This coming year, I'll practice a lot more with my 460. I'm going to attempt to become proficient with it out to 100 yards for next deer season. And, of course, I'm going to try to make 2014 the year I get my first HG deer kill.

Anyone else have any shooting or hunting related New Year's resolutions?

I did almost no shooting the last half of this year because of a back injury and ended up with a long gun for the deer season. Next year on opening weekend I will be ready to go with the SBH in 44 and the Contender in 35 Rem. So yes lots of shooting practice this year. I have weightloss and exercise resolutions as well because that's the only way I can keep the back healing.

Good luck with your shooting resolution Lone Wolf!

Happy new year to everyone!

Ditto on the more range time and exercise and my biggest goal, to take my first handgunned deer. I live in a "no handguns" area as far as deer hunting goes, so I need to get off my duff and travel a bit more to hunt with my short guns more.

Mine for hunting is to be in better physical condition. My hunting is almost all wilderness hunting on foot or on foot and with canoe, much of it in lousy weather. Physical conditioning makes a huge difference, especially now that im in my midd 50s. Thee trips with the canoe almost all involve multiple portages to get to tgw camping & hunting area. If u do score its a lot of pack trips coming out heavy with a moose.

Head on over to the left end of the commonwealth....I can help you out with that.

There's 1900 acres of private land that allows public hunting by just filling out a permit (which is free). It's about 2 miles from me.

I saw a real nice S&W PC 629 that would be a fine New Years resolution,now Im thinking on how to make it happen.

1. Kill something with my Ruger Super Blackhawk Hunter.
2. Kill something with my Winchester M70 Extreme Weather 7wsm

Happy new year!

I too have had a goal or two in mind.

1. practice shooting more.
hope to get a portable steel target soon that should help/ make shooting even more fun. I missed a buck this year with my revolver (thankfully filled 2 tags with the smoke pole), and have been tough on myself ever since so want to shoot often to keep sharp

2. get in better shape... will help with work, and as Vance mentioned, it will help A LOT when hunting, especially if I hunt in the west.

I will be applying for any elk tag this year so hopefully I will need that extra conditioning!

I'm hoping to kill my first blackbear and first moose in 2014!

I really want that first handgun harvest. Was limited the last 13 months with family stuff. But I am already shooting more and plan to be in good shooting shape come next hunting season. Hope to get some offseason time with some hogs starting in a few weeks.

I have been thinking seriously about this since you posted it. I don't normally make new years resolutions, but for some reason, your post really got me thinking. I couldn't get away from it. I have decided I want to be a better Field Supervisor. I think there were times this last year that I could have done things differently, and bettered the company. I know I made at least two decisions while I was angry, and they weren't the best. I want to improve my decision making, take time to think things out, and make this year a better financial year for the company than last year.

As far as handgun resolutions go, I want to practice better. I want to look at every practice shot as if it was the real thing. Don't just send lead down range so quickly. Slow myself down, and make every shot count. Granted, there will be times when slingin lead for the fun of it will happen, and that is ok. But when I am practicing, I want to be 100% focused, and slow down.

Thanks for starting this thread. Ya got me thinking....

I'd like to put together another pistol and hunt only with pistol this year. I used the 7mm STW, and .243 all season and only hunted with my 375 JDJ four or five times. I did shoot a big doe with it so I was happy.

I build rifles on the side ( based off mauser actions ), and I have several I want to finish before starting my next. I have ADD when it comes to building guns...

Find a new job! I like where I work now, but my background is Environmental and I was highly thought of while working in that field. Travel got to be too much with two youngins, and I left. I need to get back into it, as work in the environmental field is picking up around here.

Most importantly, shoot more.

Brenden

KRAL

lookin forward to the pics

I should also consider getting in shape. I've put on a couple extra pounds this holiday season, so I'll add "lose the spare tire" to my list of resolutions.

I guess I am going to try to take my first muzzleloader deer and turkey. I have spent a good bit of time this year sitting on stand with young hunters and next year will be the same way. I need to spend more time scouting so when I do get to hunt alone I can capitalize on it instead of being lazy and hunting mostly permanent stands.

Well, I really liked the 'practice better' part. That's a good one.
The thing I need to do is understand deer better. I spent a bunch of time in the woods this year (quit my job in August, so I had lots of time) I was in a huge national forest for many hours (80+) I saw one deer bugging out on a rainy day, and saw nothing but tracks, turds, and scrapes the rest of the time. I didn't 'miss' any deer, but I sure missed the deer, know what I mean?
I bagged a doe in the field out back, but that was it, but I need to figure out how to see more deer.
On a side note, I need to get a job too.
You guys have a good '14,
Dogsbreath

Dogsbreath, PM sent.

New Year's Resolutions?

No...I don't think so.

However, I do have a couple of goals in mind. For 2014 or whenever The Good Lord wills it to happen:

First: guide my new (old) Sweetheart... Lana... to kill her first big game animal.

My Girl...

Second: to beat my Safari Club International World Record Handgun Typical Mule Deer record that I took with an Encore in 30-06 JDJ in 2003 that still stands. I want to beat that record (my record) with my revolver.

Colorado's Biggest Bucks...

Third: To kill a BIG 6X6 bull elk with my revolver. I have come close: I killed a good 5X5 bull in 2011 and then a great 5X6 bull in 2012; both with my custom .475 Linebaugh (by Rod).

Bull Elk the Hard Way

A Lot Of Bull


And then this year (2013) I gave up my elk season to guide a Wounded Veteran on a fantastic mule deer hunt.

Wounded Warriors Mule Deer Hunt

The Good Lord willing, these are my goals for the future. Will it be 2014? We will see.

I really, really want to find a place to hog hunt. I've never taken one. Maybe even a black bear hunt somewhere in eastern NC.
Also want to get into "hunting shape".