So I got to thinking today about Fred Bears field notes and how I use to write down if I saw a new bird or plant when I was in the woods. And I gave that up around the age of 16, due to who know why, but my father always told me to note new thing for reference later and like any other kid I threw his advice away but now that I am a father myself and 30 y/I I want to be able to re-live my hunts past.
So how many of you make a small note or journal of your woodland and even fishing trips?
When I tried before it became no fun because I think I tried to put too much detail in it, but IDK
I keep a hunting journal, but usually only write about/during my out of state hunts. It's a shame, because I've had a lot of good hunts right close to home that I should have written about.
I have to journal everything since I started having seizures. I cannot remember much, so I jot down things in enough detail so I can recall the real detail. I think that may be all you need. A journal, some code abbreviations and a keen eye and fast pen. Not a bad idea when married with a pic or two. Your grandkids will love it
I scribble notes in a calendar. What I saw, what I harvested, things that stand out.
Like you, I wish I had written down more extensive notes in years past. I went about 10 years without recording anything.
My grandfather used to keep a calendar and a notepad on the table. He'd sit and scribble in them every morning while having coffee. He'd record who he talked to, how much rain, critters he'd seen, fish he'd caught, all that stuff. After he passed, all that stuff kind of disappeared, and nobody seemed to know what I was talking about when I asked. It's one of the things I remember about him, sitting and talking over coffee, bacon and eggs while recording his thoughts.
Kept a journal for the last few seasons, mainly of waterfowl hunts and such. I got to record special times with me and the kiddos, and I get to remember the very dumb things that inevitably happen to me in God's creation.
I don't really go for all of the wind direction, what worked or what didn't. I try to focus only on aesthetics and enjoyment of the memory.
I keep a short record in a pocket montly calendar. Sometimes a trick to get all I want to write in the small square for each day...it is fun though a few years later to look through them.For me having the dates that something note worthy took place, is nearly equal to what I wrote.
I might try the daily pocket calendar as a journal trick. That way I'm just noting the important or story telling items not trying to write a dissertation .
In the last few years I carry a little notepad and pencil along with my pocket Nikon when I go to the woods. It seems that I'm forever finding new things that I never seen before, so just a note and a pic, for my memory jog. They help alot when scouting an area,so much so I scout even old areas I've used and seem to find clues that were not picked up before. When I get home I pull out the pad and put them on my computer along with the pics. A very valuable tool for forgetful me.
Been keeping a hunting journal for about 30 years. Don't go back and read them as often as I should. Always enjoyable when I do. They often bring back a location/set of circumstances/tips that I can use in my current hunting efforts.
I have been keeping a camp log since I built my camp in 1993.Anyone who wants to post about the hunt or weekend can and makes intresting reading going back and relive the memories.I am on my third composition at this time.I also have a photo album that will also complement the log book.KIP
I use the Rite in the Rain Bow Hunting Journal for all of my hunts since I got out of college. Figured I would want to remember them when I am older. I like that journal as it has a page for hunt details and a back page just for writing notes. I have on occasion gone over the page worth of notes, but rather not leave out any details.
I started a notebook back in '87 titled "Hunting Notes and Lies". I am up to volume VIII now and soon will have it filled.
What started as hunting field notes became a diary of sorts where I would jot down family news, notable weather, my thoughts, etc, and of course, hunting notes. I really like to read back to relive a special hunt or family event. They settle disagreements with my Mother-in-law on occasion too! :)
My two daughters know these notebooks are important to me and to someday pass them on to my four grandaughters. I want them to know what made Pappy tick.
I have tried, but I am just not a journaler. I worked hard to keep one on my moose hut this last fall. I am glad I did, but it was tough to make myself do it each night before I went to bed. Part of it is the physical act of writing is tough for me. I would probably do beter if Idid it digitally, as I can type a lot faster than I can scribe legibly.
Never a journal keeper but I did photograph most hunting and fishing trips starting in 1958 (must have been given a cameral that year)and kept scrap books. However there is a lot of bowhunting missing due to the fact I hunted a large military proving ground and cameras were prohibited in the secure area so I left mine home to not be tempted. If caught you lost your priviledges for life. The other reason was I didn't take pictures of does and spikes so a lot of deer I killed weren't recorded, don't ask me why.
I started a journal for my travel hunts and liked the idea.
Lately I have been writing my hunts and notes in a blog. This way I will have them around together with the photos I take (which I try to take a lot). Then I can also share my experiences with family and friends more easily also.
when someone wants to know about something I can easily find a pic or story and send them a link.
