Off Season

[Leo Carrisalez]

#6695

Im gonna start off by saying that I’m very jelous of you Elk Hunters. One day Ill get out of Texas long enough for a sweet hunt.

How many of you guys train year round or hunt year round with your bow? How many of you just hang it up for the season? My season ended as all of yours have with whitetail. Yes, we do have pigs and javis in South Texas but I live on the Coast 25 minutes from the Lower Laguna Madre. I do shoot my lighter bows with my daughter off season buy I really dont hunt. For me, I just grab my Flyrods and hit the flats from my skiff. Any ideas to keep my tools sharp. Keeping it interesting for me? What do you guys do?

[Troy Warner]

#53837

Have you tried bow fishing for stingray?

I do 3-D shoots when I can get to them, stump shooting, and will hunt any small game that is legal in the area I’m in(I take any and all family members that want to go for all the above activities, that will help keep it fun):D. I try to shoot at least one round (1-3 arrows for me) per day. I like to take out different bows to shoot for fun but after May I shoot exclusively with my hunting setup for the 1st season of big game I’m going after, I may switch to a different arrow set-up for different game, like dropping my arrow weight from 731grns for elk to 652grns for white tail, but I use the bow I plan on hunting with exclusively until all my main seasons end.

Keep shooting with your daughter and have fun.

Troy

[Jmcdonald45]

#53840

South Texas wrote: Im gonna start off by saying that I’m very jelous of you Elk Hunters. One day Ill get out of Texas long enough for a sweet hunt.

How many of you guys train year round or hunt year round with your bow? How many of you just hang it up for the season? My season ended as all of yours have with whitetail. Yes, we do have pigs and javis in South Texas but I live on the Coast 25 minutes from the Lower Laguna Madre. I do shoot my lighter bows with my daughter off season buy I really dont hunt. For me, I just grab my Flyrods and hit the flats from my skiff. Any ideas to keep my tools sharp. Keeping it interesting for me? What do you guys do?

I use my hunting bow year round in the spring I bow fish with it and hunt ground hogs, and go to bow shoots and shoot for fun. I try to get my kids involved as much as I can too. You can always get some old junk arrows and use blunts and stump shoot. Thats what I do to stay sharp year round…

[strait-aero]

#53860

I’ll be shooting a lot of 3-D’s and going after groundhogs this summer until deer season rolls around this fall. I’ll also be trying to get a turkey this spring, but usually end up getting one with the shotgun. I think going to shoots keeps your skills sharp for the most part.

If I were in Texas,like you, I’d be going after Javelina and wild hogs. Shoots are your best bet for staying sharp, in my opinion. Wayne 😉

[paleoman]

#53862

Would like to report I don’ t go dormant in winter but I do. I work outside a fair bit so I honestly have no need for ” fresh air” this time of year. I don’ t get into shooting until the cold and snow have left the building either.

[T Downing]

#53897

I train year round. I am a firm believer that what you do in Febuary & March, will make the difference come September. I go down in bow weight for the off season. I shoot my lighter 55lb Black Widow PL for the winter months…Hunt with that bow during turkey season and then start to train with my heavier 65lb PLX in anticipation of elk season…I find that shooting my bow during the off season becomes somewhat of a therapeutic activity…

[David Petersen]

#53929

“I find that shooting my bow during the off season becomes somewhat of a therapeutic activity”

The Zen of archery!

[Troy Breeding]

#54027

Leo my brother, if I had hogs and java’s within 3 hours of me I’d never get board. I’d be spending every free minute after them. Find a place and get the ladies out with you. Nothing beats fresh pork and Java’s eat pretty good too, as long as you have a good supply of limes.

Troy

[David Petersen]

#54036

Troy — And a good supply of good tequila to go with those limes! Like this: bite lime, take a shot of tequila, eat a bite of javalina … another bite of lime, two more shots of tequila … etc. :P:lol:

Now feral pigs, that’s a whole different menu, and I too would be hunting them year around.

[Jason Wesbrock]

#54047

One of the advantages of being a landowner in Wisconsin is that you’re allowed to hunt certain small game animals year round on your property. Granted, when I’m up there during the “off season” I’m usually doing habitat improvements or something of the sort, but it’s nice to know I can go chase small game whenever I want. Of course, spring and summer are excellent times for getting in a little bowfishing too.

