Duck Hunting just around the corner

Here are 10 tips from Ducks Unlimited:

1. Make a Plan for the Season

For many of the key components of our lives, we have a plan. We plan a career, plan our family's financial stability, and ultimately plan the disposition of our wealth and possessions after we have hopefully moved on to an eternity of autumn winds and cupped wings. Successful duck hunting-certainly a key component of life-also requires a plan. A good one, thoughtfully devised.

2. Dust Off Your Duck Call--You should be doing this all off season!

At the end of last season, your calling never sounded better, and the birds responded as if mesmerized-at least, that's the way you remember it. To pick up just where you left off last winter, you'll need some practice prior to opening day.

As a starting point, clean your calls and inspect the reed. If you hunt three or four days a week, consider starting each season with a fresh reed or reed set. Expensive calls should be sent back to the call maker for new reeds. Otherwise, try installing and tuning the new reeds yourself (see "On Call" in the March/April 2000 issue of Ducks Unlimited). If you intend to buy a new duck call from one of the major mail-order catalogs, place your order as early as possible; a backorder notice holds little value on opening morning.

3. Give Your Shotgun a Checkup

4. Hone Your Shooting Skills

5. Touch Up the Decoy Rig

6. Revive Your Retriever

Hard to imagine that same yellow dog sprawled on your kitchen floor was just months ago an awesome force in the duck marsh. He will be this season, too, with just a little summertime work.

7. Whatever Floats Your Boat

8. Secure Your Hunting Spots

At the end of every season, smart private-land duck hunters lay the groundwork for next season. They find an appropriate way to show their thanks to landowners, and let them know whether they hope to hunt on their property again next duck season.

9. Spruce Up Your Duck Blind

10. Get in a Duck Hunting State of Mind

Good reminder post! I like number 10. Hahaha. I can't wait

I agree with John, great post.