I’m not big on resolutions. Mostly because they never seem to stick, for me or anyone else. That said, I do try to be mindful of ways I can be better, and while I do that all year, the new year offers a good opportunity to take stock of things and set goals for the coming year, which is really all a resolution is.
So, if you enjoy hunting, shooting, or fishing, now is a good time to set goals or make resolutions for the 2024.
Here are a few suggestions.
Resolutions for Hunters
Practice More in the Off-Season
A lot of hunters, even serious ones, get caught up in the day-to-day and before they know it, season is two weeks away and their bow is still in the case, the gun hasn’t been out of the safe since season ended, and skills have eroded.
We don’t like to think about it that way, but it’s true. If you aren’t working on and flexing those muscles regularly, you are losing some of your abilities. Don’t let 2024 be the year you leave a tag unfilled because you didn’t maintain skills in the offseason.
That doesn’t mean two-hour shooting sessions every night, but try to commit to getting the bow out at least once every two weeks until August, then weekly leading up to the season.
Shoot that hunting rifle at least a handful of times and known and unknown distances.
Keep your skills sharp.
Do More Boots-on-the-Ground Scouting
There’s a fine line to walk here between not doing enough and doing too much. That said, I think the reliance on trail cameras and similar technology has eroded the scouting skills of many hunters.
I’ve talked to a lot of hunters who have a routine of where, when, and how they place cameras, and they don’t change them for years, even though their properties or neighboring ones, have.
Late winter is a great time to do this. Especially if you are in an area that gets some snow. The best time to do some later winter scouting is 7-10 after a snow, with no additional snow or melting temps. I know that isn’t always possible, but in places where it is, the snow gives away how the deer are using a property much quicker than summer vegetation does.
Is it the same in June as January? Not always. But scouting is a thought exercise. Use it to your advantage and see if something you see in the snow surprises you.
Resolutions for Shooters
Focus on Training
A new red dot, holster, or tactical pant isn’t going to make you better. I know you think it will, but that’s really not how it works. You get better by training, and too many of us ignore this fact completely.
Chances are you have local trainers closer than you imagine, and you need to be taking advantage of them. You will get better by being challenged and pushed. Maybe you learn something, maybe you don’t, but you need to complete the exercise to keep getting better.
Use a resource like the USCCA Training Network finder to find a reputable trainer near you.
Commit to Dry Fire
Live-fire training is a necessary part of keeping your skills intact. That said, you can improve a lot by committing time to dry-fire training as well.
I’m a huge proponent of dry-fire training because I have seen what it has done for me. It can be as easy as clearing your weapon and going through the aim/press action at a light switch. You can also invest in a dry-fire training aid like any of the Mantis suite of products that I have come to love so much.
At the end of the day, the goal is more trigger time however you get it.
Invest in Training Ammo
Folks, if you haven’t been paying attention, the price of everything is headed up. Ammo is not an exception. So far, the increases have largely been held off, but that looks to be coming to an end. The Ukraine/Russia war bumped prices a bit. The attack on Israel in October led to another bump, those were fairly limited.
There is a price increase coming to all ammo across the board, and some of the more obscure stuff may suddenly get very difficult to find.
For shooters, this means stocking up now, in my opinion. Hopefully you’ve been stocking up anyway, but if you haven’t, really try to get some ammo on hand before January is out. Personally, I like dealing with the folks at SGAmmo.com. Great prices, fast shipping, and pretty good stuff. No, they don’t have everything, but they’ve got a lot.
For hunters, this means getting enough rounds on hand that hopefully you never have to buy more.
Across the board, I’d say, get your hands on as much ammo as you can reasonably manage, as quickly as possible.
Resolutions for Anglers
Make Time for the Water
Maybe this is just a me problem, but I don’t spend nearly the amount of time on the water that I would like. It’s often said that we don’t have a time problem, we have a priority problem, and to some extent that is true. Some other things have take priority over fishing.
I need to work on that.
Maybe this means getting the family involved so it isn’t just you leaving everyone for a day. Maybe you need to make better use of your evenings.
At the end of the day, to fish, you have to be on the water, and if you can’t get there, you won’t be doing it.
Learn to Fish (Insert Lure Here)
Anglers fall into the same trap of getting comfortable with a few baits and always resorting to those. We will pick up a new bait for a few casts, have no luck, and go back to our old standbys.
This is bad strategy.
Pick something you know SHOULD work, but never has for you, or that you haven’t enjoyed and commit to making 2024 the year you fall in love with that lure.
I’ve got so far as to remove my tackle boxes from the boat when I leave for the day so I can’t make the switch while I’m out.
Maybe you have better impulse control than I do, and you don’t have to resort to that.
At the end of the day, you are going to meet conditions or fish that don’t want your favorite lure to fish. If you aren’t branching out and expanding your skills as an angler, you aren’t getting better.
Resolutions for All
Purge Your Gear
Season is over. Ice is forming. The range is closed.
I get it. Your gear is probably thrown in a tote and tucked in a corner of the garage or your man cave and the last thing you want to do is go through it.
That’s exactly why you should. The season is still fresh in your mind. If there was something that you didn’t use this year, you will remember it better now, and have less time to talk yourself into thinking you still need it even if you didn’t use it.
No doubt you have a list of things you would like to add to your gear arsenal. Don’t clutter it up with stuff that you aren’t using. More than that, sell that unused gear to help fund the purchase of things you actually do want and might use.
Introduce Someone New to the Outdoors
Take someone new afield, to the range, or on the water. Our shared shooting sports and outdoor heritage is under attack by people who don’t think it’s enough for them to not participate. They don’t think anyone should be able to do it. The future of us enjoying our time doing what we love is tied to more people enjoying it as well and advocating for it to continue.
It’s a simple appeal.
Share your love for hunting, shooting, or angling with someone new.
Resolutions aren’t for everyone. Many of us won’t keep them. This isn’t really about that. It’s about taking the time to plan out our year and think about how we can improve and develop our skills.