^{By Steve Hickoff}

Guides. They often know the land, the game animals and birds on it, better than anyone. These hard-working guys deal with a variety of hunters, from the absolutely inexperienced to veteran gunners, but often the former rather than the latter. Let them do their job.
 
If you hunt with and hire out professional guides, trust their judgment when they call the shot —within reason, of course. In the end though, you pull the trigger. Ideally your hunting guide should know your gun or bow’s limitations, the ammo or archery tackle you’re using, and most of all, your experience level.

Relax, but not too much. Remember, this is supposed to be fun. Pressing too hard has a way of translating into a lack of hunting success — both shooting, and otherwise. 

The sudden, undeniable racing of your heart and failure to stay calm when you need to react — along with the opposite exaggerated nonchalance of not being fully prepared — will make you miss shots, and fail to close the deal.
 
Bear down in the moment of truth. You’ve worked too hard to arrive at that opportunity to blow it. It’s not enough to hunt well with your guide though. Use these tips to ensure you have a great hunting trip ...

Failure to read detailed game laws. If you fly to hunt, study this material above the clouds at 35,000 ft. You can also do so at camp after arrival. Print regulations from that state’s website before you travel, or simply contact them for a printed copy.

Forgetting to get specific driving directions to the camp or location you’re hunting. Leaving your address book with telephone trip contact numbers at home, or forgetting to punch these into your cell phone. Packing light when you should have done the opposite, or lugging too much on the trip. Not taking a camera along to record those memories. Forgetting camera batteries.

Failure to bring a cooler along for your meat — soft for air travel, if it will go inside your luggage; hard for road trips, or to ride in the back of your Yamaha ATV or Side-by-Side.

Bringing new boots on a trip that will require a lot of breaking in. Forgetting to check updated airline baggage regulations, and travel itineraries for particular carriers. No photo I.D. No driver’s license. No passport = No identity. Failure to leave contact details for your family.

Do your homework. Hunt hard. Be safe.