Just curious and wondering just how many hunters practice their hunting skills during the "off season"?? If so, what kind of practice do you participate in??

Unfortunately, I don't really practice much until near hunting season. I will get out in the woods and stalk deer a little out of season every once in a while just for the fun of it, but other than that, not really.

In my never ending quest to 'restore the delicate balance of nature', i chase varmints and vermin most of the year.Coyotes, rats, gophers, pigeons, starlings, whatever. Mostly i stick with a .22 to keep my chops up. (ok, i cheat, it's a match grade bench rifle and it'll cut a dime all day). In any case, it keeps me ready for the bigger critters.

Coyote - calling, concealment, hunting, tracking, and shooting year around.........

I don't do much after hunting season until the golf course opens up. Then I do this:

http://www.jokaroo.com/funnyvideos/airhorn.html

Does prairie dogging count?

I prefer to keep my skills up by 'hunting' the two legged doe variety. Season is open all year and you don't need a special permit.

My license for that got suspended about 24 years ago.

Of course you know there CAN be a HUGE penalty for bagging one "in season" right? They can take away your "hunting" privilages and/or fine you heavily!

Mostly-

VERY Funny!

True...Very true... But at least I can go spotting if nothing else.

I've been out quite a bit the last month or so shooting the .22 with iron sights at the cabin. I checked my zero on the .270 Friday, and it was still nuts-on (1.5" high at 100 yards) from the last time I shot it. I also have a new Marlin 30-30 that I put ghost ring sights on and zero'd, but it looks like I am going to mount a scope on it before the season, so I will go out at least 4-5 more times before rifle opener to make sure that the new rifle is not having any scope or mount issues if it is needed this year (it's the backup rifle).

I plan on hunting with my .44 magnum, so I will also get out 4-5 more times practicing with that as well. The red-dot takes some getting used to, and I am only good out to about 50 yards from a rest, 25 without right now.

My wife and I, our daughter and her husband and their 2 girls were up at the family hunting cabin the last 5 days. Just got back a couple of hours ago.

Deer everywhere. When we drove up there were 3 in the road by our entrance road, and 4 more just past our gate. This was in the middle of the day. Later in the evening there were 7 in the back yard eating the clover we plant there. Mostly does but there was one 10 point buck. You can't take a stroll in the woods without seeing a couple. That will all change on opening day. After the first few shots they get pretty wary.

My guns are sighted in, stands are all up and we're ready to go...

I shoot NRA Highpower (200, 300 and 600 yards) in the summer. I probably shoot more in one season than most hunters shoot in their lifetime.

That being said, I'm not sure I'm going rifle hunting this year, I may just stick with my bow.

I basically consider hunting a good opportunity to walk in the woods with friends and take time out of life.

I make sure that I can adequately hit with my rifle and that all is 100% functional and safe.... I do not enjoy shooting my hunting guns in the off season - ultralight (5.5 lb 30-06 and a 6lb 270) rifles that kick way too hard for me to tolerate on a continual basis. I do not care for getting the tar beat out of me....

Perhaps I will get stomped on for this - but I do not do a lot of off season practice for hunting.

I have the same 270 and 06 hunting ammo that I loaded like 8 years ago... Still shoots to the same place - every time.