Check your list for this important item!

I am getting ready to go hog hunting at Old Spanish Fort in Alabama at the end of August.  It seems like a long time since I packed up my spring turkey gear, and I am excited!  To get ready I have started to make a list of things I need to remember to bring.  I have been carrying this list around with me for two weeks already and was starting to think it was complete when I realized something important was missing - sighting in my gun!  I will be using a rifle, and I haven't taken the rifles out since I put them away at the end of last deer season. 

These days most of us are very busy with everything life has.  I live in an urban area, and it takes some effort to get to a range or anyplace that I can shoot my guns.  It is not unusual to have waits of up to 2 hours to get a bench at the closest range to me.  I take care to ensure my guns are handled and stored carefully so as not to bump the scope or do anything that would mess it up.  It is easy to use excuses like this to justify not taking the time to shoot your rifle before the new season.  However, don't fall for it! 

A few years ago a buddy of mine told me about a guy in his party that crippled a nice deer after taking what appeared to be a perfectly set up shot.  It turned out he hadn't shot his rifle for a while and it was off by nearly six inches at 100 yards.  Things can happen to our scope set-ups even if we don't realize it.  We owe it to wildlife we hunt to act ethically in all aspects of our sport, including that our guns are properly sighted in.  I take pride in my shot selection, and only take good shots where I can comfortable expect to harvest the animal cleanly.  However, if my rifle is off it is all for not.

So, I have one weekend before chasing hogs for the first time in my life, and I will make it a priority to put a few rounds through my rifle to ensure I am all set.  Then, my checklist will be complete!

Hunt safe everyone.............