Hunting prep can be done at home

Hunting 101 says, “You can’t hunt if you don’t leave the house.” And, not that long ago a statement like that would’ve been absolutely correct!
But, in this day and age, with so much information available through the Internet, you can actually do a lot of “hunting” from the comfort of your home.
As an example, with the Internet we can pretty much tell…in theory…the stage of the deer rut, anywhere in the U.S. We can determine…sorta…where the peak of the waterfowl migration is and how it is progressing!
We can even look at solar tables and know…within an hour or so…the “best” times to be afield (or on the water).
Of course, there are some things a web search can’t fix. Oh sure, a shooting site will tell you to keep your cheek on the shotgun’s stock, establish lead based on the speed of your target and follow through.
But, unless you have birds–live or clay–flying through your house, and don’t mind shooting holes in your walls and ceiling, ya better be outside!
Seriously, nothing makes you a better wing shot than shooting flying targets. Or, I should say, “Nothing makes you a better wing shot than “correctly” shooting flying targets!”
Now let’s say you’re hunting doves/ducks/geese/quail and keep missing! Are you shooting above or below your target? Are you leading too much or not enough?
If you knew where you shot, and made the correction, you should then hit everything you shoot at from that point on!
Simply put, most shooters can’t see their own mistakes! You need a “knowledgeable” shooter to watch you shoot! I can tell if you take your cheek off the stock, stop your follow-thru and if you shot in front of or behind your target…and I’m not that knowledgeable!
Get a trap and practice the “same” shot over and over. Have a good “coach” watch…or even video you shooting. Make needed corrections till that shot is consistent and natural ie. you seldom miss! Then, practice at another angle!
Had a guy tell me he hit something as small as a dove but missed on a much larger bird, like a goose.
Different gun…nope, same gun! Same clothes? Course not! Dove shoot in a tee shirt and duck hunt in long sleeve shirt, insulated undershirt, and heavy parka!
Not the same gun anymore! Now your stock is up to an inch or so longer (due to the thickness of clothing). Longer stock shoots lower. Hint from some good wing shots: Shoot at eyeballs and not the whole bird “aim small”.
By making corrections for his guns “extra” stock length and “aiming small”, my friend started hitting “most” everything he shot at.
“Most” not all! I know very few…like three…who I consider to be good, and consistent wing shots. No, I’m not one of the three.
Some float and fly guys have been catching some nice smallmouth bass at Dale Hollow. They say it’ll be really good when the water gets cold and the weather is nasty!
That sounds more like waterfowling weather to me!
No rabbit hunting yet, too much Christmas stuff to attend to.
Found a few convoys of quail. Now gotta hook up with Butch Evans for a hunt!
Burned a lot of gas looking for birds but finally found some. Now it’s a matter of getting permission to hunt and hoping the birds are still there.
Terry Davis reports that the Green River WMA…or Knifley Bottoms as we call them…had very few birds over the weekend.
Of course tomorrow, whenever your “tomorrow” is, the bottoms could be holding thousands of ducks! You wouldn’t know that without being there either.
Simply, learn everything you can from books, c.d.s, magazines and the Internet, then get out and apply that knowledge.
Tuesday, Dec. 21, our 4-H Fishing Club will be meeting in Floral Hall at the Marion County Fairgrounds.
We’ll start at 6:30 p.m. and learn to tie a good knot for fishing. Then, Eddie Goode will show us how to make a Christmas ornament out of a fishing bobber.
So come on out! You’ll have fun, learn to tie a knot and get to make a Christmas ornament!
Guess that’s it for now. Get out and enjoy what Mother Nature has to offer. Stay safe and I’ll see ya next week!

Shelton Young - Outdoor Columnist