Here we are now in the thick of high summer, soaking up the long days and warm weather. But for seasoned hunters, this time of year marks something else: the countdown to open season. The late summer and fall stretch is all about preparation as you scout terrain, pattern big game, and dial in your gear for the season ahead.

At Mountain House, we’ve fueled countless hunting camps with our trusted freeze-dried meals for decades. Now, we’re kicking off the season with something special: our 2025 Big Hunt Giveaway. 

We’ve teamed up with other incredible brands and assembled a prize package with over $3,500 in hunting essentials—built to fuel your chase and fill your tag.

Learn more about the giveaway or throw your name in the hat right away! Entries are open from August 10-16.

Preseason Prep Starts Now

August is, needless to say, a big month for hunters. Bowhunting and special seasons often begin toward the end of the month, and for both archery and rifle hunters, it’s a crucial window for preseason scouting before the real action kicks off.

Whether you're tracking where those big whitetail or muley bucks are bulking up ahead of the rut, or locking into the summer-range haunts of cow elk—sure to attract bulls as the breeding season starts to get underway—there’s a lot of hard but rewarding work to be done in these hot, muggy, mosquito-y weeks. But it’s all part of the rewarding grind before those crisp, electric days of the hunt arrive.

From setting up trail cameras in shady stands to spending hours glassing cornfields or high-country clear-cuts, this sort of boots-on-the-ground preseason homework can pay major dividends (while also, not incidentally, get you a bit more into shape for the rigors of hunting season).

And as you dive into scouting and prep for the main event, be sure to enter our Big Hunt Giveaway. It’s your chance to land some incredible equipment and essential supplies that’ll take your hunting season to the next level!

Giveaway Details: Premium Gear from Trusted Hunting Brands

The siren of hunting season is sounding, and so is your chance to win big. We’ve teamed up with seven leading outdoor brands to bring you a prize package loaded with premium gear and supplies. From camp-ready Mountain House meals to top-tier tools, apparel, and accessories, this giveaway is built to get you ready for the backcountry and beyond.

With over $3,500 in gear for both archery and rifle hunters alike, this prize pack has everything you need to start your season strong. Here’s what’s up for grabs:

• A razor-sharp Meat Church Chef Knife from Montana Knife Company—built for serious backcountry work
• Two top-tier sharpeners from Work Sharp to keep your blades in peak condition, wherever you roam
• A pair of elite onX Hunt memberships to dial in your scouting and navigation game
• A Leupold RX-5000 TBR/W rangefinder for precision that locks you into your target
• A $500 First Lite gift card to outfit yourself in high-performance hunting apparel
• A four-piece Sea to Summit sleep system—complete with a 15° bag, insulated mat, fleece liner, and foam-core pillow for deep camp comfort
• A decked-out cookset and Pinnacle Pro stove from GSI to turn your basecamp into a gourmet outpost

Finally, a Mountain House 14-Day Food Supply Kit to keep you fueled deep into the season opener and beyond. This kit comes complete with everything from Biscuits & Gravy and Granola With Milk & Blueberries to Beer Stroganoff With Noodles and Creamy Macaroni & Cheese. Boasting an unbeatable shelf life, awesome packability and lightweight design, heavy-hitting energy and nutrition, and lightning-fast preparation—just add hot water!—this lineup of Mountain House winners is not only tailor-made for the backcountry in terms of practicality, but also an awful lot of deliciousness.

Enter Our Hunting Gear Giveaway Between August 10-16, 2025 for Your Chance to Win

We and our partners are kicking off this August Hunting Giveaway beginning Sunday, August 10th, and it’ll run through midnight on August 16th. In other words, the ideal window for potentially stocking up on first-rate hunting gear essentials ahead of the season opener!

Fill out the entry form to be entered in the giveaway. Then, to increase your chances, like, follow, and tag the contest via Viralsweep!

Scoping out bucks and bulls, identifying likely movement patterns and staging areas: There’s much to be done in these remaining summer weeks ahead of hunting season. And that includes considering how you might flesh out your supplies.

Whether you reach for a bow or a rifle this time of year, don’t miss out on our Big Hunt Giveaway: An incredible chance to expand your hunting toolkit—and (ahem) your hunting larder—before you hit the woods!