The general hunting season may be over now, but, as most hunters know, the hunting-related activities don’t stop at sunset on the last day. Besides trying to get out for the final days of bird hunting and shoulder-season elk or deer hunting (if we’re lucky enough to have a tag), we have a long post-hunting season checklist of to-dos that include the following:
Clean Guns/Bows
Depending on how many days you hunted and the type of weather you were in, your gun/bow may be in need of a little TLC. Take some time to clean, oil, wipe down, or perform any necessary maintenance on your bows and firearms so they can continue to serve you well.
Repair or Replace Damaged Gear
It seems like every year my husband and I have something that breaks or gets worn out—shooting sticks, hunting boots, game bags—the list goes on. Now is the time to replace those damaged items (or put them on your Christmas list!). Don’t wait until right before next hunting season when the gear you need may be in high demand and out of stock.
Clean Out the Hunting Pack
So much to do here. Start by emptying it completely and have a pen and paper handy.
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- Write down items that need to be restocked, such as hand warmers, TP, and flagging tape.
- Remove hunting snacks—even the energy bars that we all tend to assume will last forever (because a three-year-old bar becomes stale and hard and does NOT make a nice snack when you’re cold and hungry in the woods—trust me on this).
- Clean the hunting pack. Blood should be removed sooner than later. This article by Muley Freak provides some helpful pack cleaning tips.
- Go through your first-aid kit and trash anything that’s expired, such as pills or ointments. Add those items to your restock list.
- If you use a Camelbak, don’t forget to clean and dry it out.
Clean and Sharpen Knives
Have your knives ready to go for next time by spending a little time cleaning and sharpening them. If you have a knife that uses replaceable blades, be sure that you have an adequate supply of those, as well.
Related: Knives We Love
Sew, Wash, and Store Hunting Clothes
We like to wash our hunting clothes separately from street clothes, using scent-removing detergent. Our favorite is Code Blue scent elimination laundry detergent. Once they’re washed, we air dry them on a rack in our basement room (making sure the doors stay closed), then place them in an airtight bin to keep any unwanted smells away. Sew up any rips before washing.
Suspend Emergency Communicator Subscription
Many hunters who have an SOS alert system such as InReach enable the the satellite communication system only during hunting season in order to save money. If that’s you, don’t forget to cancel your subscription until next season.
Buy Out-of-state Tags
Thinking about hunting in another state next year? Don’t think about it too long, if so. Out-of-state tags go on sale sooner than you think and can sell out super fast. Do your research and planning well in advance.
Make the Most of Your Harvest
Maybe you have all the butchering/processing done by now, or maybe you’re like us, with bags of meat in the freezer left to grind and turn into burger or sausage. And if you were fortunate enough to bring home a nice set of antlers with all the meat, you’ll want to either get it to the taxidermy or get to work on a DIY mount.
Related: Pros and Cons of Butchering Your Own Game
Take Notes
What went well and what didn’t this season? What kind of movement did you observe in your hunting spots? Write notes to yourself in your hunting journal and be sure to calendar reminders for any landowners you’d like to contact for reservations on BMAs or private land next season.
Hunting season may have ended, but next year’s success starts now. If you have any post-hunting season checklist items to add, please feel free to comment below.