Bowhunting with a backpack has become increasingly popular, especially since more and more archers are using saddle tactics. I used to be one of the few archers in our club who used a backpack because I always had two cameras, a tripod, and a host of other deer-calling gear. Saddle hunting gear has transformed mobility, especially on public land, and has made a backpack mandatory. It also magnifies the importance of having all of your gear and knowing exactly where it is.
Learning the Hard Way
It’s not only important to have your critical gear and know where it is, but to establish routines for which gear to use and when. A few years back I left elk camp in Idaho, climbed, crawled, and worked my way to a high ridge where I planned to watch a well-used wallow. Considerably out of breath, I took off my pack, nocked an arrow, and reached into my pack’s side pocket for my release. Dang! It wasn’t there, nor anywhere in my pack. I had little choice but to turn around and walk dejectedly back to camp. For rangefinders, releases, cocking ropes, knives, and other critical items, I’ve learned to always keep them in the same compartment and, in some cases, carry a spare.
Lay It All Out
Whenever I pack for a trip, I like to use a folding table and lay out all my gear, along with duplicates, so I can see I have everything I need. Once done, I load my pack and my hunting clothes. I establish the same routines for the zipper pockets of my hunting jacket and vest as I do for a backpack. If you often begin a hunt up a tree in the dark, you know how important these rituals become.
Do a Dry Run
My co-editor, Brian Kightlinger, has been conducting his 30-day single-shot routine to ensure his gear works perfectly in a range of realistic shooting situations. As you close in on opening day and your muscles are firm and your form consistent, taking one shot in a practice session is a great way to prep mentally and physically for the moment of truth.
