Hunt Planning Checklist: Timelines, Permits & Scouting Strategies
"You don't need permission to belong in the wild. You just need a plan."
I still remember the first time I stood alone at the trailhead before first light — my pack on my back, my tag in my pocket, and the mountain in front of me. No one had handed me a roadmap. I had learned by doing, by messing up, by reading every piece of paper I could find, and by asking questions until people got tired of me asking.
That was over 26 years ago.
Today, I get to be the person who hands you the roadmap.
"Hunting is not just a sport to me. It is a practice — ancient, sacred, deeply connected to the land and to who we are as human beings."
For women especially, stepping into that world for the first time (or even the fifth time) can feel overwhelming. The regulations. The permits. The gear. The physical preparation. The cultural weight of walking into a space that hasn't always made us feel welcome.
But here's what I know after a quarter century in the field: you are capable, you are welcome, and you belong here.This post is my gift to you — a thorough, honest, practical checklist to plan your hunt from start to finish.
Let's get into it.
The Foundation: Start With Your "Why"
Before you ever open a regulation booklet or log into an online draw system, you need to know one thing: what are you hunting, and where?
This sounds obvious, but I've watched so many new hunters get lost because they tried to plan without a clear target. Your answers to these two questions determine everything else:
Species — deer, elk, antelope, turkey, black bear, waterfowl, upland birds?
Location — your home state, a western draw state, public land, private land, guided or DIY?
Once you know those two things, every other piece of this checklist falls into place.
12 Months Out: Research Season
For any species that requires a draw tag — which includes elk, antelope, moose, sheep, goat, and many deer tags in western states — your planning horizon is a full year, sometimes longer.
Research Your State's Draw System
Every state manages wildlife differently. Some use a preference point system (you accumulate points each year you don't draw), others use bonus points, and some are straight random draws. Understanding how your state works will help you decide when and where to apply.
States with preference or bonus point systems include:
Colorado (Preference Points)
Wyoming (Preference Points)
Montana (Bonus Points)
Utah (Bonus Points)
Nevada (Bonus Points)
Idaho (No point system — random draw)
Arizona (Bonus Points)
Start at your state's Fish and Wildlife Agency website. Download the current regulation booklet. Yes, the whole thing. Print it if you need to. Highlight the sections that apply to your target species.
Create an Application Calendar
Draw deadlines are not forgiving. Miss one and you wait another year. Pull out a calendar right now and mark:
License purchase open dates
Draw application deadlines (often January–April depending on state/species)
Draw result dates
Tag mailing or digital availability dates
Season open and close dates
License renewal deadlines for resident/non-resident status
9–10 Months Out: Apply for Tags and Licenses
Purchase a Hunting License
In most states, you must hold a valid hunting license before you can apply for a draw tag. Licenses are often tied to the calendar year (January–December), so time your purchase accordingly.
What you'll typically need:
State-issued photo ID or driver's license
Social Security Number (for identity verification in most systems)
Hunter Education Certificate Number — if this is your first license, you must complete a hunter education course first (more on this below)
Credit card for online purchase
Hunter Education — Non-Negotiable
If you are new to hunting, hunter education is required in all 50 states before you can purchase your first license. And even if you've been hunting for years, I recommend revisiting these courses — they are richer than many people expect.
Hunter education covers:
Safe firearm/archery handling
Wildlife identification
Ethics and fair chase
Conservation history and law
Field dressing and meat care basics
First aid and wilderness safety
Many states now offer an online/home study option with a one-day field day to complete your certification. Visit ihea-usa.org to find your state's certified course. (I actually teach Hunter Education in Washington State and would be more than happy to answer questions. I also will post what courses I teach on my website and instagram.)
Submit Your Draw Applications
When applying for draw tags:
Read the regulation booklet section for your target unit carefully.
Choose your Game Management Unit (GMU) or hunt unit — this requires scouting research (more below).
Decide between first, second, and third choice applications if the system allows multiple selections.
Apply for point-only if the unit you want is highly competitive and you need to build preference points.
Keep your confirmation number. Screenshot everything.
Pro tip: For your first few years, I recommend targeting over-the-counter (OTC) tags that don't require a draw at all. Many states offer general season deer and elk tags that can be purchased directly. This gets you into the field while you build points for more competitive units.
6–9 Months Out: Unit Selection and Early Scouting
How to Choose a Hunt Unit
Choosing the right unit is one of the most important decisions you'll make. Here's my process:
Step 1: Pull harvest statistics. State agencies publish annual harvest reports showing harvest success rates, number of animals harvested, and average hunter days per animal. These are publicly available and absolutely invaluable.
Step 2: Evaluate access. Is the unit primarily public land or private? If public, is it managed BLM, National Forest, or state land? How far is it from a trailhead? Is there road access for packing out meat?
