Dreams of shells and barks: the open season is in the air
Months have passed since our hills and fields fell silent —no more the barks of the brave nor the music of the hunting horns— leaving room for nature’s course to unfold. And although, in between, we’ve had several variations of small game hunts —such as population control or the half-season— and even big game pursuits, like stalking the elusive stag, the truth is we are now only days away from the grand opening once again, when our mountains will once more echo with barks at the sound of the horns.
This time has allowed us to relive past hunts, to remember our outings with friends, to organize our dreams for the coming season, and to care for our lands —setting up water troughs and feeders to meet the needs of our wildlife.
But just as important as all that is using these remaining days to get our equipment ready —something that, when the moment of truth arrives, will spare us many headaches: keeping our firearms clean, inspected, and sighted in; making sure all documentation is up to date —licenses, insurance, and so on—; and reviewing any changes in current hunting regulations to avoid fines or legal trouble. Small details we tend to leave for the last minute, but if overlooked, they can spoil the long-awaited opening day.
At this stage, it’s also essential to start preparing our dogs —our loyal hunting companions.
With the new season approaching, we must step up our dogs’ physical conditioning so they can fully enjoy their passion. To do that, we must first ensure they are in optimal health. For a dog to perform well during a hunting day, it must not only be physically fit but also free from any illness that could affect its performance.
It’s advisable to have your dog checked at least once a year, and now is a good time for it, since we’ll be increasing their training intensity, and once hunting begins, we’ll be demanding even more from them.
We must make sure the animal is properly vaccinated and dewormed, with a thorough veterinary examination that not only detects health issues but can also help prevent them.
Vaccinations against distemper, leptospirosis, and infectious tracheobronchitis —better known as “kennel cough”— are highly recommended.
As for deworming, it should be carried out both internally and externally.
Now, all that’s left is to wait —with the same nerves as every year— for that night before the season opens, when our dog waits by the gear for the first rays of light to appear, while we spend the night in restless anticipation.
Because the open season is upon us once again.