With the recent pandemic-driven increase in hunting interest, a new generation of venison lovers has emerged. Whether you have veteran status or beginner enthusiasm, it never hurts to review some of hunting’s fundamental elements. Even the smallest factor influences success.

Open a Laundromat

Do you run a hunting laundromat and cleaning service? If not, open a business. Whitetails and other big game species, live or die by their noses. They utilize all their senses, but believe what their noses tell them over all other senses combined.

Start with the laundromat. All your hunting clothes, including hat and gloves, need to be washed to eliminate scent. Spray your washer with Scent Killer Gold to remove traces of other detergent and then utilize Scent Killer Gold Laundry Detergent cleanse your hunting outfit. Either air dry the garments outside or spray your dryer with Scent Killer and then add a Scent Killer Gold Dryer Sheet before tumbling.

This final step ensures your clothes stay scent free. Store them in a clean plastic tote and add a Scent Killer No Zone Tote Tamer. These handy, economical deodorizers absorb odor and moisture as an ozone free alternative. A single Tamer lasts all season.

Follow OSHA Standards

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration, OSHA, may not be snooping around your hunting property to corner you for an inspection, but that does not mean you should shirk gear safety and preparedness. Now is the time to inspect treestands, elevated hunting blinds, climbing sticks and safety harnesses for any damage. Sun, heat and cold can deteriorate straps, rot wood and rust metal.

Follow through with your hunting equipment. Bows should be checked for string and cable wear. Firearms should be cleaned and zeroed. Backpacks, boots and optics should all be inspected for problematic issues that could arise during a hunt. It is easier to replace leaky boots now and not in a swamp while tracking deer.

Take a Hike, Virtual and Boots on the Ground

Year-round scouting aids many in achieving their hunting goals. You should first do a virtual tour of your hunting area on a hunting app. The free HuntStand hunting app provides plenty of information to get you started with an aerial tour. After you note possible ambush locations, such as funnels, creek bottoms and field edges, a hike in the area is next.

Boots on the ground provides you with a closeup inspection and familiarity with the area. Hiking gives you an understanding of deer populations, their preferred trails and knowledge of how to enter, and exit an area to avoid areas of high game concentrations. Lastly, take along a stand or blind, and set up your ambush well before the opener. Your hunting app can illustrate predominate winds to ensure your ambush is downwind of deer areas. Using Scent Killer spray on your boots and staying off main game trails helps you maintain an invisible presence.

Be Goal Oriented

Lastly, set goals for this hunting season that match realistic possibilities. Visit with veteran hunters, scan recent trophy records and acknowledge what you see is what you get after several scouting missions combined with trail camera evidence. Reaching for the stars is great, but so is a freezer full of tasty venison.

Hunting season kicks off soon and the fundamentals of the sport could be the driving force to notching your tag.

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