The start of the hunting season: the complete guide to successful preparation

Where do you start to prepare for the start of the hunting season? There are many stages involved, from re-commissioning your gun to physical preparation of the human-dog pair, choosing the right equipment and knowing the regulations. But don’t panic! This comprehensive guide, drawn up with our specialists at Solognac, is here to help you step by step. From a checklist to make sure you don’t forget anything, to scouting the area and basic safety rules, we’ve compiled all the advice you need to be ready for the big day.

Caution: please note that the information contained in this article is provided for information purposes only. Hunting is a regulated and potentially dangerous activity. Make sure you always comply with the legislation in force in your county and follow the safety rules scrupulously. Always consult official sources such as your departmental federation or the Fédération Nationale des Chasseurs (National Federation of Hunters) website for the most up-to-date information.

Before diving into the details, here’s a handy checklist to make sure nothing is left to chance.

• Documents:
-Valid hunting licence for the current season
-Hunting civil liability insurance
-Territory card or ACCA validation
-Waterproof pouch to protect your papers

- Guns and ammunition:
-Gun cleaned, inspected and barrels oiled
-Chokes checked and greased
-Stock of cartridges adapted to the game and biotope
-Ammunition inspected (no oxidation, base in good condition)

- Hunter’s equipment:
-Weather-appropriate clothing (hard-wearing trousers, waistcoat/jacket)
-At least one high-visibility garment (cap, waistcoat)
-Comfortable, worn-in hunting shoes or boots
-Cap or hat for sun and rain
-Hunting knife and water bottle

- The hunting dog:
-Pre-season veterinary visit carried out
- Parasite treatments up to date
- Gradual resumption of physical exercise
- Harness and water supply for the outing

- Preparation and knowledge:
-Survey of the territory completed
-Consultation of opening dates by species and local regulations
-Review of basic safety rules

More than a priority, safety is an individual and collective responsibility. Bear in mind that the euphoria of the start of the hunting season must NEVER overshadow these basic principles.

Every season, hunters’ federations and drive hunt managers rightly issue reminders about safety rules. Here’s an essential reminder:

-weapon handling: a gun must always be considered to be loaded. It must only be used at the time of the hunt and unloaded as soon as the hunt is over. The barrel is always pointed in a safe direction.
-the 30° safety angle: when hunting, never shoot at an angle of 30 °towards another hunter, a house, a road or a path. Mark out this angle (in particular with drive stakes) at each position.
-the downward shot: when hunting large game, the shot must be "low trajectory", i.e. aimed at the ground. This requires formal identification of the game and your surroundings. Never shoot at ground level or without being sure of what is behind your target.

Wearing fluorescent clothing has become the norm and is often compulsory, particularly when hunting large game in driven hunts. It is also compulsory, and even strongly recommended, to wear one when hunting small game, especially if you are hunting in groups. For example, an orange Solognac hunting cap or waistcoat makes you visible to other hunters and other users of the countryside, drastically reducing the risk of accidents.

To properly prepare for the start of the hunting season, after sometimes several months of inactivity, it is important to put your weapon back into service. So, after many months on the rack or in your security cabinet, we advise you to:

- Lubricate the moving parts of your gun and the chokes
- Clean the barrels using a lightly oiled rag

- Oil the stock and fore-end, then treat the sanded, oiled wood with linseed oil


For a thorough cleaning, opt for a complete gun cleaning kit, such as the one from Armistol.



It should be noted thatpreparing the cartridges is an equally important task. So, take stock of your ammunition stock, which will enable you to eliminate defective ammunition (traces of oxidation, damaged base, etc.). Augustin, one of our enthusiasts, shares one of his tips for choosing ammunition for the start of the season: "During the first few days of the season, game is less wary than during the rest of the season and can sometimes be shot at close quarters. You may therefore prefer short-range cartridges of the ARX, crosshead or fibre wadding type."

Each type of hunting has its own specificities, but all are demanding sporting disciplines. Surveying lowlands, climbing hills or following your dog through dense woods requires a good level of physical fitness. Getting back in shape before the start of the hunting season will allow you to hunt longer, in better shape, and, above all, with more pleasure and clarity. If you want to hunt in complete safety and check your physical fitness, a medical check-up may be useful to check your eyesight, hearing and heart rate.

"To get the most out of your rifle and feel at ease, there’s nothing like a bit of clay pigeon shooting before the season starts", explains Vincent. And he’s right! You can practise on shooting ranges to get back into shape. Personally, "I use a universal trench (you’ll pay around €5 for a 25-clay pigeon training board). 3 or 4 100-clay sessions before the season starts are enough to brush up your shooting technique. Game shooting and trench shooting are quite different, but for those who hunt wood pigeon during the early opening of the season, for example, or game birds, it’s excellent preparation. All in all, when it comes to game birds, you’ll see that you’ll come out on top."

Don’t forget though to protect your ears during this exercise by wearing noise-cancelling headphones or earplugs. High-repetition shooting can cause irreversible damage to your hearing.

