Normally I would be washing and packing in compression sacks all my sets of microtex, wool and fleece hunting clothes. Setting up the base camp and spike tents to air out and check for leaks. Cooking, vacumn packing and freezing camp meals. Making summer sausage, granola bars and trailmix. Servicing and maintenance on the truck. Filling a tool box with every thing I can think of for basic mechanic work on the truck. Putting the chains on to make sure they fit new tires. Re-stocking the bow repair/maintenance tackle box. I shoot my bows year round, so they are always ready to go. Checking and re-stocking the first aid kit. Sharpening knives. Picking up batteries for camera, gps, flashlights and rangefinder. Picking up propane bottles for lantern, cook stove and heater. Re-stocking my day pack with all the little necessities like paracord and game bags, little survival, first aid and rescue kit, headlamp, raingear, gps, compass, calls, maps!(even though I've hunted these areas for years and my hunting partner many years more than me), Small diamond stick for resharpening the skinning knife, extra batteries.
All this stuff and a thousand other things I've forgotten to mention and your ready for a elk hunt! Man I'm glad we're not going this year! Not really. The planning and getting ready is part of the fun for me.
We've decided instead to do a late fall, multi state coyote calling/wolf hunt. Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota and ending in Montana for hopefully a crack at a wolf.
I wish all you guys chasing elk this year good luck. And be safe!
