Archery Season Prep Checklist: 12 Things to Do Before Opening Day

Most bowhunters don't fail on opening day because of bad luck — they fail because they ran out of time. The bow that needed a string, the sight tape that was never re-verified after switching arrows, the rangefinder that died in the first cold morning. Archery season prep isn't glamorous, but it's what separates hunters who fill tags from hunters who have good stories about why they didn't.

This checklist runs 12 items across an 8-week timeline. Work through it in order and you'll walk into opening day knowing everything in your kit is dialed.

The Full Prep Timeline at a Glance

Item	When to Do It	Time Required
1. Bow inspection and service	8 weeks out	1–2 hrs or shop visit
2. Arrow audit and replacement	8 weeks out	1 hr
3. Broadhead selection and testing	6 weeks out	1–2 hrs
4. Sight tape verification	6 weeks out	30–60 min
5. Fitness and conditioning	8–4 weeks out	Ongoing
6. Scouting and e-scouting	8–2 weeks out	Ongoing
7. Licenses, tags, and regulations	6–4 weeks out	1–2 hrs
8. Rangefinder and optics check	4 weeks out	30 min
9. Pack and camp gear audit	4 weeks out	2–3 hrs
10. Shooting practice routine	8–1 weeks out	Ongoing
11. Treestand and saddle inspection	2 weeks out	1–2 hrs
12. Backup equipment check	1 week out / day before	1 hr

The 12-Item Checklist

1 Bow Inspection and Service — 8 Weeks Out

Pull your bow out of the case and look at it critically. Check the string and cables for fraying, peep rotation, and serving separation — especially at the nock point and at each cam. Inspect limbs for cracks. Check the rest for worn brushes or a loose launcher arm. If your string has more than two seasons on it, replace it now, not the week before opener. A bow shop visit is worth the time: have them check draw weight, draw length, cam timing, and string condition at the same time.

See the full pre-season bow tuning checklist for a detailed walkthrough of every mechanical item to verify before season.

2 Arrow Audit and Replacement — 8 Weeks Out

Spin every arrow on a flat surface or use an arrow spinner. Any arrow that wobbles has a bent shaft, damaged nock, or crooked insert — pull it from your hunting quiver immediately. Check fletching adhesion and look for cracks at the nock. If you have arrows that are more than two seasons old and have seen heavy practice use, consider replacing them. Damaged arrows can crack on release and cause injury. Your hunting arrows should be the best condition shafts you own.

3 Broadhead Selection and Testing — 6 Weeks Out

If you're switching broadhead models or going from field tips to fixed blades, do it six weeks before the season — not one week. Fixed-blade broadheads fly differently than field points for most setups, and mechanical broadheads vary by brand. Shoot your actual hunting broadheads at distance and verify they impact where your field points do. If they don't, work through paper tuning and walk-back tuning until they do. See the paper tuning guide for a step-by-step process.

Buy at least two dozen hunting broadheads: a dozen for practice and a dozen to keep razor-sharp in your hunting quiver. Never hunt with broadheads you haven't shot.

4 Sight Tape Verification — 6 Weeks Out

This is one of the most skipped steps in archery season prep, and it causes misses and wounded animals every season. If you've changed anything since last year — new arrows, different broadhead weight, changed draw weight, re-served the string — your sight tape may no longer match your actual trajectory. Even a minor change in arrow weight affects your point-of-impact at longer distances.

Shoot at a known 50 or 60 yard target and compare your impact to what your tape predicts. If they don't match, rebuild the tape from scratch. Use Sight Tape Gen to generate a new custom tape based on your current bow speed and arrow weight. It takes 10 minutes and eliminates the guesswork.

5 Fitness and Conditioning — 8 to 4 Weeks Out

For backcountry hunters especially, fitness is the limiting factor — not gear. You don't need to become an elite athlete, but you do need to be able to carry a loaded pack at elevation without being so gassed you can't hold your bow steady. Start with daily walks carrying your loaded daypack and add hills and stairs when possible. A basic program of weighted carries and lower-body work 3–4 times per week starting 8 weeks out will make a meaningful difference.

6 Scouting and E-Scouting — 8 to 2 Weeks Out

Open OnX or CalTopo and spend time studying the unit you're hunting. Look for travel corridors, water, south-facing slopes (thermal bedding), north-facing dark timber (summer elk), agricultural edges (whitetail), and topographic pinch points. Layer in public/private boundaries. Plan your entry and exit routes. If you can do boots-on-ground scouting, do it — set up trail cameras, look for fresh sign, and identify stand locations. Every hour of scouting before the season replaces three hours of frustration during it.

7 Licenses, Tags, and Regulations — 6 to 4 Weeks Out

This sounds basic, but it gets people every year. Verify that your license is purchased and valid for the specific unit, weapon type, and season dates you're hunting. Read the regulation book for your specific hunt — legal shooting hours, antler restrictions, reporting requirements, and road closures change year to year. If you drew a limited entry tag, double-check the exact legal dates and boundaries. Download the regulation PDF and the unit map to your phone so you have them offline in the field.

8 Rangefinder and Optics Check — 4 Weeks Out

Replace batteries in your rangefinder, binoculars (if they're powered), and any illuminated reticle scopes. Test the rangefinder at distance to verify it's reading accurately — rangefinders that are dropped or stored improperly can lose calibration. Clean lenses with a microfiber cloth. If your binos or rangefinder is more than five years old and has been bumped around, consider whether it's reliable enough to stake a season on.

9 Pack and Camp Gear Audit — 4 Weeks Out

Pull every item out of your pack and lay it on the floor. Inspect sleeping bag and pad for damage. Test the stove. Check that your first aid kit is stocked. Look at your water filter for cracks. Replace worn boot laces. Make sure your headlamp has fresh batteries and you have a backup. The time to discover that your camp stove's O-ring is cracked is at home four weeks out, not in camp the night before the opener at 9,000 feet.

10 Shooting Practice Routine — 8 Weeks Out Through Opening Day

Consistent practice beats marathon sessions once a week. Shoot 20–30 arrows at least four times a week starting eight weeks out. Focus on form first at close range, then extend to your maximum hunting distance. Shoot from elevated positions if you hunt from a treestand. Shoot in your hunting clothes during the final two weeks so you know how your release feels through heavier fabric. For a structured week-by-week practice plan, see the pre-season bow practice routine.

11 Treestand and Saddle Inspection — 2 Weeks Out

Treestand falls are the leading cause of serious injury in bowhunting. Inspect every strap, ratchet, and platform on every stand you plan to hunt. Look for rust, cracked welds, frayed straps, and worn lineman's ropes. If a stand is more than five years old or has visible damage, replace it — they're cheaper than a hospital visit. Hang stands at least two weeks early to let the disturbed area settle before you hunt it.

12 Backup Equipment — 1 Week Out and Day Before

Pack a small repair kit for camp: extra nock points, arrow nocks, a peep sight, serving thread, allen keys for your sight and rest, a D-loop replacement, and bow wax. Know how to install a D-loop in the dark. Keep a backup release aid in your pack. Label your arrows with your name and contact info. Charge your phone and GPS. Sharpen your knife the night before.

Opening day should feel like a confirmation that everything is ready — not a scramble to fix things you should have caught in July. Work through this list in order, give yourself enough lead time, and you'll be ready when the season you've been waiting for finally arrives.