|
| Deer Hunters Off-Season Checklist |
|
| Even though hunting season may be closed, for deer hunters, there is no off-season. There's always loose ends to tie from last season, and preparations for this season. Have you finished? Use this deer hunters' checklist to find out. |
|
| Repair or Replace Deer Stands: |
| If the rest on your home-made box blind was a little shaky last season, now's the time to stabilize it while its still fresh in your mind. Make sure tree stands, ladder stands and other manufactured stands are still in good working order. Trim any branches that obscured your shooting lanes last season. |
|
| Take Care of Your Equipment: |
| It goes without saying that you should clean your firearms after deer season, but what about the rest of your equipment? Could your bow-string use some wax? Is it about time to replace that broken zipper on your gun case? Is your knife still holding an edge? When's the last time you treated the leather on your hunting boots? |
|
| Conduct a Logging Operation: |
| If you want to thin some trees on your land, winter is the best time to do it. Logging creates immediate browse for deer and allows more light to reach the forest floor, which creates cover and new browse. Consult a forester for help in planning your cut well in advance. |
|
| Find Some Antlers: |
| The surest way to determine that a buck survived the hunting season is to find his sheds. Plus, shed hunting helps you learn more about deer movements on your hunting land. |
|
| Give Landowners a hand: |
| Farmers are always busy, but they're especially so during spring planting. A little sweat is a small price to pay for the privilege of hunting deer on private property. |
|
| Practice Shooting: |
| Bow hunters tend to practice shooting frequently, but too many gun hunters shoot their deer rifles the weekend before gun season opens and call it good. It never hurts to practice your shooting. You'll be glad you did when that buck of a lifetime presents you with a challenging shot. |
|
| Dust Off Your Mounts: |
| Keep your trophy buck looking as fresh as the day you shot him by occasionally dusting it off with a feather duster. |
|
| Scout: |
| Obviously, it pays to scout right before deer season, but what about late winter and spring? Deer trails from last year's deer season are still well defined, and summer is an excellent time to see bachelor groups of large bucks. Simply put, the more time you spend in the woods, the better prepared you'll be. |
|
| Hang Stands Early: |
| Set up your deer stands well in advance of opening day so deer become used to their presence. |
|
| Clean Out the Freezer: |
| Above all, enjoy your hard-earned venison, and don't let it get buried in your freezer. Why not have a cookout with your hunting partners to celebrate a successful hunt? |
|
|
| Deer Hunters' Off-Season Checklist is from Deer Hunters Almanac 2005. |