Best Practices for Cleaning and Maintaining Hunting Gear After the Season Ends

When hunting season winds down, many hunters pack away their equipment without proper maintenance or storage preparation. Properly cleaning and maintaining equipment after the season ends is essential for safety, longevity, and peak performance. A few extra steps before storage saves time, money, and frustration later and ensures the lifespan of the gear isn’t shortened by off-season storage practices.

Firearms and Bows

Weapons are the heart of hunting gear, and they require the most attention at the end of the season.

Firearms:

• Unload and Disassemble: Always make sure firearms are unloaded before handling. Break it down into its main components for thorough cleaning.
• Clean the Barrel: Use a bore brush, cleaning rod, and solvent to remove powder, debris and residue to prevent rust and improve accuracy.
• Wipe Metal Surfaces: Apply a light coat of gun oil to all metal parts to protect against corrosion.
• Inspect and Replace: Check for wear on springs, firing pins, or screws, and replace anything that looks damaged. Annual inspection now can avoid costly and time-consuming gunsmith work right before the next season.

Bows:

• Check Strings and Cables: Look for fraying or stretching. Wax them to prevent drying and cracking.
• Inspect Limbs: Wipe them clean and check for chips or cracks.
• Tighten Bolts: Ensure all screws and accessories are snug before storage.

Clothing and Footwear

Hunting clothes and boots often take a beating during the season, due to days of exposure to mud, rain, snow and sweat.

• Wash Smart: Scent-control fabrics can lose effectiveness if washed with regular detergent that contains UV brighteners.
• Air Dry When Possible: This prevents shrinkage and preserves waterproof coatings.
• Boots: Scrub dirt and mud off boots with warm water and mild soap. Apply leather conditioner or waterproofing treatment if necessary. Check midsoles for compression or cracking, which often shows up after heavy use.
• Check for Damage: Inspect zippers, buttons, seams and soles. Making small repairs before storing is preferable to being caught off guard when gear is needed next season.

Knives and Field Tools

From skinning knives to multi-tools, sharp and well-maintained gear makes every hunt easier.

• Clean Blades Thoroughly: Wash with warm water and mild soap, then dry completely.
• Sharpen Edges: Use a whetstone or knife sharpener to keep blades razor sharp.
• Oil Moving Parts: Hinges on multi-tools or folding knives benefit from a touch of light oil to prevent rust and maintain smooth motion.
• Sheaths and Holders: Wipe down leather sheaths and condition them to prevent cracking.

Optics and Electronics

Careful maintenance is key to making sure optics and electronics last from season to season. Always wipe lenses with a microfiber cloth and lens-cleaning solution, avoiding paper towels that can scratch the surface. Remove batteries from devices before storing to prevent corrosion and keep gear in padded protective cases to shield them from dust and impact damage. Store cases with silica gel packs or other desiccants to keep moisture away from lenses and circuitry.

For GPS units or other digital tools, it’s also a good idea to update the firmware at the end of the season. Firmware updates released in the off-season often add features or fix bugs you’ll want resolved before the next hunt.

Decoys, Blinds and Accessories

Larger pieces of equipment often get neglected, but need just as much attention.

• Decoys: Wash with mild soap and water, then air dry completely to prevent mold or mildew. Apply touch up paint before storing, if needed. Avoid detergents with UV brighteners, which can make plastics and fabrics unnaturally visible to game.
• Blinds: Shake out debris, wipe down surfaces, and ensure fabric is completely dry before storage. Inspect poles and hubs for stress cracks that can fail in the field.
• Backpacks and Gear Bags: Empty all pockets, vacuum out debris and clean with mild soap and water. Rodents and insects are drawn to food residue; cleaning now prevents chewed straps or ruined fabric.

Storage Tips

• Moisture and rust: Even small amounts of humidity can corrode firearms, optics, and knives, making them less reliable next season.
• Rodent protection: Store gear in sealed bins or safes to prevent chewing damage from mice or squirrels.
• Fabric degradation: Clothing and boots stored damp can grow mildew, which ruins insulation and shortens life.
• Battery damage: Rangefinders, GPS units, or scopes left with batteries inside may corrode and fail when you need them most.
• Optics clarity: Scopes and binoculars not stored properly can develop fogging or lens separation.
• Scent control: Improper storage of hunting clothes can let in household odors that alert game the following season.

Why Post-Season Maintenance Matters

• Saves Money – Proper care extends the life of equipment, reducing the need for costly replacements.
  
• Improves Safety – Well-maintained firearms, bows, and tools reduce the risk of accidents.
  
• Boosts Performance – Clean, sharp, and ready-to-use gear ensures you’ll be effective and efficient next season without needing to spend a lot of time fixing or replacing gear.

Many hunters don’t unpack their gear until the night before (or even the morning of) a trip. Discovering rust, broken zippers, or dead batteries at that point leaves little time to fix the problem. Handling maintenance before storage ensures your next hunt starts on time with reliable equipment.

Hunting Members at Ranger Ridge Can Count on Expert Advice on Firearms and Gear

Hunting isn’t just a sport at Ranger Ridge, it’s a tradition and way of life. Safety and preparation are key aspects of the Ranger Ridge lifestyle.

Our ranch staff know the land and the exotic game that call it home, bringing decades of combined hunting experience to every outing. Members can count on their insight before a hunt to ensure equipment is dependable and every trip starts safely and efficiently.

Fill out the form on our website or call (940) 424-2678 to learn more about what a hunter membership includes and the exclusive services and facilities available.