Becoming a Better Hunter, January
Last month, I identified 6 key areas I need to improve in order to become a better hunter. I said I’d revist it throughout the year to keep myself accountable. I don’t have a whole lot to say yet, Michigan winters have a way of keeping you indoors, but I really want to keep up on this so here we go
1.Shooting: Instead of giving myself a letter grade this month, it’s going to get an “N/A”. Not much I can do to improve my shooting over the Michigan Winter. This will be something to look for in the March edition. I’m very much looking forward to it.
Monthly Grade: N/A
2. Conditioning: I’m happy to report on this one. I’ve been killing it in this area. I get up early every day to go for my run. On Sunday, I went on my longest run yet (8 miles!!). This is the longest I’ve ever consistently worked out since team sports in highschool, and I don’t see myself letting up anytime soon.
Monthly Grade: A-
3. Reading and Gaining Knowledge: As much as I succeeded in the previous column, I really mucked this one up. I can’t really give any excuses, there is no reason I can’t be doing more here. I’m a voracious reader, and still read everyday, but I haven’t been picking up the bird dog books like I should be. This will change in March. It wasn’t a total bust, I’m still keeping up on the forums and facebook groups
Monthly Grade: D
4. Training: This one is also going to get an N/A. I can’t very well fly my pigeons this time of year or run the dogs in the deep snow. March can’t come soon enough. I’m getting as sick of being cooped up as they are.
Monthly Grade: N/A
5. Equipment: I’m not really sure how to grade myself on this one. I haven’t pulled the trigger on anything, but I’ve been doing a lot of research. I defintely have narrowed down some options on the guns I want to buy. The next step will be trying to actually get my hands on some of them
Monthly Grade: C+
6. Scouting: Here is another one for the N/A Column. I won’t run my dogs on pheasants this time of year when their precious calories all need to be preserved for surving the midwest winter.
Monthly Grade: N/A
All in all, not the most exciting update. Hopefully when March hits and I can really get back into some of the outside stuff, this will really pick up. In the meantime, this month I will focus more on learning and keep up with the working out.