Step 3: Look at terrain. Pull up onX Hunt, GoHunt, HuntStand, Google Earth, or CalTopo and study the topography. Where is the water? Where are the food sources? What is the elevation range? Does the terrain match your physical fitness level?
Step 4: Talk to a biologist. Every state wildlife agency has regional biologists assigned to specific units. Call them. Introduce yourself. Tell them you're a new hunter, tell them what species you're after, and ask for their honest assessment of the unit. In my experience, biologists are generous with their time and genuinely want hunters to succeed.
Begin Digital Scouting
You don't have to set foot on the ground to start scouting. Digital scouting in the off-season is one of the most underused tools available to new hunters.
Tools I use:
onX Hunt — overlays land ownership, GMU boundaries, and topographic data on satellite imagery. Worth every penny of the subscription.
Go Hunt — overlays land ownership, GMU boundaries, and topographic data on satellite imagery. Worth every penny of the subscription.
Google Earth Pro (free desktop download) — use the historical imagery feature to see how vegetation and terrain change across seasons.
CalTopo — excellent for route planning and slope angle analysis, especially for mountain hunts.
HuntWise — integrates weather, wind, moon phase, and solunar data with mapping.
What to look for:
Bench areas and saddles where animals move between drainages
South-facing slopes that hold warmth and early green-up (great for early season)
North-facing slopes with dense timber for bedding cover
Water sources, especially in arid units
Transition zones where two habitat types meet (edge habitat)
Historical migration corridors visible in terrain features
4–6 Months Out: Boots on the Ground Scouting
There is no substitute for being there. Digital scouting narrows your search; boots on the ground confirms it.
Shed Hunting as Scouting
If you're hunting ungulates (deer, elk, moose), get out in late winter or early spring for a shed antler hunt. This is one of my favorite recommendations to introduce new women to scouting because it feels like a treasure hunt — and it absolutely is.
What you learn from shed hunting:
Where animals are wintering and what range they're using
Rough age class and antler potential of the bucks/bulls in the area
Terrain features that funnel movement
Habitat quality and food availability
Spring and Summer Scouting Trips
Plan at least one — ideally two — boots-on-the-ground trips to your hunt unit before season opens.
What to do on a scouting trip: (Document everything you find on OnX or some other similar app)
Locate water sources and note which ones show the most activity (tracks, trails, rubs, scrapes)
Set up trail cameras on game trails, water sources, and mineral sites (where legal)
Locate bedding areas — look for depressions in grass, flattened brush, or hair on branches
Identify food sources: mast (acorns, berries), agricultural fields, or natural browse
Walk potential routes for packing out game — a great harvest location is worthless if you can't get the meat out
Note cell service and satellite coverage areas for communication planning
Trail Camera Strategy
Trail cameras are a game-changer. Here's how to deploy them strategically:
Water sources — place cameras overlooking a stock tank, spring, or creek crossing. In dry conditions especially, every animal in the area will hit water.
Scrapes and rubs — during pre-rut, mock scrapes with a trail cam overhead give you an inventory of what bucks or bulls are using the area.
Travel corridors — game trails through saddles and along ridgelines. Angle the camera slightly downhill for better body-length shots.
Mineral licks — legal in many states outside of hunting season. Check your regulations. These create long, repeated stops that give you excellent inventory photos.
Check cameras every 4–6 weeks to swap SD cards and batteries without over-pressuring the area with human scent.
2–4 Months Out: Physical and Skills Preparation
Build Your Fitness for the Hunt
Hunting is physical. Even a flat-ground whitetail hunt involves carrying weight and being on your feet for hours. A backcountry elk hunt can be one of the most physically demanding things you'll ever do. Start training early.
A basic hunt fitness program:
Cardiovascular base — walk, hike, or run 3–5 days per week. Build to carrying a weighted pack on hilly terrain.
Leg strength — squats, lunges, step-ups. Your legs are everything when climbing and descending with a loaded pack.
Core stability — planks, deadlifts, single-leg work. Essential for carrying awkward loads and preventing injury.
Elevation training — if your hunt is in high country, get up high before season. Your first day at altitude should not be opening morning.
Target fitness benchmark for a backcountry hunt: Carry a 40–50 lb pack for 5+ miles at elevation without being so gassed you can't make a clean shot.
Range Time and Weapon Proficiency
There is an ethical obligation here, and I will say it plainly: you owe it to the animal to be proficient with your weapon. A clean, ethical kill is the goal every time.
