Prepping for Season - Adam's Garden of Eatin'

Opening Day Prep

As the end of July turns into August, the garden is still going strong and there is still plenty of canning to be done. However, I start thinking about that time. All hunters know it.

I was buying corn a few weeks ago and an old timer was buying some also. He saw what I was buying, smirked, and said “It’s that time”, to which I replied “Yes it is”

It’s the most magical time of the year and I don’t mean Christmas. The opening day of hunting season is just over the horizon and is the reason some people get out of bed in the morning. I am one of those people. It’s the day that’s always highlighted red on my google calendar. The satisfaction of growing my garden is replaced with the satisfaction and thrill of harvesting my own meat.

But before anything can go on the wall or be stocked in the freezer, it’s time to put in some work. And yes it sucks. Heat, humidity, mosquitos, ticks, and thorns are all full throttle at this time, but it’s what’s required for future success. Work now, play later. Here are some tips.

Adam’s Garden of Eatin’ is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com

#1 Who is hunting? Is anyone going with you? Are you traveling? When are you hunting?

#2 Do I have my hunter education certification and all my license up to date?

This will save you a lot of flack if you just make sure you’re up-to-date. “I forgot” isn’t an excuse.

Take time to look over your hunting laws. See what changes were made. Check opening dates. Know your harvest limits and what you can harvest.

#3 What am I hunting? Meat or Trophy?

Only you can answer why you hunt. My priorities; Hunt for enjoyment, then hunt for meat, then hunt for horns.

#4 Where am I hunting this season? Public land or Private hunting lease?

Public land is just what it says it is. Public. Anyone can hunt on it and you run the risk of having your stuff stolen. But it’s free.

Private land is the preferred way to go if you have the money and option to do so. Huge hunting leases usually come with huge yearly fees, but produce huge yearly bucks.

I do the majority of my hunting on a 100-acre piece of woodland that’s surrounded by multiple hunting clubs. It’s not huge, and doesn’t have world record trophy deer. But it does produce deer meat and the occasional 8-pointer and that’s my end game. Covers all 3 of my expectations; enjoyment, meat, horns.

#5 Food plots? Feeders?

I go with the feeder. Hunting in the shaded woods doesn’t really offer choice spots for food plots because of sun exposure. Everything is shaded over during the summer months. So corn, deer licks, and buck juice are the choice attractants. Since I can’t grow a sustainable food plot, why not create a deer candy buffet?

#6 Shooting house? Treestand? Ground Blind? What are you hunting out of this season?

My club scored an old plastic concrete tank. With a little DIY work, spray paint, and camo netting, boom, a new shooting house.

#7 Any tree work need doing?

Did any dead trees fall during the offseason? Does that branch need to be cut for a cleaner shooting lane? Are those limbs going to make noise when you try to get in your blind? These are the questions that need addressing now. Break out the chainsaw and axe now. Not when the season opens.

#8 Camera work?

Get those cameras set up. Get some idea of what you’ll be hunting. Here are some good options.

#9 Need any gear?

Take inventory and see what needs fixing and replacing. Then take a shopping trip to Amazon, Cabelas, Bass Pro, or NatchezSS.com for restocking.

Do you need a new blind or a treestand for that new spot?
Is it time to upgrade that bow, rifle or muzzleloader?
Will that safety harness last another year? Hint; replace it if you are even asking yourself that question.
Are my boots weatherproof for another season?
Has my camouflage faded beyond proper use? Does my camouflage still fit?
How’s my ammo supply? Ammo is available now, might not be available later in the season.
Do my cameras still work? New batteries and SD card?
Do my knives need sharpening?
Do those broadheads need sharpening? Do my arrows need replacing?

#10 Can I still shoot straight?

Time to hit the range. Get that bow dialed and that gun sighted in. Now is the time. Not the day before the season opens. It could cost you that opening day trophy buck.