Hunters put a ton of focus on fitness, scouting, and shooting. Shockingly, despite all of this time, money, and effort every year hundreds of hunters quit and end up going home early when it comes time to actually hunt. The mental grind of a long hunt can humble even the most skilled hunter. Here are some tips to develop mental toughness for hunting and to be effective over long, challenging hunts.
Sleep Near the Animals
Firstly, finding a way to sleep near your quarry can be a boon for staying mentally focused throughout a hunt. The benefits of sleeping relatively close to your target animals are twofold; For one, large amounts of time spent travelling each day get draining and eats away at mental resources that are better spent glassing, hiking, and calling.
Secondly, the closer you are to the action the more sleep you are able to get. It’s imperative to be in the field for first and last light. By cutting down travel time you can easily add an hour or two of sleep each night. Short term, you can tough out a lack of sleep. However, over the course of a 7-10 day hunt you simply can’t be as sharp, focused, and optimistic when sleep deprived as you would be better rested. Finally, I’ve found animals to be far less sensitive to small, unobtrusive camps than most hunters think. If you’re not making a ton of noise or having a big fire the animals will generally hang around even if you’re camped the area for multiple days.
Have a Backup Plans
Another great strategy to help build your mental toughness is to pre-plan multiple contingency plans. It is frustrating when your first plan doesn’t work out. By already having Plans B, C and D established keeps you from from becoming discouraged when an area isn’t what you’d hoped.
Another benefit of pre-planning areas is ensuring that you’re picking areas with your highest likelihood of success. It is easy late in the hunt when you are physically spent to make decisions based on what is easiest, not what is best. By planning at home when you’re well rested, you will create plans that optimize your likelihood of killing, even if they require a bit more effort.
Do Hard Things
Next, push yourself and expand your limits before the hunt. Like fitness, your ability to push through uncomfortable situations is perishable. In addition to regular fitness rucks, hikes, and runs, I try to plan 1-2 challenging backpacking trips during the summer months leading into the season. Getting practice pushing through fatigue and hiking at altitude with weight will allow you to push harder when it comes time to actually hunt. As an added bonus, this let’s you test your gear and improve your fitness before the season.
Address Issues Early
Another tip for mental toughness for hunting is to address issues early. This is much easier said than done. If you realize that you don’t have adequate clothes when you’re a mile from the truck, turn around and get what you need. Don’t wait until you are freezing cold and unable to glass effectively through the shivers.
One of the most common issues that hunters put off until it is too late is hot spots causing blisters to form. In the spirit of fairness, I’ve done this myself multiple times. As much as nobody likes to stop hiking to adjust their boots, allowing your feet to become compromised is a mental stressor for the rest of the hunt. Even when you push through the discomfort you will not be as focused and willing to move as you would otherwise be. Take care of small issues before they become big ones.
Build Experience
Finally, one of the best tips for mental toughness for hunting is to gain as much experience as possible. This means hunting multiple species in multiple places throughout the year. New experiences push the limits and help becoming confident in overcoming obstacles.
As a new hunter, having an opportunity that didn’t pan out was crushing. It felt like I was hunting all season for a single opportunity. When I failed to capitalize on an opportunity, it felt like the whole season was over. As I’ve gained experience I’ve learned that if you stay focused and keep hunting, more often than not another opportunity will present itself. The only way to build this confidence is through past successes, so getting out as much as possible is critical.
Closing Thoughts
In closing, hunters often neglect their mental preparedness when getting ready for a hunt. While gear, fitness, and tactics matter, your ability to stay mentally sharp matters as much or more. By following some of these tips for mental toughness, you can make sure that you are able to hunt hard for the duration of your hunt. So get out there, get training, and don’t let your own mind hold you back this fall.