How to survive the "off-season"

[Armored farmer]

Just 30 days away from opening day of bow season, two weeks away from dove season, and I'm losing my patience.

1.I am using my dutch oven quite often to cook the evening meal for the family.
2.Went camping a few times and have been tuning my 'camping list'.
3.Put out my trail-cams.
4.Cut some shooting lanes in my favorite stand locations.
5.preparing food plots.
6.Doing some Jeeping in the evenings looking for bucks/doves
7.Shopping for a new tent (any advice?)
8. Shoot sporting clays a few times per month.
9.Stocking up on ammo that I dont load myself (steel shot).
10.Grab my binos and get on the atv and scout.


What do you do to span the time between hunting seasons, and keep in touch with your hunting spirit?

 

[elkhunterCO]

I can keep myself entertained for hours by recalling good elk hunts.

Other than that I just think about it all year. Took the kids out last weekend scouting out my favorite little honey hole and my season is still 3 months away.

 

[Armored farmer]

My good buddy's 14yo son drew a New Mexico bull tag. I think they're headed out this weekend for early muzzleloader season.

 

[BigBore44]

Bowfishing. Try it and you'll be "hooked".

 

[Hardtarget]

I've been reloading some...shooting some...and cutting a lot of grass! I think about hunting while cutting. I'm never sure how much hunting I'll do because i'm never sure how much time off I'll have. Hunt day is almost a "spur of the moment/night before" type thing for me.

It wasn't like this always. Life isn't as predictable as it once was.

Mark

 

[Bobson]

What do you do to span the time between hunting seasons, and keep in touch with your hunting spirit?

I don't do it, but I've heard that "hunting" with a camera is equally enjoyable. You can do that all year long, and it'll probably make you a better hunter.

 

[Pit4Brains]

Just 30 days away from opening day of bow season, two weeks away from dove season, and I'm losing my patience.

1.I am using my dutch oven quite often to cook the evening meal for the family.
2.Went camping a few times and have been tuning my 'camping list'.
3.Put out my trail-cams.
4.Cut some shooting lanes in my favorite stand locations.
5.preparing food plots.
6.Doing some Jeeping in the evenings looking for bucks/doves
7.Shopping for a new tent (any advice?)
8. Shoot sporting clays a few times per month.
9.Stocking up on ammo that I dont load myself (steel shot).
10.Grab my binos and get on the atv and scout.


What do you do to span the time between hunting seasons, and keep in touch with your hunting spirit?

30 days from bow season…
1. New bowstring
2. New peep tube if you use one.
3. Shoot three arrows 15-20 times a day.
4. Practice holding back, twisting and kneeling shots.
5. Pin setting for distance.
6. Flagging distances in your lanes from from your favorite stands.
7. Pull out the duck call and practice.
8. Sharpen knives.
9. Inventory ropes, tarps, game bags, and other field dressing gear.

Ahh yes, the time is coming..

 

[courtgreene]

Repair tree stands, build new ones, make and maintain trails to get in quietly, this year I built a bridge over a creek to open more hunting access, make ground blinds, there's always SOMETHING to do.

 

[nickE10mm]

I don't actually LIVE in the area I hunt, which means there, in fact, isn't much to "do" before the hunt other than read articles, read maps, talk to friends and landowners (if I see any), go shooting, load ammo, check the bow, check my gear, etc etc.....

Also, its tough to get out shooting all I want since I have a new daughter about to be born .... we have lots going on right now and not too much money and extremely hot weather.

To top it all off, I've been wanting to go hunting again since the day AFTER last season closed! ARGHHH!!! lol ....

(And yes, when I now, I do my "transcendendal medidation" wherein I take myself on a "hunting trip" or a "walk through the woods? to pass the time. (seriously)

I need a range in my backyard....

 

[gamestalker]

I stay busy scouting my hunts.

And also hunting varmints, P dogs, coyotes and such. this also helps to keep my skills honed for the up coming hunts.

As for a tent, my son and I just bought a 12'x20' canvas cabin tent and a wood stove. Up until now, we have been buying those pop up types, but they are impossible to stay warm in. Years ago I had a canvas with a wood stove in it, and we could play cards at night in our under ware, it stayed so toasty. I highly recommend both if you like to be comfortable. Also, a shower is nice, we have one, and a water heater, and all the other amenities. But we also spend up to 2 weeks at a time in the field.

GS

 

[a-sheepdog]

During the off season I like to hog hunt if its not too hot.

 

[Bghunter]

Buy a 150 acre hunting play ground. You will stop worrying about what to do between hunting seasons and focus on how to buy all the play ground equipment (hunting gear) you want to put on it.

 

[gspn]

Hunting season ends here at the end of January. Fishing starts for me very soon after that. Sometimes I'll be out there in February if I can stand the cold. Spring time is time to chase crappie, bass, and turkey. Summer time is for bass and catfish. Fall is for bass and hunting. My "off season" is only about a month long.

 

[cat_IT_guy]

For me..... fishing, hiking, camping, target shooting. Summer is the longest off season for me, Im a sissy about hot weather I like to stay inside. I'd rather be cold at least I can just bundle up.

I loved legos growing up, and now guns, so may try one of those "build your own kentucky rifle kits" this winter.