It’s getting close now. I’ve been waiting all year for this and it’s about to be go time. Since I drew my elk tag back in February I’ve been daydreaming about hitting the hills with my bow. Getting another opportunity at an Arizona bull of my own and immersing myself in the whole experience. There are some things that need to be in order before leaving though. Hunting Preparation is not just about hunting.
I’m a big believer in preparation for hunting throughout the entire year. My bow does not collect dust in the “off-season” and my watch doesn’t tell me my last workout was 6 months ago. onXmaps is in regular rotation on my phone as I e-scout throughout the year as well. As the hunt inches closer, though, there are a few things that I will do the week before. These are things that are a constant no matter the hunt.
First and foremost, I set aside quality time with my family. It’s a privilege being away on hunting trips, but I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t hard at times with so much space between my family and me. They are my world and I think about them each and every day I’m out in the mountains. And it’s not just hard on me, it’s also hard on them. For instance, along with simply missing one another, my wife suddenly has double the responsibilities at home. My daughter and I are glued at the hip too, so that makes things difficult when I’m away.
Put the computers down and go for a walk. Go to the zoo. Just enjoy one another’s company. This is something I don’t take lightly, especially the week before I leave on a hunt. I need it mentally and feed on those positive vibes throughout my hunt.
Along with spending quality time together, let’s back up to where I mentioned the doubling of responsibilities for my wife. That’s no joke. Seriously. Daily tasks that are normally under my control are now under hers. Not to mention just things like doing dishes.
Before I leave, I try to ensure that things are all set for my departure. I usually do all of the dishes, take out the trash, mow the lawn, etc. Anything that I can do to make life a bit easier when I’m away, I try to tackle. It wouldn’t be right in the least for me to leave the house in shambles and say “See ya in 10 days.” This puts my mind at ease when I’m away.
Another thing that eases my mind is knowing that I took care of everything on the work front. We all have to make a living and making that living can be stressful at times. To escape out into the mountains with a trail of unfinished business is a great way to remain unfocused on a hunt. I can’t have that.
Now, I’m going to break away from the week before a hunt and focus more on the week before that. This is the time when I really try to dot the i’s and cross the t’s with work stuff. One, I’m obviously making sure that what I need to have done is done. But, I’m also striving past that point. Having some breathing room upon my return from the field is beneficial. Not just to hang out with my girls, but if I’m fortunate to get something down, I’ll need time to process the meat.
We only get so many opportunities in bow range behind the string. They are sacred, minimal, and should be treated as such. Because of that spending time behind the bow, not just throughout the entire year is important, but also I’m 100% shooting every single day the week before the hunt. Even if it’s just for 10 minutes in the backyard with my daughter(she has a bow too = ) ). Solidifying that muscle memory is key when it comes to crunch time.
This is also the time to make sure everything is dialed. Better, I should say STILL dialed, because all of that should have been in order long ago. Proof your sight in, your sight tape, and the overall integrity of your bow. Make sure all bolts are tight, the string is waxed, and your tune is true.
I mean, I do exercise, just not the week before a hunt. This frees up more time to spend with my family of course, but also there is a bit of strategy here. One, I like to give my body a good rest before heading into the field. This allows me to enter the hunt fresh and confident. And two, I’m quite paranoid of injury before leaving. This has bitten me in the ass before. I remember one time my calf muscle cramped up so badly from a trail run I was limping. 2 days later I left on a backcountry bear hunt and paid the price. It caused me limited range and ultimately made me decide to come out of the wilderness early. There was no way I was up to doing what I knew needed to be done physically back there. Ever since then, I don’t exercise the week before a hunt. Lesson learned.
This life we get to live is a special one. We are blessed to wake up surrounded by loved ones and get to pursue our passions. Many folks don’t have it like that, so count your lucky stars. Own your hunts. Embrace the time you have out there because time waits for nobody. It’s about time for me to stop writing so I can practice what I preach. We’ll chat soon.
Want to Learn About Backpack Hunting? Check out my book Becoming a Backpack Hunter: A Beginner’s Guide to Hunting the Backcountry.
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