The season is approaching. The gear is coming out of the closet, the first dates are being set... and it's just the right time to check that everything is really ready. Battery charged? Radio operational? Documents up to date? Equipment suitable for your practice?
We've prepared a little test for you to cover the topic.
No need to revise. Just answer as you would before your next outing.
Why prepare your season before the first outing?
The return is often a funny moment: we can't wait to get back in the field, but several months have passed since the last outing. Some equipment has been stored away, others have been used for something else, and a few adjustments may have been forgotten along the way.
Taking a little time before the season mainly helps avoid discovering a problem in the wrong place and at the wrong time.
A battery that no longer holds a charge, a radio that we thought was operational, equipment that we haven't used in several months... these are rarely difficult problems to solve. They only become so when we discover them in the field.
The right time to do your checks
The best time to check your gear is not the day before the first outing.
A few days or weeks before the season starts, you still have time to test, clean, recharge, replace, or complete what needs to be done.
It's also an opportunity to get back into gear with the equipment you use less regularly. A device may seem perfectly functional after several months of storage and yet reveal a tired battery or a missing accessory at its first use.
In short: it's better to do your technical check in the garage than in the woods.
Preparing your equipment according to your hunting
There is not just one way to prepare for a hunting season. Your equipment depends on your practice, your territory, your habits, and the conditions in which you hunt.
A hunter who primarily practices still hunting will not have exactly the same needs as a hunter who regularly participates in drives. Similarly, useful equipment can change depending on the weather, light conditions, the layout of the territory, or the presence of a dog.
The right question is therefore not "do I have all the gear?", but rather "do I have the right gear for my way of hunting?"
And this year, what deserves to be improved?
A new season is also a good opportunity to look at what could make your next outings simpler, more comfortable, or more effective.
No need to replace all your equipment. Sometimes, a single well-chosen item can really change the experience in the field.
This is exactly where the choice of equipment becomes interesting: starting from your actual need rather than accumulating gear.