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so i am a green horn when it comes to hunting. i am a avid target shooter, but would like to start deer hunting. i have land, well stocked with deer, i have my gun lic. and hunting lic. but aside from that i dont really know what i need and what to do. any way for someone to learn to hunt(everyone around me doesnt hunt)?
cheers
Mike
Hi and welcome to the forum.
You have plenty of time to get ready for the deer season so a good place to start is to read back through some old threads here in the big game, bowhunting and hunting 101 sections. Plenty of good info on deer hunting.
Without knowing anything about your property (acreage/fields/bush/food/water/etc.) it's hard to give you anything but a generalization. Try to find out where the deer spend the day on or near your property, their bedding area in other words. Also find out where they usually go to eat. If you can figure out where their main travel routes are between these areas you're in business. Set up a blind or treestand on the downwind side of the trail at a comfortable shooting distance. Wind direction is key. You don't want your scent blowing in the direction of where you expect them to come from. Scale back on scouting as the season approaches.
Give us a few more details about your property and I'm sure others will chime in with some advice. You'll likely even get offers from some people here to come and give you a few pointers if you have land and deer to hunt. Good luck!
Welcome to the forum...
..as GW11 has said lots of good info in the archives and guys willing to help you. If you already have a place to hunt that is half the battle. Spend time on a range during the summer getting your shooting skills up to ensure you can hit the deers vitals with a clean shot.
Good luck !!
I would watch several youtube videos on how to gut and clean a deer. Then how to skin it. Have a butcher lined up who will do deer.
Welcome to the forum, I suggest you invite me to your well stocked deer property, and I can give you a 1 on 1 lesson come November :)
JK.
Lots of knowledgeable people here.
Agree with Blasted_Saber, knowing what to do after the shot, is one of the most important things before actually taking one.
As far as actually getting out hunting, knowing your property, learning how the deer move throughout it, where they bed, feed, etc are all things that come while scouting, then stand placement (stand, ground blind) based on the wind directions you typically have on your property (don't place a stand up wind of the main trail the deer walk in on, etc)
Since it's your property, may want to do some reading on food plots, what the deer like to eat and what you can provide them. Etc.
It's an addiction, so have fun!
Looking for a mentor. Find someone who lives close to you and have them out at your place and help you set up. Save you and provide an hunter on opportunity. With a mentor you can learn a lot quicker and bag some deer. Also buy a crossbow or bow. Longer season and bow hunters know quite alot about deer hunting .
So do gun hunters.Quote:
Originally Posted by pbonura
if you have land with deer, you ahead of the crowd...
the question is if you want to DIY the first year or have a mentor until you have established a solid foundation.
getting a mentor can be hard for those who don't have land to hunt as they need a mentor who is willing to offer them their land (and the best spot in most cases). many of us have done so, but it is something you won't do for a stranger over the www.
you problem is to choose someone you can learn from and you can be picky (as long as you have deer on your land come hunting season). get your antlerless tag, find some mentor (I bet people will start sending you messages) - better find the right one (some people are doing the same BS for decades and will never learn a thing and others are born know-it-alls, until you ask them to prove it...), spend some time scouting your land, make sure you have enough time during the season (archery or rifle). shooting doesn't sound to be a problem (although practise under expected conditions never hurts. it's not always the same as target shooting, just a little bit of practice will make you better than average hunter in no time). butchering is not rocket science (many people prefer a butcher, but that's a more personal decision IMO). field dressing is fool-proof IF you have done it 2 or 3 times, if not you'll look like a fool... DIY (via youtube) is possible. if you have an ATV or any other means suitable for your land to retrieve the deer may make things even easier.
from the limited info you provided, it sounds like you are better positioned than you think and you have plenty of time left to get it done right
good luck!
Welcome to the forum!
Do you know your neighbours? Are you new to you property or do you know the area well? If not - get out and scout the property.
Look for deer sign.
I once rented a 100 acre farm that looked good but there wasn't a single deer on it until December 24th when every deer in the area came down to yard up for the winter.
If your neighbours are deer hunters they likely know your property as well as their own. Talk to them. If they do drives either with or without dogs maybe you could get in on it.
If everyone hunts from stands maybe they could still give you some pointers on where to place your tree or ground stand(s).
If you can find a place where 2 or more deer trails intersect - put up a tree stand where you can watch down each trail. Get out well before the season opens and cut out any brush/tree limbs that would block your shot.
What kind of stand are you going to use? I use a homemade 16' ladder stand. Forum member Mikepal has a tree mansion! The more comfortable you are the longer you can stay out and your chances will likely be better.
Spend some money on good warm/waterproof/windproof clothing, hats, gloves and boots. More comfort = more time in the field.
Read, read as much as you can about deer hunting then put boots on the ground. Also if you are able to go out with an experienced hunter that is probably one of the best ways to learn the trade. I learned by trial and error and lots of reading be patient and don't give up.
-Rob
As said above, an experienced hunter is good to learn from - and that is not me LOL. I remember when I started hunting I made every mistake in the book, but I kept at it and learned from talking to local hunters and reading books. The best author I have come across is J Eberhart, he has a few books out regarding bow hunting pressured whitetails - if you decide to bow hunt, he is a bit extreme but I follow about 1/2 of his advice and have experienced much better results.
