Pass Along RJ
July 08

Trips Tips
by Jason Smith

hen we decide to embark on that "trip of a lifetime," we sure want to cherish every moment. But nothing spoils a bird-hunting adventure more than being ill-prepared, ill-practiced, ill-conditioned, or burdening travelmates with an ill-ruly dog. So here are some trip tips -- simple things that will help you savor the day . . . but that if you forget, can ruin the experience and make it feel like the whole thing was just a waste of time and money.

• Brush up on your wingshooting skills. You may be in new country, hunting new birds, and seeing flushes of birds in staggering numbers. It can take your breath away -- and your cheek off the stock.
• Make sure your gun is working properly -- and bring a backup.
• If you're shooting special loads, don't bank on the local sporting goods store having them.
• Condition yourself! Don't let your first chase of South Dakota ringnecks end up with you doubled over, catching your breath, while they're flushing out of range. When we go on a trip, we tend to hunt longer hours, too, seeing more country, and we might not be used to it. So get in shape!
• Dress suitably for your destination, taking clothes to handle both cold and hot extremes.
• Don't choose a trip as the time to break in a new pair of hunting boots.
• Do not forget a camera!
• If hunting with a guide or lodge, contact them personally for an introduction and with some questions instead of working exclusively through a booking agency.
• Save up some money to send a bird to a taxidermist. It might be the only double on Mearns' quail you'll ever get.
• Speaking of money, if you're traveling with friends, make sure everyone understands ahead of time who pays for what and when -- and no IOUs allowed. Scraps over money spoil more trips than bad weather does.
• Throw in a travel journal to record, that evening, the events from the day.
• It goes without saying, but I will anyway: dog manners! Make sure he'll behave in a crate, in a motel, in the truck, around other dogs, and around other people.
• Bring a copy of the dog's medical records in case you need to make an emergency trip to the vet, don't forget a well-stocked first aid kit, and don't leave his normal medications on the kitchen counter back home.

Finally, relax and enjoy yourself! Don't press to hit every bird. Don't press to fill your limit. Savor the sights, sounds, and smells -- you never know when you'll get a chance to go back.

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