Preparing to Get Back in the Hunting Game This Spring

Time to dust off the all the outdoor gear, air it out, clean it up and get ready to get back out there. While your knees might be creaking from your time spent with Old Man Winter, spend some time walking on your nearby trails and daydreaming about your upcoming spring hunting trip.

What will it look like this year? Are you looking to set up a guided trip, explore new territory or are you going to be putting new tires on the truck to four-wheel into your favorite spring spot? Set yourself up for a successful season and read up on what you can do to get ready for your upcoming trip.

Guided vs. DIY (Do-it-yourself)

As most experienced hunters will agree, it is more cost effective to plan and execute your own hunting trip. If you are a hunter whose dream trip is to get a break from your day job and spend some time in the wilderness, do your research and pay a tenth of the amount of money to organize the trip yourself.

However, there are a lot of upsides of doing a guided trip if the money is not an issue. Guides are a very useful resource to find the best game, in the best location and they almost guarantee a successful trip due to their amount of knowledge. Make sure to do your research and shop around for the best price for what they are offering as each company is different in their packages that they offer.

Destination

If you are from the Dakotas and enjoy the rich turkey hunting, maybe you want to stick with what you know and just stay out longer while hoping for good weather. Want to try something new? Why not consider Montana for geese, Wyoming for pronghorn or give in to the allure of a guided moose trip in Alaska? Northern Colorado has great duck hunting and the views cannot be beat. For those of you with little experience, you may want to check out the guided trips that Steamboat Springs, Colorado, and the surround areas offer. With varying terrain, the area has many different things to offer hunters of all levels. from ATV trails to heavily wooded areas to open prairie, it is a hunter’s paradise.

Equipment

One of the many perks of going on a guided trip is that all the equipment is provided. For those who are opting to do-it-yourself, pull out your guns, bows and rifles and prep them for the season. Archers should be aware that the whole fleet will be having the same idea so make an appointment to get your bow re-strung well in advance of your proposed trip to avoid any delays. You’ll want to make sure that you have stocked up on the essentials-face paint, odor remover, bug spray and coffee. Check your camo gear for any holes you may need to patch from last season or enjoy a trip to the sporting goods store to stock up on new threads. Lastly, make sure your vehicle is in prime condition. The last thing you would want is to be stuck in the wilderness with a flat tire or a dead battery with a few tons of fresh meat in the back.