New to Hunting. Guidance would be appreciated.

[Spattznatt]

Dear fellow B&B'ers,

I have decided that I would like to try my hand at hunting. This was after doing some reading. First I read a great little book Call of the Mild by Lily Raff McCaulou. I enjoyed it for a number of reasons: an adult considering hunting and then learning how, the moral/ethical questions that many non-hunters raise and answers that she came to, and finally that it is sent in central Oregon which is where I now live. However, learning to hunt as an adult does not appear to be an easy task. I have fair backcountry knowledge. I was a scout for 17 years. However, there are challenges which is why I come to the guidance of my fellow B&B'ers.
1. Overall how should I/can I learn to hunt. I have read The Beginners Guide to Hunting Deer for Food and read a couple Field and Streams, etc... However, there is only so much one can learn from a book/magazine.
2. How to learn to use a firearm. I have no experience and unfortunately I am not able to go to the Hunters education class near by this fall. That leaves me either to find a different path or wait until the new year. I would prefer the former.
3. How does on learn of locations/places to hunt. I am new to the area. I understand scouting is one of the most important tasks for hunting. But where to start? I would assume that hunting locations are somewhat kept secret like fishing spots. You don't want to given away a great place to potential competition.
4. I have experience with a bow. I was thinking of doing both bow and rifle hunting. The advantages I see is that it gives more time to hunt. Disadvantage of bow hunting appears the relatively low success rate. (If you count harvesting an animal a success. If just the hunt is a success then it appears to be just more time doing something that you can enjoy.)
5. Any other hints, tips, warnings...

Thank you for all of your assistance,
Spattz

 

[LegendofVogel]

In my humble opinion, spend this year learning to use a firearm. It takes a while to get decent with one, and until that happens you probably wont have much success in the field anyway, especially with deer. If you were looking at upland game and using a shotgun, the learning curve is much faster, but for deer and rifles, I would spend this fall and winter practicing with the gun and next year hunting.

 

[hillbilly pick]

I agree with Legend. Get practiced up and maybe just take a camera hunting this year. Note the times of day and how the deer behave. When you are ready you will have a better idea of what you are in for.

Bow hunting is really tough unless you have scouted and done some presetting of blinds and stands. If you go in without knowledge of trails or throw up a blind a couple days before season, you will have to be really good at calls. You have to get them in close or have a place near their trail so that they come to you.

I'm getting excited for this season. Had bad luck last year and only two days to hunt. The place I hunt had corn in for that years rotation and got it out late. This year however, the farmer has beans in and says it is ready to come out now. He also planted big patches of clover, one at each of the 5 stands we have have up at about 30 yards. I can see them standing there as soon as the sun breaks.

Good luck

 

[tommyguns]

first id like to say welcome to the club hunting can be a very great sport and another way to enjoy nature and what she offers. First I would say contemplate the pros and cons of hunting it can be a very expensive sport, also how do you feel about the hunt its self you will be responsible for the death of this animal I remember the first time I sighted up on my first doe I had a moment of truth with my self there is no going back once you pull the trigger make sure you are ok with this.
Know what is involved in the hunt from you are obligated to make sure you know your weapon well enough to have a nice clean shot, if you do not make a nice clean shot you have to invest in the hunt to find that injured deer and make sure you harvest it or put it down and trust me it can be a pain and also cut your trips short.
I would say you tube/tv are great resources for learning, I watch the sportsman channel ALL the time i have it on right now lol you get to hear some great stories and see some great hunts and see what it entails. Also you tube will show you the uncensored version, watch a couple field dressing videos thats always interesting.

the guys are right about learning your weapon, single handedly one of the most important things you can do is know your tools. I have been shooting for as long as I can remember and you have to learn that all shots will not be a straight on shot and you will need to learn angles and and all types of unconventional positions of shooting and it will take some getting used to, knowing your tool and your ability will make all the difference between a great hunt and a bad one.

once you are sure and start it up its such a great hobby to get into Its something I look forward to all year. As far as places to hunt there are allot of public lands to hunt or the best way is private land which can be obtained many different ways but I can tell you is def the way to go.

as far as bow or rifle that is up to the hunter each one has its own advantage and diss advantage I would say its a personal choice.

