Before you ever climb into a stand or load up your shotgun, there’s a season behind the season — the one where real hunters get to work. At Springhill Outfitters, we know the most successful hunters are the ones preparing right now — clearing lanes, planting food plots, setting stands, and tuning their gear long before opening day. 

Whether you're prepping for deer season, dove season, or duck season, here’s your guide to smart, effective hunting prep — and the products that can help you get the job done.

Deer Season Prep: Scouting, Feeding & Plotting

For whitetail hunters, summer and early fall are critical months. Deer season success starts with boots on the ground and hands in the dirt.

Key Preseason Tasks for Deer Hunters:

• Clearing shooting lanes around stand sites
  
  
• Setting trail cameras to pattern deer movement
  
  
• Establishing food plots with clover, brassicas, or fall blends
  
  
• Refreshing mineral sites for antler growth and herd health
  
  
• Hanging new treestands or checking safety straps on existing ones
  
  
• Getting bows tuned up with new strings, broadhead alignment, and sight calibration
  
  

Prep Gear We Carry:

• Tree Stands & Blinds
  
  
• Trail Cameras & Accessories
  
  
• Bow Maintenance Gear 
• Deer Minerals (in-store pick up only)

Tip: Set cameras near mineral sites or travel corridors and monitor patterns regularly to get ahead of the bucks' routine before the rut.

Dove Season Prep: Plant Now, Shoot Later

Dove season may feel simple on the surface, but a successful hunt starts months in advance — often in the form of a well-planned field.

Dove Season Prep Tips:

• Plant sunflower or millet fields early to ensure bloom and seed heads by opening day
  
  
• Clean up dead trees, fences, and brush piles where doves like to perch
  
  
• Spend time at the range fine-tuning your wingshooting before the opener
  
  
• Set up stools and shade spots well before the birds arrive
  
  

Products for Dove Field Prep:

• Field Gear
  
  
• Hearing & Eye Protection
  
  
• Seed Blends (in-store pick up only)
  
  

Tip: Make sure to plant at the proper time — sunflowers generally take 90–110 days to mature. Need help choosing seed? Our team can help.

Duck Season Prep: Water, Food & Concealment

Waterfowl hunters know that duck season is won well before the first cold front. Now’s the time to start managing your impoundments or prepping your habitat for migrating ducks.

Duck Hunting Prep Checklist:

• Plant flooded crops like millet, corn, or rice in impoundments or shallow water areas
  
  
• Repair blinds and brush cover for concealment
  
  
• Control water levels if you manage impounded wetlands
  
  
• Check and prep boats, motors, and decoy rigs for the season
  
  

Products for Waterfowl Season Prep:

• Blinds & Camo Netting
  
  
• Calls & Call Lanyards
  
  
• Decoys & Motion Rigs
  
  
• Millet Seed Blends (in-store pick up only)
  
  

Tip: Ducks feed heavily on flooded grains — plant early enough to allow seed heads to mature before the water comes in.

Real hunters don’t wait for the season to start — they work for it. Come see us at Springhill Outfitters, and let’s get you ready from the ground up.

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