opening day smart strategies for your best hunting season yet identify hot spots with early scouting and pinch points make sure you have a camera on that spot preferably cellular reinforce that route and use a camera to pattern your buck scout your buck from a distance use morning as a chance to dial in your evening setup observe your buck well away from the food source and track his entry point into cover set up a stand downwind of that entry point and catch him on his way out for his evening meal hunt water while the weather is warm warm weather early in the season will put a premium on getting a drink • maximize water by planting forage around • hang multiple stands so you can avoid bumping deer off their main food source and keep yourself downwind of them have a plan and stick to it • mark your route into your stand with reflective tacks or flagging tape so you get in quickly and quietly food and water decide your standard for what to shoot before opening morning - debating in the moment could cost you your best chance of the season packing your bag approaching the pre-rut harvesting does early few things are more important to your hunt than having the right know the pain of getting all the way out to their spot and then physically mark off as you pack your gear the pre-rut provides an opportunity to this time to learn the buck's patterns as he moves between his bedding spot and favorite feeding area - but keep your distance and while the buck is still in a routine and use this opportunity to catch him lazy before his hormones kick in there are several reasons to harvest does early early in the season can take some pressure off and build confidence going into chasing bucks during the rut stand gear list ez hanger binos and rangefinder treestand harness wind checker pull-up rope water bottle knife archery release or extra ammo headlamp
