This week is the first week after the closing day of duck season. Most duck hunters are putting their gear up and starting to think about spring fishing already! However, as premature as it may seem, now is the best time to prepare for next duck season. Here are a few things you can do to get ready for next duck season and save some of those hard earned dollars along the way.
1. Check out those end of season sales at the local sporting goods stores. Our local Academy has camo on a 50% off sale. Duck calls, decoys, and accessories are on sale as well. By the end of the season, some of my gear is lost or worn out. and it’s still fresh on my mind as to what I really need. I might as well buy it cheap now and be prepared for next season maybe you should do the same
2. Enroll your dog in a professional retriever training program now! If you have a new puppy or a dog that performed less than desirable this year, then now is the time to address next year. Most trainers still have openings at this time of year and in the south the weather is perfect for training. At Duck Dog Trainer, we find that dogs are able to advance at a better pace than when the temps are soaring in the 90’s.
3. Decide now if you want to purchase a trained dog. Many of our clients prefer to buy a dog already finished as opposed to starting with a puppy. The problem is that good trained dogs are few and far between. Most people wait until August to find a dog that they want to hunt in September. By then its usually too late. If you want a trained dog, then now is the time to shop! The sooner you purchase your new hunting partner the more time you will have to bond.
4. While you are putting up your decoys for the season be sure to separate the sinkers and go ahead and patch them while you can still see the water leaking out. Also make sure all dekes have weights. In the shallow areas we hunt, Texas rigged decoys are supreme!
I hope you will take these suggestions to heart and have a great off season and even better duck season this winter. Remember if you need a hand with your dog, then give us a call… we’d be glad to help.
