Ready to Hunt?

Getting ready 

Well, I'm not, but I'm getting there.

So, I talked to my relative here in town and he pointed me in an interesting direction. Directly northeast of where I wanted to go is a place he's pulled three bulls out of in the past couple of years. He stopped hunting there because of the pressure it gets. That combined with an outfitter camp up on top of the hill, as well as an analysis I did of the area using GIS and elk habitat leads me to believe that this place is shaping up real well. Plus, it has an access trail! What I would give for a trail in this thick country.

It is Friday night. I could be heading out now, but I'm not. Instead, I'm gearing up and staging, so tomorrow morning (I know how long it takes to get there now) I can leave with all my stuff, and be on the trail at daybreak. It's looking at being a short night. But, I am packing for the weekend! Yes, a hunt, camp, then another hunt. This way, it'll get me in-country early in the morning twice, and also salvage the end of the day on Saturday. (I hate leaving the woods at prime-time just so I can get home, sleep, then get up again at 3:30. Call me crazy.)

So what goes through my mind the night before something like this? Well, first and foremost...gear. I already have my hunting gear together, that's the thing I think we all like to concentrate on all year. New broadheads, new camo, this call and that call, and a whole bunch of other trinkets. But what about the other stuff? The stuff that makes camping bearable? Like food? Water? A PILLOW?

I'm a list maker, so I know I'll get everything organized and ready to go prior to going out. (But I always am able to forget something.) And because of this listing, I always seem to pack too much...the list just grows and grows. But, I've never been caught in a situation that leads to anything I can't handle. I now have a warehouse in my house...outfitted with a little store...a nice big closet. Seriously, it's like going to an outdoors store when I open that door. But, I can stand there and grab anything I need for a day to two weeks, minus the food. It's simple really, a tent, a sleeping bag, stove, pots and pans, a water filter...I'm good to go. Load some food in a bag in the fridge/freezer the night before, and all you have to do is plop it into the cooler. Essentially, that's it.

But it's the little things. Like a chair to sit on next to the fire at night. Here's what I think makes a camp more comfortable after 12+ hours of hiking:

- Chair
- Slippers or tennis shoes (your feet will thank you)
- Coffee in individual bags like tea bags
- Powerade powder (nice to have a change and recharge the electrolites)
- Something to roast over the fire (for tomorrow, I chose German sausage)
- A pillow (pack pillows are fantastic)
- FRESH SOCKS
- Handi-wipes
- A good book and a headlamp (because the days are not always long enough)

I think the most important though, is probably plenty of wood for the campfire. There's nothing like a cold camp to make things a little sad. However, it is a good idea to have OTHER clothes so you don't stink up with woodsmoke and cooking odor.

So that's what I'm up to tonight. It's always a lot of fun to plan an adventure, then get home and start planning the next!