HOOK AND FUR By Bob Brown For many folks, big game hunting season is the high point of their recreational year. In some locales, the big game in question may be a moose, an elk and even a bear. However, most big game hunting means deer season. Whatever, your quarry, the real trick for filling your tag is to start your preparations well ahead of opening day. Most serious (and successful) hunters know the season doesn't begin on opening day. It starts in the weeks and months prior to the season. If you want a successful hunt instead of a series of long walks in the woods while carrying a firearm, it would be a good idea to plan your strategy well in advance. Start early, develop a plan, study the quarry and analyze the terrain where you plan to hunt. In preparing for this year's hunting season, there are some golden rules that need to be paid attention to. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) recommends hunters spend time with maps of the area you plan to hunt in and do some scouting to see some of the country for yourself. Outdoors writer Massod Ayoob for Backwoods Home Magazine has written that hunters should consider using topographical maps. Print them out and put them in plastic 8.5 X 11 inch transparent sleeves. They lie nice and flat in a backpack or knapsack and the plastic will proof them against rain and snow. Part of their worth is that they will help hunters stay oriented in the area being hunted and help them find their quarry. A much greater and more important part of their worth is that they will help the hunter from getting lost. Ayood also said whether you hunt with a modern firearm, muzzleloader, shotgun, bow or all of the above, the more you shoot, the better you will shoot when it really counts. It is amazing some people still go hunting with guns they have never fired, rifles they have never zeroed in and haven't a clue where the bullet will strike at 25 yards or 250 yards, and do not realize there is such a thing as bullet's curve in its trajectory. It may take weeks of hunting to finally get a shot at the quarry, and if marksmanship skills are not up to the task, that time will be wasted. The more fresh and sharp the marksmanship skills are, the less likely there will be bitter disappointment at the end of a long hunt, therefore it is essential hunters study things like bullet drop and practice shooting. Hunting marksmanship is a precise and corrosion-prone skill. It is not a perishable skill as some people believe because the skill doesn't really die if it isn't refreshed, but it can get rusty if not kept up to date, especially when it is time to tweeze the trigger smoothly and evenly while holding the sight picture on a moving target that doesn't want to be shot. It is recommended that hunters condition themselves physically before the hunt. Some of the most successful hunters are those who can cover the most ground in a day, whether the ground is flat or on a steep slope. If you are in good enough physical condition to stay with it from daylight to dark, the odds of hunting success increase. Shaping up before you hunt is especially important for folks whose everyday lives do not include a lot of physical activity. Start walking, jogging, climbing stairs, visiting a gym or whatever you need to do long before opening day. If hiking or climbing is included in your workout plans, wear your hunting boots during the exercise session, especially if they are new and need breaking-in. Shaping up is also important to seniors who are not currently active or have health concerns. It is recommended they consult their physician before starting any conditioning program. Time marches on, and so does physical agilities. One of the best ways to blow a perfectly good day of hunting is to leave an important piece of equipment at home or to find it in poor or non-working order when it's needed. Make a checklist, lay out every piece of equipment, look at it and make sure it works, then put it all together in one place, ready to be packed for the trip. One other important item is to make a hunting plan before you depart. Leave it with a family member or friend. A hunting plan tells where and with whom you intend to hunt, and when you are expected to return. It should also contain specific directions on your route to your destination and any alternate destination. What's the bottom line? Plan your hunt keeping safety first. The sooner you start laying the groundwork, the more likely your endeavor will be successful. And remember, never hunt alone.
Pheasant release
An estimated 40,000 pheasant will be released across southwestern Washington areas this season. This is an increase of 2,000 birds over 2013. Approximately 1,900 pheasants (4.9 percent of the total production) will be released at the Skookumchuck Wildlife Area this season, with 50 to 75 birds released each day on Saturdays, Sundays and Wednesdays beginning Sept. 17 through Thanksgiving Day. The state will also release 3,900 (9.8 percent of the total production) at the Scatter Creek Wildlife Area, with 60 to 70 birds released on Saturdays, Sundays and Wednesdays. Some areas of Scatter Creek are off-limits to hunters due to endangered species recovery work. Approximately 5,200 pheasants will be released on Joint Base Lewis-McChord land (JBLM). Military training dictates which fields will be open in any given week for both release and hunting access. Hunters must register to hunt at JBLM through NW Adventure Center (253-967- 8282 or 253-967-7744). Bob Brown is a freelance outdoors writer. He can be contacted at robertb1285@fairpoint.net
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