May 3, 2025 5 min read

By Dave Bates

For the Observer-Reporter

I’d like to blame my forgetfulness on my more frequently occurring senior moments. Unfortunately, they’ve been happening since the mid-1990s.

Early on in my archery days, I’d race home from school and grab my gear. I would pack up my clothes that were hanging out back to keep them scent free. I’d grab my bow and quiver and my pack and head out for my evening stand. It was usually about the time I would arrive at the base of the tree that I’d remember I had forgotten my finger tabs. In later years it would become my release that I forgot. Sometimes it would be my safety belt. It never mattered. It was always something vital, something I could not do without. Something to spoil the hunt.

Back to the truck I’d go or worse, back home to search for the missing piece of gear. It would usually put me far enough behind the eight ball that it ruined the evening’s hunt. Once or twice, I killed a decent buck as I hurried to my stand, late, but not out of the game completely for the evening.

In turkey season, I would forget my call or ammo. During pheasant season, it seemed it was always my license that was forgotten and I was so paranoid about meeting up with one of our game protectors sans my hunting license, that I’d go home and return late after retrieving my back tag. In deer season, especially on the coldest of days, I’d consistently forget my thermos of coffee or some much-needed hand warmers. Rest assured, it was always something that I’d prefer not to do without.

Somewhere around Y2K I began to wise up and solved my forgetfulness predicament. I began making lists.

I don’t just mean a post-it note to myself. We’re not even suggesting a grocery-type list that would include a few key items of importance. I’m talking about full-blown packing lists that would prevent disaster. Spreadsheets that included everything from boots to cap.

First off, it solved the problem of leaving some needed item back at home or in the truck. Secondly, it made preseason preparation much easier. I printed the list as plans were put in motion for the upcoming season. As I located each item on the list I would stow it away in one of my tubs or bins, and when my list had been entirely checked off, I kept the items in the bin unless they were being washed, descented or attended to in some other manner. But the system worked. I quit forgetting indispensable items and the routine would ensure a quality (and much more enjoyable) hunt. Yes, it bordered on Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, but it served the purpose. I stopped forgetting the requisite items and began to focus on the larger tasks at hand.

I also began to perform small rituals like making sure to strap my release onto my bow riser before coming down the tree each night. Never were the two separated again. Truck keys are always stowed in the right front trouser pocket. Always!

The magazine for my deer rifle is always to be found in my left front trouser pocket if it’s not in the rifle. My hunting license was semi-permanently affixed to my archery pack or my small game bag or my duck blind bag so as not to be left behind. It’s visible and always at my fingertips.

These days I almost laugh out loud at the attention to detail in which I immersed myself when it came to getting organized for hunting. Passionate might not be near strong enough a word to describe the attention to detail with which I engaged. But I started to take game more consistently. The bucks got consistently bigger. My dog began to work better when regularly prepared for our days afield. As I look back on that borderline maniacy in which I indulged, I think to myself, I’d do it all over again. I now recognize it for what it is – simple preparation. I did it when I coached and it paid off. I did it when I was consumed with a larger scale construction project and the building always turned out better because of the planning.

If you are thinking that things could go a little smoother in the outdoors next time you step back, I’d suggest making a list. You may not need to go into quite the detail I did, but then again, what do you have to lose?

Now, if I could just locate that list.

Dave Bates writes a weekly outdoors column for the Observer-Reporter. He can be reached at alphaomegashootingsolutions@gmail.com