It's that time of year again folks where we reflect on all that has gone wrong this year and vow to make it right in 2016. As hunters and fishermen we, too, can take advantage of change and make next season the best ever.
There isn't a year that goes by that I don't find something in my hunting and fishing routine, which needs be changed. As we head afield we have no clue the events that will transpire, which tends to have you scratching your head from time to time. Most of us pay attention to these unexpected learning experiences and try our best to grow as an outdoor person from them. The list is endless when it comes to tricks and strategies, so I'm going to hit the big ones and let you work out the fine points.
I'm sure from the cold days in the beginning of bow season, many of you weren't expecting to see tee shirt weather in December. This years most negative situation was hands down the heat. The sad thing is this is the worse type of condition to have. Heat unlike other things is much harder to combat and tends to kick your butt. In reflection, I have some tweaking to do to my hunting properties seasonally in an attempt to one up the heat. All of the properties I hunt are covered with thick bedding cover, which makes it hard to find deer at times. When it's hot outside deer move less and tend to seek out thick cover, likely to avoid the rays of sun beating down. When it's like this out it seems the deer don't move at all. The truth is they do move, but much less and typically in the heart of a thicket somewhere. Most of us choose more open woods that allow you to see a good distance. This is the last thing you want to do in the heat. I have seen deer walking through a thicket several years in a row, but haven't done anything about it, because the torment I'm sure to go through hacking 15 foot high walls of roses.
My resolution this year is to set up hunting locations in the depths of Thicketville. I know what I'm getting into and have to say I'm not too excited about it! I plan to hack it out in the winter, when I don't have to worry about being covered in ticks. The bushes and briers are dry and chop much easier than when they are alive. I will be cutting a system of small deer sized trails, with blind and stand sites at pinch points, along with areas that offer a decent 10 to 20 yard shot. I will likely have to cut shooting lanes, but will limit the amount of brush I remove. I want to impact the area as little as possible and cause the least amount of change possible. Once cut I will return in June and the end of September to trim up again and make sure it's still easily accessible. Change is only in the air if you break out the cutting tools and machete, so get busy and make some.
If you haven't become a wind freak yet, now is the time to do so. To be a proficient deer hunter you must play the wind appropriately. Learning to do so is easy but may require a bit of work. Down wind trails leading to stand location's is the name of the game. If the trails aren't there make them! I promise if you learn to play the wind you will see more deer and likely harvest more too. I say likely because the shot counts the most. Is it time to replace that old shotgun or dusty bow? If it has cost you an animal the answer is clearly yes. Start saving now and remember a weapon is only as good as its optics, so buy high end sights and scopes and a decent gun. An awesome gun or bow with garbage sights will let you down more often then not, so worry about getting a dot or cross hair on the animal and know when you pull the trigger or release the string, that the arrow or bullet will hit the mark!
Fishing is another outdoor recreation, that you can tweak to make yourself more successful. The first thing I recommend is starting an outdoor journal. Include the time, date, temperature, moon cycle, weather type and if having an awesome day, lure selection and fishing location. By doing this you may be able to put together a fishing formula. Fish are creatures of habit and focus on certain types of forage when they are most readily available. They also react to temperature and weather systems in a predictable manner. If you know what to expect because of past information, you are surely ahead of the game. This will work on open water, rivers and streams along with ice fishing in the winter. This is why almost every professional fisherman religiously records data from lake to lake. There is a lot of money at stake and they do everything possible to stack the cards in their favor. Who says you have to be fishing tournaments to be tournament ready on any body of water? I promise if you do what I have said you will thank me later. It all ends up putting more bend in your rod and fish on the stringer, so why not break out the pen and paper after a trip to the lake?
I'm going to end with a little talk of respect for wildlife and places. I received am alarming number of reports pertaining to deer carcasses being dumped along the back roads and state land's of Chenango County. While some were likely taken legally I'm sure some of them were poached. Many hunters are guilty of looking at a deer as nothing more than food. They tend to forget how special an animal deer are to us and take as many as they choose. If you are that guy or know someone like this, please do everything possible to change it. We are all guilty of negative behaviors from time to time, but all have the ability to stop them. The time to change is now before our deer, turkey and fish population's are no longer viable for use by future hunters and fishermen.
Good wishes and be sure to make a few outdoor resolutions.