Hunting Journals

[AlleganBowhunter]

Anyone keep a hunting (or fishing) journal?  I am wanting to start one to help me better track where and when I am hunting, track deer activity, etc. 

Anyone have any experience with the online journals (Pro Hunters Journal and Mossy Oaks Field Journal or others)? 

I am old fashion in some stuff but prefer to keep track of things on the 'puter.  Going to be trying out both the Pro Hunters Journal and the Mossy Oak Field Journal this fall.  Will post back pros and cons of these in a few months, if I can keep up on writing in them!

Thanks for your help.

Happy Hunting!

[buckhunter21]

great thread!  i keep track of all my hunts on a separate hunting calendar in my outlook email.  this also syncs to my hotmail accounts so i can check it on there as well.  it's pretty neat...i wouldn't have it any other way.  i can go back to whatever year i want and see what the temps were, where i hunted, what i saw, etc. 

is the pro hunters journal or mossy oak field journal free at all?  i've looked at gametraxx (www.gametraxx.com) and it looks like it has a lot of nice features but it isn't free.  $30/year.

[KYdeer88]

Yes for the past few years. I keep a book with info like date, weather, what I saw... I also keep info on what oaks are dropping and when and what other friends are seeing in the woods. All sorts of info. Its fun to look back and recall details about a hunt.

[AlleganBowhunter]

buckhunter21:  They are free.  So far, I am liking PHJ better.  I have to play with it more, but the Mossy Oak Field Journal seems to only allow sightings, not really for journal/.diary type entries.  I maybe doing it wrong though. Both have map interfaces and Mossy oak has weather (not sure if its weather history to check back on previous dates/hunts.)

You hit the nail on the head with yours.  I am not always on the same computer, so I am looking for something online that I can access from other places and not worry about forgetting my jump drive.

Here are the links.
www.prohuntersjournal.com/
www.mossyoak.com  (under Quick Jump, labeled "Field Journal" ..  and it only works with Internet Explorer [8|])

Not endorsing either.  Looking to share with others and learn from others.  Anyone else have any thoughts?

[Sam Menard]

I've been keeping a hunting journal for over 25 years. It's nothing simple, just a hardcover book with lined pages. I'm just starting my 3rd volume. Incidently, using the services of an online self-publishing site, I'm just finishing off a book about my hunting adventures. I'm using my journals and photo albums as sources for the book. Invaluable!

Sam

[Woods Walker]

I kept one for many years, and then I fell out of the practice. Maybe I should start it up again, if for no other reason than reading about my season during the "dull" months!

[4khorn]

I started keeping one last year and wish I would have done so from the beginning. I log my entries into a Word document and add pictures and borders, then print them out and put them in a binder. It has been enjoyable to go back and relive the last season.

[Powell1120]

I must say you beat me to this one. I have been trying to start a journal for a couple years now but I am never happy with the way i put them together. I always feel like I am not putting enough information or the co0rrect info. My question is beside the basic stuff such as the date, daily weather and such, what else should one include? How detailed do you get? I think that for the journal to be useful in years to come it should a detailed as possible but where do you draw the line? I have also thought that as an opener to each years daily logs, it might be useful to have a breif description of the pre seasons weather patterns, excessive rain or heat or drought etc. Any thoughts?

[Sam Menard]

ORIGINAL: Powell1120

My question is beside the basic stuff such as the date, daily weather and such, what else should one include? How detailed do you get? I think that for the journal to be useful in years to come it should a detailed as possible but where do you draw the line? I have also thought that as an opener to each years daily logs, it might be useful to have a breif description of the pre seasons weather patterns, excessive rain or heat or drought etc. Any thoughts?

My hunting expeditions are rather simple: 1 week for moose and 1 week for whitetails. I start each year's entries with a summary of the past year's weather and a statement about the status of the herd. Additionally, if something noteworthy occured over the past year, I may include that as well. At the end of each day afield, I will document the day's experiences. Since I hunt with a group, I interview each member to determine if they saw anything, or the details of filling their tag. At the end of the week, I'll usually include some closing remarks.

Keeping a journal can be a bit taxing at times... especially if you had a long day afield. Sometimes the guys that I hunt with are tired and not very forthcoming with information. One thing that I discovered was that, when I started a writing a journal 27 years ago, the guys I hunted with thought it was a waste of time. Now, they all like to flip back through the years. I suggest that you include as much detail as possible... later in life you will be thankful for it.

Lastly, I also suggest that you take lots of pictures as a they will complement your journal.

Sam

[buckhunter21]

I just signed up on the Pro Hunters Journal (www.prohuntersjournal.com) that AlleganBowhunter posted earlier.  I must say, it has pretty much everything I have every wanted in a journal from first glimpse.  ...and it doesn't hurt that it's free.  Check it out and give a review if you have time!

AlleganBowhunter...Thanks again for finding this!