With the summer coming to a close, many hunters are starting to get ready for the opening of hunting season. Depending on the type of hunting you like to do, the seasons will open at different times and last for different lengths. But regardless of this, there are things you can and should be doing to get yourself prepared and have a fun and successful hunt.
To help you with this, here are three tips for preparing for a hunting trip.
Start Your Prep Early
According to Stephen Spurlock, a contributor to GoHunt.com, avid hunters can find ways throughout the entire year to prepare and get ready for their preferred hunting season. From staying in shape to doing target practice and brushing up on your field skills, there are activities you can always be working on that will make your hunt more successful.
But if you’re not wanting to spend an entire year preparing for a big hunting trip, you should at least start planning and preparing about a month in advance. This will give you the time to learn about the area you’ll be hunting, get all of your gear ready, and make sure everything is in place so that you can spend your entire time out on your hunting trip solely focused on filling your tags.
Plan To Keep Your Gun Dry
Despite all the planning you do, one thing you’re not going to have any control over is the weather. And if the weather is bad, it can make for one miserable hunting trip.
To hedge your bet against this, it’s wise to get gear that will stand up well to rain, snow, or high heat, since there’s really no telling what kind of weather you’ll be facing. Along with this, HuntersHandbook.com reminds hunters that the worst enemy of their gun is moisture, so make sure you have a plan in place for keeping your gun dry so you can safely hunt throughout your entire hunting trip.
Realize That You’ll Be Uncomfortable
Not only should you be preparing physically, but you should also prepare mentally before you take off on a big hunting trip.
According to Tyler Freel, a contributor to Outdoor Life, one of the best things you can do to prepare yourself mentally is to give up the false notion that your hunting trip will be a comfortable experience. From having to wake up early to being cold and wet and potentially hungry, it’s fair to assume that most of your time will be spent being at least partially uncomfortable. But if you can tough it out, you can still have a great experience.
If you’re wanting to take a hunting trip this fall, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you prepare for this adventure.