#1: Learn to slow down

A good hunter knows when it’s time to be patient and when it’s time to act, but he also knows that most of the time, staying still and moving slowly is the best way to catch game. Any sudden movement or noise (stepping on a branch or breaking a twig) can set off the alarm and you can say goodbye to your trophy.

So, to learn how to stay still for hours and move slowly enough, use a watch as a guide. You will notice that, at first, it will seem like an eternity to sit still for 5 minutes, but over time you will get used to the idea. Just make sure to stay quiet and observe what’s going on around you.

#2: Clear the lanes

As a hunter, you must learn to think ahead and anticipate your prey’s movements. So when you come to a tree stand, don’t go in and wait for the deer to come out! Do an exercise in imagination and take a shooting position for each direction the animal could come from. If you see branches blocking your view, remove them (if you can reach them) and do the same for any other obstacles.

Also, try to find the position that requires the least amount of movement to turn in any shooting direction. This way, if the deer surprises you, you can move without scaring the animal. This technique will be very useful in survival hunting as it teaches you to be prepared in any circumstance.

#3: Continued Practice

After all, practice makes perfect, right? If you want to improve your hunting skills, it’s important to implement various training exercises that will hone your shooting technique and keep your reflexes sharp and ready.

Hunting requires hand-to-eye coordination, anticipation, and knowledge of the trade, especially if you’re doing it to survive. For this, try using different weapons and even consider diversifying your portfolio, which means changing the prey you usually go after.

#4: Use Technology

These days, there are many accessories that can help you improve your skills, so don’t be ashamed to use them. Get a high-quality scope, laser pointer (if necessary), or rangefinder. Anything that can help you improve should be in your medicine cabinet.

As you get used to the equipment and learn the environment and techniques, you can forgo some of the accessories, but as a beginner, it’s better to have them.

#5: Learn, learn, learn

Finally, the technique that the most successful hunters apply is a curious mind. Stay curious and learn about new weapons, techniques and try to team up with experienced hunters. Of course, it helps to be curious about other things that connect to hunting and can be useful in a survival scenario, like fishing. Remember to always carry a portable ham radio with you for communication purposes.

In general, I think it’s best to stay alert and ready for action if we want to make sure our species survives in an SHTF situation.