By Mike Reeber
I think that it’s safe to say that 2020 was about the most unusual year that we’ll ever experience in our lifetime. Our normal world as we once knew it, came to a screeching halt and none of us ever saw that coming. And, despite lockdowns, food shortages and curbside madness, life back in the green woods of Texas was pretty much the same as it always is, with one encouraging thing to note, new hunters were hitting the woods. Yes, many people, perhaps even yourself, turned to hunting to escape the stale taste of the living room. And the longtime hunting community couldn’t be happier to welcome them/you.
If you’re like me, then your first season in the woods was filled with tons of “ah-ha” moments, great wildlife viewing and hopefully some venison in the cooler. Even if you didn’t see anything at all, I hope that you found a peaceful escape sitting in the blind. I can honestly say that after 28 years of hunting, getting out into the woods each season is just as exciting to me, as it was when I first got into it. And, with the conclusion of each season, I’m instantly looking forward to preparing for the next one, because it will be here before y’all know it.
As a new hunter, it’s important to remember that there’s always something to do when it comes to preparing for the next season. Unfortunately, there’s a lot of misinformed folks in the world that think that us hunters head out during the fall and that’s it, when in fact that couldn’t be further from the truth. Between picking up sheds, hanging treestands, filling feeders, clearing brush and literally hundreds of other “to do list” items around the ranch, there’s always something to be done.
And, regardless of what convinced you to sit in a deer blind last fall, congratulations on your first season. If you’re taking the time to read this article, then there’s a good chance that you enjoyed hunting so much that you’re planning on getting right back into it next season. And, I have good news for you, there’s plenty to do in the off-season to prepare for the fall. So break out a notepad and let’s start putting a plan in place for the upcoming season.
For me personally, the calendar below is generally what my year looks like from a hunting and preparation perspective. Keeping a running list of things to do will help to keep you organized for the upcoming season ahead.
Use all of the technology that you can.
When deer season is in the rearview mirror and the bright days of springtime start to appear, it’s time to get back into the field to find some sheds. This is the very first thing to do to prepare for next season. Shed hunting has become more and more popular these days, especially for those who aren’t really into hunting. Getting outside and enjoying a sunny day during the late winter/early spring is always a great time. And, when you locate a shed on your property, it makes it that much better. Now to some, picking up sheds is just plain old amusing, but to die hard deer hunters it’s an important piece of information to have in your pocket. Generally speaking, it’s nice to know that this buck will be around for next season. It’s also helpful to know where he dropped it, to better understand his home range. Because deer have large areas that they cover during certain times of the year, I highly suggest using one of the many digital mapping apps available for your phone or computer. Having the ability to look at topography and satellite images of your hunting area will help you to better understand patterns and where certain bucks are spending their off-season. Over the last few seasons, this has greatly helped me to manage the land that I hunt and also led me to successfully take my biggest buck yet. Between using digital maps and a strong mobile weather app, I always feel confident and up to date with conditions and which spots to hunt. Remember, technology is your friend, always use it when possible!
Get out there and chase some longbeards!
Once you’ve picked up your fair share of sheds, spring turkey season is just kicking off.
Wild turkeys don’t get the spotlight that whitetail get in the great state of Texas, and that’s just plain wrong. Hunting these birds is an adrenaline rush and you couldn’t convince me to ever miss a spring season. Sitting with your back against a tree and watching a strutting gobbler make his way toward your decoy is something that every hunter should experience at some point or another. Aside from that, the weather is another good excuse to go sit in the woods, hoping to drop a longbeard in his tracks.
Get a Jump on the Summer.
Moving into the late spring, some of the heavier lifting begins, moving blinds, setting out cameras and clearing brush. Now, a fair amount of people will wait until the middle of August or even September to check these things off of their list. But honestly, by then you’re dealing with 100+ degree days, deer are getting to be grown out and well, dove season is opening up and I want to dove hunt! So, I get a jump start on these tasks ahead of time so I can enjoy the scorching summer heat, hopefully floating in a river.
Depending on where you’re hunting, blinds and feeders might already be in place. But if they’re not, now is the time to get a quality blind and a good feeder in place for the upcoming fall. Personally, one of my favorite blinds to use is a Redneck 5×6 on a sled platform. It’s large enough to fit two people, but still compact enough to move around on your own. And, since it’s on a sled, pulling it around on your land is a breeze, especially when you want to relocate it to a new spot. Remember to trim shooting lanes now, while everything is lush. This is another easy thing to knock strike from your list before hunting season rolls around.
When early summer hits, I like to get all of my trail cameras back out into the field and running again. It may be earlier than what some people do, but it allows me to start seeing bucks grow out and where they’re living. During this time of the year, water sources are often good places to have at least one camera and starting a corn feeder isn’t a bad idea either to start getting bucks on camera. If you’re looking for convenience and don’t want to go manually pull memory cards, then you might want to consider a camera with cell service. And, it might sound elementary, but make sure that whatever cell service provider that camera comes with, has good service where you plan on using it. If checking cameras often isn’t a concern, a standard non-cellular camera will still give you a huge advantage to locate big bucks and to understand summer travel patterns.
Spend Time In the Field.
When velvet starts to fall off antlers and the weather begins to cool down some, getting out into the field and sitting behind a good pair of binoculars is critical. You may already have trail cameras running and a good idea of what kind of deer are on your land, but there is sincerely nothing better than seeing deer movement in person. Having a solid set of binoculars will not only be helpful during this time of the year, but also during both deer and turkey season. I suggest acquiring a pair of 10×42’s, since these have great versatility and won’t weigh you down. If you’re interested in taking long range photos while out in the field, check out Phone Skope phone adapters. They work really well and allow you to easily capture photos through your binoculars.
Practice.
Well, it goes without saying, but practice does indeed make perfect and when it comes to being a good shot with archery equipment or a rifle, the same holds true. Be sure to take some time over the course of the summer to get to know your gear and do some shooting. Whether you’ve been shooting for years or just started recently, shooting at a target is not beyond any of us, especially when it comes down to making an ethical shot during the season.
With still more than half of the year ahead of us, now is the time to start your list on what you want to accomplish during the 2021 hunting season. And when it comes to being a new hunter, don’t be shy about asking fellow hunters your questions. We all share the same passion and all look forward to helping one another!
Next Up: Buying Your First Deer Rifle, How to Choose a Scope and Cleaning Tips
