Shangobango
Well-known member
First and foremost, I am hooked. I enjoyed myself immensely on my first trip.
I thought I would try to write out some of my thoughts on what I could have done differently as a benefit to not only myself but other newbs to western hunting like me.
1. I live at 60 feet. Cardio, cardio, cardio. This hunt was only at like 4200 feet or so maximum elevations. The long uphill hikes really got me. I got much better as the trip went on. When I go higher I am going to need to do lots of cardio work to be as prepared as I can.
2. I brought too much crap. Almost half the clothes I brought never got touched and lots of food I hauled to Montana I hauled back to the Louisiana.
3. A big tent with a wood heater was great but I will be looking at much more light weight and easier to haul and deploy hot tent options.
4. I will be leaving the ATV at home in the future. I used it because I had it but I could have easily got by without it.
5. The more time you spend camping the less time you spend hunting. Camp chores eat up hunting time.
6. Once you wear high quality performance type clothing there is no going back.
7. Cardio, Cardio, Cardio. This deserves two spots.
8. Get rigged up to backpack hunt. There were several evenings that I said to myself, " If I could just stay right here I would be in much better position in the morning".
9. Be mobile. Don't get hung up on an area. This seems even more important out west than home due to lower wildlife densities.
10. Trust my instincts. I have developed them over a lifetime of hunting and outdoors activities. This one is one I have to remind myself of often but it hit me square between the eyes on this hunt a couple of times because of me thinking about my lack of experience with mule deer and talking myself out of the right move.
11. Trekking poles are worth their weight in gold.
12. I need a spotting scope.
13. A high quality compact camera. The Iphone 10 camera ain't cutting it.
I could go on but these are the high points I suppose.
Feel free to chime in.
I thought I would try to write out some of my thoughts on what I could have done differently as a benefit to not only myself but other newbs to western hunting like me.
1. I live at 60 feet. Cardio, cardio, cardio. This hunt was only at like 4200 feet or so maximum elevations. The long uphill hikes really got me. I got much better as the trip went on. When I go higher I am going to need to do lots of cardio work to be as prepared as I can.
2. I brought too much crap. Almost half the clothes I brought never got touched and lots of food I hauled to Montana I hauled back to the Louisiana.
3. A big tent with a wood heater was great but I will be looking at much more light weight and easier to haul and deploy hot tent options.
4. I will be leaving the ATV at home in the future. I used it because I had it but I could have easily got by without it.
5. The more time you spend camping the less time you spend hunting. Camp chores eat up hunting time.
6. Once you wear high quality performance type clothing there is no going back.
7. Cardio, Cardio, Cardio. This deserves two spots.
8. Get rigged up to backpack hunt. There were several evenings that I said to myself, " If I could just stay right here I would be in much better position in the morning".
9. Be mobile. Don't get hung up on an area. This seems even more important out west than home due to lower wildlife densities.
10. Trust my instincts. I have developed them over a lifetime of hunting and outdoors activities. This one is one I have to remind myself of often but it hit me square between the eyes on this hunt a couple of times because of me thinking about my lack of experience with mule deer and talking myself out of the right move.
11. Trekking poles are worth their weight in gold.
12. I need a spotting scope.
13. A high quality compact camera. The Iphone 10 camera ain't cutting it.
I could go on but these are the high points I suppose.
Feel free to chime in.