Final Preparation
"Baseball is 90% mental and the other half is physical"
-Yogi Berra
Pack It Up, Pack It In
Create a packing checklist well in advance of your hunt.
Physically compile every item on the list in one place and check them off one by one. Do this a week or more ahead of your season opener so you can acquire anything you forgot or can't find and it's not going to affect your hunt. We all get limited time in the stand each season. Make every sit count.
While your list may vary slightly, here's what Jon's looks like (some items only become relevant as weather turns colder). Start with this list and feel free to add or remove items as you see fit:
- Bow or gun
- Arrows or ammunition
- Range finder
- Release (archers only)
- Stand, climbing sticks or blind
- Backpack
- Knife or multi-tool
- Flagging tape
- Camo paint
- Calls
- Scent lures
- Scent wicks and/or scent drag
- Head lamp (check batteries)
- Para cord or nylon rope
- Hunting license and permit(s)
- Photo ID
- Smartphone, map and/or compass
- Underwear and/or base layer
- Undergarments for layering
- Two layers of break-up
- Bibs and parka
- Boots
- Socks and sock liners
- Neck buff or face mask
- Hat and gloves
- Field spray
- Cover scent
- Snacks
- Water
- Toilet paper
- Empty bottle
Plan Ahead
Have a plan. Execute the plan. It's best to make decisions in advance of your hunt. Inevitably, there will be times when something blows up that plan and you have to improvise. But that should be the exception, not the rule.
Do your homework on wind and weather conditions a day or two ahead of time and use it to determine the best course of action. We'll provide some context for making educated decisions based on weather in the video below.
Watch the video below as Jon walks through his pre-hunt routine in an effort to help you establish your own.
Give Yourself Time
If you're not used to waking up super early, assume you're going to make a few mistakes and cost extra time before a morning hunt. There's nothing wrong with just going out late-morning or mid-day and sitting through the evening your first few times out.
In fact, that approach is more likely to produce good results than getting to your stand too late in the morning, which could potentially mess up your afternoon/evening hunt if you stroll into the woods right at sunrise just as the deer are passing your stand. If something does keep you from getting in when you should have, consider skipping the morning hunt and waiting until the deer are more likely already in their beds before entering.
Next Steps
Create a checklist and prepare as many items as possible at least a day or two in advance.
Leave as little as possible for the morning or day of your hunt to avoid missing anything.
Disclaimer
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