Preparing for your hunt

Be in shape – Other than our private ranch hunts we strongly recommend you start exercising several months before your hunt. One thing I would recommend is to exercise with wearing as much of your hunting gear on as possible. The biggest mistake I hear when our clients are exercising they are wearing lightweight tennis shoes, shorts and tank tops. Then when they come out to hunt they are generally going to be wearing a couple layers of clothing, heavy hiking boots, a day pack loaded with gear and water, and carrying a rifle or bow. All of this can add an extra 25 to 50 pounds of weight your body is not used to carrying. Also all this clothing and gear will constrict your movement and throw you off balance while hiking on uneven terrain.

The best exercise I can recommend is to put on long pants, long sleeve shirt, your hiking boots and your day pack with gear in it. Then find somewhere you can walk on an incline and decline, such as a set of bleachers, a flight of stairs, up and down a hill or a treadmill. If possible you can carry your weapon or something that would simulate your weapon such as a 4ft long 2x4. Remember the better shape you can be in will increase your odds of being successful.

Sighting in your weapon

Rifle – We recommend that your rifle be sighted in at 3 inches high at 100 yards and a 3 shot 1 inch group. Practice shooting in different positions. Don’t shoot from just a bench. One thing you can do is get your heart rate up by jogging in place and then shoot from a knee or standing to simulate shooting at an animal while you were hiking up a hill. Another one is to lie in the prone position and use your day pack to rest your rifle on.

Bow – Bow hunters want to be comfortable and accurate shooting out to a minimum of 40 yards. You will want to practice shooting from your knees as well as standing. Also shoot from steep up and down angles. Practice holding your bow at full draw for long periods of time (1 to 2 minutes) then aim and release the arrow.

Travel

Bear Hunts• Whitetail Deer Hunts • Mountain Lion Hunts

• Flying in- you will want to arrive and depart from the Missoula International Airport. Once your flight schedule has been made we will help you make arrangements for a shuttle from and to the airport.
• Driving in- if you are driving in, you will want to drive to the Lodge at LoLo Hot Springs.

Their address is
38600 Highway 12 West
LoLo, Montana 59847

Back-country Horseback Bear, Elk Hunts

• Flying in - you will want to arrive and depart from the Missoula International Airport. Once your flight schedule has been made we will help you make arrangements for a shuttle from and to the airport.
• Driving in – after you have your hunt dates and schedule we will send you detailed driving directions to the trail-head.

Hunting Gear Checklist

Clothing: (no noisy type clothing, layer system of clothing)

• Wool pants & shirts
• Camouflage clothing
• Thermal base layer
• Vest
• Warm socks (smart wool type)
• Waterproof hunting boots
• Insulated hat
• Insulated gloves
• Rain gear (non-noisy)
• Hunter Orange (rifle hunters only, 400 sq. inches)

Miscellaneous Gear:

• Seeping bag (0 degree rated, tent camp hunts only, sleeping bag not needed on lodge hunt)
• Day pack
• Weapon (rifle flip-up style scope covers)
• Ammo
• Tags & Licenses
• Camera
• Knife
• Binoculars
• Matches, Lighter
• Head lamp
• Extra batteries
• Water bottle
• Toiletries
• Special medicines
• Game bags

• For tent camp hunts pack your gear in a couple medium size duffle bags with a total weight limit of no more than 75lbs.