Combo Hunting in January
By Steve Layton & Gary Finch

It’s a new year and most of the hunting sports are hitting their peaks for the season. Many hunters, in their tunnel vision for a buck, can lose the big picture associated with the total hunting experience. I have personally found myself in this situation. When the deer season was over, I was left with an emptiness of missed opportunities.

There is a lot more to consider than just deer hunting. For good or bad, all the seasons seem to hit at the same time on the calendar. There are overlapping seasons of deer, squirrel, quail, and ducks. Creative hunters, who are looking to get the most out of every weekend and outing should pack and plan for it.

One of the best methods is to think about combo hunting. Consider breaking each day or weekend into deer hunting the first half, and adding wing shooting, or squirrel hunting during the second half. This at least assures some type of action before heading home. Add the two together and you’ve just created a great combo hunting package. This plan allows everything to remain flexible according to the weather and any other unforeseen conditions. If the location and weather allows it, fishing shouldn’t be overlooked as yet another possibility. The key is to “remain flexible” and “pack for it”.  

Combo hunting is a great way to expose individuals to a new aspect of hunting that they would otherwise never have gotten to experience. The same skills that are used to hunt and stalk squirrels in a hardwood bottom will work for young hunters who are learning to stalk deer. For parents and grandparents, our goal is to raise another generation of woodsmen, hunters, and game managers who appreciate the outdoors. That is quite different from shooters who remain disconnected from the environment. The true skills of hunting have to be experienced and learned beyond the “box” of a shooting house. Through trial and error, young hunters will quickly learn that if a squirrel can pick you out, it’s assured that a deer will. This is how hunting skills are sharpened. The ability to experience success, failure, and personal discoveries in the woods makes for better hunters. 

It’s the same for adults. Commercial lodges have long seen the advantages of packaging combinations of activities that extend beyond actual hunting. They have come to understand that customers want to use their equipment and also learn something new.

Hunting preserves are sporting fully equipped archery ranges, along with rifle and skeet courses. This allows deer hunters to check their bows and rifles prior to the hunt. Wing shooters are able to work out the cobwebs, gain instruction, and eliminate any bad habits before entering the field. From bow hunting, to shot gunning, confidence is an important component for any type of shooting.

We are blessed with a southern climate where the month of January has some great “weather days”. Your group can pack in a weekend of successful hunting with fun activities mixed-in for flavor. The future of hunting is dependent on exposure, education, and the opportunity to practice and appreciate it an outdoor sport. By planning the right combination, you might just be able to accomplish all three in a single weekend.

Remember to watch Gary Finch Outdoors on WTVY - Channel 4 every Sunday morning at 6:30 a.m.
www.garyfinchoutdoors.com