10 weeks until deer season-prep work

Ok so its only around the corner now or almost and now is the time to be getting stuck in with your pre season work for the upcoming stag season in Sept. By now most stags will be in full velvet and calves will be born so its an ideal month to get the trail cams out and monitor whats happening on your grounds. A stag that I thought was dead from the heavy snow we had last December has thankfully survived and is now in full velvet with 8 fine points. Its always a good idea to clear shooting lanes and by this I mean the path from where one would normally lie in for a shot in the evening. Now and then branches will have grown out to much and could be blocking a shot or weeds and brambles might need clearing. Make sure that ground blinds are still intact should you hunt forestry leases's and if using high seats, that they havent been tampered with. Regarding your rifle, its not a bad idea to fire 3-4 shots every second weekend on deer sized targets from the positions we find difficult like sitting or the quick off the shoulder shot. Wax the stalking boots now not the day before the season when the smell of the wax will linger and alert every deer to something unnatural. Something I like to do is to put a few euros every week into a jar, even a €5 note. Come Sept 1st you have  that " rainy day" money for extra ammo or diesel or a new pair of hunting pants should you rip a pair in the field.