What are you doing NOW to be ready for the upcoming hunting season?

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Mogas

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Deer/bear season is quickly approaching in the state where I live. Every year there is a rush to be ready for early bow/black powder season. Stores stock up but sell out, Prices get "jacked up" on everything related to hunting in some places. I know that my son has already set up a few ground blinds on the family's hunting land, (I won't be hunting my back yard or the land this year because I still have meat left over from last year) Equipment like tree stands, ATV, camping gear etc. has been stored for about a year. What is it that you do on a routine basis to be ready this upcoming hunt?
 
Just after Memorial Day, the wife and I were heading by Bass Pro on the way back from something else.

I said I wanted more hunting ammo since it was scarce and I might not be able to get it later so I pulled in and proceeded to buy 1 box of my hunting ammo (It is 450 Bushmaster and I have a few several more back at the house), 777 FFFg for the inline, Shwacker broadheads for my crossbow, some 20 ga sabot slugs because they happened to have the ones I use, 308 because they had it, some new snake boots, a mesh face mask, floppy camo hat, and probably some other stuff. I kept telling her if I waited until a bit before the season it would be all sold out.

She hasn’t stopped rolling her eyes.
 
I dropped off some meat at the landowner's place recently. Gotta keep them buttered up so I can keep coming back. They're great people, so I like to make sure they get their fair share.

I'd also like to set up a more permanent skinning rack, but I'm not sure if we'll get around to it this year. A rope thrown over a limb and tied off to a vehicle has worked for years, so I'm not in a rush.

Did some routine maintenance on my father's SxS so that he doesn't have to worry about it and can focus on hunting. He's at the age where it's easier to pay someone to do that kind of stuff for him. It saves him money and I don't mind helping him out.

I've got to do a little bit of shooting lane clean up, too.
 
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Mogas said:
What is it that you do on a routine basis to be ready this upcoming hunt?
Click to expand...
I've lost some weight, and I'm losing more. Also, I drew a deer tag in the unit where most of our rancher friend's ranch is located. We usually hunt BLM and Forest Service land around here, but as I've posted several times, my wife and I spent a lot of time earlier this year shooting ground squirrels over on our friend's ranch, and we saw a lot of deer while driving back and forth. So, I put in on a draw hunt for deer over there this year and got it. :)
We don't hunt elk anymore, even though there's an open unit not too far from here. Elk are big, and my wife and I are in our 70s. Besides, a few years ago my wife had to get a Disabled Hunter Permit (so that she can legally shoot from a motor vehicle as long as it's not moving or on a public road) because she contracted atrial fibrillation.
It might sound like "sour grapes," but we prefer deer meat over elk meat anyway. So not going after elk at our respective ages isn't that big of a deal for us. ;)
 
.308 Norma said:
I've lost some weight, and I'm losing more. Also, I drew a deer tag in the unit where most of our rancher friend's ranch is located. We usually hunt BLM and Forest Service land around here, but as I've posted several times, my wife and I spent a lot of time earlier this year shooting ground squirrels over on our friend's ranch, and we saw a lot of deer while driving back and forth. So, I put in on a draw hunt for deer over there this year and got it. :)
We don't hunt elk anymore, even though there's an open unit not too far from here. Elk are big, and my wife and I are in our 70s. Besides, a few years ago my wife had to get a Disabled Hunter Permit (so that she can legally shoot from a motor vehicle as long as it's not moving or on a public road) because she contracted atrial fibrillation.
It might sound like "sour grapes," but we prefer deer meat over elk meat anyway. So not going after elk at our respective ages isn't that big of a deal for us. ;)
Click to expand...
I’ve seen a few of your posts and I know internet isn’t a great mirror of real people, but I genuinely like your attitude. You seem to roll with things, keep perspective, and have a decent outlook.
 
.308 Norma said:
I've lost some weight, and I'm losing more. Also, I drew a deer tag in the unit where most of our rancher friend's ranch is located. We usually hunt BLM and Forest Service land around here, but as I've posted several times, my wife and I spent a lot of time earlier this year shooting ground squirrels over on our friend's ranch, and we saw a lot of deer while driving back and forth. So, I put in on a draw hunt for deer over there this year and got it. :)
We don't hunt elk anymore, even though there's an open unit not too far from here. Elk are big, and my wife and I are in our 70s. Besides, a few years ago my wife had to get a Disabled Hunter Permit (so that she can legally shoot from a motor vehicle as long as it's not moving or on a public road) because she contracted atrial fibrillation.
It might sound like "sour grapes," but we prefer deer meat over elk meat anyway. So not going after elk at our respective ages isn't that big of a deal for us. ;)
Click to expand...
I have never shot any animal bigger than a deer. I am not in a position to skin or gut about anything larger than a squirrel. I have seen on TV the amount of work it takes to gut a big bull elk then chop it up and carry it out. Seeing this, even if I was able to accomplishing the task, I would just stick to hunting deer.
 
