7 Tips to Prepare for Waterfowl Season

7 Tips to Prepare for Waterfowl Season

With the growing population of waterfowl hunters, Capitol Outdoors wants to bring you our checklist for the upcoming season. Remember that its not about the kill, it's about enjoying the Great Outdoors. Many problems that hunters have in the field stem from the lack of preparation prior to the season.

Location

• The new technology that hunters have today allows them to use many features prior to the hunt for location ie; Google Maps, Bing and FlashEarth. These are just some of the tools we use to select possible locations. Along with these map technologies there are hunting forums that are used to find tricks, tips and helpful suggestions in regards to location and other various hunting related topics. Regardless of these technologies, the best way to get to know your location is to get out and scout. You will gain the experience needed come hunting season.

Decoys

• Making sure all your duck decoys are in a row is crucial to being prepared come hunting season. Make sure to check for leaks, frayed line and missing weights. In regards to motion decoys, check those batteries and wiring. The last thing you want is to be working on this the night before you head out. Also don’t forget to think about how you are transporting your decoys. Check out some of the ways we transport our decoys and other gear to the blind here. 

Blind Bag

• Every waterfowl hunter should have a blind bag. The blind bag should contain: First Aid Kit, Extra Gloves, Extra Socks, Shotgun Shells, Flashlight, Choke Tubes, Calls, Knife, Snacks, Water, Regulation Book and Hunting License. Your blind bag is an essential tool while in the field because it should contain the means necessary to have a safe and happy hunting trip.

Clothing

• At the beginning of waterfowl season, you can be hunting in 80 degree weather however by the end it can be in the negative digits. By preparing in the off season, you will be better equipped with the various ranges of clothing when hunting season rolls around. You don’t want to be hunting in your winter jacket in 80 degree weather. Rule of thumb when it comes to hunting clothes: it is better to be overdressed than under-dressed. You can always take layers off! 

Waders

• Don’t wait until the night before to get those waders out again, because who knows if there is a hole in them. It is very easy to take those waders out, try them on and test them out in a river or lake. The last thing you want to happen is to be standing at your spot and water to be seeping in your boot. 

Shooting

• A good idea to get re-acclimated to your gun is to do some trap and/or skeet shooting. Also you should research what kind of shot you should be using for hunting season. You can find more information on Preseason Shooting by checking out our video here. 

Dog Training

• Your dog is an athlete and you need to train him like an athlete. You need to get him out working the fields and used to various weather conditions. It is important that the dog is prepared come the first day of hunting season to lessen injury and to ensure safety. Check out this article on some ideas for training your dog. 

These are just some of the things we do prior to hunting season to prepare ourselves. Each hunter will become accustomed to their own preseason ritual. Remember to always tell someone where you are going and always have a cell phone on you because although you may not think things will happen; you would rather be safe than sorry!