August is here and many of us around the country are getting excited because hunting season is right around the corner. We have been thinking abut it for months. It really doesn’t matter if you are hunting your local public or private lands or if you got that Wyoming elk tag you have been dreaming about. It is time to prepare for the season so here is a list of things to get you started on a successful season.
Scouting and physical fitness can walk hand in hand if you do it right. It is easy to walk to a stand with all your gear if that is the way you hunt. Dragging a deer back to your truck that weighs 160 pounds will get that heart rate up. So a great way to get healthy and prepare is to wear a weight vest or full backpack when you go out and scout. The extra weight will help with your cardio and we all know how important it is to scout before the season starts.
When was the last time you shot your bow or gun? If you are not shooting regularly and at various distances the chances of making a poor shot increases. Get out there and shoot! Your accuracy will improve and so will your confidence.
Since we are on the topic of shooting, when was the last time you went over your rifle and gave a good cleaning? How about your bow? Do the strings look good? When was the last time you had them replaced? When we prepare and take care of our weapon system there is less likely a chance for failure. Do the right thing and get it done.
Our gear is something many of us are proud of using. We like having certain brands because they are reliable. It doesn’t matter if you wear First Lite, Mossy Oak, Badlands, Under Armour, Sitka, or that guille suit you got off Amazon, make sure that it is ready to go. Check it for holes, stains, or rips. Personally I like to take all my gear out and let it “air out” for a few days. Wildlife, particularly deer, have a keen sense of smell and can be easily spooked by an unfamiliar scent. Also getting your gear out helps you check for mold or mildew and helps dissipate any smells that were on it.
So folks just remember that old Mr. Murphy (Murphy’s Law) is always around to mess up a great hunt. Take advantage of the preseason and prepare early. Benjamin Franklin once said, “By failing to prepare, you’re preparing to fail”.