Usually I shoot the occasional local and state 3D stuff when it’s not deer season. For the past few years, some friends of mine have been trying to get me back into more serious competitive shooting. This year I relented and have been really enjoying myself. I honestly forgot how much fun competitive shooting can be.

[BuckyT]

#54049

I’ve got private property to hunt wild pigs but no time to get out and chase them at the moment…. Having a 4yr old boy and a 11 month old daughter can do that to a fella…lol! I’m about to come unglued! Ready to do some slip hunting with the recurve before turkey season opens.

[wolfkill220]

#54160

I spend all year out in the woods this time of year is when I start my scouting .Its a great time to be out for it gives me insight into where the animals go when they are pressured .By scouting this time of year it has given me a few differant hidey holes that the deer and elk use in the later part of the season.Plus salmon and steelhead are starting to run.

[horserod]

#54225

This is a time of the year that I like to get out and combine both scouting and stump shooting……It’s fun and helps me keep in “bowhunting” shape! And finding antler sheds is a bonus too. Horserod

[Leo Carrisalez]

#54492

By the looks of thing, I should keep my skills sharp. I too will be going down in weight till deer season. Probably to about 45lbs. Ill be looking to book a hog hunt here pretty soon. Bowfishing is definately on my list this summer. We do have an abundance of Aligator Gar down here in the Arroyo. Thank goodness my job keeps me on the water. I know where most fish hang out.

[Bruce Smithhammer]

#54632

T Downing wrote: I train year round. I am a firm believer that what you do in Febuary & March, will make the difference come September….

Same here. I shoot at least 2-3 times a week, year-round. Same poundage, same arrows.

[Troy Breeding]

#54649

David Petersen wrote: Troy — And a good supply of good tequila to go with those limes! Like this: bite lime, take a shot of tequila, eat a bite of javalina … another bite of lime, two more shots of tequila … etc. :P:lol:

Now feral pigs, that’s a whole different menu, and I too would be hunting them year around.

LOL!!! Dave, with your method by the time I get to the third bit I wouldn’t care if I was eatting something wild or just something out of the dumpster….:roll::D:D

[David Coulter]

#54653

The bow and arrow go with me on almost all walks with the dog. I love to hunt, but I just love to shoot. I don’t change any bows or arrow set-ups. I’ve been able to match my stumping set-up to my broadhead set-up. I have homemade bag targets and a short ladder stand that I can shoot from if I only have a few minutes to practice.

All year I’m involved in the hunt, practicing, looking for sign and clues in the woods. Just being in the woods is good for the body and mind. dwc

[ChumpMcgee]

#55791

David Petersen wrote: “I find that shooting my bow during the off season becomes somewhat of a therapeutic activity”

The Zen of archery!

100% agree I may not shoot as much during the winter months but I still shoot. I have been rabbit hunting a few times the winter which ended up turning into stump shooting which may be my new favorite pass time. I have also made a aerial target launcher that I have playing around with my flu flu’s and having and absolute riot with it. Practice practice practice was the best advice that I have heard and I have that drilled into my brain. I want to learn as much as I can about traditional archery and this forum has helped me out but I learn the most when I am out shooting. I shoot all different distances, to tell you the truth I could not even tell you the last time that I shot at 20 yards. Typically it is under 20 yards but when I am out stumpin’ I will take unrealistic shots just for the heck of it and put a big smile on my face.

[Ralph]

#56084

Arctic peccary!! 🙂

Can’t ever get enough it seems. Dang sure better than shooting in our seemingly forever panhandle winds.

[Goraidh]

#56095

I shoot year round. I’ve a 15 yard range set up in the hay loft of my horse barn and shoot atleat four days a week. It’s lighted too, so I can get out there any time of day or night.

[Bunyan Morris]

#56818

I am blessed with a pretty big and partially wooded backyard. I stump shoot as a way to unwind when I get home from work. My hunting property is about 40 minutes away, so it is not difficult to get up there for a walk and some pine cone target practice. I also find shooting a great way to relax and have fun. Quite the Zen experience.

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