Planning and Preparation

A successful hunt begins with careful planning and preparation. The process usually requires more time than the hunt itself.

Here are some steps you should take to prepare for a hunt:

• Educate yourself about the game you’ll be hunting and its environment.
• Obtain the most current state regulations.
• Buy appropriate clothing and gear for the environment.
• Secure lease arrangements and permits (dogs and horses may require a veterinarian’s certificate or a current vaccination record).
• Visit the site in the off-season to prepare blinds and cabin facilities.
• Sight-in rifles, handguns, and bows; pattern shotguns.
• Sharpen your skills at the shooting range.
• Pack extra firearms, scopes, etc.
• Scout the area where you plan to hunt, focusing on the species you plan to harvest, the resources and shelter available, the remoteness of the area, and other general issues that should be considered for your particular hunt.
• Ask other members of your hunting party if they have any physical conditions or take any medication that may affect them during the hunt. Also consider your own physical condition and any special needs or requirements.
  • If anyone takes medication, someone else in the party needs to know about the medication and how to administer it in case of an emergency.
  • Depending on the severity of a hunter’s physical or medical conditions, that person may need to set up a medical power of attorney for another member of the party. That way, someone in the party is authorized to oversee that person’s medical care in case he or she becomes incapacitated.

When hunting with a group, it is illegal in Arizona to use your license tag on another person's kill.