Just started a hunting journal. Wondering how many others keep records of hunting, scouting, or outdoors trips?
I do. I started recording everything about each hunt starting in October, 1968. I record the weather, temperature, wind direction, what I saw, what stand I was in, etc. It's fun to look back over the years to bring back some good memories. Also, you can learn from over the years which stands produce at certain times and conditions.
Bernie Bjorklund
NC Iowa/SW Wisconsin
Bet you have some good stuff recorded over the years Bernie!
A few weeks ago I ran across my 1990 journal. So much I forgot.
Pages and pages my friend.
:bigsmyl:
Just think how cool it would be to have had a hunting journal passed down from a father or grandfather...?
For about 35 years.
QuoteOriginally posted by snag:
Just think how cool it would be to have had a hunting journal passed down from a father or grandfather...?
That's one of the very reasons I have a journal on it's way from Tim at Farr West Leather. I'll be posting pictures as soon as it arrives. Just because my grandad didn't leave anything like that for me, doesn't mean I can't do it for mine. Imagine someone in your family thumbing through the pages 100 years from now. Of course that's beside the point of keeping up with valuable information for my own benefit.
I've kept a log of sightings, success's, & failures for many year's. My memory book.
Started my hunting journal in 1983. Fun to go back and see who you hunted with and what you brought home.
Well I thought about doing this a few years ago and the lazy bug got me. I'm glad I've started and the father grandfather thing would be awesome!
I started keeping a journal about 10 years ago. I don't make entries for single day trips but do for three-day or longer hunting and fishing trips. I am amazed at how much I have forgotten when I go back and read these journals.
It is also humbling to go back and read them, only to find I have remembered some experiences a little differently from how I recorded them the day they happened!
I have been keeping a journal since i was a teenager. The sad thing is that i have moved so much in the past 10 years i dont know where they are. Additionally i have a "little" laziness in me at times and forget to make entries.
I keep a journal on my home computer now. but its just not the same as the older hand written ones. That reminds me, i need to back that up on a CD or something.
I also put in everything i do outdoors. even if its just an hour stumping shooting with my boys. One of the reasons is that when i start feeling sorry for myself not able to get out and enjoy the outdoors i can pull up the journal and see that i have actually done a lot more than i thought.
Totally agree with bowslinger, i love to go back and read old entries, really does help with the failing memory.
Hey, what do you say you guys post an entry from your journal. I would love to see how you all write about your hunts.
Just think, Fred Bear had his field notes printed into a wonderful read. With all great writers on this site, we could put out a book called "Field notes from TradGang".....hey, i call it, dibbs, its my idea. Wooo hooo, the first step to becoming rich and famous.
I look forward to hearing from you guys.
I have never had much luck with a journal, but i got a digital voice recorded and recount my hunts and adventures on it. It save's them as mp3's i put them on my computer its quick and easy, and pretty neat to listen back on what happened after a day or weeks hunting.
I log... gear, game seen, location time and date details about clients and friends, shot placement, animal reactions, any interesting animal behavior, gear or equipment failure or success pretty much anything i think may be of interest.
Keeping a journal is a great idea! You can see things you may want to forget about though...Like missing a deer on the same day, from the same stand, at the same time, 2 years in a row! haha!
Around 25 years now. My hunting journal has turned into a diary with entries about family happenings, events, and my wandering thoughts. Really cool to look back and recount a hunt or a special time in our lives.
It helps settle arguements with the mother-in-law too! :)
I've kept one the past several years. It's a good practice and helps remind me of the fun I've been having with my son.