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What will you change/improve for next year?

BuffaloBill said:
I know that feeling. I change broadheads, arrows, sights, rests etc. and can go all season without sending an arrow. None of that stuff matters if there aren't deer where I'm hunting to even shoot at.
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Same here but companies refuse to put out long draw bows. I will have to stick with my one and only bow from 2015.


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First and foremost, get out and find/get access to new areas and more/better opportunities.

Next, potentially still trying to find my happy place with the right platform. I love the TL Mission but do wish it was more packable. Don’t think I’ll be getting rid of it. Trying to resist the urge to buy a predator. Anxious to see what new platforms might launch in the new year. Whatever comes around might make the decision for me. We’ll see. Pretty happy with everything else in my setup right now. Kinda wish the LWCG .5 wasn’t so expensive tho.


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After 35+ years of deer hunting I now feel 100% confident in saying by first changing either or both WHERE they hunt or HOW they hunt will serve 8/10 deer hunters, especially bow hunters immeasurable better than changing ANYTHING they hunt WITH ever could or will.

$10k of the latest new and improved hunting gismo's be it bows, stands, arrows, BHs etc will not make a very low quality hunting area a better place to hunt or a hunter severely lacking in drive and ability a better hunter.

Not saying upgrading from poor to high quality gear doesn't make a difference because it does, but gear IMHO has little bearing on the success of a hunter unwilling to put in the hard more often than not very hard work that is mandatory to be a good successful bow hunter.

Having said that am going to give saddle hunting a try in an effort to maximize my pre-set stand locations that are currently severely limited by now owning only 4 hang on's this I feel will increase my odds of success for the cost of a saddle system will far less than buying 4 or more new hang on stands.
 
Definitely want to learn more about tuning archery equipment, maybe build arrows, and look into 2 tether climbing. Definitely scout more!
 
I like my saddle to ride low below my hips so I’m going to try the battle belt mod and improve on my platform. I’m using a tree suit clone that is bigger and heavy, want to lighten the load and better mobility
 
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.
 
Chimney7 said:
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.
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Same here! I’m in the exact same scenario. Don’t want to miss time with my kids while they’re still little.


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Westdesign03 said:
Same here! I’m in the exact same scenario. Don’t want to miss time with my kids while they’re still little.


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Enjoy it, and definitely don't miss it. I'm at the other end with two late teens who don't necessarily want a lot of parent/kid time and given their developmental status aren't always fun to be around. I love em dearly, and they love me, it's just a natural developmental progression that facilitates flying the nest and independence.

But boy do I miss the young years where I was a hero, life was full of games, toys, and laughter, and the stresses of responsibility were offset by feelings of purpose. Diapers, tantrums, and "timeouts" were, at the time, frustrating experiences. I'd take em all back though to get to be a dad of young kids again.

Life changes. Every stage has cool parts and new challenges. Just gotta soak it all up cause we only get one dance.
 
More scouting/door knocking for sure...My traditional spots been pounded this year by others all considering I’ve been fortunate enough to put deer down but not near the amount sightings/encounters
 
Switching from Shikar with a one step aider to the knaider/swaider set up sold by Backwoods Mobile Gear and rappelling back down. I going to switch from a daisy chain on my stick to a cam buckle strap so I can keep the stick higher when I'm set up to use in conjunction with my platform and a squirrel step to be able to move around the tree. I have a Recon and one of Matthew Tompkins original saddles currently and hope to get on his build list for his newest design. Other than that, I'm pretty well set with what I'm doing.
 
Considering Redbeard's Scout/Work Horse/rappel method for next year; I have the Preset Solo rather than the cam-over Scout but think it would work fine. Also trying to convince my buddy to give the saddle thing a whirl; would be able to halfway outfit him with my castoffs...
 
TNSTAAFL said:
Enjoy it, and definitely don't miss it. I'm at the other end with two late teens who don't necessarily want a lot of parent/kid time and given their developmental status aren't always fun to be around. I love em dearly, and they love me, it's just a natural developmental progression that facilitates flying the nest and independence.

But boy do I miss the young years where I was a hero, life was full of games, toys, and laughter, and the stresses of responsibility were offset by feelings of purpose. Diapers, tantrums, and "timeouts" were, at the time, frustrating experiences. I'd take em all back though to get to be a dad of young kids again.

Life changes. Every stage has cool parts and new challenges. Just gotta soak it all up cause we only get one dance.
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Yep that’s exactly where I’m at right now. You’re not kidding about the frustrating stuff. In the moment it is almost unbearable sometimes but I still wouldn’t trade it for anything. Unlike some other life events in the past, I’m really pushing myself to make sure I do enjoy everything legitimately. It’s not always easy but it’s so worth it.


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I decided a couple of years ago to quit chasing “trophies “. I have spent the last couple of season making the hunt the trophy. I have a wall full of deer heads, is what I told myself....... I lied. After I killed a couple of dinker bucks this year and buck tagged out in my favorite hunting area, my neighbor’s wife killed a monster this year and all of the old emotions welled up again. I want to try my hardest to get my son tagged out early next season and spend the rest of the season hunting for an archery CHONGO from my saddle!
 
More scouting, maybe some out of state scouting too. Might get different broadheads, thinking about a new slider sight (have a sword judge pro but thinking about the spot hogg fast eddie xl), and new string and cables for the bow since it’s time for that. Debating if I get shikar sticks for the packability or just cut down my API sticks and use a versa aider (leaning towards shikars cause I plan on going way off the beaten trail next year). Trying to decide whether I want an Eberlestock X2 pack or the Mystery Ranch Pop Up 28 for a better pack. Prolly gonna save up for some more premium camo to stay dry and warm longer (First Lite or Sitka). Buying a bow press and other tools necessary to work on my own bow and arrows and everything

Basically I’m an indecisive person and I tend to change A LOT of things about my equipment or techniques to try and be as proficient as I can be
 
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