By now the draw results are out and you know what tags you got for this fall. Now is the time to start planning and preparing for the season.

Naturally, that includes getting your camping and hunting equipment cleaned up and ready to roll, sighting in your rifle and looking at some maps.

The one thing I see people overlook every year is planning to have the time to be a successful hunter. I have read lots of books, watched lots of videos, and talked to lots of successful hunters. The common thread in all of the advice I have gotten over the years is that quality time in the field is the biggest indicator of success.

Weddings, funerals, sports, house and work projects all can hamstring your hunting season. After my thoughtless brother planned his wedding right in the middle of deer season, I learned my lesson. When my son did the wedding thing, I explained very firmly, but gently, that September through November were off-limits if he expected me to be there.

Whether you need to bank some paid time off or wheel and deal with your boss or co-workers, start planning now to be able to take plenty of time off work to have a successful season.

One hunter I know quit his job because he won a Dall’s sheep hunt and his boss wouldn’t give him the time off to go. Hopefully, you don’t need to be that extreme.

Get your projects at work and at home in line so that you don’t have them hanging over your head when you should be out chasing elk. You don’t want to be fixing the trailer lights at 11 p.m. when you should be out at camp.

Start saving the money you’re going to need for food, gas, or to pay your bills while you’re hunting and not working. I just listened to an interview with a famous hunter who said that early in his career he went a little crazy at Cabela’s buying all the latest and greatest stuff, and when fall rolled around he couldn’t afford to go hunting with all that new gear.

Right now it seems like hunting season is a long way off. You have plenty of time to get ready, but hunting seasons are short. If you don’t plan now to maximize your time, you will regret it when you miss out on the few hunting days you have this fall.

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