I guess tomorrow I will clean up the cooler and turn it on to make sure it still works. Seems, everyone wants to use it but everyone never come around to help clean/service it. I can live with that with no problem but sometimes I would like for anyone of them just to offer to help.
 
I have spent the last few months dealing with podiatrist and physical therapy visits to sort out an inflamed tendon and other odds and ends in my right foot. I needed to get this sorted out before hunting season and it seems to be about there. The trade off is that I am out of shape as I have had to stay off my feet for quite a while. September is going to be painful as I waste the hooch.

More generally, my preparation this year has been around acknowledging that I am going to turn 50 in 2023 and I am starting to rack up some physical issues. We hunt pretty hard from September through March and some of the hunts are pretty strenuous. I have been thinking about how to stay in the field in coming years rather than giving some of it up. Some of it is addressing any physical issues that crop up (hate doctors). Some of it is learning how to hunt efficiently rather than go hard. Some of it is changing things up as I deal with shoulder issues. I bought the softest recoiling 12 gauge on the market last year to lessen the beating I was taking in waterfowl hunting. I realized that I only need a rifle that kicks as much as a 30-06 to hunt elk, everything else can be done with low recoil cartridges. I use a 4 wheeled garden cart to haul out deer and beavers (a big beaver is like trying to carry out a garbage bag full of jello, typically in the dark, often with snow and ice on the ground). I fell several times hunting in the last few years and never got hurt, but came down pretty hard on frozen ground and ice. I am a lot more careful with my footing these days.
 
I am slowly but surely finishing up a home made "permanent" blind made mostly from the frame of Mrs. Fl-NC's old greenhouse and repurposed pallets. Its over 50% done. We don't even start bow season until late Oct., so there's no hurry- our rut doesn't even peak until early-mid Jan. In Sep. I will be trimming vegetation for lanes from the 3 spots I will be using (the ladder stands are already there). I will also check the ratchet straps for tightness and safety, replacing any that have been chewed away by squirrels, along with the ropes used to raise and lower guns and other gear. Mid Oct I will put out some popup blinds and assemble and load the feeders. No sense in putting out popups and feeders early- best to wait until the hurricane season is over, and UV doesn't do a popup blind any favors.
 
Mogas said:
Every year there is a rush to be ready…
Click to expand...

A big job is generally just a bunch of little ones that get stacked on top of one another.

It depends on how one goes about it, sometimes all one may need is time, a rifle and ammo.

Mogas said:
What is it that you do on a routine basis to be ready this upcoming hunt?
Click to expand...

Maintenance seems to be the most routine work but we have been pretty set for many years. Disked an area for a food plot a few weeks ago. Fixed a window in a blind last weekend. That kind of stuff.
 
Our forecast now has rain Sunday through Tuesday, so now I'm taking tomorrow off to till and plant food plots. It's a couple weeks earlier than normal, but I've got to take advantage of the rain.

In addition to my normal exercise routine, I've increased my practice routine to get ready for a guide mule deer hunt in MT during the Nov rut. I swapped out my lightweight Bog Pod tripod with a carbon fiber model from Hog Saddle. A Great piece of kit, little heavier, more versatile and requires quite a bit of practice to get the most out of it.

Load development for the primary and alternate rifles I'll take is complete (.270 and .300WM). I've still got to do some load development for my .260 that I'll use locally. I also bought new pair of boots that now have to be broken in.
 
Last season, I shot a small 8 point with my Ten point FX4 at 30 yards.
I've had the bow 5 or 6 years so decided to get it recabled. Done and money at 30.
I'll get my 22 foot ladder out and remove, inspect and reinstall or replace the 5 inch deck screws supporting my backyard permanent treestand.

I changed glass and a few rifle loads so have to either tweak or zero a few rifles.
The 30-30 is good as is the pump .06.
The National Ordnance 1903A3 shot a sub 2 inch group at 200 with the 1944 barrel but it's a bit high.
Still working a load for the Henry .44. Tried H110 W296 with .429 bullets but will probly end up with Hdy XTPs and lilgun.

