Your 2017 Trad Goals

[cz52man]

Bought a recurve on TBH a few years ago and it's been sitting in my closet since...Don't really even know where to start. Gotta get some arrows fletched (I was stupid and bought plastic fletched ones) and then just start shooting. Sure would be nice if I could find about 6 extra hours in the day to fit in the things I need and want to do!

[Dry Bones]

I started this year off with a movement that Scott suggested. Back to working out a little and getting in more physically fit shape. Been out of college for just over 10 years and getting a little to relaxed.
with that I think it will improve my accuracy as my bow has already started to feel a little lighter.
I would like to get a tree rat , and fill another tag with a whitetail buck.
Last, learn to shoot my new to me, (on it's way) bow left handed.

[SwampRabbit]

I forgot I had put that on my list. Since the start of the year, I have lost about 15 pounds and about 3 or 4 inches back on my belt. I started strength training about 2 weeks ago and have noticed a difference as well.

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[Dry Bones]

Good to know Scott. I am always lean and never have gained much weight, just didn't feel as together as I should. As soon as I get over my broke foot I will start back my cardio. Hard to jump rope, run or anything with a gimp. LOL
Stay after it, it is my belief that physical conditioning will transfer into my shootability as well.
Congrats again on the Blackbuck. Pretty awesome critters.

[SwampRabbit]

Just revisiting this thread... dropped 42 pounds, gained significant strength, killed a hog with my widow... it has been a good year so far. Have to wait a few more months before I can work on my last stated goal of 2 deer with my trad bow in one season. That one is the hardest by comparison.

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[Junkers88]

Scott I don't know how you had 42 pounds to lose. When we met you didn't look like you were overweight. Congrats man!

Richard.

[ghostgoblin22]

Originally Posted by SwampRabbit

Just revisiting this thread... dropped 42 pounds, gained significant strength, killed a hog with my widow... it has been a good year so far. Have to wait a few more months before I can work on my last stated goal of 2 deer with my trad bow in one season. That one is the hardest by comparison.

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Congrats man
I've too lost 20 lbs by cutting fast food completely out of my diet and the crazy thing is i feel stronger also In overall strength
I'm a district manager for Verizon now and I barely have time to shoot my bow lol, that will change once the summer comes around


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[CRM_95]

Originally Posted by SwampRabbit

Just revisiting this thread... dropped 42 pounds, gained significant strength, killed a hog with my widow... it has been a good year so far. Have to wait a few more months before I can work on my last stated goal of 2 deer with my trad bow in one season. That one is the hardest by comparison.

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Good work!!

[CRM_95]

Originally Posted by CRM_95

I really want to kill a deer with my recurve. I'm gonna try my best to not get tunnel vision on trying to kill a good buck, and just try to kill a legal deer with my recurve. I think not running trail cams will help with this. I also want to shoot a little further, so I'll practice a lot more at 20-25 over the summer. I'll still try to keep my shots from 12-15, but I'd like to feel comfortable at 20. And when my new bow gets here I want to spend a little more time tuning and get it as close to perfect as I can.

I'm also going to space out my vacation. I normally take 3 weeks off to hunt, and this year I took it all in October. Things started slow, and when rifle season opened I just grabbed a gun and zipped through my tags on my days off. Next year I plan to take a week in October, a week in November, and a week in December.

Kinda cool to see this. I've accomplished a few of these...I'm finally shooting a really well tuned bow, shooting pretty good at 20, and have my vacations scheduled the way I outlined them in the quoted post. I'm still up in the air on whether or not to run cameras, and time will tell if I can resist the temptation to break the rifle out. If I start getting pics of a good buck consistently it's like I have to kill him... Oh and I've also added a pig and an aoudad to my list of animals taken with a trad bow.

[KenWood]

I want to get my first dove this season with a fluflu tipped with a snaro.
I've already killed a hog with my recurve, now I gotta get one the longbow. (Or as many as I can)
I'm going for broke on deer huntin with trad equipment. If I get em cool, if not oh well. I have three little ones who can make up the meat.
I hunted the entire turkey season with a trad bow and I've gotta say, I have a new respect for those birds. So I'll add a fall turkey to the list just to get even.

I, like CRM, am gonna focus this year on legal deer. I think not running trail cams is a great idea. If I can kill five I will. I think one or two may be a little more attainable though.