Its def an investment of time and money but it is a great time also and I can tell you just enjoying nature and being in the hunt there is no better feeling. good luck with your choice if you have any questions or want to ask any questions feel free to pm me one thing hunters love to do more then hunting is talk about hunting lol

 

[garyg]

Great advice already, but since you haven't before, I'll throw in the internet 2 cents worth .. not to sermonize, but

Watch the field dressing, cleaning, etc videos or links. Not rocket science, but it isn't right to kill an animal then disrespect it by throwing it in the trash because you botched the dressing or can't handle it. That's rule #1

Second, do you have friends or work buddies who hunt? Go there & learn, maybe what you don't want to do, but find somebody else in the hunt.

Finally, have fun, but always remember that a sportsman has ethical obligations to both himself & the game.

 

[Slash McCoy]

Try small game hunting first. It is cheaper and simpler and a lot of fun. A .410 or a .22 with a 4x fixed scope over iron sights either one will be a good squirrel getter and not cost even 1/4 as much as a serious deer rifle. The shotgun might prove more versatile, since you can hunt cottontails with it, too. Or go with a 12ga. Then you can use the same gun for waterfowl, quail or pheasant or doves, rabbits, and yes, squirrels. It can double as a home defense arm, within its natural limitations. You should be able to find a serviceable 12ga pump for $100 or so, well used. Shells are not particularly expensive. You COULD even use it for deer or hogs, by using rifled deer slugs, if your shots are not too long. I say "Could" with emphasis because it is certainly not the ideal deer getter but many a deer has fallen to the humble 12ga. Just remember you don't want to fire slugs through just any shotgun... a choke doesn't go well with slugs!!!

I would be reluctant to recommend bow hunting before learning to take game with firearms. Sure, you can do it, but it isn't ideal at all. It is a lot easier to get within easy rifle range of a deer than easy bow range.

As you conjectured, sometimes the hunt itself is its own reward, and the actual taking of an animal or several animals can be secondary. Camera stalking can be a lot of fun, and you can get out in the field before the hunting season opens. You will learn a lot about animal habits, diet, denning or sleeping requirements, how your quarry moves and how it detects threats (such as you) and even how to track or predict an animal's movements. You can practice constructing hides or blinds. Practice not just silent movement, but movement that sounds like another animal. (it is easier to sound like another deer than to be so silent that a deer can't hear you) You can even learn to bring deer or other animals to you through the use of scent or sound. You can learn how to plan and set up a shot. All for the price of a used camera and a decent set of footwear.

In the meanwhile, take an active hand in your firearm and hunting education. There are a lot of resources such as TV shows, video, and books. Magazines like FIeld & Stream are quite educational. If there is a Cabela's or a Herter's near you, check them out. They carry lots of instructional books and videos, and often host workshops and seminars. Not all of Cabela's staff are particularly knowledgeable, but there will always be SOMEONE there who can answer your questions or give you a basic rundown on a particular style of hunting or piece of equipment or technique.

 

[73mountaineer]

If you want to learn how to hunt, do it with a weapon that you are familiar with, your bow. You may or may not successfully put meat in the freezer, but you will learn a lot just by doing it. Learn how to shoot, and shoot well, before stepping into the woods to try to take an animal with a firearm. If not, at best you will miss cleanly with the bullet imbedding harmlessly in a hillside or tree. At worst you will injure an animal that will suffer needlessly before being killed by a predator or your poorly-placed shot, or your bullet will end up somewhere that puts others in danger.

I am not trying to discourage you, but please go about this the right way. You should learn to hunt after learning about hunting and shooting safely, not the other way around. There are no shortcuts when carrying a loaded firearm through woods crowded with other hunters.

Just my $.02

 

[Jim]

Spattz,

Most states require you to take a hunters safety course prior to getting you hunting licence. If you contact your state game department you can get quite a bit of info from them.
http://www.dfw.state.or.us/ http://www.dfw.state.or.us/resources/hunting/big_game/regulations/docs/2012_big_game_regs.pdf

Joining the NRA and subscribing to the American Hunter is also worthwhile. You can find local classes and events that way. www.NRA.org.

 

[Crixus]

Think long and hard how YOU will deal with shooting your first deer a half hour before dark and you're two miles from your car. That period between the kill shot and and labeling your nice, neat butcher paper-wrapped, ready for the deep freeze parcels is all part of it, too. It's not all romantic. Good luck.

