Hunting already? Now’s the time to start preparing

I had a recent phone call from Jerry Kripp, who does the outdoor show for WONE.

“Can you believe it’s already time to talk about hunting? In less than two months it will be here,” he said.

What Jerry is talking about right now is the long preparation successful hunters go through. For some it is well underway.

Here are some of their activities: Checking all firearms for safety, sighting in shotguns, going over all archery equipment, including sharpness of arrowheads, sharpness of knives, sturdiness of ropes, absolute security of tree stands, proper exercise to maintain health, proper exercise and nutrition for dogs and check of all clothing.

One thing you should do with all pants and boots is to spray them with a good insect repellent, especially the type made to repel ticks. Any time a hunter — or anyone else — goes into the field — including scouting — they have the chance of picking up ticks. So protection is good for more than just hunters. Tick spray has no odor or scent.

I saw a map online that showed where ticks are in Ohio. This part of the state looks pretty clear. But if your deer camp is in southeast Ohio, watch out!

ODNR has put together an informative web page about every aspect of ticks in Ohio. Check it out at: wildlife.ohiodnr.gov/species-and-habitats/ticks-inohio. Lastly, good hunters will do some scouting of lands they intend to hunt. Some will even put up trail cameras. (Make sure you get a signed permission slip to hunt on private property.)

Hunting can be fun. Even the prep work can be enjoyable. A prepared hunter has a good chance at the ultimate goal: A big buck. But he has an even better opportunity at some things that are better: having fun and staying safe.

Drinks for all: These hot summer days can be hard on humans. But humans can always go indoors for air conditioning, plop down on the sofa and enjoy a cool drink of water. Those little birds at your feeders can’t do that. And they do need water to survive. You can do something about that with a bird bath and other devices that bring water to wildlife. If you have a birdbath, keep fresh water flowing. If not, try putting a couple of buckets of clean water near your feeders. But don’t be surprised if some other critters don’t stop by for a drink.

My grandson, for his Eagle Scout award, created a community garden that was totally watered by rain collected in barrels. That sort of system could easily be erected to provide water for animals and birds.

Scenic trips: If you like to paddle your own canoe, literally, check out the state’s scenic rivers canoe floats. Many rivers are included, including the Little Miami and the Stillwater. There is also an overall program to reward those who put in the most time on the Ohio scenic rivers. For information, visit: paddle.ohiodnr.gov/.