Buddies and Checks

Well another week has passed which brings my Sika deer hunt closer to reality. The summer has really shown some hot and humid weather like last year, which hopefully it doesn't carry into the fall. A cool and crisp fall would be quite the treat to have deer up and moving during the day instead of gallivanting in the week hours of the night while hunters sleep restlessly. It would be disheartening to see another abnormally hot fall, which in turn pushes rut activity into late night hours.

With my Sika deer hunt days away and providing a great kickoff to my 2012 season, I found myself having to go solo again. Granted I have spent a majority of my hunts alone and on my own adventure schedule, but it takes away from the collaboration with a hunting buddy. An extra set of eyes, a second decision making process to keep your mind at ease, and that doubling of your chances to harvest an animal (not to mention the mitigation of the safety risk of hunting alone). That all goes away when you are hunting solo and making your adventure that much harder. The weather will play out as mother nature desires, animals will move as they feel, leaving the only thing at this point you can count on, your equipment.
 
So the equipment list has been drafted and reviewed like a letter to Santa at Christmas. The things you have, items still to buy, and the really nice stocking stuffers you wish to have before hitting the woods. Have you ever hit the woods though to find out your headlamp battery is dead, which makes for a long and noisy walk to your hunting spot. What if it was a more vital piece of equipment like you rangefinder making you shooting distances best guess vs being spot on. These situations can lead to a miss, a fall in the dark, or even failing to harvest that animal. So we make checklists when preparing our equipment and supplies, first to ensure have everything we need or may want to take for those in case situations. Then you strap, stuff, and hang as much equipment on your person prior to marching into the woods. STOP...take a few minutes, turn on items with batteries, check levels and replace as necessary. This is your last chance before climbing into that hunting spot having the tools available to make your hunt complete.

I spent a day or two gathering equipment for each hunt, especially when the hunt conditions are different like traveling via boat to your hunting spot vs a short walk from your truck. You can't just say, its alright I have more in the truck at this point, when you are 5 miles away deep in the marsh. Carry extra clothes, socks, drinks, and more are so very important when distance hunting. This doesn't even cover the various items you need when traveling via boat. That dry you thought you may have had on the way in turned into a morning shower. I know I wouldn't want to have to sit for a few hours in a stand if I was soaking wet. All conditions you may encounter during your hunt have to be considered early on and the preparation for potential is ready for anything.

Don't let yourself down by failing to check your equipment and have a response plan ready. So before you lay your head down for the night, turn over, pick up your alarm clock and double check that battery. Nothing is worse than showing up to hunting spot late and watching the tail of the big one wave away in the other direction.