What will you change/improve for next year?

[Patriot]

I proved to myself I can scout bedding and set up beast style, I just missed my shot. Problem is I only had 3-5 high probability beds and exit trails figured out.

this year I’m going to get that number up to over 20.

 

[Parkerbow]

I want to be more efficient. What I mean by that is say hypothetically I spent 30 hours in the woods for a full freezer, next year I want to do it in 20. I have a toddler son at home that I don’t want to miss out on his early years because I’m chasing deer around.
This was my first year hunting deer with a bow, and I plan on taking the lessons learned to be more efficient. I killed a buck and a doe so far this season. It took about four hours of tree time for both of them, both of the deer I killed were the result of methodical scouting. I put some tree time in spots that I went into blind trying to prove to myself that I could be like the podcast guys and go in blind, look for sign, set up, and get on deer. I wasted a lot of hours doing that. Next year I want to spend the time needed scouting so when I go in, I come out with deer in as little time as possible.

Many years from now when my kid(s) are all grown up and gone I can spend all day swinging from a tree, but for the next few years, efficient is the name of the game. That’s what I’m trying to change.

30 hours to fill the freezer, heck it took me 150hrs to kill 3 deer.

 

[mball1684]

Oh man…I’m going into 22’ with a BUNCH of question marks and new gear. First off…new bow, arrows and accessories…first new build in 3 seasons. New platform(XOP) & possibly new sticks (XOP but may stay with my helium minis) Switching from the ropeman to kong duck as well. New 8mm tether/lineman’s from latitude. Also getting back into fully time filming so working on the DIYBowhunting saddle camera arm….gonna be an interesting summer

 

[briand60]

#1 - get away from quad trails trails. This past year I scouted more than ever. I want to increase that and get better at e-scouting. Get dialed in shooting from the JX3. Get in better shape. More presets with bolts. Presets based on where the deer should be during that part of the season (early, pre rut, rut) rather than just on wind direction. Get better at entry and exit routes. Climb during scouting so I know what lanes need to be cleared. Start using my cameras to work a plan and not just get cool pictures. Be less afraid to check cams right before November. Sell off gear I don’t use anymore. Figure out a lighter way to climb safely at my age.

 

[MNFarmHunter]

I should add that I'd like to get into filming. I had so many cool moments such as a fawn playing in the creek and I'd like to film some of it.

 

[huntin_addict]

I've already made my change and have a few hunts on it. Went from a 10mm arborist rope with figure 8 knot and ropeman 1 for tether to 8mm with a sewn eye and kong duck.

Really didn't even need to change that, just trying to get a little more compact. The one thing that I will definitely eliminate is stealth strip on anything I have it on, which at this point isn't much. Tried some out this year and found out that stuff is a sticky nitemare. As soon as it gets wet its a problem. Found out pretty quick I have a dislike for that stuff.

 

[Weldabeast]

I've already made my change and have a few hunts on it. Went from a 10mm arborist rope with figure 8 knot and ropeman 1 for tether to 8mm with a sewn eye and kong duck.

Really didn't even need to change that, just trying to get a little more compact. The one thing that I will definitely eliminate is stealth strip on anything I have it on, which at this point isn't much. Tried some out this year and found out that stuff is a sticky nitemare. As soon as it gets wet its a problem. Found out pretty quick I have a dislike for that stuff.

That's odd....I haven't experienced this at all. My canoe is covered in stealth strip... It's definetly not uv resistant but I haven't seen water affecting it... Even salt water

 

[Nchunter1989]

The one thing that I will definitely eliminate is stealth strip on anything I have it on, which at this point isn't much. Tried some out this year and found out that stuff is a sticky nitemare. As soon as it gets wet its a problem. Found out pretty quick I have a dislike for that stuff.

Stealth strip or medical/vet wrap?? I have real stealth strip on my mission platform post, & it’s been wet several times this season with no issues..


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[Nchunter1989]

For me-

#1. New saddle. The kestrel flex was definitely a improvement over the sit drag, but looking for either a Covert Pro or a XC- if Chad will customize it. May have to bite the bullet for a TX5..

#2. Improve my cardio. I’ve dropped 40lbs in the last 3 years, another 10 this season. But hauling that deer outta the south GA sugar sand creek bottom at Thanksgiving almost killed me.. plus, here in NC I’m right in between the hilly piedmont & the flat coastal plain of the east. Some of the hills going west aren’t fun.

#3. Pickup another set of sticks. Either more API’s to mod, or a set of Trophyline mini’s.

#4. Replace my rappel rope,the REI acc cord I was using didn’t hold up well.. Setup an additional tether for ascending & pickup a safeguard/grigri +.

#5. Practice with my bow more, & scout more in season. If it works out, I will be taking more 2-3 day trips, once season opens back.


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[Bowtie747]

I really like the improvement ideas of working out and cardio. I remember hearing John Dudley if I’m remembering right talk about working out setting him apart from other archers. Also eating healthily and what not. Your body is so much better on food that’s good for you. If you get the shakes when a bucks coming in, your Red Bull isn’t gonna help. Also the kidney stones I’ve heard arnt fun.


1# Get most of the tv show style hunting preconceived notions out of my head.”Can’t bump a deer, if you do you will never see him again, stuff like that”

#2 Make my summer scouting more effective. I dropped the ball here big time this year and didn’t even realize. I put in a ton of summer scouting and I mean a ton. What I did wrong was found a good spot, eyeballed it for a minute then moved on. Didn’t dive into it more for a specific tree to hunt or even dive into the areas I thought deer would come from. Seriously cannot express how much I messed that up even though I thought I was putting in the work. Work smarter not harder.

#3 Even though I covered scouting in #2 I want to take what I learned this year and scout further the spots I hunted/scouted this year. Taking what I learned and saw and dialing it in more.

