Hunting
in the off-season
Know your hunting areas so you’re up to date with the environment you’re putting
yourself in. Spend some time with a map going over where the nearest bodies of water are and which mountains are to the north or south of your scouting range. You’ll
feel better about going out and when you finally do, you will be impressed with how
much that can help prepare you in the long run.
We can’t stress this enough, but make sure to study regulations for the state you’re
hunting in! Almost every state has different rules for different species and seasons,
so being on your “A” game when it comes to this will keep you out of trouble. It will
also keep you informed in case new game limits or species become available, like
the new laws that allow you to hunt wolves in several states now, including Montana
and Idaho.
Take a hunter’s education or survival course. Even if you’ve been hunting for years,
new tactics and techniques are always being thought of, so taking a course may
teach you something new that could really help you in the field. A survival course
isn’t a bad idea at all, since you never know what could happen out in the wild. As an
outdoorsman, you love the wilderness, but nature is not kind. Taking these courses
will prepare you for the worst even if it doesn’t happen, which is way better than going in blindfolded and having something go wrong. You might even form a friendship
or two while attending the class, which could afford you new hunting opportunities
altogether.
Stay on top of the new and upcoming technology to make your overall hunting experience easier and more fun. Innovations, like several new series of trail cameras
recently released, can help you scout with more accuracy and keep a seasonal log
of game in your area. That’s much cooler than walking around in circles with a map.
Check out local shooting ranges to keep your aim tight. Paper targets aren’t as fun
as the real thing, but they will give you the boost you need before you go on your
trip. Shooting ranges are inexpensive and also a good way to meet other hunters in
your area. There, you will be able to find information on gun styles and ammo as well,
which is like killing two birds with one bullet.
If you’re wanting to bring your pooch with you, try tak