Red Rabbit Report post Posted February 25, 2007 The hunts are over and time to reflect and plan for next season. What have we learned and will do different next season? Any new techniques and tips that can help others to be more successful? What did you try that didn't work? I used to have a good recipe for pink slip broth, but with the internet rejections the last few years and no draws this last year, I have not come up with a tasty way to make electron stew. The only thing I have learned this year is to realize that a desk job can kill ya, and that one needs to make a commitment to work on conditioning everyday, especially with the aging process working against some of us. Doug~RR Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
azcouesandelk Report post Posted February 25, 2007 What I learned is to scout more than 1 general area! I learned the area very well after 2 scouting trips and had seen alot of deer including a good amount of bucks. I just kept going back to the same area. If I would have expanded my area I would have known alot more areas that I could glass and hunt. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
firstcoueswas80 Report post Posted February 25, 2007 opening day i passed on a buck that i should have shot. he was just a big fork, but i ended up passing on him and shooting a smaller fork on the last day. he was with two other nice bucks and i stalked wo 308 of them. never saw the 2 bigger bucks leave, but once i got set up found the big fork at 308 right away. i regret passing on the big fork, but i guess hind sight is 20/20. Also, dad and i used the quads a little too much. dad wasnt up for much hiking, and me not wanting to get too far from him i hunted "lazily" didnt do much hiking but a lot of quad riding. i wont be doing that any more, i will use my quad to get me where i want to get, then hunt and hike from there. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
COOSEFAN Report post Posted February 25, 2007 opening day i passed on a buck that i should have shot. he was just a big fork, but i ended up passing on him and shooting a smaller fork on the last day. he was with two other nice bucks and i stalked wo 308 of them. never saw the 2 bigger bucks leave, but once i got set up found the big fork at 308 right away. i regret passing on the big fork, but i guess hind sight is 20/20. Also, dad and i used the quads a little too much. dad wasnt up for much hiking, and me not wanting to get too far from him i hunted "lazily" didnt do much hiking but a lot of quad riding. i wont be doing that any more, i will use my quad to get me where i want to get, then hunt and hike from there. Casey you can't kill big, if you don't hold out.....it's the chance you take and hind sight is ALWAYS 20/20! I kinda learned this as well last year. I have a big ol' pile of antlers from all the little critters i've killed over the years. I have always feared going home empty handed, and rarely ever did....but I also rarely ever killed anything of any size! Last Oct. Shortypants MADE me hold out and I would have come home with another small buck, but instead it paid off with an 88"er on the second to last day! Wheather you kill or not, passing up smaller critters will allow you to hunt longer and gain more experience! I also learned that if you're planning a hunt outta state, especially Alaska, DON'T just believe and trust what your outfitter tells ya, especially if your not guided and on your own!......check references and do your own research before you book it! With that in mind.....I would also now reccomend to anyone who has ever had a desire to do so....to go hunt Alaska! I had to learn how to hunt and call Moose, I had to put that knowledge to the test, and was fortunate enough to see it all come together.......that's an incredible thing to experience and would encourgage anyone to try it at least once! I think the biggest thing I learned though was......you can't get it on tape, if you leave the camera in the truck! JIM> Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
firstcoueswas80 Report post Posted February 25, 2007 o yeah, i also learned : dont guide for Mullins outfitters.... the owner/operator is a real.... well, ya know just joking Jim, dont want to hurt your feelings Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
COOSEFAN Report post Posted February 25, 2007 yer lucky i'm holdin' back........ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
firstcoueswas80 Report post Posted February 26, 2007 yer lucky i'm holdin' back........ I'm lucky? hahaha! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
azryan Report post Posted February 26, 2007 i had a couple opportunities to harvest some decent bucks and a whopper bull...all with my bow...the biggest thing that I regret is not being patient....on the bull If I had waited it out a little longer...i could have of had a 15 yard shot..but I was not alert enough and was too impatient...so I blew it......same thing on some bucks...I put good stalks on them but never could close the deal.....so i will make sure I stay patient be alert, and practice more Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SunDevil Report post Posted February 26, 2007 a few things I learned: 1) always trust your gut instinct. one occasion last season I did and I was right. another occasion I did not and I should have. 2) do not leave camp without your spotter - you might need them to keep an eye on a couple of bucks while you are putting a stalk on. 3) do not let your buddies put in for 30A. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
coues addict Report post Posted February 26, 2007 Hey Everyone I really like these kind of topic`s. Thank You Red Rabbit. Well here are a few things I have learned over the years that have really helped me. 1. I finally made a custom (tailered to my needs) hunting gear checklist and camping gear checklist! They work really nice and they eliminate some anxiety wondering if I packed all my gear or not, since all my Coues`s deer hunting is out of state. They help me and I love crossing off all the items once they are packed in my Bronco. Eh ha! 2. Hunting to me should not be competitive with other hunters! It took me a while to realize that statement! To me, it is competitive between me and the animal that I am pursuing. Trying to outsmart a smart big old buck is very difficult! thats why they are big and old! I would much rather try my best to kill an older class animal than just killing to fill my tag! 3. Don`t worry about ( not filling your tag) As previously stated, It is hard to kill big animals if your always shooting small ones just to fill your tag! I could fill a huge garbage can with all the tags I have had over the years that have gone unfilled. But it wasn`t because of a lack of effort on my part. 4. Don`t get hungup on antler/horn size. Some of the best hunts I have ever had are from years that I did the best I could and worked really hard to find a really big animal, but I either couldn`t get it done or just missed my opportunity. Or maybe even ,just missed the shot! It happens, to everyone, we are only human! If you have done the best you can and a forked horn or some other type deer is available and it gets you really excited, then I don`t see anything wrong with that. Only you will know if it`s right for you , not what someone else tells you to shoot! Big deer and nice horns will probably come with the more time and the more work you put into your hunting! 