Check all the boxes—and fill in your own—to ensure nothing gets left behind this season.

When draw near to the whitetail opener, it’s easy to get caught up in the momentum of the season. Days are getting shorter, nights are growing colder and—if you’re like us—you’ve spent recent weekends sorting gear, sighting in rifles and digging your favorite cold-weather layers out of storage. You’ve spent the past few months e-scouting, setting up deer cams and planning just the right spot for your tree stand. And now your favorite time of year is nearly here; the work is about to pay off.

We’ve compiled a quick, customizable list of the basics you’ll need in the field. (You know, that mental checklist you run through as things are loaded into the truck.) Download it, make your own notes for your favorite gear and print it out so you can enjoy the satisfaction of crossing off each item as it’s loaded up. Then, the morning of the opener, enjoy a cup of hot coffee on the drive to your favorite spot knowing that you’ve packed along everything you’ll need for the day.

Now get out there and get it done. We can’t wait to hear your stories.

header image: Sam Soholt