2012 Hunting Goals
- Thread starter Joe Hulburt
- Start date
Jon Boy
Active Member
Well I guess its either different up here or im a better deer hunter than elk hunter or both. Ive had my chances at big bucks but I have only had one chance at an elk and it was a remote chance at that. I will meet both of my goals this year regardless.
Old Hunter
Banned
We have more elk, and less mature bucks. At least in my unit. Elk get stupid during the rut. I don't hunt bucks during the rut, and they haven't gotten stupid yet. They are up above treeline, and are pretty clever.
So, it comes down to when they are hunted, and how many there are. I've had others tell me that bucks are a tough hunt compared to elk, but of course it depends on conditions. The key word is mature buck. Those old boys didn't get old by being stupid.
HuskyMusky
Veteran member
Anyone else feel like elk in the rut is almost tougher than pre rut elk? Sure you hear more bulls and see more, but often times they're with a bunch of cows, which means more eyes more noses, and tougher to get a shot or pull a bull away from his herd. Most mags tell you the rut is the time to nail a big bull, but I almost feel pre rut is the time.
Old Hunter
Banned
They still have the girls in mind during the pre rut. It's during the post rut and later rifle seasons that it gets tougher. Hard to call them in. I find hunting rifle seasons harder than the muzzleloader season. I wish I was a bow hunter. I like that month long season.
HuskyMusky
Veteran member
doesn't take much to learn...
it's really not complicated if that's the concern.
My only recommendation is go to a real pro shop for archery not a big box store, they'll show you the ropes for sure.
Old Hunter
Banned
Not so much that as a bum shoulder. That's why I set up my .270 for a soft recoil. I shot a bow a lot when I was young, but never went hunting. I wish I had now.
jjenness
Very Active Member
Everyone has some awsome goals. Here's my archery goals.
1) Get into better shape than I was last year, so I can push myself harder and longer on backcountry hunts.
2) Spot and stalk a spring black bear.
3) Spot and stalk a PY mountain mulie.
4) Spot and stalk an antelope buck with my bow. Would be my 3rd spot and stalk goat with archery.
5) Let the smaller bulls walk, and kill my biggest bull to date.
6) Have my 7 year old son with me on as many of these hunts as possible.
1) Get into better shape than I was last year, so I can push myself harder and longer on backcountry hunts.
2) Spot and stalk a spring black bear.
3) Spot and stalk a PY mountain mulie.
4) Spot and stalk an antelope buck with my bow. Would be my 3rd spot and stalk goat with archery.
5) Let the smaller bulls walk, and kill my biggest bull to date.
6) Have my 7 year old son with me on as many of these hunts as possible.
Colorado Cowboy
Super Moderator
Just sent off all my applications for this year.
Colorado - Antelope (11 pts, hope to get a draw); Late season Rifle Deer; Muzzleloading Either Sex Elk. I have enough pts for both.
Wyoming - Antelope Buck & 2 Does (group application with a hunting buddy from Calif) We have enough Pts to draw these too.
Should be able to fill the freezer!
Colorado Desert Sheep tag sent off a couple of days ago.....would trade all of the others for this one!!
Colorado - Antelope (11 pts, hope to get a draw); Late season Rifle Deer; Muzzleloading Either Sex Elk. I have enough pts for both.
Wyoming - Antelope Buck & 2 Does (group application with a hunting buddy from Calif) We have enough Pts to draw these too.
Should be able to fill the freezer!
Colorado Desert Sheep tag sent off a couple of days ago.....would trade all of the others for this one!!
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Zim
Very Active Member
I love elk hunting but I put my 4th big bull on the wall last year and that's enough. So my goal for this year is to take on new challenges. This is a big reason I applied for a Utah archery mule deer hunt and should draw with 15 points. And hope to draw a good tag I could combo with. I have piles of points all over. Need to burn one of these each year from now on.
HuntinFool
Member
Hey Zim, which unit did you put in for? With 15 you should be almost guaranteed for any tag besides the Henrys.
Zim
Very Active Member
HF,
I applied for the Paunsagunt archery hunt and should draw it. After studying the draw odds and guys in my point pools it could be 5-6 years before I could draw a NR mzl or rifle there. THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER REASONS: I prefer the challenge of archery; From what I gathered I should see a lot of bucks; I can take off the entire 4 weeks to take my time and get an opportunity; I normally have no hunts in August, so this would extend my hunting opportunity for the year; I like the fact I can hunt two different environments, high conifer or low desert; Not as big an advantage to having a posse for this hunt as opposed to the firearm hunts. I will be solo: And last but not least, SFW could return to steal more NR tags and screw me for ever if I don't burn my points now.