5. Have fun! That sounds really easy , but some guys I know are so hung up on filling their tag and getting a boone and crockett type deer that they are miserable.They are missing the whole point. hunting and camping should be a lot of fun if you work hard and hunt ethically! A true trophy is in the eyes of the beholder. 6. Last but not least! Check you gun every year. Take a backup that you trust! Sounds simple, but I neglected to do that last season , and it cost me two opportunities on two different animals. You would have thought by now (30+ hunting seasons)I would have figured that one ot a long time ago! I even had a backup but I thought my gun was shooting right on and that I was at fault. Trust your backup! thats why you brought it you dummy! I hope these things help. They have helped me quite a bit! later Rich T. P.S. Whew! I haven`t said that much in ten years! Sorry about that! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
firstcoueswas80 Report post Posted February 26, 2007 Rich, your last statement is one i dont think many hunters go by. I, personally spend quite a few days shooting and testing and retesting hand loads for my rifles. RedRabbit and i spend aot of time during the summer testing different loads for our rifles finding out which ones shoot the best. this is turn provides a high level of confidence in your rifle that i think is extremly important. Carry a back up rifle: this past december, while guiding for the well known and absolutely amazing Mullins Outfitters, i had my 270wsm in camp just in case it needed to be used. well, wouldnt ya know it, one of our clients had a glitch with his rifle and had to carry my gun. he actually had a 385 yard shot at a nice buck with it but missed. on the next hunt i guided on with them, i actually didnt bring a back up rifle and this client also needed to use a back up rifle. but, we were able to travel to my house and pick up a back up rifle and actually fix his rifle. i always carry a back up rifle and having an extra rifle is actually what let me harvest my mountain lion last year. i was on a pig hunt and had my 270 as well as my 223. took my pig with the 223 and the lion with the 270. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
scoutm Report post Posted February 26, 2007 I've learned a few of things this year - 1.) if a bunch of punks start setting up camp accross the road - MOVE YOUR CAMP you won't get any sleep if you don't! The only other thing is take your trusty skinning knife and skin some wheels Won't get you any more sleep but might make you feel better about not getting any. 2.) 80% of the scouting you do before October goes out the window about 30 minutes after the first deer falls the openning day of the October hunt so scout early, find a deer you want to take before you have to apply and then apply for December 1st, October second - forget November it's too tough. 3.) When your hunting buddy has a strong gut feeling follow it and go with him - If you don't he's likely to shoot the wrong buck! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kilimanjaro Report post Posted February 27, 2007 What I learned this past season... I'll never put in for another Nov hunt again. Thats twice I had that tag, and its definatley the worst of the 3 rifle hunts.. from now on its either a Dec tag here in AZ or just fork the cash out and go to Mex in Jan.. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
elkhunter Report post Posted February 27, 2007 1.) Glass longer 2.) Swarovskis lead to bigger coues bucks 3.) Spanish dagger is a coues magnet 4.) Spitz sunflower seeds rule 5.) I finally learned how to hold out, I had 2 bucks that were bigger than my biggest buck but I didn't shoot them and ended up getting a beautiful wide 94'er. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
COOSEFAN Report post Posted February 27, 2007 " 4. Don`t get hungup on antler/horn size. Some of the best hunts I have ever had are from years that I did the best I could and worked really hard to find a really big animal, but I either couldn`t get it done or just missed my opportunity. Or maybe even ,just missed the shot! It happens, to everyone, we are only human! If you have done the best you can and a forked horn or some other type deer is available and it gets you really excited, then I don`t see anything wrong with that. Only you will know if it`s right for you , not what someone else tells you to shoot! Big deer and nice horns will probably come with the more time and the more work you put into your hunting! 5. Have fun! That sounds really easy , but some guys I know are so hung up on filling their tag and getting a boone and crockett type deer that they are miserable.They are missing the whole point. hunting and camping should be a lot of fun if you work hard and hunt ethically! A true trophy is in the eyes of the beholder. 6. Last but not least! Check you gun every year. Take a backup that you trust! Sounds simple, but I neglected to do that last season , and it cost me two opportunities on two different animals. You would have thought by now (30+ hunting seasons)I would have figured that one ot a long time ago! I even had a backup but I thought my gun was shooting right on and that I was at fault. Trust your backup! thats why you brought it you dummy! " ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hey Rich....these are great points! Especially #6.......I usually have a backup but not all the time. I have gone alot of years never needing one on any hunt and got lazy about it. But as Casey pointed out.....I had several incidents last year where a backup was necessary and thank goodness Casey was around to save my butt! I will always have one from now on! My favorite sentence in your post is "A true trophy is in the eyes of the beholder." I can't stand it when someone down talks a critter that someone took because it's small! I have killed a ton of little critters and am proud of each one......I know they're small, but each one taught me alot about the entire aspect of hunting, especially the "after the kill" stuff that I wouldn't have learned if I hadn't tagged out! I feel that a young person, or a person just starting out in hunting should grab all the experience they can and there is nothing wrong with taking a smaller animal, as long it gets your blood pumpin' and your proud of it. Who cares what other people think.........it's YOUR tag, not theirs! Along these same lines.......nothing gets me more upset than to see someone kill a critter and then get upset that they did because it was smaller than what they hoped for and THEY down talk the critter.......thats a bunch of B.S.! Don't kill it unless your gonna be proud of it and give it the respect any/all animals deserve! My $.02, i'll stop ramblin' on, JIM> Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
