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03/13/2001
- Article
Seven
Tips to Make Waterfowling Last through the Off-Season
From Ducks Unlimited
Memphis,
TN March 12, 2001 - This year’s waterfowling season is officially
closed (with the exception of the spring snow goose conservation
season), but that doesn’t mean hunters have to put away their
gear. There are plenty
of ways to make the sport of waterfowling last through the
off-season. Here are
some suggestions:
1.
Revive
Your Retriever
Off-season
training can mean the difference between a good retriever and a
great retriever when the next season opens.
By spending less than thirty minutes three or four times a
week with your dog, your companion won’t just be as good as last
season, but better. Experts
suggest starting slowly with off-season conditioning – especially
if your retriever hasn’t been exercising regularly.
Start with short, leisurely walks and work on refreshing
basic obedience skills: heel, sit, and stay.
Gradually work up to retrieving and practicing more complex
skills such as blind retrieves and hand signals.
Robert Milner’s book, Retriever Training: A Back to Basics
Approach, is a good guide for retriever trainers. Milner’s book is
available on DU’s website at www.ducks.org/bookstore,
or you can call 1-800-453-3593.
Perhaps most importantly, in some areas off-season is
synonymous with heat. To avoid overheating your dog - a potentially
fatal mistake - try t! or do your conditioning in the morning near a
lake, pond, or pool, and pay attention to your dog’s signals.
When he looks hot or tired, it’s time to stop.
2.
Give Your Decoys a Makeover
At
the end of each season, chances are your decoys are dirty,
weathered, and possibly punctured.
But with a paint kit and a little patience, you can have
those decoys looking as good as they did on opening day.
Herter’s sells decoy paint kits for most species, and Wing
Supply (800-453-3593) offers Parker Decoy Paints, a popular choice
among waterfowlers.
3.
Perfect Your Calling Skills
Opening
morning in the duck blind is neither the time nor the place to find
out if you can still hit that hail call like you could last season.
Instead, practice, practice, practice your calling skills
during the off-season. Howard Harlan, custom call maker, former duck calling
competitor, and judge of the world championship calling competition
recommends going to a local park or wildlife area during the
off-season to listen to live waterfowl.
“Listen to the birds at rest, listen to their conversations
and interactions with each other - particularly if they’re feeding
- those are the sounds you want to mimic,” says Harlan
“not the sounds of your hunting partner.”
4.
Attend a DU Event
Ducks
Unlimited dinners and other fundraising events are a great way to
get in the waterfowling spirit, collect waterfowl art and hunting
gear, and meet fellow outdoor enthusiasts who share your commitment
to the outdoors. To
find an event in your area, call 800-45-DUCKS, or visit DU’s
website at www.ducks.org/community.
5.
Sharpen Your Shooting Skills
Whether
you prefer to shoot trap, skeet, or sporting clays, a little target
practice now will pay off come opening day.
Many waterfowlers prefer sporting clays because the course
and targets are designed to imitate true-to-life hunting situations.
Sporting clays are generally more expensive, but with a group
of friends and a pretty day, you can turn target practice into a
social event.
6.
Inspect Your Boat
For
many waterfowlers, the duck boat is an essential piece of equipment,
deserving of the utmost attention. Carefully inspect your boat for signs of stress - especially
near welds or rivets - and for wear spots on the ridges and bottom
of your boat. If
you think you might have a leak, put the boat on two saw-horses and
fill it with water to locate the leak, then have an aluminum welder
patch the hole(s).
7.
Order New Gear
The
time to purchase new hunting gear is during the off-season, when
those must-have items are fresh on your mind.
Ordering gear during the off-season cuts down on back orders
- which means you don’t have to wait an extra month to get your
gear - and you may even get a better price since waterfowling
equipment isn’t in such high demand in the heat of the summer.
With
more than a million supporters, Ducks
Unlimited is the world’s largest and most effective wetland
and waterfowl conservation organization.
The United States has lost over half of its original wetlands
- some of nature’s most productive ecosystems - and continues to
lose over 100,000 wetland acres every year.
Look
for Ducks Unlimited on the World Wide Web at www.ducks.org.
Tune in to The World of Ducks Unlimited Radio Network and,
starting again in July, The World of Ducks Unlimited TV on TNN.
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