[mclipp]

My goal is to sell all my recurves (10) as I'm unable to shoot them anymore. Sad but true.
I've 2 grandsons, so I've got to keep a couple anyway.
Lippe

[SwampRabbit]

Originally Posted by CRM_95

Kinda cool to see this. I've accomplished a few of these...I'm finally shooting a really well tuned bow, shooting pretty good at 20, and have my vacations scheduled the way I outlined them in the quoted post. I'm still up in the air on whether or not to run cameras, and time will tell if I can resist the temptation to break the rifle out. If I start getting pics of a good buck consistently it's like I have to kill him... Oh and I've also added a pig and an aoudad to my list of animals taken with a trad bow.

You have definitely started off your trad bow hunting adventure doing pretty darn well buddy. You've put alot of critters down in short order.

It sounds so simple, but Buff made a comment that just always stuck out to me in my mind. There isn't anything wrong with killing a deer by other means, but that is one less sit and opportunity you had to kill a deer with your bow; and therefore the odds of getting a deer with your bow go down.

The goal of killing 2 deer with my trad bow aren't really all that unrealistic. The first year I flung 2 arrows at 2 deer. The first I back strapped, the 2nd I killed. Last year, I hunted smarter based on some things I had learned. I had way more opportunities, but I just didn't capitalize on them. Realistically, I could have had 3 deer in the cooler based on arrows flung. But I had one miss, and another high hit. I even had another one practically dead to rights until my limb hit the ceiling when I was drawing (addressing that one this offseason.)

[DRT]

Originally Posted by Buff

Kill a Bush Pig in February before Shiloh beats me to it
Attachment 833870

So Marty have you had a chance to get?

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[WamBow]

Shoot a feral monkey in south Texas

[DRT]

Originally Posted by DRT

1) I'd like to get some animals in the bed of my truck or basket of my cart with a traditional bow or two.

2) I'd like to extend my confident shooting range to double what it is now. Currently that's 15 yards.

Not quite to 30 but 25 is getting closer to reality.

3) I'd like to increase my draw weight capability to 50lbs at my draw length.

Done. Wondering about another 5lbs . . .

4) I'd like to purchase a 50lbs at my draw length BW PSR and shoot it well.

No PSR but I have a PSA. Still saving for that one.

5) Last but not least I would like to link up with some local traditional shooters, get back into a local club and learn how bad I am at this new obsession.

Too much work at the new ranch, scout outings, work and building deer stands for much hunting or club shooting.

Gary

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[SwampRabbit]

Originally Posted by DRT

So Marty have you had a chance to get?

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It rained out on his trip.

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[DRT]

Crud. I was looking forward to seeing the mount.

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[CRM_95]

Originally Posted by SwampRabbit

You have definitely started off your trad bow hunting adventure doing pretty darn well buddy. You've put alot of critters down in short order.

It sounds so simple, but Buff made a comment that just always stuck out to me in my mind. There isn't anything wrong with killing a deer by other means, but that is one less sit and opportunity you had to kill a deer with your bow; and therefore the odds of getting a deer with your bow go down.

The goal of killing 2 deer with my trad bow aren't really all that unrealistic. The first year I flung 2 arrows at 2 deer. The first I back strapped, the 2nd I killed. Last year, I hunted smarter based on some things I had learned. I had way more opportunities, but I just didn't capitalize on them. Realistically, I could have had 3 deer in the cooler based on arrows flung. But I had one miss, and another high hit. I even had another one practically dead to rights until my limb hit the ceiling when I was drawing (addressing that one this offseason.)

Thanks man!! Buff is absolutely right. As happy as I was with my buck last year, I had hunted the same spot the day before I killed him with my bow. Chances are, I would have had a chance with my bow the day I killed him if I'd taken it, and that was one of my first thoughts!!

[76aggie]

My only real goal for the upcoming season is to be able to comfortably pull back my bow without all the pain in my shoulder. I have been rehabbing the shoulder since February and am finally starting to get fairly comfortable again.

[bloodstick]

Im just getting started on my Trad journey. My goal is to find a bow that fits me and get good enough with it to try my luck on a hog. Maybe get some small game mixed in.

[Randy Madden]

Work More and hunt less!!! ( I'm trying reverse psychology!! The other way never pans out like I want)

[DRT]

Not sure it works that way but it probably can't hurt.