Unfortunately, for me it is better in theory than practice. I bought a nice journal cover and Rite in Rain book and it stayed in the bottom of my pack - I think I had one entry last year. It's a great idea, but finding the time and motivation to do it is hard for me. It will be back in my pack this year, but probably look brand new at the end of the season. :D
Here is the catch with me. If it's a "journal" it becomes work and work doesn't associate well with my leisure activities (even though hunting can be work, I still view it as enjoyable/leisure time). So I don't put restrictions on recording events or circumstances, sometimes going for lengthy periods without writing anything. Never-the-less, I keep a "notebook" in which I write notes as reminders, interesting anecdotes, compelling thoughts or whatever. It's for my benefit to remeber anniversaries, birthdays, meetings, things "to do" and such but ... ultimately I hope it is a record that my great-grandchildren can see and hold as a tangible connection to their past.
Here is a link to a thread I started last July with pictures of the excellent journals I received from Tim at Farr West Leather (a sponsor here):
http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=106295;p=1
I really enjoy writing down about my hunts each time I'm out. I write the date, time (a.m. vs. p.m.), temperature, wind conditions, what stand I'm hunting, what game I've seen etc. I started doing this on my first hunt in 1968, and have each hunt recorded.
I find it really interesting to look back on my previous hunts. A lot of memories come back.
Bernie Bjorklund
NC Iowa/SW Wisconsin
I think having a record of each hunt would be awesome, I started doing it a few years ago and just kinda gave up. This year, starting with turkey season, I'm vowing to write at the end of each day. I think my daughters would someday be thrilled to read them, as most things beautiful remind me of them...
Great thread, very inspiring!
I like keeping field note, I don't much detail in it beside the wind direction the weather for the day and the time spent on stand. I do this so I can look back and have reference for the years to come.
I started a longbow hunting journal in 1983 but sadly, I don't put as much information down as I used to. Mostly just what game I took or missed and maybe what I saw and who I hunted with.
Just photos and memories (still can remember things most of the time).
After hunting with archery equipment for 48 years. I found my log books from 1964 and 1965. I couldn't believe how much I had forgotten! It sure was fun to recall those long lost memories. For the past few years I have started keeping log books of outdoor experiences again. I buy a spiral bound calendar large enough to write notes in each daily block for about $7. and try to remember to notate each day of outdoor fun. It's amazing how much one forgets details in even a few years! I want to be able to relive each day of being in the great out of doors by rereading these entries.
Start now you young guys. You won't regret the effort someday.
Hunting journal here
I have kept a journal/notes for almost 20 years. Just simple stuff, what I saw, the weather, where I went ,who I went with what sign I saw and so on. It has helped to pattern deer and see when the rut is from year to year!
Finding time to write in an entry can be an issue. Right after the evening hunt is not good for me. I'm usually tired, hungry, need a shower, etc.
I usually plan for it by allowing myself an extra 10 minutes in the morning before I leave for work. A few days might back up and I just can't rest until I am caught up. It takes discipline to keep a journal/diary but the rewards are great.
Like I said in my previous post, I want to leave a record of my life for another generation. I only wish I would take more pictures. I just don't like to be bothered with a camera when I am hunting. I used to keep a disposable in my truck just in case I saw Elvis but I eventually gave up on that.
Over thirty years ago, I started jotting down weather conditions, animals sighted and other small facts of each hunt. It was useful for my woods-education and planning and anticipating for future trips to the field.
After a number of seasons, I decided to take these notes and compose a post-season write up. This turned into a book of sorts that I put together for Schlaggerman and myself. We each now have an accumulation of thirty years of hunting together. It's priceless.
The first part of the book is comprised of some of the magazine articles that we've had published. These bring a "story-telling" aspect to the reader. I think most of us enjoy a good tale from the hunt.
The middle of the book is where the field notes come in. Rather than just post the notes themselves, I've turned them into an explanation of the highlights from each season. Here's a cut from the first season we hunted together, which was 1981.
"That August I received an invitation to chase deer in the swamps of famed Langlade county. "Bring hipboots", the guy says. The alarm bells should have been going off right there. Baker treestand, backpack with warm clothes, bow, warm boots. Now carry this stuff in while wading through knee-deep swamp muck by flashlight. Some invitation. As so often happens, half way through the first morning, the "guide" fills his tag. "No problem, we'll just tie the buck to a pole and carry him out",says the happy hunter. By the time the deer is weakly flopped into the back of the truck, the hunters were more "dead" than the three- pointer that had been on the pole. No "hero pictures" were taken because, while the deer wasn't a problem, we couldn't keep the successful hunter's tongue from hanging out. A real male bonding experience if there ever was one. It was worth all the work though, just for the sight of Dale balancing on one leg like a camo flamingo, wondering how he was going to get his other hipboot out from under the half-submerged buck."
The final third of the book is color hero pics re-printed on paper. I get three photos per page. It's a nice end to the book, though it does show just how much we've aged!
The covers are 8x10 laminated pics. This is all bound together by the plastic ring binding that can be re-opened every five years for an update.
Start your own journal now. It's really worth the effort.