Ken
I applied for the Paunsagunt archery hunt and should draw it. After studying the draw odds and guys in my point pools it could be 5-6 years before I could draw a NR mzl or rifle there. THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER REASONS: I prefer the challenge of archery; From what I gathered I should see a lot of bucks; I can take off the entire 4 weeks to take my time and get an opportunity; I normally have no hunts in August, so this would extend my hunting opportunity for the year; I like the fact I can hunt two different environments, high conifer or low desert; Not as big an advantage to having a posse for this hunt as opposed to the firearm hunts. I will be solo: And last but not least, SFW could return to steal more NR tags and screw me for ever if I don't burn my points now.
Ken
HuntinFool
Member
dustyboots
Member
1. Archery turkey
2. Archery mule deer or blacktail in CA
3. Archery elk in CO/NM/OR
4. do more 3-d shoots this year
5. Shoot anything else I can draw a tag for
2. Archery mule deer or blacktail in CA
3. Archery elk in CO/NM/OR
4. do more 3-d shoots this year
5. Shoot anything else I can draw a tag for
ICEMAN3
Member
2012 goals
1. kill my first bear during spring bear season (rifle or bow)
2. learn my new hunting area that i currently just moved to
3. kill a roosevelt bull or kill rocky mt. bull when i travel back to my side of Oregon (bow)
4. kill a respectable buck either a blacktail or a muley (bow)
5. help my wife kill her first animal with a bow
6. help guide my friends to some archery elk opportunitites in eastern oregon
7. Learn about other states and start applying for an out of state tag in 2013
8. "biggest one" get all of my kills, wifes and friends kills on film for my crews dvd we would like to come out with. My crew is Twisted Addiction and we would love to become a hunting show but at the moment want to produce a dvd first.
1. kill my first bear during spring bear season (rifle or bow)
2. learn my new hunting area that i currently just moved to
3. kill a roosevelt bull or kill rocky mt. bull when i travel back to my side of Oregon (bow)
4. kill a respectable buck either a blacktail or a muley (bow)
5. help my wife kill her first animal with a bow
6. help guide my friends to some archery elk opportunitites in eastern oregon
7. Learn about other states and start applying for an out of state tag in 2013
8. "biggest one" get all of my kills, wifes and friends kills on film for my crews dvd we would like to come out with. My crew is Twisted Addiction and we would love to become a hunting show but at the moment want to produce a dvd first.
Fink
Veteran member
2012 Goals:
1: Get in good enough shape to do my fist back country hunt.. 9 straight days is going to be tough
2: Draw my NM elk tag, and stick my first bull.
3: If I don't draw the NM tag, try stick a bull in CO
4: Shoot at least one of my KS spring turkeys with a bow, if not both of them.
5: Shoot both of my MO turkeys
6: Shoot a 140+ whitetail with my bow
7: Shoot a 150+ whitetail with a gun
8: Watch my lab puppy make her first of many retrieves.
1: Get in good enough shape to do my fist back country hunt.. 9 straight days is going to be tough
2: Draw my NM elk tag, and stick my first bull.
3: If I don't draw the NM tag, try stick a bull in CO
4: Shoot at least one of my KS spring turkeys with a bow, if not both of them.
5: Shoot both of my MO turkeys
6: Shoot a 140+ whitetail with my bow
7: Shoot a 150+ whitetail with a gun
8: Watch my lab puppy make her first of many retrieves.
BKC
Very Active Member
I'm using 21 resident elk preference points in Colo. this year. 350 B&C or bigger I will also hunt deer and antelope, but if nothing else happens and I only get a good elk I will be perfectly happy
BKC
Very Active Member
A 350 B&C elk! I know that is thinking big but I am using my 21 pref points for colorado elk, I have waited many years and scouted a lot of land to decide what is best for me. If I had to do it again I probably wouldn't wait this long, but that is the point chasing game here in colorado. Mule deer and whitetail on the eastern plains is always on my table but I would easily go home empty handed on these hunts if I tag out on a quality elk
Timberstalker
Veteran member
1. Kill a good Mule deer with my bow (general tag)
2. Kill a branch bull in the Cascades with my rifle (general tag)
3. Take my 12 yr old step daughter on her fisrt deer hunt and guide her to her fist buck
4. Hope I get a call from whomever draws the Bighorn tag this year where I drew last year so maybe I can go again!
5. Add one more PP for 2013 currently 3 deer, 0 elk and 14 speed goat
6. Start looking for my 2013 speed goat
All Oregon stuff, no out of state stuff for me yet
2. Kill a branch bull in the Cascades with my rifle (general tag)
3. Take my 12 yr old step daughter on her fisrt deer hunt and guide her to her fist buck
4. Hope I get a call from whomever draws the Bighorn tag this year where I drew last year so maybe I can go again!
5. Add one more PP for 2013 currently 3 deer, 0 elk and 14 speed goat
6. Start looking for my 2013 speed goat
All Oregon stuff, no out of state stuff for me yet