The Tikka and Savage .300s are close with Hammer Hunter 160s and Accubond 180s.

I'll shoot the crossbow more to 50 although 31 yds is the furthest shot I've ever made on a deer ( usually 12 to 20 yds).

Other than that, I'll put an edge on a few knives.
I checked my new trailer hitch crane for fit and function. ( the last 2 years I had to call a friend to help this 72 yo get a buck up a 4 foot embankment ).
Crane should help should I connect with the backyard 12 point on my cameras.
 
I've got my ATV loaded up now as I post. Going to bring that "Up North" to the shack and come back to haul my field and brush mower to mow our deer hunting roads and trails.
What a year's difference makes.
Last year a drought, normal rain this year.
TALL grass now!

After bear season (HaHa, I almost typed beer season) I'll hang game cams for deer movement.

And then the little tasks we all do.

Except, we may be building a new huntin' shack this fall.
That'll change things!
 
AK Hunter said:
Done a bunch of scouting & got all my guns shot in. I need to do some work on my bow, I haven't shot since last season, I hope it still hits good.
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I had my crossbow restrung last year at a Bow shop. It has not shot the same since. Before it was a tack driver out to 50 yds. After the new string job, the arrows have up to a 6 inch spread. If I can't correct this and I really do know NUTHUN about the bow, I may as well send it back to the manufacturer and see what they can do.
 
The Black Prince said:
First time, so I'm working on figuring out where I can and can't go with the tag I got. And watching videos as well as trying to learn what I need to take with me.
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First thing is to scout out the area you want to hunt long before hunting season and talk to people who know the area and game wardens. Keep in mind if your in an area you are not familiar with, when the sun goes down, everything looks different and (after dark) land marks disappear.
 
Amongst the family we have 1 elk tag, 1 bear tag, and 3 deer tags. Bear starts next week. We hike, bike and do some weight training year round. Everybody is in good shape. Our back country equipment is maintained and provisioned. The rifles were taken out last week, zero and dope was verified out to 600 yards. My daughter shoots a Steyr Scout in 6.5 CM. Yesterday she took it out and shot a .75”, 5 shot group at 100 yards then proceeded to put 3 rounds inside of 3” at 500 yards. I have been playing with my M71 Winchester in .348. I have the desire to kill my elk with it this year. With its factory iron sights I’ve been shooting about a 3” group at 100 yards, 6” or so at 200 yards and can keep them in an elk kill zone at 300. My limitation would be a max 200 yard shot and preferably closer. That old lever gun wants to be a bench rest rifle when it grows up. I’m shocked at how tight that rifle groups.

My older daughter is as lean and hard as I ever seen her and has been doing some kind of HIIT training everyday for the last year. She’s got 6 pack abs and veins popping out on her arms. In a senseless act of self preservation I’m just walking out the door to do a 12 mile Mt Bike ride with the false hope of beating back age and morbid decay.

We are ready to go.

My only concern is being able to keep up with the girls this year.
 
H&Hhunter said:
Amongst the family we have 1 elk tag, 1 bear tag, and 3 deer tags. Bear starts next week. We hike, bike and do some weight training year round. Everybody is in good shape. Our back country equipment is maintained and provisioned. The rifles were taken out last week, zero and dope was verified out to 600 yards. My daughter shoots a Steyr Scout in 6.5 CM. Yesterday she took it out and shot a .75”, 5 shot group at 100 yards then proceeded to put 3 rounds inside of 3” at 500 yards. I have been playing with my M71 Winchester in .348. I have the desire to kill my elk with it this year. With its factory iron sights I’ve been shooting about a 3” group at 100 yards, 6” or so at 200 yards and can keep them in an elk kill zone at 300. My limitation would be a max 200 yard shot and preferably closer. That old lever gun wants to be a bench rest rifle when it grows up. I’m shocked at how tight that rifle groups.

My older daughter is as lean and hard as I ever seen her and has been doing some kind of HIIT training everyday for the last year. She’s got 6 pack abs and veins popping out on her arms. In a senseless act of self preservation I’m just walking out the door to do a 12 mile Mt Bike ride with the false hope of beating back age and morbid decay.

We are ready to go.

My only concern is being able to keep up with the girls this year.
Click to expand...


I have a hard time keeping up with myself. My brain wants to run off down the trail, but my body has to say wait a minute. LOL
 
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