Summer Practice, Exercise Keys to Fall Success

In between nights of trolling spinners for walleyes and weekends of casting heavy metal for muskies, I have been taking steps to make sure the approaching autumn is as successful, if not more so, than last year’s - which was one of my best. Whether it has been a battery of arrows shot into my foam target in the humid evening air, a few rounds at the trap range or going for long walks with my dog and running on my own, the more I perspire in preparation now, the less I will sweat when each season opens. Late summer provides the perfect opportunity to get ready for favorite fall pastimes, when a person can’t get out on the water.

Aim on
As an established upland bird hunter and a budding bowhunter, the amount of time I have put in practicing both forms of shooting has gone up over the past two years. Both types of target practice build on each other, teaching aim and discipline in front of a target. July and August provide a chance to get the yips and misses out of my system and to find a routine which will help me focus in the field.
When I’m not fishing, I alternate nights behind a trap thrower or in front of a foam target. These activities help me pass the already shortening evening hours, while getting my shooting skills sharp for the fall.

Upland and waterfowl hunters have a variety of target shoots to choose from in preparation for their autumn adventures afield. While popular shooting simulations, such as skeet and trap are available in many locales, the number of full-service sporting clay facilities is also growing across the upper Midwest. With shots that emulate flushing pheasants, ducks landing from overhead, and even rabbits bounding across an open field, sporting clays test the shotgun skills of hunters with a variety of challenges, and in ways sportsmen might not be used to. All of these options, be it a thrower welded to a tire and hub or a state of the art shooting range, help prepare hunters for another good autumn.

For archers too, the availability of 3D target shoots and ranges is expanding with each passing season. The target options to be had for personal purchase have also expanded from wrapped layer blocks to foam deer, boar, elk and bear targets which provide more realism and accurately reflect vital areas. Taking advantage of these options now might mean that buck fever is the only excuse bowhunters have left when it comes down to not connecting in the field this fall.

Walk of Life
I’ve also made it a point to add a few extra miles to my physical training program each week, and I have added a regular stretching regimen in order to get into better shape. While the battle of the bulge has been a constant fight for most of my life, this summer I’ve focused on improving my cardiovascular health, leg strength and flexibility to prepare for longer hikes in the field and to provide better staying power when I’m in the treestand this fall.

While the time between now and a chosen hunting opener might not permit a long-term training program, even the little steps, such as adding a 20-minute walk into a day or an extra mile on the treadmill will pay off in the field. Take your four-legged hunting buddy for an extra lap around the neighborhood each night and practice retrieves afterward. Just before going to bed and shortly after waking up, spend five minutes following a simple stretching plan. Some weight training and cardio will pay off with increased stamina as well. But remember to consult your physician when considering any new or strenuous exercise regimen to find out what is right for your current physical health and future goals.

Seize the day. Make plans now to utilize the waning weeks of summer prepare for your favorite hunting season. Add an extra round or two at the trap club and remove an extra pound or two from your waistline in order to be ready for another awesome autumn…in our outdoors.

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