Post by: WapitiTalk1 on August 21, 2018, 11:32:42 AM
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.
Post by: SteelheadTed on August 21, 2018, 12:49:36 PM
Post by: Wetwoodshunter on August 21, 2018, 12:56:00 PM
I would say the things I wish I had more of is that one elk call thats working. Make sure you have at least 3 of each mouth reed that you like. In a week of hunting I typically warp a reed, leave a reed next to the tree I beat the crap out of with a log, and misplace the last one.
The other important item is the breeze squeeze, I also take 3 of these all taped up onto a caribeaner with leukotape (for my feet), I clip the caribeaner to my bio case and its always there. If I feel a blister coming I stop grab my wind bottle and fix my foot before I keep going. I don't know about you guys, but my little squeeze bottles can get wet and plugged up, frustrating as heck not to have another $7 bottle or two so you can just switch out when you hit the truck/camp.
Good luck to you all, I'll be watching from the sidelines this year as elk is not in my future for 2018.
Post by: yakimanoob on August 21, 2018, 02:28:59 PM
Start shooting with your hunting clothes on, binocular harness, etc. Better to find out now that your bow string catches on your bino harness strap and whips you in the eyes, lacerating your eyeball, than in the field.:yeah: and the same applies for rifle hunting. Make sure you can ring steel at the ranges you need to wearing your full rig.
Put at least a couple miles in with your pack, clothes, and your hunting boots.
Lessons learned from my theatre teacher in high school: your clothes and your shoes make your mood. There's a reason they call it "dress" rehearsal.
Post by: bornhunter on August 21, 2018, 04:50:15 PM