Bow season is almost here! Do you have your gear prepared and ready for battle? The first hunt of the year can often be a train wreck for the hunter that’s not prepared with all the necessary gear and goods to make their hunt a success. Don’t let this be you!
Below you’ll find our Bowhunter’s Pre-Season Checklist to help you be prepared when opening day arrives.
Fresh Straps On Treestands – One of the most neglected item on our list is fresh treestand straps. They look fine, so why mess with them, right? And that’s exactly how hunters fall and die each season. Replace your straps every couple years, regardless of how they look.
Lifeline On All Treestands – Most treestand accidents happen when climbing up or down from your treestand. The harness alone is not enough. Make sure you have a Lifeline in place so you’re always safely anchored.
Spray and Remove Wasps Nest From Stands and Blinds – This one can get ugly quick. I’ve had buddies fall from their elevated shooting house as they were being flogged by a swarm of wasps that had taken residence in the blind. Check all stands and blinds before the day of the hunt. You don’t want any surprises.
Trim Shooting Lanes and Shot Obstructions – Make sure to trim any limbs and lanes that might obstruct your shot. You’ll likely remember missed opportunities from the previous season due to these obstructions. Don’t let it happen again this year.
Clear Trails for Quiet Access – Use a drag on your tractor or ATV, hand rake, or blower, to clear access trails so you can sneak into your treestand as quietly as possible.
Service ATV/UTV – We typically don’t think about it until we find ourselves in a mess. Make sure your method of transportation on and around the farm is in smooth working order.
Contact Landowners – Be sure to check in with landowners prior to your hunt. Let them know about the opener, what vehicle you’ll be driving and any other changes or updates they need to know about.
Fresh Battery in Rangefinder – Batteries will die at the worst possible time. Be sure to have fresh batteries in your gear and backups on hand.
Reload Wind Puffer / Milkweed – Got a wind-checker in your pack? Make sure it’s reloaded and ready for the hunt.
Daily Shooting Practice Regimen – Whether your last-minute shooting routine involves just one shot, or 100, make sure you’re spending time on the range every day as you close in on the opener to stay sharp and aware of any issues with your gear.
Sharpen / Replace Broadheads – Have you messed with your broadheads since last year? Make sure you’ve got blades sharpened or replaced.
Bow Hangers / Gear Hangers – Few things are as frustrating as arriving to the woods without the gear you need to stay organized and comfortable in the treestand. Don’t forget your bow and gear hangers!
Cooler / Meat Prep Gear – Will you be prepared after the shot? Do you have the gear you need to break down your deer and get the meat cooled? Make sure you have a cooler with ice, knives, and other tools to make the most of your meat in warm weather.
Reactivate Scentlok Clothing – Scentlok recommends, for maximum odor adsorption, to reactivate your ScentLok garments in your household dryer when you first receive your gear, and at least every 40 hours of field use. For example, if you hunt for four hours a day and store your clothing in airtight storage after each hunt, you should reactivate your gear after 10 days of hunting.
Treat / Repair Clothing – Be sure to wash and treat all clothing with scent eliminator products and/or run through ozone generator cycles to rid your gear of human odors as much as possible. This is also a good time to repair any cuts, holes or stitching that needs attention. And don’t forget to recharge.
Practice With Your Treestand/Saddle/Sticks – Don’t let opening day be the first time you’ve ever tried to put your treestand or saddle to the test. They may look simple enough, but it’s important to familiarize yourself with the process for ascending and descending the tree. The same goes for the climbing sticks. You really want to be confident in your ability to climb with your gear before the hunt.
Get Your Home in Order – It’s important to make sure things at home are in order before hunting season begins.
Get Your Mind Right – Opening day is almost here! Just wrapping your mind around how big a deal that is can be tough. Whether it’s watching hunting videos, listening to music, or going through old photos, do what it takes to help you get your mind where it needs to be for the upcoming hunting season.
