by: Cody FongemieFor many of us who call the Eastern United States home, hunting often means heading out to familiar spots each fall. Whether to deer woods, duck blinds, or locations passed down through generations. We’ve honed our techniques, know the right time to be there, and have the right gear for the job. But…

As part of our ongoing efforts to protect wildlife and ensure the survival of mule deer, we ask for your cooperation in respecting the winter range closures and restrictions that are in place during their critical winter survival period.  Shed hunting is becoming a larger recreational pastime and it can be tempting to go out early especially as the weather gets better. However, the Mule Deer Foundation urges you to wait because now is an important time for mule deer and other wildlife trying to survive the last bits of winter. Late spring is when they are in the worst shape they will be in all year and any extra energy expenditure can be life threatening.

You have just finished a grueling day in the backcountry looking for Muleys. To the west, you see the sun setting. It’s time to make your way back to the truck, so you grab your GPS.  You instantly know something is wrong as your thumb goes across the screen. It’s smashed!

At the end of a long season, I usually toss my gear into my garage, where it sits for a bit. It used to sit there until the next season, but a few years ago, life got busy, and I found myself scrambling the night before the opener. After that experience, I realized that this time of year is the perfect time to do a deep gear breakdown and maintenance.  

The long hike made his pulse jump. He gasped for air like he was making hook shots at the basketball court, and his ego was still in a relatively positive place. Last night, he slept in his truck at a trailhead below; the tight space gave him a crick in his neck. He took a minute now to check the GPS on his phone; he still had a quarter mile further to go before cresting out. Back on his feet, he took a long pull from the rubber hose over his shoulder and got back to it, headlamp beam bouncing out ahead. Mentally, he was humming along to KC and the Sunshine Band, a song he didn’t want in his head but wouldn’t go away, and as the chorus played over and over, he crested the bowl at 9,300 feet. 

It’s the little stuff like this that’s going to keep you in the field longer.  Foot care is Paramount, especially if you’re heading into the foothills of the Rockies to chase after a Muley. You’ll need to put some miles on, and if your boots aren’t in tip-top shape, you’re setting yourself up for failure.  So take the time now to clean your boots and do what maintenance is necessary. The reward? A comfortable, pain-free adventure when you head out to the mountain this fall.