How to Create a Hunting Checklist

You wake up early, put your hunting clothes on in the cold dark, drive for hours to your hunting spot and realize you forgot your hunting license on the kitchen table. Any hunter who has experienced this horrible feeling knows full well the absolute necessity of creating a hunting checklist before you go. Creating a checklist is one of the simplest things you can do while simultaneously remaining one of the best ways to ensure that you have a great hunting experience.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Pen
• Paper

1. Create a pre-season hunting list. This includes all the major issues that should be resolved before going off to hunt, including purchasing a hunting license, securing a weapon (account for a waiting period), scouting and securing hunting lands, enrolling in a hunter-safety class and anything else that should be done before your first trip of the season.
2. Create a hunting supply checklist, and divide it by categories.
3. Start with personal necessities. These should be items that you cannot do without and the common--and very forgettable--items, such as necessary prescription medications, wallet, keys, a cellular telephone and a valid hunting license. In addition, leave a copy of your hunting itinerary with your family--just in case.
4. Think about clothing. You will have to dress for temperature, surroundings and safety, so you may have to bring more than one pair of clothes. Remember your camouflage, your safety fluorescence, your rain equipment, clothes for the middle of the day, clothes for the night, an extra pair of socks and whatever else you may have for hunting.
5. Move to gear. This is all your hunting tools and equipment, such as your weapon, hunting knife, flashlight (with extra batteries), compass, scent-masking spray or cloth, first-aid kit, field-dressing kit, drag rope, food, bottled water, overnight equipment (if applicable), garbage bags, waterproof matches and anything else you think you could conceivably need.

Tips & Warnings

• Make photocopies of the list. You'll always have an available copy at hand.
• Pre-made lists are handy for reminders and suggestions, but you should not use them as your own because they are much too general. Everyone has individual needs.
• If there is a new addition to your hunting trip, remember to add its essential needs to your list.