Simple but effective hunting log

[BowHunterGA]

Hoping some of you might be able to use this. This is a simple but effective Hunting log that I created in Excel. I wanted a means of quickly documenting all of my hunting activity. I have tried to track most of my hunting outings this year and I am also putting something similar together for the upcoming winter scouting I will be doing. I will post that one as well when I finish it. Hope you can find this useful.

If you do not own Excel you can still use this log by downloading OpenOffice, a free Office Suite. Or you can use Google Docs to store and edit your log.

   http://www.simplytraditional.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/ST-Hunting-Log.xlsx  

There is no cost associated with this, provided you own Excel or use one of the free options I listed. Just something I created for myself and wanted to share. Enjoy!

[SELFBOW19953]

I have Windows 7 and can't open your file.

[BowHunterGA]

You need Excel 2007 or newer. Or as mentioned you may download OpenOffice or Google Docs online as free solutions. Hope this helps.

[ti-guy]

Great I've saved it, thanks!    (I also have windows 7 and was able to download but I do have excel)

[edge2009]

This could be pretty neat, Hope it works out for you! I'll be checking in on it later.

[BowHunterGA]

I should have stated there is no cost associated with this. Just something I created for myself and wanted to share. Will also update the initial post.

[Green]

Thanks for sharing this Steve....nice spreadsheet.    

[Stinger]

Steve,

I created a similar excel spreadsheet for myself 9 years ago and it has really paid off down the road.  The only things I have on my sheet that are different is that I log each sighting individually by time.  It looks like yours covers the whole day, so you can't tell when you saw them.  Right now, not a big deal, but 5 years from now, you will want to have that.  I also have multiple stand locations in one area so I have a column to mark which stand I was in.  Additional nice-to-haves are moon phase and sun/overcast conditions.  Where it has helped me is that after 3 years or so I realize that the deer just don't show up at a particular stand in the morning in late November where they would be all over the place in October, I won't hunt there in the morning.  Of course I go back and check them once in a while just to make sure.  I believe deer do tend to favor the same travel corridors and food sources year after year, and this helps me zero in on the likely spots.  This year, I knew without a doubt where my opening day stand would be.  I got three shots in 45 minutes.  I'm a dope and rushed all of them and went home very humble, but it was satisfying knowing the plan worked.  Right now, I know that I wouldn't see anything from that stand any time of the day.

[maineac]

Looks great.  I will give it a shot, keeping a log is my week point, but would be super helpful.  On a side note I felt I had a fantastic season (still do),you saw more deer in one sit than I saw in three months of hard hunting

[BowHunterGA]

Great points Stinger and I agree regarding the information that should be put in. The one entry I have entered in the version for download is somewhat fictious (GPS Coordinates are for the Statue of Liberty) and minimalized. I also enter more specific information in the "Notes" field. But I wanted to keep the spreadsheet as simple as possible and of course folks could always add more columns if they want. In the copy I am updating for myself I include times (I make a note of the time in my iPhone notebook and put the info in my notes later). I would advise others populate as much information in the Notes column as they can remember as well.

One thing I am thinking about adding is information regarding the atmospheric pressure and whitetail activity as well as moon phase information.

[ron w]

I feel like a dummy....I use a small spiral note book....LOL!

[BowHunterGA]

Originally posted by ron w:
I feel like a dummy....I use a small spiral note book....LOL!

I tried that last season and it just didn't work for me. I take a lot of written notes with my job and I just could'nt make myself take the time each night while the information was fresh. Since I am always on the computer I figured this might work better. So far I have to say it has been MUCH better than taking notes for me. Then there is always the problem of being able to read my own hand writing later!!!  

[toddster]

Good tool, I have one similar on my computer.  I have a small spiral note book in my truck, then once a week I load the info to computer excel.  It gives me a great pattern for deer movement.  I then use some maps and plot info and print it into my hunting book I keep as back up.