It is almost time! Insomnia anybody…..everybody? It’s been 300 plus days since we last stepped out of the elk woods and headed back to the land of daily, hot showers and Irish Spring soap. Its crunch time now and I’d like to remind everybody of a few things to double check before they head out again. Elk Snot City, Wyoming (population 33 ½ at the last census) is no place to have to purchase a forgotten, needed item.
1. Where the heck are my tags? I thought I put em in my ___________. Put your tags in the lid of your pack now (or other place that you know they’ll make the trip with you).
2. Know the days/hours your meat processor is open in Elk Snot City; a quick call before you head out is worth the effort (write the info down and put it in your super suave elk logo billfold).
3. All gear accounted for, staged, and re-accounted for? Ya, you know the deal…. “Man, I was sure I packed my extra release, my head net, my rain gear, my grunt tube, extra pair of boots, extra bow string, bow/gun repair tools”, etc. Again, small town Wyoming is no place to have to purchase a needed/forgotten piece of gear.
4. Is everything locked down tight at the home front? Gotta ensure everything that you’re normally responsible for at the ol’ ranch is either done, or, arrangements have been made to get it done during your absence. The elk woods is not the time to have an “oh sh….., I forgot to ……..” moment.
5. Rig good to go? Recently serviced (if due), proper tires, windshield wipers fresh and wiper fluid topped off, good spare (not the kind of spare the dad had in A Christmas Story)? Same with your trailer/camper/quad if taken. Proper assortment of tools loaded in the bed or tool box of your truck? Hand tools, axe/bucket/shovel/rake and chainsaw (bar oil/gas can) if taken. I don’t like to travel hundreds of miles with full gas cans in my rig; I’ll fill em up in Elk Snot City before I head into the mountains.
6. Do you have your gallon ice jugs (enough of em) frozen in the garage freezer and ready to go into your 675 quart cooler for the ride over?
7. Camera/cell phone: I give this tidbit its own spot. Whether you’re using a small compact camera or your phone, take pictures of your adventure! This is an area that many of us have severely lacked in over the years.
8. Let somebody know where you're going and your hunting timeline. "Umm, I don't know... haven't seen or heard from RJ since last September"
9. Lasty….. keep safety in your mind at all times; let’s all make it there, have a great hunt, and safe return to our home front. Before (making the long drive), during (hiking the steep hills after singing bulls, taking appropriate clothing for any type of weather each time you head out, not overloading your pack/self when getting an elk out of a hell hole), and after (making the long drive home).
If any of you wild bohemians can add anything else to my brief list, please do so.