#4 Small modifications to my setup. Although I’m super happy with my saddle setups!


Also wanted to slide in a thanks to everyone on here and the Moderators/Creator of this. Cannot tell you how much more I enjoyed hunting this year than last year. Learned so much from this website that I honestly feel like I’ve dialed in my saddle setup enough to just keep using it and getting better with it. So many mistakes I got to avoid just by people being honest and admitting their mistakes.

 

[MNFarmHunter]

Snip


Also wanted to slide in a thanks to everyone on here and the Moderators/Creator of this. Cannot tell you how much more I enjoyed hunting this year than last year. Learned so much from this website that I honestly feel like I’ve dialed in my saddle setup enough to just keep using it and getting better with it. So many mistakes I got to avoid just by people being honest and admitting their mistakes.

Ditto. The wealth of knowledge and experience here allows me to condense in less than a season what it would've taken me years to discover.

 

[tarafrost]

1. Practice a lot with my new saddle hunting gear, refine preferred approach/gear and saddle hunt this fall.
2. Host a saddle hunting demo/info session in my area with Saddle Hunting Canada once the winter snow and cold is done.
3. Scout earlier and more
4. Check out some new areas to hunt
5. Do a 1 week back country archery hunting/camping trip for moose/deer/bear
6. Lose some weight and improve fitness
7. Stop spending so much on gear

Ok...I lied about #7.

 

[woodsdog2]

I'm planning on cutting off the utilibridge on my @always89y saddle (best saddle ever) and switch back to webbing. Utilibridge is a pain. I plan on switching my mono repel method out to a safeguard and maybe cut down my @DanO aider onestick just a bit shorter... 18inches is a pain to pack.

Totally agree with you about the CGM sidewinder saddle. That thing rocks! Very, very, very comfortable. Beefy where you need and light where you don't. Its an awesome and very cost effective saddle for sure. I have a 15" EWO Ultimate One Stick (UOS) with the UP platform... used it for all of my sets this year with the exception of the first and last where I used an EDP on a preset location. I think the 15" is a great compromise between ease of carry, weight and balance. That thing just sucks itself to the tree no matter what. Love the EWO UOS with UP platform. Can we say alphabet soup with all the acronyms??

 

[woodsdog2]

I proved to myself I can scout bedding and set up beast style, I just missed my shot. Problem is I only had 3-5 high probability beds and exit trails figured out.

this year I’m going to get that number up to over 20.

This is an excellent objective which I may incorporate but I'm also going to add more rut funnel locations and prerut sets on scrapes and rubs so I can have more options for more targeted all day sits. I may start to consider a couple of other states as well. I've never hunted out of state until the season before last and I really enjoyed learning new properties. Finally, seriously thinking about getting into the cell cam game as well.

 

[huntin_addict]

Stealth strip or medical/vet wrap?? I have real stealth strip on my mission platform post, & it’s been wet several times this season with no issues..


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Stealth strip. It's junk. I still have some I'm going to throw away.

 

[huntin_addict]

That's odd....I haven't experienced this at all. My canoe is covered in stealth strip... It's definetly not uv resistant but I haven't seen water affecting it... Even salt water

Wait until you have it on your equipment in the tree and it is rolling up and around like no ones business, then the sticky mess starts to transfer to your ropes, etc.

Done with it, it's junk.

 

[Weldabeast]

Stealth strip. It's junk. I still have some I'm going to throw away.

Send it to me if u gonna throw it out

 

[Bigterp]

Send it to me if u gonna throw it out

Thought the same thing, I’ve learned there are some things not to stealth strip. But never had those issues…….

 

[TommyDee]

First, things that worked well and not changing

1. Saddle, bow, arrow setup all working. The few deer I’ve shot at last 2 years all died quick, and tracked easy. Keep only taking high percentage shots.
2. Found great grounds, very efficient with great encounters on most sits. trail cam rotation working (1 cell, 3 non cell). Only closed the deal once, though.

Things to change


1. Stay in good “back shape” so I don’t throw out my disc doing household stuff at the start of rut-that means cardio, stretching, core strength.

2. Add preset Paracord/SRT to my climbing method. (Canyon IV rappel) Experiment with 2TC, maybe 1 stick, maybe ROS. Decide by June to change or stay with 3 stick/BD etrier for non preset climbs.

3. Efficient summer trail cam/climbing/preset sessions in the woods after work. Of course that all sounds great now, but heat, ticks, and mosquitoes usually blow these plans! Reality is family stuff in the summer takes priority over scouting on weekends so just hit the woods after work.

4. Take a rutcation. Just staying local, but taking the time off work.

5. Skip morning sits, except during rutcation. (3 for 3 this year in bumping in the dark walking in, or having to rappel and crap at first light, or worse did both on a sit, AND dropped my platform for a record 3 climbs in 1 tree. Luckily I did that just before my back issue, every deer in the county not killed by EHD was laughing at me, and needed 6 weeks to forget….

6. Learn thermals better, or don’t hunt calm days. Had issues with changing wind this year that cost me on 2 occasions.

I blew a few chances this year fiddling with gear because I changed A LOT last year in my first year saddle hunting, and did t practice enough in the off-season. Managed a doe, learned a ton, and loved the limited time I had in the woods this year. Thanks to all the killers and climbers on here for sharing the knowledge for us newbies.


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[TreeCreep]

I proved to myself I can scout bedding and set up beast style, I just missed my shot. Problem is I only had 3-5 high probability beds and exit trails figured out.

this year I’m going to get that number up to over 20.

I’m getting a hunt in with you next year. Just a meet at the trailhead deal, but my offer stands to hang in the same tree with go pros and share snacks.