Waterfowl hunting is a favorite activity for many and many of them appreciate the need to prepare for the season. In the off season though, there are things you can do that will ensure that you are on top of things when the season finally begins. One of those things is early scouting. As you wait for the season to begin you can begin finding out about the great places in Texas and beyond where you can go hunting. In addition, you can look around your neighborhood. Find places that have a good source of food for the waterfowl and that offer ideal habitat for the birds as they fly past.
Another thing to consider is the gear and machinery that you will be using in the hunting season. Get your boat serviced and make sure that the motor is working like it should. You don’t want to find out on the day of you hunting adventure that your boat does not work. Any other mechanical tools that you will be using for the hunt will also need to be checked to ensure that they are functioning properly.
Cut out the blinds that you will be using for waterfowl hunting. Cut down your branches and where possible have some extra ones on standby that you can use throughout the season to touch up your blinds. It is also a good idea to ensure that any accessories that you may have newly purchased for your retriever are introduced before the season begins. This includes a dog stand or blind. Be sure to introduce it ahead of time and train your dog on it as well to ensure that the hunt goes as expected.
Familiarize yourself with your duck calls and especially the basic 5 note greeting call. This call, once you have it down, can be modified to become a hail call, a comeback call, make it softer or make it a single quack that will show confidence. The most effecting call for waterfowl hunting is the greeting call so practice it and learn it well before the season starts. Finally, both you and your dog need to be physically fit for the rigors of the hunt. Be sure to take your dog out swimming at the lake so that he can be able to perform well when the hunting season comes around. So make sure he is running and walking but also swimming in preparation for duck retrieval.
Waterfowl hunting is an activity loved by many but there are several things you should do before the season begins in order to be prepared to hit the ground running.
