5 Things That Minnesota Hunters Should Be Doing Right Now

It's going to be here before you know it. Peak hunting season. Whether it's waterfowl, deer, or something else, if you hunt, now is the time to start getting ready, as it's really tough right now to leave things to get done at the last minute. Here are 5 practical things you should be doing right now before the season begins.

Check Your Trail Cameras

Now is one of the best times to see which bucks have made it through the summer and establish travel patterns before fall changes their behavior. It's also a great time to see how your cameras are holding up. Some other things you might want to do with your trail cameras are:

• Replace old batteries and memory cards
• Consider placing cameras near food sources and travel corridors instead of directly over bedding areas

Practice With the Equipment You'll Actually Hunt With

If you are an archery hunter, now is the time you should be practicing with the equipment you plan on using. You should be taking shots from an elevated position, wearing the jacket and gloves you plan to use, in low-light conditions, as you would during deer hunting season.

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Firearms hunters can also use this time to inspect and clean their rifles and plan to sight them in before the rush at local ranges.

Scout Without Disturbing the Woods

This is the perfect time of year to get out in the woods to do some scouting. An advantage to scouting right now is you might realize your honey hole has dried up and the deer have moved on.

Make sure you aren't disturbing the area too much, or you could drive deer away. Most experienced hunters will spend time observing from a distance where they will actually be hunting from.

Get Your Gear Ready Before Everyone Else Does

Nothing is worse than discovering a broken treestand strap or dull broadhead the night before opening day. Take the time to go through your stuff; it's much easier to get what you need to replace now than this fall when stores might not have what you actually need.

Review Minnesota Hunting Regulations

Regulations can change from year to year, and it's worth taking a few minutes to make sure you're current before heading into the woods. This year there have been quite a few changes for deer hunting, so heading online to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources website to get caught up on those changes is a good idea.

Knowing the rules ahead of time helps avoid surprises and makes for a smoother season.

So, to recap what you should be doing now rather than waiting until September is:

• Practice With What You'll Actually Be Using
•  Check Your Trail Cameras
• Scout Without Disturbing The Area
• Get Your Gear Ready Now, Replace What Needs To Be Replaced
• Review The Hunting Regulations Ahead Of Time

If you can do these now, it's going to make your fall that much more enjoyable, and hopefully successful too.

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