So You've Drawn a Hunting Tag, Now What?

Whether you are a seasoned hunter or as green as they come, there is no denying the excitement that comes with drawing a hunting tag. It’s a feeling of relief and anticipation for what’s to come. Receiving your ticket to the funhouse doesn’t guarantee success, though.

The game has just started and you’re going to have to pay a healthy price of admission to get the most out of your hunt. This is a price newer hunters especially aren’t familiar with, but I’m going to lay out the chips for them.

As someone who has shaped their entire life around hunting, the process of what to do after drawing a tag is one I exercise often. From e-scouting to taking care of home life, I’m going to break down this process I’ve become so familiar with through the years. With any hope, it’ll provide you with some direction for your upcoming hunts.

E-Scouting

The moment I find out I draw a tag, especially if it’s in a place I’ve never been, I immediately start the e-scouting process. E-scouting is something that honestly wasn’t a thing when I was a kid. Nowadays, though, it’s pretty incredible how prepared e-scouting can make a hunter before they even step foot out of the truck. The resources are fine-tuned and you are making a mistake if you’re not taking advantage of e-scouting.

Digital Mapping

One of the biggest resources we have for our e-scouting efforts is digital mapping. Software tailored to hunters like onXmaps is a game changer and can make walking into an unfamiliar area not so unfamiliar when you get there. I do everything from researching road conditions and wind directions to measuring out hikes and marking waypoints for glassing spots, potential bedding, water, etc.

Without getting too much in the weeds, where you research areas is going to be dependent on the style of hunt you’re looking to do as well as the species you’re hunting and time of year. In terms of style, I’m mainly referring to whether you are looking to do a backpack hunt or setting up a truck camp and satelliting out. Obviously, for a backpack-style hunt, you’re going to want big chunks of roadless country to walk into. Wilderness areas are the no-brainer option, but I wouldn’t overlook just public land with no roads. These areas get overlooked and can often be the ticket to getting away from people.

The elevation that animals will hang out at can fluctuate throughout the season. A classic example is summer range vs. winter range for mule deer/elk. Use that as a starting point to narrow down the right elevation to start at and build from there. And it’s a dang fine idea to have multiple options in terms of spots to hunt. You never know when you’ll encounter thick hunting pressure.

Weather

Something else to look into is the weather. Now, nobody can control Mother Nature, but I do think it’s valuable to have somewhat of an idea of the kind of weather you’ll likely encounter.

This can help with deciding on what kind of gear to bring along on your trip. Things like what degree sleeping bag and the clothing layers you plan on wearing. Are you going to bring insulated boots or non-insulated boots? These are decisions that can sometimes fly under the “radar.” Try researching historic weather in the nearest towns to where you’re hunting. That should provide a good starting point.

Your Hunting Unit

It can sound daunting to start from scratch in a brand-new hunting area. From the ground floor, along with general map research, a quick Google search on your hunting unit can provide some tidbits of information. Don’t expect a pin to be dropped on where the critters are hanging out, but general information like roads, trails, wilderness areas, campgrounds, etc. can be found on websites like hunting forums for instance. Even if the information is 10 years old, it’s still information that you didn’t have beforehand.

If you can get boots-on-the-ground scouting in, this will pay off massively. A harder endeavor when hunting out of state, but if you can swing it, swing on. No time spent in a unit is time wasted.

Physical Preparation

Specifically for western hunts, if you aren’t paying attention to your physical fitness, then you are doing your hunt a disservice. The Western United States will kick your butt seven ways from Sunday if you aren’t ready for it. So, in order to get the most out of your hunt, you better be willing to break a sweat ahead of time. Getting in shape for a Western hunt doesn’t mean you need to turn into a gym rat by any means. It does mean that you need to care though. Western hunting often involves a lot of ascending and descending on uneven terrain and can mean doing so with heavy weight on your back. You want to be able to go and stop as little as possible. So, first and foremost, you’re going to want to pay attention to endurance. Western hunting is an endurance game.

You need to be strong as well so that you don't fall apart out there and avoid injury. Leg strength, core strength, and back strength should all have your attention.

I’m far from a trainer, but the main ways I get ready for hunting season are through trail running, hiking with a heavy backpack, and HIIT work. This combination of 3-5 days a week has served me well and taken me all over the West with success.

Dialing in Your Gear

Ah, gear. Who doesn’t love a good chat about the tools of the trade? Right on the surface we need to touch on shooting and your weapon. In the end, you are the one who sends an arrow or bullet, but if your equipment is not up to snuff, then you may be flirting with disaster and heartbreak. For this reason, it’s imperative that you spend the necessary time to make sure you’re dialed as well as your weapon. Inspect from top to bottom to uncover any potential problems like loose screws or a cracked limb on a bow. And of course, be on the money with your sight-in/zero.

Aside from your weapon, it’s also important to familiarize yourself with any new gear you acquire. Things like backpacks, stoves, tents, etc. Know how to use these things properly.

Setting up a tent is a great example. Fiddling with a tent that you don’t know how to pitch during a rainstorm is just a dumb idea. And getting an animal on the ground without knowing how to properly use your backpack to handle such things is also not smart. I’ve seen both. Know before you go.

Home Life

Preparing for an upcoming hunt is not just about the hunting part. It’s also about making sure things are taken care of at home. For the single folks out there, this means things like making sure work life is dialed and potentially lining out a sitter for a dog or cat. For the family folks work life is also important, but so is prioritizing time with your family before you go. Make sure that the house is in order before your departure. I like to try and give my wife the least amount of chores possible pre-hunt to make her life easier when I’m gone.

Planning a post-hunt vacation is always nice too. The goal here is not just to show up for your loved ones, but to eliminate any potential distractions when you’re in the field. This will allow you to truly enjoy yourself as well as focus on the task at hand.

Do the Work

It’s safe to say that all of us want to have a good hunt. If you are someone who wants to up your chances of success and get the absolute most out of your hunt, then you need to be willing to do the work. That right there is what separates the consistently successful from the not. It’s the work ahead of time. Dedication will always prove out.

Remember, there are only so many tags drawn in a person’s life. Make the very most out of each one. Good luck out there.

---