Pre-Hunt Packing Panic?

[2rocky]

What do you do to keep your sanity before leaving for an extended hunt?

This year seems to be the worst for being disorganized, grouchy, unable to focus, exasperated, feeling like I should stay home, etc.

 

[noharleyyet]

What do you do to keep your sanity before leaving for an extended hunt?

I remind myself there's a Gander Mountain in Amarillo...

 

[stillkickin]

What do you do to keep your sanity before leaving for an extended hunt?

This year seems to be the worst for being disorganized, grouchy, unable to focus, exasperated, feeling like I should stay home, etc.

I am in the same boat this year, might be the moon phase. Leaving in a few days for a moose hunt and my gear is in a shambles. So is my brain for some reason!

 

[Carrion Carrier]

Deep breaths! Go shoot your bow or something for a few minutes. Nice walk maybe?

Then, think of what you absolutely need. Make a list of those things. The basics. Make sure you are not forgetting any of that stuff and then worry about the other gear.

If you can't find some things, evaluate whether they are essential or if you can just pick it up on the way out of town.

It has been my experience that when I am frazzled my packing suffers. Maybe it's beer-thirty?

 

[deer_shooter]

Huh... I thought it was just me! I am usually ready a month before pulling out and here I am two weeks to go and I still have stuff all over my basement.

 

[muledeerjunkie]

I agree with CC...

Make a list of those things.

Go through your lists; if you don't have a list, start one and save it for your next trip so you don't have to go through this next time. Having things listed in black and white will remove a lot of the indecision and expedite your packing process!

 

[kansasdad]

Santa Claus method....... Make a list and check it twice!

 

[2rocky]

 

[hornart]

I keep all of my hunting gear together all year long, that includes the tents and all of the other gear associated with hunting camp, the only things that I have to put together are the food items and the cold food

 

[CabinFever]

I start running around frantically every Thursday night to be ready to leave straight from work Friday afternoon for a night or two, can never get ahead it seems.

 

[havgunwilltravel]

Just take extra time off work and leave early...that cures everything...

 

[Big Fin]

I can relate. On the AZ antelope hunt we just filmed, I had to pack for that hunt, the NM archery elk hunt, and a NM rifle antelope hunt, all in one pack load. Along with packing all I need for guest hunters to wear/shoot/use, and what the camera guys tell me they need for props. I always forget a few things. If I only forget one, I am pretty happy.

I left my truck in ABQ after the AZ antelope hunt and hope when I get there tomorrow, my truck and its contents are still there. When I am done with that, I park it at a friend's house, then fly back to MT, take one day to de-junk, then do archery elk here, then take another single day to de-junk before flying back to ABQ and getting in my truck for the NM antelope hunt. After all that, I get to drive 20+ hours home to Bozeman.

When I first started the show and these month-long road trips, I packed so much junk, fearing I might forget something. I justified hauling it all along under the premise of "Better safe than sorry," sometimes finding myself both safe and sorry, due to the volumes of junk I had to sort through.

A couple things I have done to eliminate the likelihood of forgetting something.

1) Get a storage tote for each important group of gear. I have one for optics, one for sleeping systems, one for clothing, etc. When things get washed or de-junked, they go into the associated tote. Then I know if I have the optics tote with me, I have all the needed optics for me and guests, etc.

2) Checklists. I know a lot of people have the same thing, but without them, I would be screwed. Half the time I go through my list, I realize something was missing.

3) CYA tote. This tote have everything I might need to cover my arse, spare batteries, spare knives, extra game bags, pack buckles, bootlaces, headlamps, all the things you might loose or forget. It takes two men and a boy to lift it, but it sure is handy to have.

4) Never unpack the trailer. For hunts where we are wall tenting, I have the trailer packed with the basics that never leave the trailer. Tents, frames, tarps, stoves, flooring, cots, trailer jack, trailer spares, etc. It is hard to forget it if you never take it out of the trailer.

 

[stillkickin]

I can relate. On the AZ antelope hunt we just filmed, I had to pack for that hunt, the NM archery elk hunt, and a NM rifle antelope hunt, all in one pack load. Along with packing all I need for guest hunters to wear/shoot/use, and what the camera guys tell me they need for props. I always forget a few things. If I only forget one, I am pretty happy.

I left my truck in ABQ after the AZ antelope hunt and hope when I get there tomorrow, my truck and its contents are still there. When I am done with that, I park it at a friend's house, then fly back to MT, take one day to de-junk, then do archery elk here, then take another single day to de-junk before flying back to ABQ and getting in my truck for the NM antelope hunt. After all that, I get to drive 20+ hours home to Bozeman.

When I first started the show and these month-long road trips, I packed so much junk, fearing I might forget something. I justified hauling it all along under the premise of "Better safe than sorry," sometimes finding myself both safe and sorry, due to the volumes of junk I had to sort through.

A couple things I have done to eliminate the likelihood of forgetting something.

1) Get a storage tote for each important group of gear. I have one for optics, one for sleeping systems, one for clothing, etc. When things get washed or de-junked, they go into the associated tote. Then I know if I have the optics tote with me, I have all the needed optics for me and guests, etc.

2) Checklists. I know a lot of people have the same thing, but without them, I would be screwed. Half the time I go through my list, I realize something was missing.

3) CYA tote. This tote have everything I might need to cover my arse, spare batteries, spare knives, extra game bags, pack buckles, bootlaces, headlamps, all the things you might loose or forget. It takes two men and a boy to lift it, but it sure is handy to have.

4) Never unpack the trailer. For hunts where we are wall tenting, I have the trailer packed with the basics that never leave the trailer. Tents, frames, tarps, stoves, flooring, cots, trailer jack, trailer spares, etc. It is hard to forget it if you never take it out of the trailer.

Don't forget a spare trailer hitch if you are going to, or passing through New Mexico!