When running and gunning during the season, most of us don’t take the time to clean out all the muck and junk that collects in our boats.  Who has time when you’re getting up at 4am only to hustle back and work that 1/2 day you promised the boss, or get to that honey-do list?  Now that season is over, take the time and do what needs to be done.  Get the boat sparkling clean, perform routine maintenance on your motor, and inspect your trailer for any potential problems.  Click here to view the SBO Waterfowl Boat Post Season Maintenance Checklist, and let us know if we missed any crucial steps!

Don’t just throw your decoys from the bag into your garage and leave them until next Fall.  Mud left to dry on decoys will dull their paint and will completely ruin flocking.  Dry algae on a decoy or an anchor turns into something stronger than epoxy.  Take the time to clean them now, and you’ll be killing birds over them for years to come.

After the long waterfowl season, tons of grime and powder residue can build up in the various nooks and crannies of your shotgun.  Be sure to take it apart and do an especially deep clean,  Yes, this means breaking out the toothbrush, dental pick, and Q-tip to really get down in there.  Take care of your firearm, and it will take care of you.

Proper storage is key to keeping your waders waterproof.  Don’t just fold them down and leave them the garage during the off season.  Clean off any mud or other debris thoroughly, and then stretch your waders out to dry.  It’s not recommended you hang waders during the offseason, as hanging from the shoulder straps will cause them to stretch and hanging from the boots can cause the boot to separate from the wader material.  If you can lay them flat for storage, do so.  Otherwise, store them in a rubber tub or wader bag in an area which won’t get too hot during the summer.  Keeping them as flat as possible will prevent creases from forming and weakening the wader material.

Now is the time to shop for end-of-season deals at outdoor stores.  It’s a great time to pick up decoys, bags, scent killer, and other items as stores clear inventory to make room for fishing and turkey hunting gear.  Connect with the SBO Field Staff for deals on Southbound Outdoors Products!

No limits, unplugged shotguns with magazine extensions, electronic calling, and hundreds of decoys?  Sounds awesome to me!  There are a ton of outfitters offering hunts these days, and wildlife experts say the population needs to be reduced, so let’s do our part!  With those piles of snow goose breast meat, be sure to try out the Pan Seared Snow Goose with Onions and Peppers recipe!

Yes, the “squirrel rut” is a thing.  These tasty little critters are abundant in number and adapt to almost any habitat, so there’s a good chance you can find public land nearby for a decent shoot.  This is a great way to get out in the woods and get some meat while also doing post-season scouting and shed hunting.  Keep your eyes open for deer trails to hunt next season and turkey strut zones to hunt in a couple of months.

Have coyotes, racoons, possums, and other critters showing up on your trail cams?  If you do, they could be wreaking havoc on your turkey and deer populations.  Even though fur prices are so low you probably won’t be making quit-your-job money, you can bring in a little extra income through trapping.  However, the primary benefit will be getting those predators out of the woods before the deer fawns and turkey poults start running around.

Shed hunting is a great way to really slow down and learn more about your deer property.  Maybe you’ll find antlers from the buck you’ll kill next season, and you’ll have a really cool show piece.  Also, keep your eyes open for possible strut zones for those springtime thunder chickens!

Turkey season will be here before you know it, so now is the time to make sure you are prepared.  Take out your turkey vest and inspect it for any holes or tears which could cause problems during a hunt.  Get out your calls and make sure they’re in good working order.  Pay special attention to your diaphragm calls, as the latex tends to loosen over time.  Take out your decoys and see if your storage method caused any unnatural creases or holes to form.  Basically, get everything ready as if you’ll be hitting the woods, and make sure you won’t be in a pinch come April.

If you need a new pot call, how about the Ripper from SBO?  Are you a box call fan?  Then check out the SBOX.

Start marking your calendar now for the Spring outdoor shows and banquets.  Check the usual websites for a schedule of events near you.

Have a New Year’s resolution to get in better shape?  Why not do it with hunting in mind!  Websites like iHuntFit give you a training regimen built for the outdoorsman.

You spent all season perfecting your calls and watching the birds respond, don’t lose it all in the off season.  Maintain some minimum level of calling practice all year long, and you’ll be in mid-season form come next Fall.  If you noticed certain responses of birds to your calls this season, make a note of them and refer back next season.  Take time in the offseason to build and hone new subtle parts of your calling skills, and click here to see a few tips from SBO.  Becoming a better caller is a marathon, not a sprint, and it’s all about getting better at the small things over time.