2026 Hunting Season Preparation

Get Your Hunting Gun Ready Before the Season Starts

The middle of summer may not feel like hunting season, but it is one of the best times to inspect your firearm and equipment.

Waiting until the night before opening day can leave you dealing with rust, missing magazines, loose optics, damaged recoil pads, or ammunition that does not match your rifle's zero. A simple preseason firearm inspection gives you time to correct those problems before stores, ranges, and gunsmiths become busy

Start With a Safe Inspection

Remove the firearm from its case and point it in a safe direction before opening the action and confirming the chamber is empty.

This step is especially important for guns that were put away immediately after the previous season. Never assume the firearm was unloaded before storage.

Once the chamber is clear, inspect the entire gun for rust, moisture damage, dirt, and signs of neglect.

Do Not Store Firearms in Soft Cases

Soft gun cases are convenient for transportation, but they are usually poor choices for long-term storage.

Moisture trapped inside the case can lead to surface rust on the barrel, receiver, and other metal components. Remove the firearm, wipe away any corrosion, and apply a light coat of protective oil.

This is also a good time to remember whether the gun had any problems during the previous season, including failures to fire, feeding problems, or unusual accuracy changes.

Check the Scope and Mounting Hardware

Grab the scope and check for movement. If the optic shifts when handled, something is loose and needs attention.

Check the torque on the scope rings and inspect the mounting system for damage. Traditional rifle bases may require additional disassembly to access, but the rings should still be checked before going to the range.

After inspecting the hardware, confirm the rifle's zero using the same ammunition you plan to hunt with.

Inspect Suppressors and Action Screw

Hunters using suppressors should confirm the suppressor and muzzle device are tight and properly aligned.

Loose or misaligned suppressor components can create serious accuracy and safety concerns.

Traditional rifles should also have their front and rear action screws inspected. Loose action screws can affect accuracy, especially on rifles with wood stocks that may expand or contract as temperature and humidity change.

Do Not Overlook the Recoil Pad

Recoil pads can break down over time, even when the firearm remains in a safe.

Some materials become soft, sticky, cracked, or distorted after exposure to solvents, oils, insect repellents, and heat. Replacing a damaged recoil pad is much easier during the summer than immediately before the season begins.

Prepare Shotguns for the Hunt

Shotgun hunters should confirm that the correct magazine plug is installed when required.

Inspect the choke tube and make sure it is suitable for the ammunition being used, especially when shooting steel or other non-lead loads. Remove, clean, lubricate, and reinstall interchangeable choke tubes to prevent them from becoming seized.

Run a patch through the bore and confirm it is free of rust, debris, and obstructions.

Perform a Complete Function Check

Cycle the action and confirm it operates properly.

Check that the safety works, the trigger resets, and the firearm does not fire or release the hammer when it should not. Any questionable behavior should be addressed by a qualified gunsmith before the firearm is used.

Buy the Correct Ammunition Early

Your rifle is zeroed for a specific load.

Changing bullet weight, velocity, or ammunition type can change the point of impact. Purchase the correct hunting ammunition early and take it to the range to confirm your zero.

Waiting until the last minute may force you to buy a different load and spend additional time re-zeroing the rifle.

Schedule Gunsmithing Work Before the Rush

Summer is a better time to take a firearm to a gunsmith.

Repair shops are often less crowded, parts are easier to locate, and there is more time to properly diagnose and correct problems. Waiting until the week before hunting season may leave you without enough time to complete the repair.

Final Thoughts

Preseason hunting firearm maintenance does not need to be complicated.

Confirm the gun is unloaded, inspect it for rust, check the optic and mounting hardware, verify the action screws, test the controls, locate the correct magazine, and confirm the zero with your hunting ammunition.

Taking care of those details now gives you time to solve problems before opening day.