--- title: "Deer Rifle Checklist: What You NEED to Hunt" description: Before opening day, make sure your rifle is ready. Learn the three essential steps hunters often overlook to stay accurate, confident, and prepared for deer season. image: https://resources.mossberg.com/hubfs/Mossberg%20-%20960x480%20(56).png --- [Law Enforcement](https://lawenforcement.mossberg.com/) [Sign In](https://www.mossberg.com/customer/account/login) / [Sign Up](https://www.mossberg.com/customer/account/create/) [Firearms](https://www.mossberg.com/firearms.html) [Store](https://www.mossberg.com/store.html) [![Mossberg](https://resources.mossberg.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/mossberg-theme/images/logo.svg)](https://www.mossberg.com) [Support](https://www.mossberg.com/help/) [Journal](https://resources.mossberg.com/journal) [Dealers](https://www.mossberg.com/dealers/) [Cart](https://www.mossberg.com/checkout/cart/) [Sign In](https://www.mossberg.com/customer/account/login) / [Sign Up](https://www.mossberg.com/customer/account/create/) [Dealers](https://www.mossberg.com/dealers/) - [Firearms](https://www.mossberg.com/firearms.html) - [Store](https://www.mossberg.com/store.html) - [Support](https://www.mossberg.com/help/) - [Journal](https://resources.mossberg.com/) [Military/Law Enforcement](https://lawenforcement.mossberg.com/) - [Home](https://www.mossberg.com) - [Journal](https://resources.mossberg.com/journal) - Deer Rifle Checklist: What You NEED to Hunt [Videos](https://resources.mossberg.com/journal/tag/videos) [How-To's](https://resources.mossberg.com/journal/tag/how-tos) # Deer Rifle Checklist: What You NEED to Hunt 1 Min Read By [Just Hunt Club](https://resources.mossberg.com/journal/author/just-hunt-club) ![Deer Rifle Checklist: What You NEED to Hunt](https://resources.mossberg.com/hubfs/Mossberg%20-%20960x480%20(56).png) Before you head into the woods, there are three simple but extremely important things every hunter should do. These steps may seem basic for deer hunting, but they’re some of the most overlooked especially if you're new to hunting or tend to be hard on gear like we are.   In this tip video, we break down: 1. Check Your Zero Guns get beat up around in the truck, on the stand, and in the woods. Make sure your rifle is still hitting where it should before opening day.  2. Practice With Your Hunting Ammo Not Range Ammo.  Even if the caliber is the same, ammunition brands and even lot numbers can perform differently. Zero with the exact box you’ll be taking into the field.  3.Check All Screws, Mounts & Hardware A loose scope is a recipe for a bad day. Go over your rifle with a torque wrench, tighten everything to spec, and make sure your setup is solid.  These three steps will help you avoid missed opportunities and give you complete confidence heading into deer season. [See Mossberg Rifles Here.](https://www.mossberg.com/firearms/rifles.html) [![Share on Facebook](https://resources.mossberg.com/hs-fs/hubfs/SocialShare/share-facebook.png?width=24&name=share-facebook.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fresources.mossberg.com%2Fjournal%2Fdeer-rifle-checklist-what-you-need-to-hunt%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on LinkedIn](https://resources.mossberg.com/hs-fs/hubfs/SocialShare/share-linkedin.png?width=24&name=share-linkedin.png)](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https%3A%2F%2Fresources.mossberg.com%2Fjournal%2Fdeer-rifle-checklist-what-you-need-to-hunt%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dlinkedin) [![Share on Twitter](https://resources.mossberg.com/hs-fs/hubfs/SocialShare/share-twitter.png?width=24&name=share-twitter.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fresources.mossberg.com%2Fjournal%2Fdeer-rifle-checklist-what-you-need-to-hunt%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fresources.mossberg.com%2Fjournal%2Fdeer-rifle-checklist-what-you-need-to-hunt%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=Deer%20Rifle%20Checklist%3A%20What%20You%20NEED%20to%20Hunt) [![Share on Email](https://resources.mossberg.com/hs-fs/hubfs/SocialShare/share-email.png?width=24&name=share-email.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fresources.mossberg.com%2Fjournal%2Fdeer-rifle-checklist-what-you-need-to-hunt%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fresources.mossberg.com%2Fjournal%2Fdeer-rifle-checklist-what-you-need-to-hunt%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ### About the Author ![](https://resources.mossberg.com/hubfs/channels4_profile.jpeg) ### Just Hunt Club Just Hunt Club is a team of highly motivated Northeastern hunters that chase game and fish in a diverse and often overlooked region of the country. They have learned to adapt and be successful on mostly public access lands in extremely challenging circumstances. Whether chasing ducks, bucks, turkeys, or fish, these outdoorsmen demonstrate how to use extremely effective tactics to be successful while also showing the rich outdoor tradition and culture of the North-Eastern states. [See all articles by this author](https://resources.mossberg.com/journal/author/just-hunt-club) ## Related Posts [![Passing Up 200 Ducks: A Late-Season Strategy](https://resources.mossberg.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Mossberg%20-%20960x480%20(67).png?width=352&name=Mossberg%20-%20960x480%20(67).png)](https://resources.mossberg.com/journal/passing-up-200-ducks-a-late-season-strategy) ### [Passing Up 200 Ducks: A Late-Season Strategy](https://resources.mossberg.com/journal/passing-up-200-ducks-a-late-season-strategy) Stop burning your best spots! If you’re shooting into large flocks during the late season, you’re... 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