What Is an Off-Season?
By Backwoods Life Crew Member Jeremy Johnson
Today marked the official end of **turkey hunting season** here in Alabama, so I suppose by traditional definitions, it’s technically the off-season for active hunting. I often hear fellow hunters expressing relief when the seasons conclude, looking forward to a period of rest and inactivity. However, I’m not entirely sure what they mean by that, because for dedicated outdoorsmen, this is precisely when the real work begins anew.
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At this time of year, most of the bucks have shed their antlers, making it the prime opportunity to distribute Antler King minerals. These supplements are crucial for promoting robust **antler growth** in the upcoming season and also provide vital nutrients to does as they prepare to drop and nurse their fawns. Beyond deer management, it’s also essential to start preparing fields for spring and summer food plot planting. This involves soil testing, tilling, and ensuring the ground is ready for optimal growth. Furthermore, if you rely on supplemental feeding, it’s imperative to keep feeders and troughs consistently full and to routinely check and replace batteries to ensure continuous operation. This period also calls for extensive **property maintenance** and improvement. The access roads are in a constant state of overgrowth, requiring regular bush-hogging and clearing. Those pesky limbs that scrape against your truck as you drive through don’t trim themselves! Add to this the ongoing tasks of repairing fences, addressing erosion, and general roadwork, and you’ll find that these activities consume a significant portion of the summer months.
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And let’s not overlook the critical safety checks and preparations for hunting season. It’s vital to inspect all tree stands to ensure they remain safe and structurally sound, and to re-clear shooting lanes that have become obstructed by new growth. Following this, the exciting phase of running trail cameras begins, allowing us to inventory the local deer population and closely monitor **antler growth** and development throughout the late summer and early fall. This intelligence is invaluable for planning successful hunts. Not to mention, if you’re unfortunate enough to contend with wild hogs, as we are, who relentlessly destroy food plots and tear up roads, then a considerable amount of time must be dedicated to either actively hunting them or constantly repairing the damage they inflict.
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All of these demanding tasks must be skillfully juggled around the commitments of a regular job, attending little league games, enjoying precious pool time, and, of course, cherishing family summer vacations, which always take precedence. It’s a delicate balance, but one that every passionate hunter understands.
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So, yes, I’m still not entirely sure what that word “off-season” truly signifies, unless it’s merely a shorthand for the period when the most crucial preparatory work gets accomplished. It demands a lot of juggling, dedication, and sheer hard work, but the effort is undeniably worth it when you successfully harvest a magnificent buck later in the fall. I genuinely love this cycle of preparation and anticipation, and I can’t wait to dive back into what many call the “off-season.”
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