Opening day is fast approaching here in Minnesota. Deer season is a little over two weeks away on Sept. 13. Now is the time to prepare your gear and make sure everything’s in working order so you can go out into the woods knowing your bow and accessories are performing at maximum potential. Review our gear prep list, below, to make sure you have everything checked off before your first hunt on opening day.
Tune Your Bow
First and foremost, you want to make sure your bow is properly tuned. If you’ve been practicing with your bow during the off season, you’ve likely already noticed anything that needs fixing and have already taken the steps to get it tuned. If you’re bringing your bow out of storage after not touching it since the close of last season, take it to your local archery shop and get a check-up. Look for signs that the strings are fraying. Bowstrings become dangerous when they are frayed, because they can snap at any moment, so make sure you’re double-checking for signs of wear and tear.
Check Your Draw Weight
If you’ve been practicing at the range all summer, or you’ve been lifting weights and conducting other strength exercises to tone your arm and back muscles, you might have gone up in draw weight since last season. Go to your local shop and have them re-test your draw weight to see if they need to change the poundage. Remember: An ideal draw weight is one that you can hold at full draw comfortably. If there are any signs of shaking, the draw weight is too heavy and the shaking will throw off your aim.
Check Your Broadheads
Check to make sure you have enough broadheads. Did you lose any during the last season or dull any to the point that they won’t be affective anymore? Go to your local shop to restock and check out the new models from this year.
Prep Your Stump Blind
If you haven’t already set up your Stump blind, you should do that now before the season opens to give deer time to acclimate. Make sure that your blind is stocked with the accessories you’ll need: a Stump Green Light, M360 Chair, Multi-Function Hand Warmers, and Storage Shelf. If you’re hunting on public land, check the local regulations to verify the rules about leaving your blind on public land. Some public lands require you to remove your blind at the end of every day, but other public lands will allow you to leave the blind constructed as long as you understand that it is public property and anyone can use it. If you’re hunting on this type of public land, make sure you secure your blind with a Locking Door Handle. The handle comes with two keys so you can keep one and give one to your hunting partner.
Opening day will be here before you know it. Make sure you have your gear and Banks Outdoors accessories prepped and ready to go before the season opens. Going in prepared will make your first hunt of the season stress-free and organized, as it should be.
How do you prep your gear in the off season to prepare for a smooth opening day hunt? Let us know in the comments below!
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