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Out of Season "Hunting".
I know the first thing you are thinking is out of season hunting, is this guy crazy?
Actually, right now is the time to be out practicing your skills for hunting by, learning.....
One of the best ways to interact with the animals when they are out of season, is to leave the
gun at home in the gun cabinet, and grab your camo gear, cover scents, and CAMERA and head out to that favorite hunting spot to get ready for the next seasons adventures.
With the pressure of the hunt off the animals and the break in the winter weather, deer,
elk, bears and just about all forms of animals that live in the forests and deserts, begin to emerge and move back to the territory they spend most of their days living in and usually where they
will be during the hunting season. Although high country access is still limited in the mountainous areas, many of the areas you may hunt are accessible now.
Remember, I mentioned grabbing the camo and cover scent?
Now is the time of year to practice your skills in spotting and then being able to successful negotiate into a position that would give you the advantage you would need to harvest this animal if the hunt was on. Honing these skills this time of year, has three major benefits.
- The animals are not as pressured and moving into position is often easier this time of year than
any other time during the year. Gearing up correctly and testing different cover scents is better done now than during the critical minutes before you take a shot in the middle of hunting
season.
Getting out now allows you to get close, learn about the habits of the animals you watch. Study how they react, move, eat and travel. Learn what it is you are trying to hunt and you will be more successful.
- Practicing these skills now will help keep the mind and body in shape for the task at hand.
A persons physical limitations are often the difference between the trophy and the average when the end of the hunt comes around. The better physical and mental shape you are in, the sharper
skills you'll be working with when the opportunity presents itself.
- Now, the camera.........
Yes, this is a VERY IMPORTANT item to pack with this time of year. A camera will allow you to use the same techniques that you would using a rifle equipped with a scope. Locating an animal in a small viewing area and practicing where you would place your shot. It also provides a perfect opportunity for you to capture valuable information of film. Keeping a record of your hunting and scouting trips, and adding in pictures can be rewarding and a great tool to identify the same animals as the years pass.
One method of doing so would be to use on of this months featured products, The Hunt Recorder and Notes Book!
I recently received the newest version of these here at the office and will be doing some field testing and also sending a few out to members for their evaluation and review. We will post them here on the Trail when they are complete, but hope to bring you updates on their use through out the year.
So, once again I say......... Get out and go hunting in the off season!
It can have very fruitful rewards come this fall!
The Trail Master
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