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Bang.....
You blast off a shot at the buck as he dart over the edge of the hill top. You never stood a
chance. Had you taken a few simple step in preparation, the outcome of this encounter may have turned out much different.
Now is the time of year to break out the hunting equipment and start honing your skills, if you have not
already done so.
Make sure you gear has a fresh cleaning done to all moving parts, and part that require lubrication get the necessary care. Pay special attention to area that may be prone to wear and tear. It will vary from weapon to weapon, but you need to take the time now, before you get into the field, to insure your gear is in top notch condition.
Condition........ This would be a good time to stop and take a look at your current physical and
mental conditioning. Have you been down to the range lately or out hunting since the last big game tag you bought?
Time to take a few rounds and make sure you are familiar and ready to the kick and noise. Flinching even one inch out the barrel, can throw your projectile off by several feet in the distance of 200-300 yard shot. Make sure you also are using the same ammunition that you will be hunting with. Ammunition changes in the middle of a hunt can also lead to a missed trophy.
Physical and mental conditioning and just as important as the expensive set of camouflage gear you wear
into the woods.
Being familiar and comfortable in your surroundings is important. You need to know where animals are likely to enter into your shooting lanes and know the distances you are capable of shooting successfully. Get out now, before the season opens, if possible, and get into the areas you are planning on hunting in. Take notes!!! Write down times you spot game, locations, and sign that animals have recently been in the area. Find the places you will feel give you the best vantage points along traveled game routes. If you know now where you are hunting and can get in and out comfortable, and quietly, come opening morning, no time is wasted, and your chances are maximized with minimal pre-season preparations.
Mentally prepare yourself.
Spend time sitting in your vantage points. Take a good pair of binoculars or spotting scope and a camera and get a feel for what the animals are doing now. Animals habits will rapidly change after the first shot of the season, but if you are prepared on opening morning, and have done your pre-season scouting, you should have a good idea of where these animals are going to head to when the heat is on. Time spent with good optics can be very fruitful in locating these hidden locations!
The more time you can dedicate now, the higher your chances will be that the trophy will be hanging on
your wall this year.
By now, you may have thought to yourself, this article is supposed to be about blending in with your
environment and not more than a mild mention of camo gear has been made. Camouflage can greatly increase your success rate, but is not, (In my opinion) as important as knowing the surroundings, or
having someone guiding you that does.
I know many hunters that hunt in traditional blue jeans and the minimum requirements for hunters orange on rifle and muzzle load hunts, and bag big animals every year, but they have camouflaged themselves in their surroundings and become a part of the animals home. Bow hunting can also be accomplished without camo, but with much less success, unless you are a very skilled hunter.
So maybe this year, instead of budgeting some much for new gear, invest it in a few tanks of gas, some
good hard earned sweat, and get "into" the environment you'll be hunting in soon!
The pay off may just be much more than you except.
The Trail Master
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