I’m well underway in getting ready for next deer season. That’s because this year I refuse to be scrambling to get things ready just ahead of opening day. I know the next season is still eight months away, but every year I seem to be surprised with how much I need to accomplish and run desperately short of time getting everything ready. I may be an old dog, but I’m trying to learn new tricks.

Tip 1: Think it Over.
There’s an old adage about the “Seven P’s”—Proper Prior Planning Prevents ‘Pretty’ Poor Performance.” (There is usually a different word used for “Pretty,” but this is a family magazine.) My normal pattern is to think of things randomly throughout the year, immediately forget about them, and then never accomplish what needs to be done to be ready for hunting. This year I’ve been keeping a notebook handy and I’m writing down those random thoughts. In quiet times, I’m reviewing and organizing them into lists of things I need to do, learn, practice, and accomplish.

Tip 2: Understanding Right & Wrong.
This is not an examination of my individual moral code (although that can also be a useful personal examination), but rather a hard look at how I hunt versus how I should be hunting. From the basics—such as what firearm I use, what ammunition I choose, what gear I take with me, how I organize my pack, and what I eat and drink in the field—to where I hunt and all the tactics and techniques I use, from leaving my house until I get home, everything is being examined. For instance, I found six knives when I emptied my backpack after last season, in addition to the two I carried on my belt and one in my pocket. What was I thinking?

Tip 3: Get Started Today.
I am a world-class procrastinator, but some hunters have made me feel like I’m organizing NASA checklists. I once watched a hunter lose his mind because the big box outdoor store could not get his brand-new scope mounted on his brand-new rifle in time for him to use it at sunrise on opening day. This was at 8:30 p.m. the night before the opener. When you determine what needs to be done, get started today. A month before the season starts is not the time to get in shape, save for or order new gear, or find a location to hunt.

Tip 4: Clean, Maintain, and Organize.
Where is your gear from last season? This is the first year in memory where I unloaded, cleaned, and put away everything in an organized fashion. This let me discover things that needed to be repaired or replaced, and I learned that I had some unnecessary things (those knives!) or needed better or different things (my first aid kit needed upgrading).

Tip 5: The Gift of Time.
There is nothing I can buy that will make me a better hunter—but there are things that could make me more comfortable, make tasks easier, or maybe I just want them. If I start now, I’ve got plenty of time to save money, provide my family with a list of specific products I want for gifts, and get things ordered in time to learn how to use them.

Tip 6: What Makes a Hunter Better?
The same two things result in success in most aspects of life—knowledge and practice. I’m conducting a brutally honest review of my knowledge, skills, and abilities and developing a plan to improve whatever I can. It’s important to balance the theory and practice, combining knowledge and action. Think of someone who learns everything they can about firearms and shooting but has never actually put a hunting rifle to their shoulder and pulled the trigger; that first shot is going to be a different type of education.

We started with an adage—here’s another one that applies: Knowledge without action is a daydream, but action without knowledge is a nightmare. Get busy and get better. Now.