One of my favorite parts of hunting actually happens long before opening day.
The months leading up to a hunt are filled with quiet work that no one else really sees. There isn't much glamour in running before sunrise, organizing gear, or fletching arrows at the kitchen table. But those little moments are what make me confident when I finally step onto the mountain.
This fall, my husband and I will be bowhunting mule deer in the high country of Colorado. We'll spend our days climbing and glassing between 13,000 and 14,000 feet, where every step requires a little more effort and every ounce in your pack matters.
The mountains have a way of rewarding preparation.
Most mornings begin with a run on the treadmill before work. It isn't exciting, but consistency is what builds endurance. I know I can't duplicate the altitude here in Arizona, but I can show up with stronger legs, healthier lungs, and the mental toughness to keep climbing when everything hurts.
We also made a trip to hike Mt. Baldy. Since it's several hours from home, it isn't something we can do often, but it's become part of my preparation. That hike reminds me what long climbs feel like and gives me one more opportunity to train on real mountain terrain before heading to Colorado.
Archery practice has also become a regular part of my routine. I've been shooting my bow almost daily and spending time on local 3-D courses. Foam deer tucked into draws and hillsides are the closest thing I can find to hunting situations, forcing me to judge distance, pick shooting lanes, and execute good shots under realistic conditions.
Confidence isn't built on opening morning. It's built one arrow at a time.
Preparing for a backcountry hunt isn't just about building stronger legs and improving my shooting. It's also about making sure I have the right fuel for long days on the mountain.
I've been spending time in the kitchen dialing in recipes that pack well, provide lasting energy, and are made with real ingredients instead of a long list of things I can't pronounce. After miles of hiking and hours of glassing, good food can make all the difference.
One recipe that has earned a permanent place in my pack is what I call
Mountain Fuel Bites.
Makes about 40 mini bites
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1¾ cups old-fashioned rolled oats
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½ cup cooked quinoa (prepared with water)
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½ cup pepitas (pumpkin seeds)
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3 tablespoons chia seeds
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1 tablespoon ground flaxseed
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⅓ cup dried cranberries
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½ cup unsweetened shredded coconut
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1 teaspoon cinnamon
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½ teaspoon sea salt
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¾ teaspoon baking soda
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¾ cup pitted dates
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2 large eggs
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⅔ cup melted coconut oil
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¼ cup maple syrup
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¼ cup honey
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1 teaspoon vanilla
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Grind 1 cup of the oats into a coarse oat flour and combine with the remaining whole oats. Stir in the cinnamon, sea salt, and baking soda.
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In a food processor, blend the dates into a thick paste. If needed, add a small splash of maple syrup to help them come together. Add the eggs, melted coconut oil, maple syrup, honey, and vanilla, then pulse until just combined.
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Pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredients. Fold in the cooked quinoa, pepitas, chia seeds, flaxseed, coconut, and dried cranberries until everything is evenly incorporated.
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Let the mixture rest for 15 to 20 minutes. This gives the oats time to absorb moisture and allows the chia and flax to bind everything together.
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Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a mini muffin pan with paper liners or lightly grease the pan. Fill each cup and press the mixture firmly into place. Bake for 12–15 minutes, then allow the bites to cool completely before removing them from the pan. They continue to firm up as they cool.
These have become one of my favorite trail snacks because they combine whole grains, healthy fats, seeds, and natural sweetness into a bite that's easy to pack and keeps me going when the miles start adding up.
I've also been making Chocolate Fig Bites, another easy snack that disappears quickly during long days outdoors. Between the two recipes, I'm hoping to have enough variety that I won't get tired of eating the same thing day after day while we're hunting.
Blend everything together in a food processor until it forms a sticky dough. Roll into bite-sized balls and refrigerate. They're naturally sweet, easy to pack, and make the perfect afternoon boost after climbing all morning.
Simple foods made with real ingredients often keep me going better than processed energy bars.
Preparing gear is just as important as preparing myself.
I've started laying out all of my Prois hunting clothing to make sure everything is ready before the trip. My merino wool base layers are always one of the first things I pull out because they regulate temperature so well and stay comfortable even after long days on the mountain.
Rain gear is another priority. Afternoon storms can roll across the Rockies without much warning, and staying dry can make all the difference between a miserable evening and an enjoyable one.
From there, I'll organize my hunting pants, shirts, jacket, gloves, and the rest of my layering system. Once everything is laid out, I'll make one final order for anything that needs to be replaced before September arrives.
Being prepared means there are fewer surprises once we're in camp.
One project I'm especially looking forward to is building fresh arrows.
I'll be fletching new arrows for both my husband and me, making sure every vane is perfectly aligned and every arrow is ready before we leave. There is something incredibly satisfying about knowing the arrows in your quiver were built by your own hands.
Those little details matter.
The next project will be planning our camp meals.
After spending ten or twelve hours hiking, climbing, and glassing at over 13,000 feet, neither of us wants to spend another hour cooking an elaborate dinner.
My goal is simple: hearty meals that are warm, filling, and require very little effort after a long day on the mountain. Good food has a way of restoring both your body and your spirit, especially when you're sitting in camp watching the sun disappear behind a line of peaks.
Some people think hunting begins when you leave the trailhead.
I think it begins months before.
It begins with the early morning runs when the alarm goes off long before sunrise.
It continues with every arrow sent downrange, every piece of gear carefully organized, every new arrow fletched, every recipe tested, and every mile hiked.
It's found in the quiet work that no one else sees.
By the time we shoulder our packs in Colorado, we'll know we've done everything we can to prepare. Whether we come home with a buck or simply memories of another adventure together, the preparation itself has already been worthwhile.
Preparing for a hunt reminds me that God often works the same way in our lives. We usually want Him to work in the big moments—the answered prayers, the mountaintop experiences, the victories. But more often than not, He's shaping us in the ordinary days: the early mornings, the discipline, the waiting, and the unseen work.
Just as no successful hunt begins on opening morning, a life of faith isn't built in a single moment. It's built one faithful step at a time.
So, for now, I'll keep running. I'll keep shooting my bow. I'll finish organizing my gear, fletch our arrows, and keep testing recipes for the trail.
September will be here soon enough.
Until then, I'll enjoy the preparation, trusting that God is using these ordinary days to prepare me for whatever lies beyond the next mountain.
