Now is the time to prepare for the fall hunt

Let the hunts begin. Yes, the first hunt begins Aug. 1, eight days from now. This hunt is for black bear in several Game Management Units, including some in the Columbia Basin. Other GMUs open for black bear on Aug. 15 and still more on Sept. 1. Two master hunter elk hunts also begin on Aug. 1.

The forecast high for the first day, a Friday, is 90 degrees. Who would want to be hunting big game when the temperatures are in the 90s? Come to find out there are several hunters who will be in the field on opening day.

These hunters should be prepared to take care of themselves in the heat, but also the meat harvested. Taking a friend or two along would help get the meat from the field to the cooler in time to prevent spoilage.

Most hunters have already spent quality time with the hunting pamphlet when submitting applications for special permit hunts. Those hunters who have not opened the pamphlet should do so and study it cover to cover.

Fish and Wildlife have indicated changes from last year's pamphlet by making them red. Corrections to the pamphlet are noted on the Fish and Wildlife website at the beginning of the pamphlet.

Time at the shooting range is a must. Is the scope still tuned and able to hit the spot where the hunter aims? How does this hunter know without taking time at the range to find out?

Consider making several trips to the range between now and the opening of the seasons. If shooting a high-powered rifle is not cost effective, consider taking a .22 and shooting at 50 yards.

Shooting at different ranges will also be of assistance. The Boyd Mordhorst Range near Ephrata has 25, 50, 100 and 500 yard ranges. The long range also has targets at 200, 300 and 400 yards. Take your hunting buddies to the range and see if they are able to hit a critter at long distances. This exercise may assist in the decision of taking a long shot when in the field.

My high-powered rifles are sighted in to hit three-inches high at 100 yards. The zero is therefore 238 yards for my .270. It hits three inches low at 300 yards. This way of thinking allows the hunter to aim for a lung shot out to 300 yards and still make a killing shot.

While at the range, throw a few clay pigeons to hone the shotgun shooting eye.

Another necessary duty is securing permission to hunt. Hunters would be smart to begin talking to landowners this month. Asking permission to hunt on the first day of the season does happen, but landowners are many times reluctant to grant permission. Remember, the state of Washington has strict laws prohibiting trespass on private land and owners are not required to post their land.

Maintaining control of who has access to property is a fundamental right of the landowner and they are often bombarded with hunters seeking permission, not only during the season, but beforehand, also.

An effective method to help sort through the requests is to ask each hunter to supply certain information on a form, such as name, address, phone numbers, vehicle license number, etc. When a hunter stops by a month before the season, the landowner simply hands the hunter the form and asks him to complete it. The landowner can pick and decide who will be allowed to hunt. Look for the form to be posted to the CBH website soon.

Reversing this idea has the hunter preparing much of the same form before approaching the landowner; a sort of hunter's resume. Again include all significant information and a couple of references. An example of this idea will also be posted to the CBH website.

Now for my main concern for this fall's hunt. Hunters need to be in shape for a successful hunt. Waking up the second and third day of a hunt with sore muscles is not a pleasant experience. I need to begin walking with my hunting pack on my back. My walks will expand in length and eventually include areas requiring hiking up and down hills along the route.

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

An interesting and realistic training exercise 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 spuds could be divided into four sacks, to be carried by four hunters or by one person making four trips.

Preparing for the fall hunts begins now.