hunting journal

[Brad]

I have decided that 2011 is the year that my hunting becomes more productive. I am going to hunt hard every time out and want to make the most of each trip. I have enjoyed success in the past with a bow but its sporadic. I was thinking how a hunting journal could be a good idea to start keeping so I can notice trends that I might otherwise overlook. I want to record the date, time, animal sightings, approximate time of animal sightings, how many etc. prevailing wind direction, thermal activiity, terrain wind direction (based on the milkweed), moon phase, temperature, and the mood of the deer, and why I hunted where i did. Is there anything I am missing? Anyone else keep detailed notes?

[Dewey]

I actually started a thread on this awhile back about scouting but could apply to hunting as well. Check it out...... viewtopic.php?f=5&t=4063&hilit=scouting+journal

[cornfedkiller]

Thanks for posting a link to that thread Dewey..that was a great thread with a lot of good information!

I bookmarked it this time

[Brad]

Just thought I should also include gps coordinates and weather i hunted on the ground or in the air. Im loving the link, lots of good info there!

[Stanley]

Good stuff.

[Ack]

I don't, but I should. Here is a good one you can download off of Google Docs......

https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid= ... N2Vl&hl=en

[xpauliber]

In my area there are sporadic farm fields that get planted differently every year. I make notes of what is planted in each field. It makes a difference some years on where the deer are bedding. I can look back through my journal and have an idea of where the deer will be based on how the crops are planted.

I also like to make general notes about the season, such as overall temperature, acorn crop, overall weather conditions, soft mast, etc.

What I am really looking for with my journal is a pattern or recurring theme that I can then exploit. Plus it's fun to read back through it this time of year and get PUMPED!!

[Brad]

In my area there are sporadic farm fields that get planted differently every year. I make notes of what is planted in each field. It makes a difference some years on where the deer are bedding. I can look back through my journal and have an idea of where the deer will be based on how the crops are planted.

I also like to make general notes about the season, such as overall temperature, acorn crop, overall weather conditions, soft mast, etc.

What I am really looking for with my journal is a pattern or recurring theme that I can then exploit. Plus it's fun to read back through it this time of year and get PUMPED!!

Good advice, what the deer are eating and suspected bedding areas. Keep em coming guys!

[gjs4]

Have an iPhone app, aptly called Huntjournal, that does all of this....may scrap the tried/true hunters log book