2023 Goals

[jbogg]

It’s been pretty quiet up in here. I’m not big on setting New Year’s resolutions, but I did set a few goals for myself this year.

First, I’m hoping to complete what I am calling the 12 night challenge. My goal is to spend one night each month sleeping under the stars with my backpacking gear. Hoping this will help me get my gear dialed in for all seasons and weather conditions. I recently purchased a new backpacking tent and air mattress. I’ve been a hammock camper for the past 10 years, but since I am a side sleeper I hope that going to the ground will help me get a better nights sleep.

Second, I plan on hunting bears with traditional archery equipment this fall. I purchased my first recurve in October of this year, and have fallen in love with archery all over again. I try to shoot 20 to 25 arrows every other day in my backyard, and joined the North Georgia traditional archery club, so I could participate in their shoots every month.

Anybody else set any goals for this year ?

 

[kmckinnie]

It’s been pretty quiet up in here. I’m not big on setting New Year’s resolutions, but I did set a few goals for myself this year.

First, I’m hoping to complete what I am calling the 12 night challenge. My goal is to spend one night each month sleeping under the stars with my back packing gear. Hoping this will help me get my gear dialed in for all seasons and weather conditions. I recently purchased a new backpacking tent and air mattress. I’ve been a hammock camper for the past 10 years, but since I am a side sleeper I hope that going to the ground will help me get a better nights sleep.

Second, I plan on hunting bears with traditional archery equipment this fall. I purchased my first recurve in October of this year, and have fallen in love with archery all over again. I try to shoot 20 to 25 arrows every other day in my backyard, and joined the North Georgia traditional archery club, so I could participate in their shoots every month.

Anybody else set any goals for this year ?

I think u will do great. Congrats on the bow shooting.

 

[ddd-shooter]

Goals for ‘23. Continue to learn to enjoy the ride a little more than I do.
Try to spend as much time as possible in the woods with friends and family. Bear meat getting low of course.

 

[KentuckyHeadhunter]

Well my gear is all dialed in I just need a dang bear! Like @jbogg I got back into trad bow again recently after a very long break from it. We'll see where that goes. My main goals are mostly physical and to improve my lower back every single day with stretching and inversion. Would like to learn more small taxidermy skills like tanning hides and get better at certain skinning techniques. I'm ready to go after some mountain turkeys also. I would love to stick a gobbler with the longbow.

 

[jbogg]

Well my gear is all dialed in I just need a dang bear! Like @jbogg I got back into trad bow again recently after a very long break from it. We'll see where that goes. My main goals are mostly physical and to improve my lower back every single day with stretching and inversion. Would like to learn more small taxidermy skills like tanning hides and get better at certain skinning techniques. I'm ready to go after some mountain turkeys also. I would love to stick a gobbler with the longbow.

Low back health can’t be overstated. I have dealt with back issues since football days, and being diligent about strengthening and stretching has helped tremendously. I still have flare ups, but it’s much more manageable since I started being proactive.

 

[KentuckyHeadhunter]

What tent and air mattress did you go with?

 

[Raylander]

Stop working so much and hunt more. I remember the Great Recession so it’s very hard for me to turn down a check..

 

[mallardsx2]

Kill my first bear in a western state.

 

[splatek]

You got this @jbogg
I think next bear season you’re going to tag out with the stick.

I love the 12 night challenge. Please report back on those adventures!

My goals:

1) really try to explore more areas. Find the time to do it

2) get on another animal with my 2 year old boy again. But maybe not miss this time.

3) get more proficient with my weapons. Recently took up the compound bow to add to the trad bow collection. Just playing around with it. And practice more with the rifle. I missed too many animals this season with my rifle including the all white buck! Better than injuring then I guess. If I hunted an area with higher animal densities I’d stick with the bow all season but not in the mountains.

 

[jbogg]

What tent and air mattress did you go with?

I was leaning towards the REI Half Dome 2, but ended up finding an Alps Helix 2 new on eBay for about half price. For the air mattress I went with the Big Agnes Rapide XL. It has a decent R-value, is quiet, and is super comfortable for a side sleeper.

 

[chrislibby88]

2023 goal: Eat more bear meat. Tag out in one week, or at least put two in the freezer. I got very close this year. I would also like to get my wife on one, again, got very close this year.

 

[Whit90]

My goal is still to shoot a bear.

 

[KentuckyHeadhunter]

I'm with you brother.

My goal is still to shoot a bear.

 

[KentuckyHeadhunter]

And I can't wait to see that movie "Cocaine Bear". Gonna be hilarious! Based on a true story.

 

[Swampdogg]

Goals for this year are:
learn more ground
Try to fill a bear tag either by archery or lever action .
Find a late season bear .
Get a clear photograph or video of a biggun
Make sure vehicle has no issues to complete the above goals .



@jbogg not sure if your sleeping pad has it or not but i thinned down some seam sealer and painted lines on the pad to keep from sliding around with the bag .

 

[jbogg]

Goals for this year are:
learn more ground
Try to fill a bear tag either by archery or lever action .
Find a late season bear .
Get a clear photograph or video of a biggun
Make sure vehicle has no issues to complete the above goals .



@jbogg not sure if your sleeping pad has it or not but i thinned down some seam sealer and painted lines on the pad to keep from sliding around with the bag .

That’s a good tip regarding the pad. The 12 night challenge has officially begun. Ran up to the mountains yesterday afternoon with my oldest friend that I’ve known since eighth grade. Crawled out of the tent this morning in the 16°, and that was without the windchill. The old dudes still have some gas left in the tank. The North Georgia mountains are my favorite place in this world.

 

[35 Whelen]

"The North Georgia mountains are my favorite place in this world."

Agree, that's why I live up here!

 

[Professor]

My goals are health oriented. I need to drop another 20 lbs of fat and put on 15 lbs of muscle. Continue to strengthen my heart, get all my lipids in line, and get my BP below 120/80.

 

[tree cutter 08]

Nice jbogg! Been cold last few days. Covered around 20 miles this past week looking for sign of a survivor to hunt this fall

 

[jbogg]

Nice jbogg! Been cold last few days. Covered around 20 miles this past week looking for sign of a survivor to hunt this fall

Now is a great time to do some scouting. I just got back to it as well. Relocated about 25 miles from my regular stompin grounds to learn some new areas in the NF.