When deer, turkey, dove and other seasons end, hunters often put away their guns and bows until the next year approaches.

However, to stay consistent, it is important to shoot year-round.

Central Alabama Co-op Sporting Goods manager Bobby Nance said shooting is no different than any other sport when it comes to practice.

“It’s just like football and baseball, because if you don’t practice and do it a lot, you’re not going to be very good at it,” he said. “Anything like shooting takes a lot of practice to help you stay familiar with the gun and get comfortable with it.”

For rifle hunters, shooting at least weekly helps them ensure the scope remains on target. Even the slightest bump can cause the scope to shift, which means it will have to be readjusted, Nance said.

“They can always get knocked off a little bit,” he said. “You have to shoot them regularly to make sure everything is staying consistent.”

For bird hunters, hitting the field without practice can make for a frustrating day. Because they face a moving target, it is especially important to stay sharp with clay targets.

Bow hunters depend heavily on muscle memory to stay consistent. Shooting in the off-season keeps the muscles used to draw and hold the bow in place in shape for the season. If hunters do not shoot their bows consistently, when they do shoot soreness can easily set in. Shooting as often as possible will cure this problem and have the hunter confident when deer or turkey season rolls around.

One of the best ways to stay sharp with any weapon is to make practice fun.

Many hunters like to get together with friends and shoot. It also helps to make practice a competition. This will provide motivation to improve and stay sharp.

In addition to shooting guns and bows, it is also important to take care of any maintenance and cleaning.

Taking care of any issues in the off season will prevent any issues that could spoil a hunting trip.