In all my years of hunting, preparation seems to be the one thing that makes them the most successful. For this tip of the month, I'd like to "focus" on preparing for the hunt, post hunting techniques for clothing and gear and planning for next year's hunts.

Have you ever been out in the woods and forget your release, safety strap or shells? Did you ever get to your tree and notice that your sight pin was bent or broken? Did the temperature ever drop 20 degrees on you in an hour while on stand and begin to snow? Did you ever slip and fall into a creek and soak your clothes up to the knee?

During the hunting season, we usually are so wound up about getting out in the woods that we forget certain key things that allow us to be successful. The issues I mention above are real they?have happened to me and it makes for a long day. The key is to hunt safe and not impact your success with outside issues.

• Clothing: Wash your clothes and store them in a scent free bag. Use scent control spray on boots, clothing and packs before you enter the woods. Dress at the car if at all possible to keep your scent down to a minimum. An old rug or door mat works great for standing on. Keep an extra set of pants, socks, shoes and jacket in your vehicle for emergencies. If you are hunting far from your vehicle, bring along a fanny pack or back pack with these items. Take along a snack (power bars work great and never expire), an extra shirt and some water. It will make it easier in the long run.
  
• Accessories: Make sure you have the essentials for your hunt. A flashlight or headlamp, cell phone, safety harness, hoist line, a drag rope, a set of gloves for field dressing and a sharp knife are key. Depending on the weather, heat packs also are a must for cold weather. Good headgear and boots also allow for a more comfortable time in the woods. Make sure that if you have to stand, keep off of rocks or metal or insulate on the bottom of your rubber boots so you won?t transfer the cold into your feet. Keep them in your backpack or fanny pack.
  
• Safety: If you hunt alone, always let someone know where you will be and when you will be returning. I use my cell phone?s text messaging to let friends and family know I got to the stand safely and that I got out OK or I harvested an animal.
  
• Equipment: After the season is over, thoroughly check and clean all your gear and store it for the long haul (unless you plan to shoot throughout the year). I usually keep shooting my bow on and off for the entire year but my shotguns and muzzleloader are used seasonally. During the offseason, it?s a good time to try out a new sight, arrow rest, replace your strings on your bow. It?s also important to have it tuned before the next season starts to ensure that nothing will impede your shooting. If you want to try out a new scope on your shotgun or muzzleloader, now?s the time to get it setup and sighted in. Don?t wait until the week before the season begins to get it setup. Don?t forget your tree stands too. They need to be cleaned, adjusted and checked for damage or loose parts. I also use mats or pieces of rug on them to quiet them down and keep my feet warmer. Replace them as needed. Use duct tape to quiet down any metal parts that rub together.
  
• Inventory: I also perform an inventory of all my gear and make a list of what I need to replace or replenish for next season. That way I?ll be able to pick up items on sale or special during the year at various shows and events that take place.
  
• Scouting and Off Season Tips: Spend the off season planning your next year?s hunt by scouting and taking note of game patterns. Shed hunting is also advised since you may find out that the big buck you saw in September is still around. If you are hunting the same locations during turkey season as you are for whitetails, use that time to check for sign, sheds, mast crops and other food sources. A notebook helps with keeping track of this information for reference later.

I know you all have your own little tricks and tips as well so please send them in and we can share them with the rest of the NJ-Hunter team. Thanks for visiting the site and shoot straight and often.

Pete Graziano
NJ-Hunter.com Pro-Staff
UBNJ Northern Regional Vice President