Although hunting season may still be a couple of months away, now is the time to start checking things off your hunting to-do list. After all, no matter how you slice it, there is a lot of work that goes into getting ready for the season.

Thankfully, for today’s hunter, things have changed drastically from previous decades. It used to be that hunters slept in tents, heated tin cans of beans over an open fire, wore puffy down parkas to keep warm and stayed near paved roads in case they needed help.

Now, lodges, guides, cooks, cell phones and all-terrain vehicles make hunting a more enjoyable and safer experience.

The following tips will help you get prepped for this year’s hunting season:

    • Check your license. Ensure that your hunting license is valid and covers all varieties of wildlife you intend to hunt. Even if you’ve hunted in the same location, check that permit requirements haven’t changed. Regulations get updated yearly, so don’t assume that what was valid last year still applies to your favorite watering hole.

    • Pack your bag. If you’re planning to travel out of town, you’ll need a hunting permit for that state. If you’re staying local, your bag should be filled with essential items that will help you survive any unexpected situation—be it weather or something else. This includes a cell phone, GPS, first aid kit, lighter, binoculars, small rope, pocket knife, bottled water and a few high-energy snacks.

    • Take the right clothing. Depending on where you’re headed, you’ll need a light or heavy jacket, gloves, hat and layers for nights when the temperatures dip. And don’t forget the rain gear. If in a warmer climate, you can dress down with lighter clothes, but whatever the case, don’t forget your orange hunting vest. One caveat: wash any clothes you intend to wear with unscented laundry detergent. Animals will be able to smell you a mile away and will not come near you.