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2023 goals

As a recovering gear nerd myself I can say it's so nice to stop buying and just use what you have. Doesn't mean I never buy anything but once I got off the hamster wheel and realized most of what I was buying didn't make any difference to my enjoyment of the sport, it became a lot easier to ignore the gadget-of-the-day excitement

Yeah I was perfectly content for years with the gear I was using. Now I’m constantly looking at different sticks, platforms, saddles, broadheads, etc. I think this forum, social media, and YouTube help fuel that. I kind of envy guys that just use their trusty climber/bucket with their old bow/rifle and fill their tags every year. If I put as much effort into scouting and getting access to new spots as I do looking at gear reviews and browsing forums, I’d be a lot better off. I suppose it’s a lot easier to throw money at gear than burn boot leather scouting. I actually have hunted on the ground when I’ve been able to get out so far this season. Saw deer every time. Just harder to get away with movement.
 
Yeah it ain’t 2023 yet but I’m getting started early.
My goal for 2023 is to shoot peepless. I loath using a peep and love the idea of not having to squint. Plus I shoot with both eyes open.
My other goal is to get out and practice more.
I went to a nose button on my bows and has improved my accuracy greatly.
 
My 2023 goals:
1. Continue to practice becoming a better shot throughout the year
2. Continue to become a better hunter. 2022 was my first year. Lots of lessons learned so far.
3. Meet new people through archery and hunting.
 
Yeah I was perfectly content for years with the gear I was using. Now I’m constantly looking at different sticks, platforms, saddles, broadheads, etc. I think this forum, social media, and YouTube help fuel that. I kind of envy guys that just use their trusty climber/bucket with their old bow/rifle and fill their tags every year. If I put as much effort into scouting and getting access to new spots as I do looking at gear reviews and browsing forums, I’d be a lot better off. I suppose it’s a lot easier to throw money at gear than burn boot leather scouting. I actually have hunted on the ground when I’ve been able to get out so far this season. Saw deer every time. Just harder to get away with movement.
How many times did you hunt in 2021? 2022?
 
How many times did you hunt in 2021? 2022?

If I’m being honest probably only a handful of times last season. I was working and going back to school full time. Finished school in August and then our second son was born 10/18. So that hasn’t been helpful this season. Not making that mistake again ha. Granted, I’ve actually been out more so far this season, still not a lot. I’m doing a reduction hunt at a state park the next two days. I did the first hunt a couple of weeks back and saw deer, just didn’t get good shot opportunities. I’m also going to try to get out during muzzleloader and late archery. I really need to work on getting access to private spots closer to the house. That would be ideal with two smaller kids. That and scouting public should be my priories for 2023.
 
Goal this year was for the wife to get a decent buck. I decided to stay outta there and hunt public so she had a better chance. First hunt I came damn close to killing a wall hanger, but came up one fry short of a happy meal. Wife ended up killing a good 8 pointer, there was a 5year old , 130” with em but this was her first racked buck so ya can’t blame her. Taxi said he should be done by Christmas, mission accomplished. Next years goals are to stick a nice’n on public and kill off some of the older scrub bucks on private. I don’t want no scrub
 
Think ima go with either a nose or kisser. Ever use a kisser?
Dropped the kisser for a nose button. To me it's way more precise. That small pin prick against your nose is more delicate against the nose than that rubber disk in the corner of ur mouth. JMO.
 
Knock on a few more doors locally for next year. I’d still like to find a doe honey hole here in my wmu 2b. I ran a dozen cams on public this year so I’d like to refine my setups and entry/exits. Hopefully the bucks survive the orange army. Upgrade my climbing sticks. I’d love to hunt out of state for the first time, maybe Ohio.
 
Moving forward im done shooting small bucks. That was my goal this year. I wounded what would have been my biggest buck. I wanted to quit and throw in the towel afterwards. But I kept moving forward and shot a small 8 to get it over with already. I felt terrible. I wasn't proud and didn't feel good killing him. I'm an unabashed trophy hunter and that is the last time that will ever happen. I'll happily eat tag soup every year than that
 
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