- Walking and hiking: take longer and longer walks in the weeks leading up to the start of the hunting season, if possible in your hunting boots to "get your feet ready".
- Reinforcement: simple exercises such as squats and lunges will strengthen your legs for difficult terrain with a slight gradient.

Like a top athlete, your dog also needs careful preparation to go hunting for small game or tracking big game. A veterinary visit will allow you to update your dog’s vaccinations and other flea and tick treatments to protect them from any illnesses. It can also highlight joint problems in dogs that are no longer in their infancy and which could cause them pain during hunting.

Recommended equipment: water reserves to hydrate or water your dog during the day, make sure they have a place to rest in the shade at midday, and check that their resting and transport area is well ventilated (open car windows, etc). If you’re interested, we’ve authored a full article on preparing your hunting dog before the season. 

As Vincent explains, "the best moments are those shared with your dog. When you know your territory perfectly, and therefore the habits of the game, and your dog is well trained and experienced, the chemistry is perfect and your hunting pleasure is increased tenfold ".

A hunter who knows their territory is a hunter who is already halfway there. Pre-opening surveying is crucial.

A few weeks before the start of the hunting season, take the time to explore your hunting territory, unarmed and without dogs. Observe standing crops (stalks, sunflowers, maize), waterholes, woodland edges and hedges. Look for animal tracks, feeding and resting areas. This knowledge will give you a precise idea of where you might encounter game on the day of the start of the hunting season.

You’ll need to adapt elements of your outfit to the region where you’re hunting, but generally speaking, wearing robust trousers for your everyday life in the wild will make it easier to get around while standing up to any wild vegetation you may encounter.

A breathable polyester t-shirt or shirt will allow you to wick away perspiration more efficiently and feel more comfortable. You can add a hunting waistcoat to this outfit. Compact and equipped with a game bag, it should allow you to carry your ammunition, your validated hunting license and your game if you harvest any.

Remember to wear a cap or hat to protect yourself from the sun and avoid being blinded when shooting, for example. Vincent also advises you "to carry a camouflage net with you. There are some very light and very compact ones that can be very useful if you are looking for sites frequented by wood pigeons in particular. Often on the edge of sunflower fields in the early morning or late afternoon, when woodpigeon come to feed."

Finally, the fit is fundamental. Boots or shoes, they must be both hard-wearing and comfortable. Here at the Solognac team, most employees opt for shoes like the Crosshunt 120 at the beginning of the season, worn with gaiters in the morning to avoid the unpleasant feeling of dew at the bottom of the trouser legs.

For Vincent, this equipment is enough. "Not being of a chilly nature and hunting in South West France, I prefer to stick to this: the early mornings are cool, but it soon warms up. However, you can also add a wind and rain jacket or fleece depending on the weather; clothes that take up little space when you don’t need them anymore."

A folding or full tang (fixed blade) hunting knife is always useful in the wild. What’s more, it’s often hot at the start of the season now, so remember to take a water bottle with you. And if you don’t have a watering hole nearby, use it to refresh your dog from time to time.

As far as ammunition is concerned, if you are hunting small game with a pointing dog, Vincent advises "that your first shot should be with fibre wadding ammunition, which will give you a generous spray at short to moderate distances, such as 32 to 34 grams of pellets". Then in the second shot, "a wad of 34 to 36 grams of pellets that will give you the opportunity to go and look for your game a little further away in case of a miss on the first shot or for the most skilful, to go and look for the double."

Before the start of each season, you can contact the departmental federations or other ACCAs to find out about current legislation, hunting plans for different species and the area over which your hunting rights extend.

ACCAs, private hunts and drive hunt managers should also be able to remind you of all the safety rules to be observed, whether you are hunting small game out in front or big game in a drive.

And, of course, you must carry your hunting permit and valid hunting licence with you when you hunt. We also advise you to reread the hunting regulations of the municipality in which you are hunting, as well as the map of the territory in the event of any changes.

Marc’s tip for protecting your documents? "I put them in a waterproof pouch that I always carry with me, if it rains it protects them".

The game you can hunt differs depending on the region you’re in, but here are the main ones that one of our enthusiasts is preparing to hunt in the Landes.

"The red partridge is the king of lowland game, it’s what I hunt. With my English setters, I have enjoyed the Lot-et-Garonne hillsides many times over my hunting years. How many fields, stubble fields, vineyards and orchards have you surveyed in search of these magnificent groups of reds?

Quail is also exciting at the start of the season. Excellent game for young pointers to learn how to search. Finally, the grail of all small game hunters: the hare! When you have the chance to see it leave at your feet, don’t rush! How many I’ve missed because I was so quick to shoot... ! But if you do manage to get one, how proud you’ll be to see your dog in with this magnificent animal.

And wood pigeons are increasingly common in the South-West. This is a game that tends to become sedentary. It’s a shame that the same cannot be said for game birds, that F1 migrant that can exceed 100 km/h in flight".

A final word of advice from Marc: "If your pointing dog is by your side when you ’stumble’ upon these types of birds, make sure you keep them wisely by your side. Use them only for sniffing out the game. And the same goes for hare: make sure they take it at a standstill and don’t run after it when it starts, as this could prove disastrous for the rest of their hunting career."