In my last article, I shared with you the top five resolutions that your fishing partner wished you would make.

Today I am going to share with you the top five resolutions you NEED to make if you are a hunter.  I believe that by keeping these resolutions you will have a more productive and stress free hunting season in 2018.

1. Practice your shooting skills

It goes without saying, that when it comes to hunting, you can not kill what you can not hit. Every year hunters enter the woods unprepared. This is equally true for the fields and the marshes.

Regardless of your weapon of choice, if you want to shoot well when the pressure is on, you must practice.  I encourage you to make at least one preseason trip to the rifle range to make sure your weapon is still sighted in and that your skills are sharp.  If you are a duck hunter,  try to get in three or four sessions of skeet.

If you are a bowhunter, rather than a few sessions, I recommend a few months.  By shooting a dozen or so arrows every day for two to three months, you will greatly increase your accuracy as well as your confidence.

2. Spend time scouting
Once this season is over, it is time to begin preparing for the next season.

The post season is a good time to roam the woods in search of deer trails as well as bedding areas. You can enter new areas without worrying about spooking game for the hunt.

Shed hunting can also help you to find out what caliber of deer made it through the season.  This can be done beginning in the spring, once most bucks have lost their antlers.

Last but not least, be sure to hit the woods a month before season to hang stands for the upcoming season.

If you are a duck hunter, you can use this time to check out locations that you haven’t hunted in the past. The waterfowl will still be in the area for about a month after season so pay attention to the areas they frequent the most.  You can scout early in the morning during the off season without the fear of spoiling another hunter’s day.

3. Become a high tech hunter

This is one area that I am currently trying to improve.  The younger generation is so much more technologically advanced than I am, that they have a huge advantage in hunting.

Learn to use your cell phone as well as other devices.  It is absolutely amazing when you consider the various apps that are available on your phone. From Google Maps to onXmaps, HuntStand, and ScoutLook, there are dozens of hunting applications that can help you bag your game.  The apps do everything from plotting your path to determining the best wind and weather for your stand.  They allow you to scout your areas via satellite imagery.  For me to say that the person who uses these apps has an advantage would be a huge understatement.

I’ll give you an example. Last week I was hunting at the lake in an area I had never been in my life.  It was black dark and I had literally no idea where I was going.  A friend sent me a google image with a pin and I motored straight to the duck hunting spot with no problem.   Keep in mind this was in the dark in a place I had never been!  Do yourself a favor and get tech savvy.

4. Buy good gear

For most of my life, I had been the guy who was always looking for a great deal … something on sale, or something cheap. However, I have discovered, that in most instances, you get what you pay for.

Before purchasing your clothing and gear I recommend that you check reviews online. There are thousands of reviews on the products we use from places like Amazon. It is easier than ever to make sure you are buying a product that will meet or exceed your expectations before spending a dime.

When it comes to good gear, it is worth waiting for the best.  If funds are tight, I recommend saving a little at a time until you can buy quality.  Even if that new bow or jacket take years to afford, you will appreciate it more, take better care of it, and ultimately end up with something that lasts.

5. Share your hunt

If you have read many of my articles, you probably know that I am a big proponent of passing on the heritage of hunting and fishing.  I believe that God has blessed me with the opportunity to enjoy His creation, and that with that privilege comes the responsibility to share these experiences with others.

If we want to continue to have these rights, then we need to be sure to recruit new hunters to the sport.  These newbies will determine the future of our sport.

I’m not suggesting that someone tag along on every trip, but instead I’m suggesting that you take at least one weekend a season to introduce a beginner.  Texas Parks and Wildlife offers special youth only hunting weekends.  These work perfect for taking a youngster to the deer camp or the duck blind. Remember that if you take a kid hunting you could possibly change their life forever.

I heard someone say that almost 80 percent of all New Year’s resolutions are abandoned by the end of February. I agree that it is hard to stick to a weight loss, exercise, or money budgeting program. However, working on becoming a better hunter should be fun every step of the way.

Happy hunting and may God richly bless your new year.

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Brian Johnson, originally of Port Neches, is pastor of the Outdoorsman’s Church in Winnie, owner of DuckDogTrainer.com and the outdoors writer for The News.