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[Trumpkin]

1. Get back to shooting every day
2. kill something with my longbow here in Texas

[Ronnie]

I think I might like to learn how to get into 3d shooting between hunting seasons.

[DRT]

Just wondering how everyone has progressed in their goals for the year so far. I know most of mine are not looking good but a couple of them are becoming realistic.

[DRT]

Originally Posted by DRT

1) I'd like to get some animals in the bed of my truck or basket of my cart with a traditional bow or two.

2) I'd like to extend my confident shooting range to double what it is now. Currently that's 15 yards.

3) I'd like to increase my draw weight capability to 50lbs at my draw length.

4) I'd like to purchase a 50lbs at my draw length BW PSR and shoot it well.

5) Last but not least I would like to link up with some local traditional shooters, get back into a local club and learn how bad I am at this new obsession.

Gary

1. No dead critters yet but with work on the ranch hunting time has been nil this year. Although I have scared a couple rabbits.

2. 25 yards is getting reasonable but I still have the unexplained flyer here and there when my form breaks down.

3. I've reached my goal draw weight.

4. The PSA will have to do. Hemorrhaging money on the ranch is more important than the bow right now. Maybe next summer.

5. Never got to the club thing but I did enjoy the weekend at Big Oak. Learned a little and realized I was making progress.

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[Flint knapper]

1. Finish the extra-large box blind so I can kill a whitetail with my longbow!

2. Finish the bow build that I started this last spring!

3. Make, hunt and kill some pigs with primitive arrows ( Flint heads attached)

4. Get in better shape for hunting in the Mts. of Colorado.

5. Go to more 3d trad shoots!

[CRM_95]

Mine are coming along pretty good. I don't wanna jinx myself but my shooting has been really good the last week or so, after going through a short slump for a couple weeks before that. I've got some good setups ready and don't have one single solitary camera out. I'll just be surprised when I see what's eating my corn. Hopefully pleasantly surprised.

[SwampRabbit]

Originally Posted by CRM_95

I'll just be surprised when I see what's eating my corn. Hopefully pleasantly surprised.

If only you had put out a camera....







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[Trumpkin]

Originally Posted by Trumpkin

1. Get back to shooting every day
2. kill something with my longbow here in Texas

Well, number 1 has happened! Give or take a day here and there, I'm shooting regularly and I'm comfortable at 12-15 yards already, with 20 looking more doable by the day.

[Phillip Fields]

Originally Posted by Phillip Fields

1. Take a Black Bear in Maine.

2. Have another great TBH Trad Hog Hunt with my Texas friends.

Other than that I'll just roll with whatever opportunities arise.

I really want for my wife and I to get back to South Texas to chase Javis, but I don't see that happening in 2017.

We had another great TBH Trad hog hunt in April. I leave for my Maine Bear hunt in 11 days, and I have a pig/javi hunt booked in south Texas in February for me and the wife and some buddies from NC.

[kmon]

I haven't taken anything but a jack rabbit in over 25 years with traditional archery, about time I change that Looking for a nice doe or buck this year

[ghostgoblin22]

My shooting is the best it's ever been, took some more Joel Turner online classes and I've really found a good pedigree to work with, my endurance fitness is exceptional, I cut down on the beer and haven't had fast food in 7 months which helped me take my fitness to another level, plus my wife is pregnant with our first so life is great. Taking any deer at this point would be a bonus.


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[CRM_95]

Originally Posted by ghostgoblin22

My shooting is the best it's ever been, took some more Joel Turner online classes and I've really found a good pedigree to work with, my endurance fitness is exceptional, I cut down on the beer and haven't had fast food in 7 months which helped me take my fitness to another level, plus my wife is pregnant with our first so life is great. Taking any deer at this point would be a bonus.


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Awesome!! Congrats on all of it, but most of all the kiddo!!

[ghostgoblin22]

Originally Posted by CRM_95

Awesome!! Congrats on all of it, but most of all the kiddo!!

Thanks really excited about being a dad for sure, stuck with one weapon all offseason without the typical buying and changing my weapons like a usually do which throws things off a tad. I believe this season will be a great year for east Texas deer


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[SwampRabbit]

Well... as we come to a close for 2017... how'd everybody do? Out of the 3 main goals I had:

1) I'd like to get a hog with my Widow. I've killed a hog with a trad bow, but it was with my Samick. I've killed all my other "list" animals with my Widow, so I'd like to finally get a hog down with it. I came close this past WT season.