 

[Dennis]

Spattz - You will need to take Hunter Safety before doing anything. Make sure you get that done. Your best bet is going to be to find some hunting buddies - relatives (perhaps distant), coworkers, members of your church, etc... If you don't have public land to hunt, that means you need private land to hunt, and that means permission or knowing people. I would recommend starting with your state DNR also. They would probably be salivating to help someone who wants to get into hunting. They should have links and suggestions for you for certain.

Decide what it is you want to hunt and what weapons are legal to take that game (hunter safety will address this). For instance, in Michigan I do all my hunting below a "Shotgun Line" so that means I MUST hunt with a shotgun and rifles are not allowed, period. If I were to hunt with a rifle (any rifle) and get caught, it is a serious fine and possible loss of hunting privileges. So to hunt deer, I have to use a shotgun with a slug barrel. If you want to hunt ducks or waterfowl, there are restrictions on how many shells your shotgun can hold - things like that. There are specific rules for hunting specific game types. It would be disappointing to have bought something perhaps expensive and then find you can't use it.

So, I guess the biggest suggestions are to get your certificate and then find some people. They will heavily influence your hunting depending on what they hunt and where they go. Good luck, and have lots of fun. I love hunting - it is relaxing, zen like, until the explosive moment when something happens. Nothing else like it.

 

[gaseousclay]

I would echo the hunter safety course through your local DNR. You might even be able to do your safety course independently and online. Once you've learned firearm safety basics then you can move onto choosing a gun for yourself and acquainting yourself with it. I wouldn't recommend jumping right into hunting until you feel comfortable with your gun and are a competent shooter. The last thing you should be doing is rushing into it and then finding out you're not cut out for it. I'm in the exact same boat as you. I haven't yet gone hunting but I have taken my firearm safety course and I read a lot of books on hunting techniques and firearms. I'll go one of these days but I'm taking my time with it.

 

[Robert45]

In addition to the great suggestions and comments above in this thread, you might want to join a rod and gun club, or an Isaac Waldon. As is usually the case in any activity, talking with those that hunt can be more useful than reading about hunting or watching hunting video.

 

[shaveME2]

Very good advice previously given. I must agree with 73mountaineer your bow SHOULD be your choice and I'm not anti gun. If you could find a friend, mentor or club that is bow specific or heavily favor bows you could find enjoyment and success. Fact is a bow may open more hunting areas and oppurtunities for you. Hunter education will get you started off right and even while you are out in the field with your bow you will be getting education and that will be useful when you are ready to hunt with a firearm.

 

[Kentos]

Just took my Hunter's Ed class. IMO it was in invaluable, and absolutely mandatory that you take it .

 

[oakeshott]

The single most valuable piece of advice I can give, that hasn't already been given, is after you've taken your hunter safety courses, gotten a license and spent time on a local range familiarizing yourself with your weapon and deciding what it is you want to hunt. That you go out with a knowledgeable, experienced guide the first few times and once or twice the following years. I've given this advice to new fisherman and hunters dozens of times over the last 30 years and what surprises me is how few take the advice and how universally successful it is for the few who do take it.

There is a general resistance among those who grew up hunting to the guided hunt. Besides the very high expense, it feels like capitulating and for an experienced hunter, it is. For a newbie, however, there is nothing, absolutely nothing, that will give you a faster education and more positive experiences than spending time in the field with a truly knowledgeable professional guide. The challenge here is finding someone who truly knows what they're doing. There are a lot of jackleg guides out there who are not truly professional and just trying to make a few extra bucks in their spare time. Look for someone who's been doing it ten years or more. They won't be cheap, but you'll learn more from them in a day than you will on your own in a year.

Good luck.

 

[cat4025]

I'll also agree that the hunter's safety course should be your top priority. Depending on when you were born, you can't even get a tag without it.

Where to go? Check out the Oregon DFW site, they have full unit descriptions you can use to find an area close to you. In central Oregon, you have a lot of good elk areas like John Day. Check out the areas on Google Earth to get a feel for the area, paying attention to the terrain (north facing mountain slopes with good timber, water, ridge top meadows, road access). When you find an area you like, take a trip out there and do some scouting. Spend as much time walking in as many patches of timber as you can. You will know if deer and elk are using that area or not. More often than not, you'll probably bump into the animals beating the timber like that. You just have to get off the road!

