Preparing for the start of the season: 10 essential steps

Every year, the opening of the hunting season is eagerly awaited by hundreds of thousands of enthusiasts. This pivotal moment marks the return to the field, a renewed connection with nature, and long-awaited reunions between hunters, dogs, and hunting grounds.

However, this return cannot be improvised. Proper preparation for the start of the season is not only a guarantee of safety, efficiency, and enjoyment, but also reflects the respect we have for hunting and its values.

In this article, Verney-Carron guides you through the 10 essential steps to approach the opening of the hunting season under the best possible conditions, whether you are a small-game or big-game hunter, in open fields, forests, or mountains.

Checking your equipment: firearm, ammunition, and accessories

Before even thinking about putting on your boots, the first instinct of the experienced hunter is to carry out a complete check of their hunting equipment. The firearm—whether an over-and-under shotgun for small game or a semi-automatic rifle for driven hunts—must be thoroughly inspected. It is essential to check the condition of the barrel, the mechanism, the sighting system, as well as the stock, fittings, bluing, and any accessories.

It is also important to verify ammunition: its expiration date, its suitability for the type of firearm and game, its storage conditions, and its compliance with current regulations, particularly in wetland areas where the use of lead is prohibited.

Finally, do not forget the essential additional items: binoculars, backpack, knife, decoys, appropriate clothing, gloves, hat, a high-visibility vest for safety, and even a first-aid kit. Careful preparation helps avoid unpleasant surprises at the crucial moment.

Maintaining and adjusting your firearm: an essential step

During the off-season, your hunting firearm has likely been stored away safely. However, simply taking it out of storage is not enough to make it ready for use. A good hunter knows that regular firearm maintenance is essential to ensure reliability, accuracy, and longevity.

The barrel must be thoroughly cleaned to remove any powder residue or signs of oxidation. The action should receive light lubrication to ensure smooth operation. The firearm’s adjustment—especially for a rifle fitted with an optic—should be checked under real conditions. Nothing replaces a visit to the shooting range to confirm accuracy and responsiveness.

A well-maintained Express shotgun or a properly zeroed Speedline rifle are the best allies for a smooth and successful hunting season.

Checking the regulations

During the off-season, your hunting firearm has likely been stored safely. However, simply taking it out of storage is not enough to make it ready for use. A good hunter knows that regular firearm maintenance is essential to ensure reliability, accuracy, and longevity.

The barrel must be thoroughly cleaned to remove powder residue and any signs of oxidation. The mechanism requires light lubrication to ensure smooth operation. The firearm’s adjustment—especially in the case of a rifle fitted with an optic—should be checked under real conditions. Nothing replaces a trip to the shooting range to validate accuracy, recoil, and responsiveness.

A well-maintained Sagittaire shotgun or a properly adjusted Impact LA rifle are the best allies for a smooth and successful hunting season.

Reviewing safety rules

The period leading up to the opening of the season is the ideal time to walk your hunting grounds, observe changes in vegetation, and identify new trails, feeding areas, game tracks, or resting zones. This observation phase is also invaluable for spotting areas where game is present and anticipating its movements.

Reconnaissance of the terrain in advance, in coordination with your team or gamekeeper, enhances both safety and efficiency in your activities. It also helps identify risk areas, such as paths frequented by walkers or agricultural zones.

Preparing your dog: health, training, and nutrition

 

For hunters accompanied by dogs, their preparation is just as important as that of their handler. The hunting dog must be in good physical condition, up to date with its vaccinations, and regularly dewormed. A veterinary check-up before the start of the season is strongly recommended.

On the training side, a refresher of basic commands and recall exercises helps ensure that the partnership works effectively in the field. A well-prepared dog is also a happy dog—one that enjoys returning to its role and working in harmony with you.

Reconnecting with the territory

The period leading up to the opening of the season is the ideal time to walk your hunting grounds, observe changes in vegetation, and identify new paths, feeding areas, game trails, or resting sites. This observation phase is also invaluable for locating areas where game is present and anticipating its movements.

Early reconnaissance of the terrain, in coordination with your team or gamekeeper, enhances both safety and efficiency in your actions. It also makes it possible to identify risk areas, such as paths used by walkers or agricultural zones.

Reconditioning your body for hunting

Hunting is a demanding activity, both physically and mentally. After several months of inactivity, it is advisable to gradually resume physical exercise, whether through walking, strength training, shooting practice, or even scouting outings without a firearm.

Getting used to carrying your firearm, walking long distances over rough terrain, or simply reactivating your reflexes can make a real difference during the first days of the season. Good physical condition also helps prevent accidents and allows you to approach the season with confidence.

Rearming your ethical awareness

Hunting is not only a technical activity. It is an ethical act, deeply rooted in respect for nature, wildlife, and other users of the natural environment. At the start of each season, it is valuable to reflect on why we hunt, what we wish to pass on, and how to embody this passion with pride.

Hunting also means knowing when to refrain, letting an animal pass when it is not appropriate, respecting protected species, and ensuring the balance of wildlife populations. It is about contributing to wildlife management while remaining humble in the face of the living world’s vastness.

 

Anticipating weather conditions and choosing appropriate gear

The opening of the hunting season often takes place at the end of summer or the beginning of autumn, a transitional period when weather conditions can be highly variable. It is therefore wise to plan appropriate clothing for all eventualities: heat, rain, wind, or cool early mornings.

Breathable technical garments, boots with reinforced soles, and waterproof, silent jackets are now part of the essential equipment for the demanding hunter. Good anticipation in terms of clothing helps maintain focus, mobility, and efficiency in the field, while ensuring full discretion.

Preparing for the opening of the season with a spirit of transmission

Finally, preparing for the season is also a wonderful opportunity to share your passion. Inviting a young hunter to experience their first opening day, passing on your skills, sharing memories around a fire or in a cabin—these are all moments that make French hunting so rich.

At Verney-Carron, we believe that hunting is a way of life that must be nurtured. Preparing for the opening of the season also means preparing for a season of encounters, rituals, and traditions, which everyone can enrich with their own experiences and values.

Conclusion: a well-prepared opening for a successful season

 

The opening of the hunting season is both a solemn and festive moment. It is not simply about taking the first game, but about reconnecting with a world, with practices, ethics, and a community. By following these 10 essential steps, hunters adopt an approach grounded in discipline, safety, and respect, honouring the hunting tradition.

Verney-Carron is proud to support hunters on this journey, with firearms and equipment designed to last, to innovate, and to enhance every moment spent in the field. May this new season be rich, vibrant, and responsible.