2) I'd like to get back into better physical shape so that hunting an Elk or an Aoudad can be a better reality.

3) I'd like to be able to kill 2 deer in WT season.

I knocked the first 2 out of the park. I got 2 really nice hogs at the Trad hog hunt with my Widow... and I lost a lot of weight and am in pretty good shape compared to last year.

However, number #3 is a big fat black eye on my 2017 year. I've had sooooo many mishaps with the WT season. I had so many opportunities just go awry. I could have easily had 2 WTs in the cooler with my stick bow... but a high shot, limbs in the way, limb clearance, cows destroying blinds, etc... just fouled this season up in a major way.

There is always 2018... and I suppose I'll start a thread for that in a little over a week.

[chuckc.]

Number one would be to mentally control each shot at game and when shooting at tbot. I have a bad tendency to rush a shot under pressure and form goes out the window. Learning to shoot under pressure has been my biggest challenge!

[jerp]

Originally Posted by jerp

Stretch my range. I am very comfortable at 15 yards, mostly because 80% of my practice is at that distance or closer. There are days when I can stack them at 20 yards, but that comes and goes. I need to start shooting more arrows from 20+ so I know what that distance feels like and it becomes automatic.

This was my goal and I have made a lot of progress. Throughout the year I have shot about half my practice arrows from 20 yards or farther. I still don't think I would sling one at a deer from that distance but it should help considerably in the upcoming 3d season. It certainly has made the shorter shots seem easier...

[Bisch]

Well, I have not met any goals for this year except to take a deer off of my own place. I have gotten 2 does off my new little ranch with my longbows. All in all, this season has been one of the worst experiences I have had since I started shooting trad bows over 20yrs ago!

So, when Scott starts the 2018 thread, I’m going to have some real goals for next year!!!

Bisch


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[CRM_95]

Originally Posted by Bisch

Well, I have not met any goals for this year except to take a deer off of my own place. I have gotten 2 does off my new little ranch with my longbows. All in all, this season has been one of the worst experiences I have had since I started shooting trad bows over 20yrs ago!

So, when Scott starts the 2018 thread, I’m going to have some real goals for next year!!!

Bisch


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Don't feel bad Bisch!! This hasn't been a great hunting season for me by any means lol. Maybe next season will be better!!

[PineyWoodsBow]

My worst season yet for WT. I think it was the weather for the most part, but I had a lot of close calls that I just couldn’t finish


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[DRT]

Well one out of 5 stinks pretty bad too.

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[HoustonGringo]

I would like to get on a fantastic deer lease in OLD MEXICO with a solid group of guys!

[DRT]

Originally Posted by HoustonGringo

I would like to get on a fantastic deer lease in OLD MEXICO with a solid group of guys!

Not that you wouldn't have fun but this is about our goals as traditional archers.

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[Geezy Rider]

Originally Posted by Geezy Rider

My goal is to get good enough to take an animal with my selfbow.

Welllll....my selfbow broke so I've switched to a recurve. Still trying to kill a deer with traditional tackle. The season ain't over yet.

[DRT]

I've made progress. I'm enjoying the journey. But it's humbling to say the least and at times almost humiliating. I'm so comfortable shooting at targets but on animals I always question everything. Still got a ways to go I guess.

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[Slew]

Well my goal when I started a few months ago was to get a deer this year. Did that last trip so now I'm after a doe next trip!


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[Geezy Rider]

Originally Posted by DRT

I've made progress. I'm enjoying the journey. But it's humbling to say the least and at times almost humiliating. I'm so comfortable shooting at targets but on animals I always question everything. Still got a ways to go I guess.

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This is exactly how I feel. With my compound bow I was full of confidence but with my trad gear I'm worried that 1, am I good enough to make the shot. 2, do I have the proper set up to to kill effectively.

[Bisch]

Originally Posted by Geezy Rider

This is exactly how I feel. With my compound bow I was full of confidence but with my trad gear I'm worried that 1, am I good enough to make the shot. 2, do I have the proper set up to to kill effectively.

That confidence you seek is probably one of the most important things to making it all come together! Even though they don’t always make perfect shots, the really good and successful trad hunters all “know” they are going to make a perfect shot when they pull back on a critter!!!

Bisch


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[DRT]

Thanx Bisch. You've been an inspiration and guide on this ride the last year or so. Tomorrow is another day in the blind so we shall see.

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