Here in an old man’s house, it is time to look in the closet and gather up the fall clothing, and get the wool hung up to air out for the upcoming season. Time to make sure all shirts have buttons and the hunting boots have a fresh coat of waterproofing. Check those laces as well….don’t want to break a boot string on the morning of the hunt.
It’s time to get into the broadhead drawer and select those that will serve you this year. Those old Bear Razorheads will kill deer just as dead as they did in the late 1950’s…just need to touch them up and make sure they are mounted properly. The real beauty of those old heads is how sweet they fly enroute to the target…just like old friends they are always reliable.
Time to make that backup string if you don’t already have one; set it up and shoot it in so it sets well at brace, then a waxing and put the old one in the fanny pack. Make sure the shelf or rest is in good order and have a backup as well.
By now you should know which bow you are hunting with, even though you may have several that you can shoot well. I can feel comfortable with any of three that I have, but there is always one of them that I am more consistent with; one that carries better than any other…..one that has that special attraction, mysterious though it may be.
You may or may not be buying stuff like a drunken sailor, but you should be settled in with this years equipment. My gear has been used all year; there isn’t a week goes by that I am not shooting my bows and arrows, and developing that personal contact that will pay dividends when the need arises out in those deer woods.
It’s time to go over those pack items: Knife, file, flashlight, binoculars, matches, water, etc. You certainly don’t need a lot of stuff crammed into a fanny pack for a days hunt, but it is always good to be prepared for the unexpected. Maybe a rain poncho and a survival blanket, compass, extra fire starters and the like.
Don’t forget the arm guard if you use them. An extra is always nice to have, as are extra tabs or gloves, stuffed into an extra pocket or the pack. Check mom’s grocery list and add some good snacks to put in the fanny pack to keep you energized while you are out there in the woods.
And of course, pack some common sense with you this year. Stupid hurts, and it can happen quickly if you are not prepared properly. Carry a cell phone…turned off…for emergency calls. Access to a phone can save your life or even the life of another, just don’t take it as a play toy for mindless games….you are hunting.
For me, hunting season is a time of renewal; a time for friends to get together on a Saturday morning….maybe a 5 AM breakfast and stories before the hunt. Then, of course, a gathering after the day is over to fuel the memory banks and keep the soul warm.
Good luck to all of you this season. Be safe and don’t take life too seriously. We have but a few years on this Earth so lets try to spend them wisely and with respect for the land that so generously supplies us with so many fruitful harvests. Hunt and enjoy the woods like it’s your last season; you never know.