For rifle hunters:
Confirm your zero at the distances you expect to shoot
Practice shooting from field positions: prone, kneeling, off shooting sticks, off a pack
Know your effective range and commit to staying within it
For archery hunters:
Shoot 3D targets regularly to practice judging distance and shooting at angles
Practice from a treestand or elevated position if that's your setup
Know your pins and practice from unknown distances
For muzzleloader hunters:
Understand the weather-specific performance of your powder and bullet combination
Practice the full load sequence until it's second nature
30–60 Days Out: Final Gear and Logistics
The Gear Checklist
I am not a gear minimalist — I've learned the hard way that the wrong gear at the wrong moment can end a hunt. Here is my core list:
The Non-Negotiables:
Valid hunting license and tag (printed and/or digital)
Hunter orange vest and hat (required in many states for rifle seasons - and is important when hunting with others)
Quality optics: binoculars (8x42 or 10x42) and a spotting scope for big game
Layering system: moisture-wicking base, insulating mid-layer, wind/waterproof shell
Boots broken in before the hunt — never hunt in new boots
Navigation: onX downloaded offline + physical topo map + compass
First aid kit including blister treatment, pain reliever, and emergency blanket
Headlamp with extra batteries - The rechargeable headlamps can die quick. Bring a portable charger if using.
Water filtration system (Sawyer, Katadyn, or similar)
Field dressing kit: sharp knife, gut hook, latex gloves, bone saw
Game bags (enough for a full quarter — at minimum 4 heavy-duty bags per animal)
Pack with enough cubic inches for your anticipated meat load
Communication: charged cell phone, InReach satellite communicator for backcountry
Weather-Specific Add-Ons:
Gaiters for wet or snowy conditions (These are good for all conditions - including tick season. Keeps debris out)
Hand warmers and chemical heat packets
Extra dry socks in a waterproof bag
Sunscreen and lip balm for high-altitude hunts
Logistics and Safety Planning
File a hunt plan. Before you go into the field — especially solo — tell someone exactly where you are going, what trailhead you're parking at, and when they should call for help if they haven't heard from you. This is not optional. This is how we come home.
Know your emergency plan:
What is the nearest hospital or urgent care to your hunt area?
What is the cell coverage situation? Do you need a satellite communicator?
Where is the nearest road if you need to be evacuated?
Meat care logistics:
How will you get your harvest out? Know your pack-out route.
Do you have coolers and ice ready at camp or in your vehicle?
Have you identified a butcher or processor near your hunt area in case you can't process yourself?
Opening Week: In the Field
All the preparation in the world comes down to this. Here's how to approach your time in the field with intention.
Hunt the Wind, Not the Map
Your scouting showed you the "X." But wind and thermals determine whether you get there undetected. In mountain terrain, winds typically move uphill as the day warms and downhill as it cools. In flat country, wind is your constant variable.
Always know where your scent is going. Move with the wind in your face, or at minimum quartering away from where you expect animals. Scent is your number one giveaway.
Patience Is the Skill No One Talks About
New hunters always want to cover ground. I understand the impulse — you're excited, you want to find something. But more often than not, the hunter who sits still the longest wins.
Find a good observation point at first light. Sit. Glass. Be slow. Let the mountain come to you.
Shot Placement First, Then Everything Else
When the moment comes, slow down. Breathe. Confirm your target. Know what's beyond it. Take the shot only when you have a clear, ethical shot placement opportunity.
For most big game, the heart/lung zone is your target: directly behind the front leg, in the lower third of the body cavity.
If an animal runs after the shot, wait at least 30 minutes before tracking (longer for liver shots). Note on your OnX App or similar App, the exact spot it was standing when you shot. Note the direction it ran. Then begin your track with patience.
After the Hunt: Closing the Loop
The harvest is only the middle of the story. What you do next matters.
Field Dressing and Meat Care
Cool the meat fast. In warm weather, get the hide off and the quarters into game bags and hung in shade or into a cooler within 1–2 hours of the kill. Good meat care is the difference between a freezer full of wild protein and a ruined animal.
There are excellent YouTube tutorials on field dressing and quartering for every species. Watch them before your hunt. Practice on a YouTube video deer until it feels familiar.
Notching and Reporting Your Tag
Most states require you to validate (notch, sign, or activate digitally) your tag immediately upon harvest. Some require reporting within 24–48 hours via an online system or phone. Read your regulation booklet on this specifically — tag violations are serious and avoidable.
Reflect, Record, and Return
After every hunt — successful or not — I reflect. What did I see? What did I learn about the animals, the terrain, the season? What would I do differently? What worked?
This practice is what separates hunters who grow every year from those who repeat the same mistakes. Consider starting a hunt journal. It could be a living document of your education.
A Final Word:
You Were Made for This
“Hunting is not for a certain kind of woman. It is for any woman who hears the mountain calling and is brave enough to answer.”
I have sat beside new hunters on their very first morning in the field — women who had never held a rifle, never been in the backcountry, never drawn a drop of wild blood — and I have watched them transform. Not because they harvested something. But because they showed up, prepared, committed, and fully present in the oldest relationship human beings have with the wild world.
You are not stepping into something foreign when you step into the field. You are coming home.
Take this checklist. Use it. Ask questions — I mean that. Share your journey. Bring a friend. And when you stand at that trailhead before first light for the very first time, know that there is a community of women who have walked that ground before you and are cheering you forward.
The mountain is waiting.