Trevon Stoltzfus
Advertising Manager
And Archery Field Host
The Best of the West - TV

Real Preparation Breeds Real Success

            You can sense spring coming as the crisp coolness of the morning air is giving rise to warmer days. The mountains are getting the last of their winter snowfall, and in many western states, we can see green shoots of grass starting to pop up across the dormant brown landscape. Soon summer will be upon us and hunters everywhere will be praying for the right amount of winter runoff and summer showers to produce the quality nutrients that the wildlife we dream about need for good horn growth.
            Our minds whirl with daydreams of upcoming hunts in the fall, wondering if we will be lucky enough this year to draw the coveted tag we are applying for, and how this year we can be more prepared for that split second chance at taking a trophy animal.
            Believe it or not, now really is the time to start preparing for the hunts that will begin as the aspens turn yellow in September and continue into snowy December. I suggest, rather than waiting until two weeks before your hunt, you begin to plan now for the preparation necessary to successfully harvest the big game you will spend so much time and energy hunting.
            My Granddad always told me, “plan your work and work your plan,” and now is the time to layout a strategy to get ready for our upcoming hunt’s opening morning sunrise that we will dream about throughout this summer.
            There are four categories of preparation I want to touch on:

Equipment
Practice
Research
Getting into shape

Equipment

Upgrading Equipment

            Now is a great time to reflect back on last year’s hunting season and evaluate your equipment and its performance or lack thereof. If you were smart enough to have kept a detailed journal of last year’s hunts you can review that to refresh your memory. Did you have a backpack or pair of boots that daily caused you agony and made your hunt more painful than it had to be? Did glassing for hours give you a pounding headache? Perhaps your raingear was more water “resistant” than “water-proof.”
            We, as humans, tend to only remember the positive things that happen to us and that can be a good thing, but here you must be honest with yourself. Make a list of equipment that NEEDS to be replaced, a list of equipment that SHOULD be replaced, and a list of equipment that you just WANT to replace. By prioritizing your equipment replacement and upgrade list, you can get a feel for what your equipment hunting budget will need to be. Remember, the more comfortable you are out in the field, the more time and energy you will have to focus on harvesting your trophy.
            Perhaps fellow hunters introduced you to new products that you were unaware existed before last hunting season. Now you have the time to research more about these products and evaluate if these new “gadgets” will make your upcoming hunting season more productive.
            This does not mean that you have to take out a second mortgage on the house and purchase everything on your list at once. However, knowing what equipment you will be purchasing or replacing gives you the opportunity to get these necessities at cheaper, off-season, prices and pick them up in the order of importance (example: hiking boots take longer to break in than binoculars).

Testing Your Equipment

            As you start to replace and gather new hunting gear, now and throughout the summer months is the time to put it to the test. There is nothing more frustrating than paying a premium price for good gear and then finding out that “when the rubber hits the road,” your new equipment isn’t all that you thought it was.
            The method by which you test your equipment will be determined by the type of equipment you will be using. However, here are some ideas that will put you in situations that will allow you to get the kind of feedback on your gear to be able to know quickly whether it is a hit or a bust.
            Visiting Winter Ranges – Depending on what part of the country you live in, visiting winter ranges allows you to test your equipment and yourself. Taking January and February trips to the winter range will provide you an opportunity to view congregated animals, even though they will not necessarily be the same animals you will be hunting. It is also a great time to work on your “Rack Bracketing” skills, and it can give you an opportunity to test your cold weather gear, optics, backpacks, and photographic equipment.
            Shed Hunting – Shed hunting is another excellent way to test and break in new equipment. Taking day trips into new country to look for antler sheds will provide you a chance to break in your new hiking boots and other wearable gear. It also opens up new prospective hunting areas as you uncover country that was unfamiliar to you before. You can refer to shed hunting as pre-scouting for scouting. Not only will you get to discover new drainages, seeps, wallows, rub areas, and escape routes, but this can also be great exercise done with family and friends with minimal “away” time.
            Camping / Backpacking – Camping provides another chance for you to get out into your hunting area and become more familiar with the topography. Simple day hikes can begin to test gear that you will depend on during your hunts. Like shed hunting, camping can also be a great opportunity to share the outdoor experience with friends and family, where you can exercise and evaluate hunting gear at the same time.
            Backpacking is one of the best hardcore ways to test your hunting gear. If you are a backcountry bowhunter, that packs your camp on your shoulders, this is a great way to work on lightening your load. While backpacking you can find the right combination of gear to weight ratio that will work much better for you in the field once hunting season opens. Remember, there could be some temperature differences depending on what time of year you will be backpacking compared to when your season starts, so make the necessary changes in clothing in order to be prepared for your hunting conditions.
            Scouting – Scouting allows you to make the final tweaks and changes to your hunting gear prior to your hunt. This usually takes place anywhere from two months to two weeks before season. This trip becomes more serious as you start to focus on formulating a plan for your actual hunt, whereas your shed hunting, camping, and backpacking trips were concentrated on testing gear and getting to know the country you will be hunting.