Hunt Prep Tips
March 21, 2018 by Earl Osterling
If your hunting in the western united states, your hunt is closer than you think. We see clients every year that show up at the lodge and are not prepared for their hunt. Time goes by quickly, and its difficult to make time to get in shape, practice shooting, and plan equipment needs. If you take it a little at a time, its not such a big task to be prepared. The following are four things we would recommend starting with now so are ready for your adventure!
- Being Physically Prepared – Start now, develop those habits of working out so when the time comes, and you show up at camp you are ready. Our lodge is at 9,000 ft elevation, if you’re not ready for that alone, you will have a tough time enjoying your adventure.
- If you need to draw a tag, make sure you get your application in by the deadline. Each state is different, Alaska is already closed, here in Colorado deadline is April 3rd, make sure you know your deadlines!
- Purchase any new equipment you will need for your hunt now. You will need time to practice using your new toys, Turkey season is a wonderful time to break in a rangefinder or new set of boots. Optics take some time to learn how to use, new rifles and bows take the most time to learn and shoot effectively. Ammo is probably the most mis-understood of all equipment, there are so many options, its endless. Each rifle shoots every brand and weight of ammo differently, so group great, some don’t group very well at all, again each rifle is different!
- Hunting out west present some awesome landscapes, you can see forever, its like being in a dream world to the hunters who have never hunted out here. Being mentally prepared, asking a lot of questions of your outfitter, and understanding this is the case will help your adjustment when you arrive. Judging distance is probably the most difficult adjustment for most, seeing mountain ranges 20 miles off, thinking its 2 miles away takes time to figure out. Shots on elk can be in the 300-yard range, we try to keep our client’s shots to under 300 yards, but sometimes the only opportunity you will get may be 300 yards, practicing out to 300 or 500 yards will make you more comfortable with a 300-yard shot, and will make you a better shot at 100 yards.
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