Preparing for a multi-day hunt

Blacktail deer seasons have been going on for over two months now. As we work into October, the deer move out of the alpine and drop into the timber. This can be one of the more difficult times to target blacktails as they hide in the thick vegetation and haven’t started to rut. Another few weeks and the bucks will start chasing does, making the hunting more exciting and fast-paced. This is something I look forward to whenever I get the opportunity.

I’ll be hunting deer during the rut this year on one of the islands in Prince William Sound. I spent five days hunting out of the same public use cabin two years ago. Three of us harvested four bucks in the short weather windows that we had on that trip. Three of us will be returning this year and we’re hoping for similar success.

Now is the time to prepare gear for the trip. Part of the fun on going on an extended trip is the planning. I enjoy finding everything I need that has been strewn around the house over the last year. If I don’t start now, it’ll be a mad scramble in the couple of days prior to the trip.

I’ll slowly start organizing equipment and clothes in my spare room and marking them off of my list. I’ll find new items I need to purchase, like Paracord, ammunition and food.

I’ll go through my clothing, cleaning garments that are dirty from moose season, washing and waterproofing my rain gear and working conditioner into my leather boots.

I dehydrate my own meals and I create an Excel spreadsheet of the different breakfasts, lunches, dinners, snacks and drinks that I’ll need to create and pack.

One major addition that makes my life easier are my Alaska Gear Co. dri pods. In different sizes, these bags will help me to keep my clothing and gear organized and clean. I can put all of my food in one, my clothes in a couple of others and toiletries and electronics in some of the smaller ones.

I’m excited to make this trip happen. I’m still juggling bags, rifle cases and storage totes. It’s always difficult trying to consolidate gear into as few bags as possible for the flight there with the plan of flying back with meat and antlers. We’ll see what kind of gear explosion and yard sale my spare room will look like and how upset my wife will be…