realistic. Hope you see a few deer along with the squirrels.

We hammered the squirrels last season in the hopes of thinning them out, it’ll be interesting too sit and see if we actually did or not...

 

[Big_Holla]

My goals aren't much different this year than last. I hope to get both kids out hunting more this year but know it's unlikely to happen much with my daughter with college and all. I think the only thing I want to do is get out more myself and not just wait til the weekends we all can go. Hope to get a couple more ladder stands put up so they are easier for the kids to get into as well.

 

[Iowa_Buckeye]

Spending some time in a tree-stand alone, but mostly spending time in the wood with my girls. I'm really looking forward to hunting with Shea, as it is a blast just watching her constantly scan out of all the windows from the shooting huts. Reese pretty much reads a book while I watch, but it is wonderful time together.
As I know these are goals I will accomplish, I have the stretch goal of one or both of them dropping a slammer!

 

[mercercountyhunter]

Get my daughter her first deer , hopefully a buck because she wants some horns on her wall of her own. She grazed one last year. She will turn 8 this season.
Hopefully continue the streak of 140”+ deer. And to get my first one with the recurve. Just spending time time in a tree during the rut is good enough for me though.
Would like to see a couple friends coming from out east get a couple good bucks also.

 

[NWOHhunter]

My Goals for 2018-2019 season

1. Enjoy the time in my stand
2. Hunt for myself
3. I hope to tag one of my old friends I been watching for the last two years.
4. Take my daughter out more
5. Help out others when needed
6. Become a better hunter/person

 

[Sgt Fury]

Just to have fun and enjoy the season. Seems like it takes a couple of days for your mind to slow down from the daily grind of work. A couple of days in a stand from dark to dark usually is the cure for this.

 

[giles]

Be humble.

So much in this game isn’t a guarantee. Hunting properties, who we share the hunt and stories with, the game. The hunting has changed so much that the roots have been lost. This year I just want to stay humble and thankful for everything I do have and have had. Having my local meat spot taken from me this year by something out of my control has hit me hard. Maybe I needed it, everything happens for a reason...some could say it humbles a man.

Good luck this year everyone. I hope everyone finds exactly what they’re after.

Wow...almost weird how hard this just hit home with me. My goal has been reached.

How about you boys?

 

[bowhunter1023]

1. Have fun.
2. Be safe.
3. Stay in the moment.
4. Hunt smart.
5. Hunt hard.

1. Had some, got more to have.
2. So far, so good. Fingers crossed.
3. Some hunts were better than others.
4. What hunting I did was well thought out. What hunting I have left will be even more strategic.
5. Again, what I've done, I did with mostly max effort. My stand time has been on point for the most part. What hunting I have left will be "hard" hunting and I look forward to it. Battling the elements in the late season is a lot of fun, which circles back to #1.

 

[hickslawns]

Thankful nobody has started this yet. I believe I have been fortunate enough to start it nearly every year. 30-40 days out seems like a good time to share our goals for deer season.

1) Be thankful and thank God for every hunt.
2) Enjoy each hunt and come home safe.
3) Ensure the freezer is filled.
4) Bucks? I don't know. User to say things like "shoot a bigger one than my biggest" or "shoot a mature buck". At this point in my hunting career, I don't care if I shoot one at all. Don't take that wrong, I'd like to, but I guess if one trips my trigger I'll shoot it. "Target bucks" rarely work out. Some history with a deer you tag is really cool though.
5) Whatever I loose an arrow at, I want to make a good shot. Quick, clean, ethical kills.
6) As always, I'd love to further fuel the fire in my son's belly. Seems no matter how hard I try it smolders out. I'll keep trying whenever he shows interest. Not pushing him.
7) Enjoy the hunts with friends and family. My Cousin Bubba is coming from NC to hunt this fall. I'd love him to take some meat home. Hope to help him and my friends drag out some deer.

1) Accomplished.
2) Check
3) Check
4) if one trips my trigger I'll shoot it. "Target bucks" rarely work out. Some history with a deer you tag is really cool though.
Wow! Had one trip my trigger AND had tons of history. True blessing in my eyes.
5) Thankful to have accomplished this as well.
6) Attempted. Saw a tiny spark. Never made it happen. Didn't push.
7) Bubba- tagged. Buddy Randy- yes (not due to me, but was fortunate to assist in recovery.) Buddy Dean- health is failing. Still trying. Not sure it in in the cards for him physically. Landowner- Helped my land owner tag one as well. Nice to see him tag one after decades of not hunting.

I didn't set overly lofty goals. Thankful to have a successful season. I'm smiling and looking forward to more updates like Jesse and Giles' updates!

 

[brock ratcliff]

I went hunting, I’ve taken Mason hunting and hope to a bit more. Low bar set and reached!
I do have one more goal for the season. Mason has a doe tag and I hope to video him shooting one. If not, I look forward to the effort. We haven’t been able to deer hunt together as much this year as in years past. He’s growing up, it’s natural, but I miss sitting with him.

 

[Redhunter1012]

Enjoy time out there with my son.
Would love for him to get an opportunity
Put meat in the freezer
Have a blast with my buddies during gun season

The Good Lord blessed me with the chance to check all these off this year, and then some. So thankful for my season and still got a few buddies Im dogging for.

Great job Dave on digging this back up

 

[giles]

Still a lot of season left, for those that haven’t fulfilled there list. Hard to believe that I still haven’t hunted with my dad yet. That will be my new goal, go hunt with him and have a great time. Deer or whatever it may be, we will have fun.

 

[Joel]

I'm just ready to sit in a tree and watch squirrels. Is it time yet???

Saw lots of squirrels lol! Had a great season and now just seeing if a buck shows up for Abby once it gets colder.

 

[Isaacorps]

Good stuff guys. For me it’s pretty simple:
-Be safe
-Enjoy it for all the reasons I got started in the first place
-Put 2 in the freezer to get us through the year
-Thank God for every chance I have to enjoy His creation
-Take advantage of the quiet solitude to reflect on the time cut way too short I had with my brother on this earth
-Read lots of IKS threads!

Good luck everyone!

-Be safe...yep
-Enjoy it for all the reasons I got started in the first place...juries still out
-Thank God for every chance to enjoy His creation...check
-Take advantage of the quiet solitude to reflect on the time cut way too short I had with my brother on this earth...not so much. He’s still gone and it still sucks a bag of dicks
-Read lots of IKS threads...that was never in doubt with this crowd!

 

[giles]

-Be safe...yep
-Enjoy it for all the reasons I got started in the first place...juries still out
-Thank God for every chance to enjoy His creation...check
-Take advantage of the quiet solitude to reflect on the time cut way too short I had with my brother on this earth...not so much. He’s still gone and it still sucks a bag of dicks
-Read lots of IKS threads...that was never in doubt with this crowd!

You’ve got my number man, don’t be afraid to use it.