One thing to consider, there are a lot of roads closed to rifle hunting in Oregon (green dot closures on Forrest Service roads). You have to walk in or go on horseback to get to some of the better areas. During archery the roads are open to vehicle traffic.

Just do some asking around, most hunters are more than eager to help you out getting started! They’re probably not going to drop you off in their honey hole, but they want to see more people enjoying the sport. Ask around at work, head down to a sporting goods store (preferably a local one, not a chain store). 99% of the time, they will bend over backwards to help you out.

One last point I'd like to make, it is hunting and not getting. Personally, I get far more enjoyment out of the hunt rather than the kill. Sure, it is nice to bag something but it is not everything. I bow hunt. I measure success by my encounters; you don't always get the opportunity to take a shot. All the sights and sound I experience in the woods far outweigh the need to fill my tag every year!

Best of luck to you!

 

[COHunter]

Really good advice given by all. You're on the right track for sure with what you're considering. To echo everyone else, take the hunter education course, it's mandatory in Colorado, as in many other states most likely in Oregon as well.

Find a rifle that fits what kind of hunting you want to do if you go the firearm route. You don't need a .300 WinMag to bring down a whitetail, your freeezer and your shoulder will thank you. Also, regardless of chosen firearm, learn to use it.

If you like the bow, use the bow. Success rates are low, you have to get within 50-60 yards typically of your target, unlike using a rifle where you may be a few hundered yards away. (I regularly take pronghorn at 300 + yards)

Finally, while reading about hunting has some value get out there and do it yourself. Find guys that hunt, like others have said, they love the hunt and want to share it--minus their honey hole... It really pays off to know the area you hunt, to find the patterns the animals move in, where the water is, where the cover is. Depending on what season you choose calling animals can be effective, sometimes not.

Most of all, have fun with it. It really can be a wonderful experience, and personally I find harvesting an animal that I'm going to feed my family with a very sacred, spiritual moment.

 

[Goober]

All good advice here. All I can say is Welcome to the "Hunters Club:

 

[Spattznatt]

Thank you to everyone that has replied. Hunter's education course is definitely on the to do list. Unfortunately it looks like I will have to wait until the spring to check that one off.

I also agree that sport is hunting. I know that frequently you may not harvest an animal. One of the reasons I was looking to get into hunting is to get back into the woods but also to have more of a connection with the environment. I will admit that since I started to think about hunting I have started to look at the environment differently. Looking for areas that might be a good place to find deer, elk, etc...

It also sounds reasonable to use an experienced guide early in the experience. I am sure that I could learn a large amount of information using a resource like this.

Thank you for all the tips and keep them coming if you can think of anything more.

 

[Big_Tex]

1) Choose a quality firearm and (even more importantly) a quality scope. I recommend the base model Remington 700 in the caliber of your choice. Around here you can get ahold of one for $350 or less when they are on sale. The scope...well, you're going to have to cough up the cash for that because I rarely see them go on sale. I recommend a Leupold VX-II. Pair that with the aforementioned Remington 700 and you have a rifle/scope combo that should last you many, many years if not your lifetime.

2) Become proficient with that firearm. Some people tell you that the "kill zone" of a deer is the size of a dinner plate. Some people think that as long as they can reliably hit a target the size of a dinner plate, they are good hunters. This is bull****. You should strive to become the best marksman you can be. Dinner-plate sized accuracy at 100 yards is ridiculous. You should be able to put all your shots in a grouping the size of a quarter. Why? Because a true hunter would never take a shot on an animal unless he knew for certain he was 100% confident in his ability to KILL that animal cleanly. Wounding an animal is a horrible thing. It is inhumane, cruel, and can usually be avoided. What if your shot goes a little too far back and you shoot that deer in the gut? A little too high and you shoot his jaw off? You are condemning him to agonizing suffering, especially if you can't track him after he runs off.

3) Gun safety. It is always loaded, even when it isn't. Finger off the trigger until you are ready to shoot. The gun should never be pointed at anything that you do not wish to shoot a hole in. When transporting a gun, double check that it is unloaded. Open the action, check the mag, heck I usually look into the breech and stick my finger in the hole to make triple sure no cartridge is there.

4) Have fun! Hunting is God's way of rewarding a hardworking man for his toils. Enjoy the woods, the sights, sounds, smells, and tastes of your hobby.