| No, the end of duck hunting season doesn't mean it's | | | | gun doesn't have a camo finish. This will prevent |
| time for all the HONEY DOs quite yet! Here's a | | | | off-season rust from occurring. Better yet give it a |
| checklist we have put together of all items we have | | | | good cleaning. Don't forget to clean out the inside of |
| taken care of or still in the process of... A little care | | | | the magazine tube and the spring and tube in the |
| at the end of duck hunting season can add years of | | | | stock if a semi-auto. Don't forget to remove the |
| life to your hunting gear. | | | | choke tube and apply a generous amount of oil to |
| 1) If you are using Ace duck decoy anchors or | | | | the threads before reinstalling. |
| Avery J anchors be sure to release the tension on | | | | 5) If you pulled your boat trailer on salted roads on |
| the rubber stretch cord. Next wipe down the rubber | | | | duck hunting trips towards end of season be sure to |
| stretch cord with Armor-All. These simple steps will | | | | power wash the trailer and boat. Salt will raise havoc |
| keep the rubber from dry rotting and help it last | | | | on painted and unpainted surfaces. |
| much longer. Next, store your decoys preferably out | | | | 6) Be sure to dry out the insides of your waders to |
| of the sunlight and extreme temperature changes. | | | | avoid mold and other stuff from growing during the |
| 2) Using a permanent marker place a T on the top of | | | | off-season. Best done with boot driers... |
| your duck call reeds and remove. By doing so the | | | | 7) At the end of duck hunting season remove |
| cork won't become compressed during the | | | | batteries from your motion decoys. Just a slight leak |
| off-season and need replacing before season starts. | | | | of battery acid can cause un-repairable corrosion to |
| Store individual calls and associated parts in individual | | | | internal wires and connectors inside your motion duck |
| zip-lock bags so reeds and corks don't become | | | | decoys. |
| interchanged. | | | | 8) Be sure to charge your boat battery and spinning |
| 3) Be sure to add a fuel stabilizer to the gas tank of | | | | wing decoy batteries at the end of duck hunting |
| your outboard boat motor before you head out for | | | | season. Lead acid batteries including gel-cells will last |
| your last duck hunting trip. Most boat shops get $100 | | | | longer if kept fully charged. |
| a carburetor for cleaning when old gas leaves a | | | | By using some or all of the tips above hopefully you |
| varnish behind. | | | | can extend the life of your duck hunting gear and |
| 4) At a minimum wipe down your duck hunting | | | | save some money in the future. |
| shotgun with Rem-Oil or your choice of gun oil if your | | | | |