#5  Tree Stand Inspections-Every year in late August, around the time I put my fall plots in, I do a complete inspection of every tree stand and ground blind set that I have.  I make sure all the climbing sticks and the stands are tight and secure.  While going up the stand, and while in the stand, I’ll listen for any squeaks or weird noises being made on the bark as I shift my weight.  Do a complete check of all your shooting lanes and trim any branches or new growth that may have crept in since you last cleared those lanes.  Mimic shooting and drawing your bow making sure no overhead branches will be in the way.  I always carry hooks for my pack and bow during the season, but this would also be a good time to install those if you have plenty for each set.  Also at this time, I’ll hang a full tree length harness rope so that I am protected as soon as I leave the ground.  I pull these 25-foot harness ropes at the end of each season to keep them in good condition.  My ground blinds are also inspected for much of the same…shooting lanes, squeaky parts, and I put in my seats at this time. 

#4  Prepare Your Entrance and Exit Routes-Nothing will end your hunt sooner than having a botched entrance to your stand.  Exiting poorly after a hunt can have much the same effect.  Snapping twigs, clanking your equipment on branches, or making a lot of noise walking through brush will hamper your ability to sneak in and out.  You will leave a ton of scent behind too if your path is full of brush and green grass and weeds.  If possible, keep your paths to and from sets clean and clear of everything.  I mow mine in late August and mow a path right to the tree if I can.  If not, I’ll spray herbicide on the path.  The goal is to keep the path as clean and quiet as possible.  A pitch fork works good for cleaning small twigs and branches from the path.  August is the last time I’ll enter my farms to do this kind of work.  It is as close as I can get to season opener without having it too close.  Where to locate your entrance and exit routes is a whole strategy in and of itself.  But in short, keep them in areas where you can use them without bumping deer! 

#3  Buy Your Fall Plot Seed-If you plan to put in some fall food plots at the end of August or early September (that’s the time frame I recommend) you should start early with seed procurement.  I buy most of my winter rye directly from farmers and want to make sure my order is in before it’s sold out.  Some of my other food plot seed I order and have delivered right to my door.  Along with seed, I’ll make sure my fertilizer is in the shop and ready to go.  I want my seed and fertilizer ready so that when planting conditions are right, I don’t have to scramble to get them in.  The last thing you want is to have to run around for a couple days looking for seed or fertilizer when you just missed that late summer rain doing so.  Get your seed and fertilizer ready, so that you’re prepared when mother nature gives the green light.

#2  Clean Your Clothes and Equipment-Don’t wait for the night before opener, start a month early when cleaning your clothes and equipment.  I use perfume and dye free laundry detergent on all my hunting clothes and accessories.  It’s also at this time that I’ll start separating my “street” clothes out from the laundry that might get mixed in with everything else to make sure it is also washed perfume and dye free.  If possible, hang your clothes to dry outside a few days to remove any unnatural scents.  I also wash the inside and outside of all my boots each year and then store them outside up to and during hunting season.  Don’t forget to clean things like the strap on your release, or the chairs you’ll use in your blinds if they’ve been exposed to human type scents.  I clean everything and anything I’ll take in the woods.  Once I’m sure it is completely dry and as scent free as I can get it, I’ll store it all in plastic totes.  I sprinkle baking soda on my clothes too while in the totes.  Every piece of clothing that touches my skin gets rewashed and dried during the hunting season.  Hang your clothes and equipment outside in fresh air as much as you can.  You will never eliminate all your scent, but you can reduce it and how much you leave behind each time you hunt by keeping your stuff as clean as you can.

#1  Practice Your Shooting-With modern archery equipment, it is reasonable that many hunters can start shooting their bows in August and be very proficient by season opener.  Many hunters shoot year-round which one could argue is even better.  I’ll start each year some time in summer, but for sure by August.  I’ll shoot many arrows at first to build up the muscles that are needed to draw and hold steady…but I do take my time making sure to practice good form, anchoring, and follow through.  After only a week or two, my regiment in training my body and eyes for aiming at live animals changes.  For starters, I’ll move the target back to 40, 50, or even 60 yards.  Even though I have no intentions of ever shooting that far at a whitetail, the longer distances train my body and eyes to focus better.  I’ll also start to limit the time I can hold and aim mimicking a shot that needs to take place in a quick moment.  Then…I’ll pull and hold aiming for a minute or longer mimicking a scenario where that happens in the real world.  I’ll practice crouched down, turning aggressively to the left or right.  I’ll shoot sitting down, and on my knees.  I’ll practice with a face mask on.  I’ll practice at last light, and with the setting sun in my eyes.  Practicing from a horizontal position and from a raised tree stand is also a good idea.  By hunting season, you should be able to draw, aim, and shoot from any position.  Lastly, practice aiming for the heart…this one change in how I aim at live animals has drastically changed how likely I am in having a perfect hit compared to a marginal one.    There are other important things to consider when getting ready for archery season opener.  These year in and year out are my top 5!