Pre-Season Preparations

[Brandon Pattison]

Besides getting your weapon & gear secured and squared away, reading maps/looking online, exercising, calling, reading threads and books; what else do you do to prepare? Myself, I have already started urinating on my chest hair to work on my cover scent, lol. On a serious note, what else is there?

 

[123 4/8 P&Y]

Just waiting on my tag. I could leave tomorrow.

 

[JoshTX]

Shooting my bow every day or every other day as time/work allow. Other than that and what was already mentioned, if I had my tag, I could go tomorrow.

 

[MesaHorseCo.]

I think you've covered it.

 

[Ross]

Put in extra time with the wife and eat lots of elk steak to get the freezer down

 

[123 4/8 P&Y]

I need to lose some weight.

 

[CW_12]

Spending extra time with the wife really helps during the season. She was lucky enough to draw a muzzle loader tag in NM this year and she now has a better view on why we do what we do.

I talked to a ton of my buddies via text, phone, or email about the upcoming years plans. I really enjoy it when I have a spare few minutes.

We film as much as we can during the season. I will play back footage and see if there is any thing I think I could have done better considering the circumstances.

 

[spdcrazy]

i'm just a new guy, but in prep of hunting this year, i found this site! and am reading up on other ppl's setups to see if i can use any idea's, meal options, better ways to pack, other gear options i might have not thought about etc. and like you said, hiking, working out, talking with fellow hunters and waiting on the weather to break

 

[mAv]

Shooting- Finishing up buying the rest of my gear list- working out- putting the final details on the trip.

In addition, being my first year chasing elk, I'm launching a website to document/following/hopefully let others learn from my mistakes. I figure if I can save someone the headache by putting my experiences out there- it's worth it.

 

[Vandal 44]

Like most of you, I am increasing the amount of cardio I do every week. I will run, bike, swim or climb hills depending on how the knees feel or what town I am in for work, In the next few weeks I will start doing cardio in the morning and after work . I lift weight 6 days as week and try and shoot my bow everyday.

I will spend more time with the wife in the off season to build up points when hunting season come around that really pays off.

I will spend the summer tweaking my bow and shooting longer distances out to 100 yards or more.

Scouting and looking over maps is a year around thing for me and spending time out in the field.

 

[Hawker]

Looks like u have it covered.
I will be doing a few little backpack trips so I can test and tune gear.

 

[amp713]

I go through my gear. I think it would scare some people how often i go through it all. Ive set up my new tent 3 times in my living room since buying it last month and thats about average for me. I weigh stuff try to decide what i brought that i didnt need or wanted but didnt have, i try to find ways to make it fit better, i pack it all and weigh the pack, unload it all check everything then do it again. Being new ive had my ass kicked by gear issues a few times... Now its an obsesion.

I spend insane amounts of time looking at everyone elses gear they run and comparing it then searching websites for good deals on it to see if i should do it or not. Im a super creeper on here.....

 

[Bonedalien]

i plan to hit as many alpine lakes with my flyrod as possible. when season rolls around there should be no issues with my legs or my gear.

 

[Beastmode]

Work as much as possible to save up enough money to take time off to hunt.

 

[mt100gr.]

Pretty much what you all have covered. Prep and prioritize gear, test gear, stay in shape, buy new gear, test new gear. Shoot a lot. Study maps and aerials and regulations.

And definitely bank as many hours with the family as possible. Same with work...no time off until September.

 

[jpolson]

My main form of exercise is hiking in the mountains. Whan hiking, I almost always have binoculars with me. Glassing is an important skill that needs to be learned. If there are no animals around, look for ferns, or white pines, or whatever makes you look for specific objects. While hiking I also often practice my stalking. Pick a point that is half a mile away, then work on finding a good route to it while staying concealed and keeping quite.

We all like to talk about gear and worry about it...but in reality...gear is a very small part of what makes a hunter successful...it is experience and hunting skills.

 

[Hawker]

Jpolson
I agree completely. I think I use to be more successful when I was a kid in blue jeans hunting. Now that I have a ton of gear I suck.
Always feels good to know that everything is tuned and ready to go tho

 

[5MilesBack]

I'm ready 24/7 365 days a year.......unfortunately it only comes 30 days a year.........come on August.

But I do start pounding extra water a couple days before I head up. I already drink a lot of water every day, but I drink even more when elk season is close.

 

[tttoadman]

Get proficient with the new trekking poles I bought.

Married 25 years this year. Need to make a special year with the wife, and put a little bit of hunting on the back burner.