There’s just so much to do for waterfowl in November!  You need to string decoys, get the boat ready, tune up your calls one last time, and maybe shoot a round of skeet or two.  Blinds need to be brushed, shotguns need to be cleaned, and retrievers need one more good round of obedience training.  Make sure you do a full review of all your gear before opening day.  You don’t want to be the guy who shows up with a whiny dog, rusty shotgun, or leaky boat!  Check out this great article from Delta Waterfowl about winning the early season – https://deltawaterfowl.org/winning-the-early-season/

Even if you’ve been practicing all summer, one more round of skeet can’t hurt.  Those early season teal and wood duck shoots provide some challenging targets, so get your shooting form ready!  This article from DU lays out 5 common shots when waterfowl hunting, practice them before heading to the blind – http://www.ducks.org/Hunting/Shooting-Tips/Shotgunners-Guide-to-Waterfowling

Of course you’ve been practicing your duck calling routine all year, of course!  But, just in case, here’s a gentle reminder to get the calls out and give them a good once over.  Check for any cracks that have developed in the call itself, and especially check the reeds for cracking or signs of wear.  If the call has a cork, check it for any signs of dry rot or chipping.

Don’t know how to call yet?  There’s never a better time to start!  Check out this article for all the reasons you should learn to call ducks – https://southboundoutdoors.com/learn-to-call-ducks/

Waterfowlers have developed a language all their own.  The rich history of this sport has led to many terms we all hold near and dear today.  Brush up on your waterfowling lingo before opening day.  If nothing else, it’s a great way to put your mind in the right state for waterfowling, and connect to the history of the sport.  DU has a great article about watefowling lingo at this link – http://www.ducks.org/hunting/waterfowl-hunting-tips/waterfowling-lingo-101

Being able to identify a duck while in flight is a skill that takes practice and experience to develop.  On the really good days, you’ll need to be able to ID ducks in flight in order to stay within your legal limits.  Refresh your ID skills now, and practice them often during the season.  There are a ton of resources online to help you identify ducks in flight, here are three really good ones:

1. Ducks at a Distance – https://www.fws.gov/uploadedFiles/Ducks%20at%20a%20Distance-OCR.pdf
2. Waterfowl ID – A Guide to Identifying North American Waterfowl – https://flyways.us/duck-identification-resources
3. Waterfowl Identification Guide – https://www.hunter-ed.com/wildlife/waterfowl.htm

As winter looms, the deer change their habits.  Some acorn crops run out, while others drop late.  Leaves fall off the trees, and deer move their bedding areas to somewhere more secluded.  Just because you were seeing a bunch of deer during bow season doesn’t mean you can stay in the same spot for rifle season.  Break out the trail cams and the walking boots and refresh your scouting report.

With all the time and effort we put into deer hunting, we really should use as much of the animal as possible.  When it comes to cooking, the heart, liver, and kidneys all make for great table fare.  Look up some new recipes and try them out.  If you’re like me, you’ll find a new one you really like.  Last season I tried out this recipe for venison osso bucco, and I love it.  This recipe really turns shank meat into a delicious meal.  Check out this link to see the full recipe – https://southboundoutdoors.com/venison-osso-bucco/

Many different studies have shown that predation is the #1 factor affecting turkey poult recruitment.  If you want to maximize the number of turkeys on your hunting property, you need to trap some of the predators off.  Possums, racoons, skunks, coyotes, all prey on either turkey poults or eggs.  Use the winter to trap them off, get yourself some nice furs, and give your turkeys a helping hand to make it to Spring.

If you’re going to be in the woods anyway, you might as well scout for all game animals.  Some states offer Fall turkey seasons, but if they don’t, still make note of turkey roost trees and travel routes.  If you can use deer season to stay on top of the turkey through the winter, you’ll have a good idea of where to start scouting for them in early Spring.  Look for roost trees, travel paths, water sources, dusting spots, and potential Spring food sources.