Scouts know the following words well: Be prepared. And as the upland seasons approach, it would be wise for hunters to adopt this motto, as well, to ensure that they and their canine companions are safe and successful in the field. The following checklist is a good place to start getting ready.
Your Shotgun
The first and most critical piece of equipment is your shotgun. Is it in good condition? Have you been cleaning it regularly? Do you have the proper cleaning equipment, and is it in good shape?
When was the last time you had your gun professionally serviced?Shotgun maintenance is essential, and it is worth paying a visit to your local gunsmith for an annual strip and clean and to have any repairs made before the start of the season.
Have you ever considered whether your shotgun actually fits you, or have you been “making do” with the same gun—making allowances and adjustments and basically fitting yourself to the gun? If you have been compromising with shotgun fit, you might consider having a proper gunfitting—and having it done sooner rather than later, so that any alterations can be made prior to opening day.
Clothing, Boots and Other Kit
We all have old favorites among our shooting attire, but it is wise to double-check hunting shirts, vests, jackets, socks and boots, as it may be time to replace some of them. There are many excellent modern fabrics that are durable and lightweight and keep you warm and dry. Keep in mind that new clothing crisp out of the package can be uncomfortable until it has been through the washing machine a couple of times, so start resupplying yourself early.
These days boots that are lined with materials like Gore-Tex are truly amazing, as they are often extremely sturdy yet very comfortable and waterproof. That said, I would suggest you not wait until the last minute to buy new boots, as they will require a breaking-in period. Heading afield with new boots is a certain recipe for sore feet and perhaps even blisters by day’s end.
First-aid kits are a must in every upland hunter’s pack, and it is essential for both you and your dogs to have plenty of fluids and even some snacks. Depending on where you are going and how far from the road you might get, you should also consider a compass and a device equipped with GPS. And don’t forget a knife and your cartridges.
Your Hunting Grounds
Where are you going to be hunting this season? Are you returning to your regular grounds, or do you plan to visit a new area—perhaps in another state with different terrain and topography?
If you are planning to cover new territory, you really should do some reconnaissance. It is important not only to consider the terrain but also the elevation and potential weather. It might serve well to tap into the knowledge of other upland hunters in the region and to seek the advice of state biologists or local members of conservation organizations.
Your Hunting Fitness
It is essential for you (and your dog) to have an off-season fitness preparation regime on the “run up” to opening day.
Go to the gym. If you are not a member, join. This is some of the best “hunting money” you will ever spend. Be sure to explain to the trainer what you are trying to achieve. He or she should be very helpful in putting together a program that will get you fit for traipsing up and down hills as well as long walks in open country or thick woods—all while carrying a shotgun. Swimming is another excellent exercise that can offer overall fitness improvement and endurance.
You will also need to build your core and upper-body strength to be able to carry a vest or pack containing all of the field essentials and hopefully a few birds.
Your Shooting Skills
Warming up for the season requires practice, so take the time to visit your local clays range. Practicing on targets for wingshooting is the equivalent of driving buckets of balls for golfing. Once you determine which presentations most closely mimic those you are likely to encounter in the field, you should practice on those as much as possible. If you are lucky enough to have access to a range that has a tower, you will be able to practice taking high overhead birds like those you may encounter in a dove or pheasant field, on a chukar mountain or even on a driven shoot.
Trap, skeet and sporting clays present a variety of targets that duplicate typical hunting shots. If you shoot any of these clay target games from a low-gun position, you can significantly sharpen your skills for just about any type of upland hunting. Both skeet and trap present targets at various angles, heights and distances, mimicking upland birds in flight. Trap more realistically simulates flushing birds but doesn’t provide the variety of angles that skeet does. If you are a pheasant, quail or grouse hunter, trap is a great way to practice, as you never know which direction the target is going to go when it comes up.
It is also important to note that when you are practicing on clays, you will need to work on your gun mount and foot position. If you are having problems with a particular target, a qualified coach can help you with some lessons on dealing with various speeds, angles and distances. Once the coach helps you recognize where you are typically missing, you can work on those particular targets on your own.
When you are practicing on clays, be sure to use the shotgun you plan to use for hunting. Upland guns are typically shorter and lighter than clay target guns. They feel and swing differently. The goal here is not to improve your clay target scores but to prepare you for taking birds in the field.
Just as in clay target shooting, barrel movement is critical to success in upland hunting. So you need to find the time to practice gun mount, target focus and smooth barrel movement—all of which create the solid target focus that is so essential to bird acquisition and clean kills.
There is no better time than now to start ticking off the boxes on your preseason checklist. Summer waits for no one, and before you know it cool weather will be (thankfully) slipping in. When the opportunity presents itself for a hunting adventure in either your immediate area or a new and different place, you want to be ready to collect your practiced shooting skills and your new or refurbished gear and hit the field running.
