November Soapbox 2025
If there’s one lesson I’ve learned again and again in hunting, it’s this: success doesn’t happen by accident! Whether you’re grinding it out on a DIY over-the-counter elk hunt or finally cashing in that once-in-a-lifetime tag with one our trusted outfitters, one principle always holds true: “Prior Proper Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance.”
I learned that lesson the hard way early on while guiding elk in the backcountry of Idaho. My hunter assured me his rifle was still dialed from the previous season. On the second morning of a five-day hunt, we slipped into position and glassed a heavy bull at 350 yards. “This is a chip shot,” he said confidently. The shot rang out—and the bull trotted off untouched. Back at camp we checked the rifle and discovered it was shooting a foot off at that distance. Months of dreaming, thousands of dollars invested, and a golden opportunity gone in seconds—all because of poor preparation.
That moment still sticks with me. And now, as someone who books hunts across North America and beyond, I see versions of that story play out every season. A hunter skips preseason workouts and struggles on a sheep hunt. Another doesn’t break in new boots until day one and ends up sidelined by blisters. Sometimes it’s gear. Sometimes it’s mental toughness. Usually, it’s simply lack of planning. For every story of a blown opportunity, there’s another that proves the opposite: when preparation is thorough and deliberate, the entire hunt changes.
One Aoudad that I guided in Old Mexico stands out in my mind. The hunter was seventy-three years old, but you’d never have guessed it. He’d spent the full year beforehand training and trimming down, testing boots and packs on hikes, and putting rounds through his rifle. By the time he arrived in camp, his gear and mindset were dialed in. Then the weather turned. Cold, wet winds pounded the canyons and the sheep vanished. For four long days we glassed miles of rimrock without spotting a single ram. Many hunters would have let doubt creep in. Not this gentleman. He stayed upbeat, adjusted to each plan-B and plan-C we threw at him, and never once let fatigue or frustration show. On day five, after a grueling climb, we finally found a mature Aoudad feeding across a slope. The shot was tough, at a steep angle, with a heavy crosswind… and he centered it perfectly. It was a textbook execution born from months of discipline… NOT CHANCE!
It’s definitely easy to get swept up in the excitement of a hunt and assume things will just fall into place. You draw a coveted tag, load the truck, and head for the trailhead brimming with high hopes. But here’s the hard truth I’ve seen it play out again and again. The mountains don’t care about your enthusiasm. A sudden blizzard, a bull that beds down in a canyon you didn’t scout, or a piece of gear that fails under stress, nature has endless ways to test your preparation. If you fail to plan, you’re not just inviting inconvenience. You’re setting yourself up for wasted opportunities and, in some cases, heartbreak.
Planning Is More Than a Checklist! When most people think “planning,” they picture a gear list or a map covered in pins. Important, yes… but planning for a successful hunt goes much deeper. Physical Readiness, Skill Repetition, Gear Proven in the Field, and Backup Strategies for Weather, game movement, and access can all change without notice. Always have a Plan B and even a Plan C. Every small detail you address ahead of time adds a layer of insurance. Stacked together, those details create the margin between success and failure. Expect the unexpected and be ready for it. Most hunts don’t follow the script. That’s part of what makes them so rewarding. The difference between frustration and triumph is how prepared you are when the plan unravels. Hunters who put in the work can adapt, changing glassing spots, staying out longer, or pushing over one more ridge, and most importantly will still enjoy the experience. The hunters who treat preparation as seriously as the hunt itself come home with not only trophies but also the deep satisfaction of knowing they met the challenge head-on.
To button this up, I just want to end back where I started, stating the facts that hunting rewards those who respect the process. Start early, train hard, and double-check every detail. Preparation transforms a hunt from wishful thinking into an unforgettable adventure, and thoughtful preparation is the single best investment you can make in a successful and unforgettable adventure. Cut corners and the hunt will expose those gaps every single time. The seventy-three-year-old hunter proved it: months of planning gave him the confidence and stamina to wait out four tough days and make one perfect shot when it finally counted. The hunts I help clients and friends arrange are often the culmination of years of saving, dreaming, and applying for tags. I want every client to walk away with memories of a lifetime, not regrets about what could have been. That’s why I repeat that old but true line… “Prior Proper Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance”, every chance I get.
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