I would also start managing the property as best as you can on a year round basis, there is a lot of good info about managing food plots, deer sanctuaries, and deer management on the net. You will also learn a lot about deer behaviour watching them throughout the year, and by hunting season you will be prepared for hunting instead of scouting.
I just finished planting some 2 yr old hybrid white oaks which should be dropping acorns in 7 years, I had planted some apple trees last year along with clover and some other ground cover. My hunting trees (about 10) are cleared out in spring, not fall, to allow time for the deer to acclimatize. This allows me to have multiple trees ready to go depending on the time of year and wind direction.
Good luck, let us know how you do.
Plenty of good information posted here so far. Keep in mind safety, if you live near people know where your shots are going to go. Also, be sure you are using the correct firearm. If your property is south of the Severn you can pretty much count on it being shotguns, muzzle-loaders or bows only.
Butchering a deer is easy enough. I suggest the OP learns the skill himself or herself since it will be a life long skill and save a lot of money. Also, there is no guarantee you are getting your deer when you use a butcher.Quote:
Originally Posted by blasted_saber
Where did you buy the white oaks?Quote:
Originally Posted by Marker
[QUOTE=Where did you buy the white oaks?[/QUOTE]
I purchased some hybrid white oaks from Rhora's nut farm: http://www.nuttrees.com/hybrid.htm
I also have some non hybrid white oak first year seedlings in pots ready to plant, I can give you 2 or 3 for free if you are close to Burlington, they will need to be planted in a low lying moist (not wet) area with slightly acidic soil in full sun, and with a tree tube to prevent being eaten by rabbits. Those seeds I got from Michigan and Vermont so they come from a strain which can take a winter, but we are in the Northern part of the White oak's natural range so I would expect some loss.
I would start with the hunting regulations ,find out what management unit you are in and what deer season you have for what firearms you can use check local bylaws as well ,you most likely have a bow season that starts in October and a shotgun season the you can hunt in ether November or December ,A mentor is a great way to start and if you have a place with deer on it you are ahead of the game and should have no trouble getting some one to help you with your quest ,,good luck ,,Dutch
I relied on mentors to take me out and show me the ropes,I didn't have the luxury of having my own land I'm forever greatfull whatever u choose ur going to have years of fun!
Get to know the neighbours. Where, when and how they will be hunting. Spend as much time on the ground as you can, learning where the deer travel, and when. It is fine to read about other people's situation but yours might not be quite the same, for reasons not normally apparent.
Do your neighbours cut off the runs to your area? Do they normally hunt it because no one else does? Do their dogs run thru it, with or without the "dogger"? Can you make a deal to hunt with the neighbours? Would you want to?
Lots of questions that can only be answered on site....
I had one neighbour who told me that no one hunts his 400 acres, another neighbour who claims to get a deer on that same 400 acres every year...:rolleyes:
I'm surprised someone hasn't made an offer to go out with you this year. ( other than Turkey Rookie!) I went deer hunting for the first time with a group of hunters that has hunted my property for over 25 years. I learned more by watching and listening than I thought possible. I was in there helping to gut and drag out shot deer and even managed to shoot one myself. After seeing what this group did, I feel really comfortable hunting with my crossbow this year.
Someone else mentioned seeing if your neighbours hunt. Might be a good idea to see if they are interested in having you join them.
Good luck!
Welcome! Always great to have a new hunter join the passion hobby. I was a green horn not too long ago myself and to be honest, YouTube, magazines and talking with friends is always a good place to start. When I began hunting with my buddies, who have been hunting since they were young, I just listened when they were speaking about various topics. I mostly only chimed in when I knew something on what they were talking about. I have since become more knowledgeable with my new experiences with those friends that I often have new ideas and input for the group.
I'm the first in my family to get a gun licence and to hunt so I know exactly where you're coming from. Land to hunt but no knowledge passed down from dad or family members. For me, I got lucky. I have friends who hunt and have land. I was quickly brought into the group so I didn't have to worry about getting land (although, someday I will get some land of my own for myself and my buds. My wife is always fighting this fact). I didn't always have people to talk to about it and quickly found that I could get a lot of my info from various media sources and my hunting friends when we were together.
I have plenty of magazines that I've read many times over and if you'd like I'll send some your way. PM me if you're interested and we can get that sorted. I'll leave that up to you.
Glad to have you with us!
-huntshop
As for gear I would get a few catalogues from different stores and keep them by the throne, where much is learned on a daily basis
as many others sid, reading and youtube, then trail and error is where I started.
Learn as much as you can by reading about it and by talking to KNOWLEDGEABLE hunters . Since you are an experienced paper-puncher already you shouldn't need any help with that part . Unless you're uncomfortable being alone I wouldn't recommend looking for a mentor . --- You may find it difficult to get rid of them afterward . --- LOL --- I don't see hunting or fishing as a ''social-affair'' . --- Unwind and relax on (or in) your own private HEAVEN . --- By all means , socialize but keep your piece of heaven ''pristine'' ; for you and (maybe) your relatives . --- THAT'S HOW I FEEL ABOUT IT !