Being ready is not the same as being prepared!

Taking what you need is worth the extra time to pack!

Hunting season to some is more than just going out for the trophy, it is also being in the company of like minded friends. A check list – binoculars, rifle

scope mounting, rifle scope, rifle, ammo, sleeping bag, warm socks etc. The most important hunting gear you can take is getting your mind prepared. Yes the equipment is important, knowing your limits is more important. On the news yesterday some hunters needed to be rescued, yeah I know you are thinking bunch of guys had too much to drink and got lost. I guess a lot of times this is the case. In this case it was not being prepared. They went in to the high country and bad weather moved in. Fortunately they came out all right this is now always the case. I live in Colorado and the saying here is if you don’t like the weather now wait five minutes. It will change and that is not far from fact. In the summer you go hiking in the early morning and get off the mountains by 2 pm after that the chance of a storm with lighting is likely. In the winter it can be sunny, clear and warm one minute and then, blizzard conditions move in.

Binoculars, rifle scopes, range finders no matter how much they cost are going to get you out safely if you get stuck in the high country. You can have all the latest and greatest hunting gear available, but if you don’t have a plan, well you get the point. I remember a news story about some hunters that came from Chicago to Colorado to hunt in October, which can be a beautiful month. They went in to the high country near Glenwood Springs with a brand new Cadillac, went hunting in style. I remember the news cast they where lucky they did have most of the hunting gear they needed to keep warm, they just where not prepared. A big snow storm came in lasted a couple of days and left about 5 to 6 foot of snow.

When it cleared a search and rescue went out for them, they where found and air lifted out, BUT the gentle mans Cadillac was in there until the spring thaw. Must have hurt to make payments on a new car that was frozen in the high country.

Being ready is not the same as being prepared! I like to scuba dive also and one thing that is always stressed is, have a dive plan and dive the plan. Now you can plan all you want but some times things do go wrong, but if you have the right plan you can minimize any problems that arise. The right hunting gear to take with you when hunting is a plan. Remember you have a loaded weapon, take your time know what you are aiming at. Have a great time come, home safe enjoy the outdoors and I hope you get your trophy or at the least some great stories.