Four months until hunting season; time to prepare

MOSES LAKE - It isn't unusual for big game hunters to dream about finding a large bull elk or big mule deer buck and settling the crosshairs just behind the shoulder and gently squeeze the trigger. Dreams of this sort happen during the entire year, but strengthen and intensify in September.

The waterfowl hunters aren't to be left out either. The sight of a flock of Canada geese about to set down in the middle of strategically placed decoys appears in dreams also. And a pheasant taking flight in front of a pointing bird dog, excites bird hunters of all ages. 

Thinking about the fall hunting seasons in June may be difficult for some, but savvy hunters know it is not too early.

Planning

The various state fish and wildlife agencies have set the seasons already and the hunting pamphlet has been published. The deadline for the special permit hunts have passed and the results are due in mid-June. 

While it is not possible to complete all hunting tasks in June, this is the month to begin serious preparation.

Spending time with the hunting pamphlet is a must. All hunters should study the rules and regulations thoroughly for the new hunt dates and changes. A meeting or two with hunting partners is also necessary during the planning stages. When buddies are from different communities, telephone calls may be necessary and the joy of e-mail can be experienced.

Because the special permit hunt selections have been completed, this step should have already been completed, but discussing various hunts, even now, is a usual practice.

Get in shape

Hunters who have not been physically active need to get in shape. Waking up the second and third day of a hunt with sore muscles is not a pleasant experience.

The worst scenario is to be so far out of shape that a heart attack is possible. If the hunter isn't concerned about his/her health, think about the others in the party. When one hunter isn't physically prepared, the enjoyment of the others is sure to be affected.

Dennis note to Dennis: Pay attention to what you are writing.

Getting in shape is as simple as walking around the block, then two blocks and then three. Wearing hunting boots and shouldering the hunting pack for the walk will provide a more realistic situation.

It is not recommended that a hunter carry a rifle or shotgun for walks around the neighborhood, but when a treadmill is available, putting a firearm on a shoulder during the exercise period is good practice.

Realistic training

Downed game may be accessible by vehicle, but when hunting on federal or state land, the need to lug a carcass or quartered animal long distances, miles possibly, is very real.

An interesting training program for a group of hunters is to fill a gunnysack with 100 pounds of material, such as rocks, potatoes or sand. Place the sack at the bottom of a hill and challenge one in the group to pull it up the hill as if they were dragging a deer back to camp.

Of course the material could be divided into four sacks, to be carried by four hunters or by one person making four trips. This realistic training is especially meaningful to first-time hunters who have not had the experience of transporting a big-game carcass out of the hunt area.

Time at the range

Both bird and big game hunters would be well advised to spend time at the shooting range. Shooting a few rounds every month should keep the shooting eye tuned. When it isn't economically practical to fire 20 rounds out of the .30-06 every four weeks, shooting 50 rounds from the .22, fitted with a full-sized scope, is good practice and won't cost as much. During the same outing, throw a few clay pigeons for shotgun training.

Securing permission to hunt

One tactic for hunters to meet and talk with landowners is to walk into a small town restaurant. Many small town landowners gather for a cup of coffee and discuss the world problems every morning. This provides a chance to meet, visit and secure permission to hunt private lands. However, this should be a technique used when all others have failed.

The worst scenario is asking permission to hunt on the first day of the season. I've seen landowners ask why the hunter hasn't been out to visit with him earlier, instead of on the first day of the season.

The smart hunters begin talking to landowners as early as June. Check out the Columbia Basin Herald's Hunter Permission Form on our Website. Completing this form and presenting it to a landowner may help secure permission to hunt. By the way: The state of Washington has strict laws prohibiting trespass on private land and owners are not required to post their land.

Allowing access to land

Maintaining control of who has access to property is a fundamental right of the landowner. Those farmers and ranchers who are lawfully able to control admittance are often bombarded with hunters seeking permission.

One method to help sort through the requests is to ask each hunter to supply certain information on a form. The idea for the Columbia Basin Herald's Landowner Permission Form was gleaned from a similar form originated by Rock 'n' Roll legend and hunting advocate Ted Nugent.

Nugent offered a detailed form for use by members of the Ted Nugent United Sportsmen of America. The document was designed to be given to hunters asking to hunt lands controlled by a landowner.

By reversing Nugent's idea, the landowner would require a hunter seeking access to complete such a paper, supplying fundamental information, such as name, address and telephone number. Also a basic understanding between landowner and hunter is stated. A printable form is available at columnbiabasinherald.com. Use it as a guide to design a form that suits your needs or print the form and use it as is.

It is completely normal to anticipate the excitement of a fall hunt in June. And June is the perfect month to begin preparations for such hunts.