With heat warnings spreading across the state this week, here are a few options to improve as a hunter while staying cool.

Bow Fishing

There are several positives to bow fishing. First, it provides you with better feel for shooting a bow. Though some say that shooting at a moving target can lead to punching the trigger, I believe it has given me a better feel for my bow. Second, bowfishing gets you in the water if you are wading a river or at least near water to cool off. Lastly, carp makes great bait for trapping or catfishing. A couple places to check are spillways, and rivers if it has been dry. DNR officers are also a great source of information as they are in a constant battle to limit the number of grass carp. Here is a link to the $16 kit from amazon that I have always used. It might not be a bad idea to buy an extra arrow or two as well.

Scout

It may be too hot to walk through a cornfield, but you can still get out and scout. We have several farms with rivers running through them. Take a canoe or raft down the river and try to find new spots for stands. Midwest Whitetail also utilizes canoes in order hunt secluded areas of public lands. Join the club.

Stay Indoors

You can always practice blind bail shooting. Additionally, you can paper tune or bare shaft in the garage to ensure that your bow is setup properly. If you don’t have space for either of those, check out Harrison’s blog on the most useful podcasts and books to prepare for next season.

Wake Up Early

The early bird gets the worm, and the second mouse gets the cheese. Hop out of bed around 5 or 6 am to shoot your bow, check trail cameras and tend food plots. With the heat rising you may need to provide additional water to what you planted last spring.

Thank you all for reading. I hope this gave you some options. October will be here soon. Stu.