First you'll need to practice those "rabbit eyes." Like most skills this is one that you can use for other things in your life, and that you should be utilizing everyday. But if you've gotten a little out of practice, a drive around your neighborhood at dawn or dusk, or a drive down a country road, can help you to revitalize your ability to spot movement and quickly identify the source behind it.
Next up on the list is your ability to sit still. Summer time finds us active and enjoying the outdoors, so sitting still is generally not something many of us do. But with hundreds of predator calling stands waiting for us in the coming months, it's time to remember how to go unnoticed. Take some time during the week, or everyday if possible, to sit by yourself and allow your body to relax. Now practice the movements you need to make on stand, whether manipulating a hand call, pushing buttons on an e-caller remote, or raising your rifle and getting a good cheek weld. Practice being swift and efficient, and minimizing the waste of movements.
Now it's time to work with those sounds that bring the predators running! Get back in tune with your hand calls by practicing the different sounds you plan to use (try not to drive your spouse crazy!). Check your reeds for wear or damage and replace them if necessary. If you are using an e-caller then it's time to make sure that the sounds you have loaded are the ones you will want to start the season with, and that your batteries are charged up and ready to go. You don't want to start the season and discover that your e-caller needs service by the manufacturer - find out now so that you'll be able to use your caller when you want to hunt, and not be waiting for UPS to bring it back.
If you haven't hit the range in a while, then now's the time! The sun shines longer this time of year so get out early or later in the day when the temperatures are cooler and you can schedule some trigger time around your job hours. Once you verify zero, practice shooting from different positions, and practice mounting your rifle quickly and shooting as fast as you can get on target. You should even spend some time shooting off-hand, as well as shooting from your support side. Check the patterning of your shotgun if you've changed your load or your choke, and make sure that all of your firearms are cleaned and functioning properly.
Think about the lessons that you learned from last season, how you plan to apply the new knowledge that you have, and some of the areas that you'd like to start hunting first. If this is your first season hunting predators then make sure you have gathered as much information as you can by reading books, watching good videos, talking with other hunters, and attending any local hunting club functions. But above all, get out there and get some experience!
Now is the time to plan out your season. Where would you like to hunt? Who would you like to hunt with? Do you have a specific goal in mind for this year? For example, if you haven't called in or killed a fox yet then you need to find out what sounds the fox you will be hunting respond to. Scout new terrain, set up some test stands, and map out other possible approaches or stand locations in the area. This is where keeping a small notebook handy can really help you get started when you are hunting a new area or a new species.
The most important thing is to remember to enjoy the time you have in the outdoors, whether scouting, hunting, or hiking back to the truck empty-handed. Best of luck to you this season, and please take a kid out hunting with you!
A young, late-summer coyote that came into the call back in 2007.
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