As you might have assumed, I am brand new to hunting. I thought I would start a thread outlining my thoughts and experiences as a rookie hunter. I figure other new members might be able to relate and get mutual questions answered, while the seasoned vets on here might at least get a chuckle or two out of it. If you can't laugh at yourself....I want to try to add what little I can to the site at this point as well too.
I also want to give a big thanks to this forum. what a great resource for new hunters. I also want to specifically thank Huevos, Moosinaround and Srupp for the PM's, and for offering their time and knowledge. I wouldn't be nearly as prepared for my LEH moose draw in 10 days without you.
After hiking and fishing since my late teens, and always wanting to get into hunting but never fully committing, I had a "sh!t or get off the pot" moment last year. "I'm 36 with two young kids now. If not now, when"?
So last year I get my PAL, hunter ID and begin work transferring my knowledge of the outdoors gained from lots of solo backcountry camping and hiking into hunting. They are definitely not the same thing.
I managed to get out for GOS Mule deer in 8-9 for a mid-October three day hunt, flowed by a second one up at Loon Lake in late October. I went solo both times. again, sh!t or get off the pot. it was 4 point buck only, but I really wanted to get out there and gain experience. No bucks down on either outing, but man did I learn a ton just being out there and putting miles on the boots.
It is definitely true that the best teacher is experience. I feel like I've learned a ton by researching, reading, and going through HBC archives, but that's all theory. What an advantage to actually go out and see what it's really like.
Here are a few things that struck me from my first year hunting:
1. The rush of driving in before dawn and then stepping out of the truck off an FSR. all of the sudden thinking, holy crap, I'm hunting!
2. I am waaay louder than I thought I would be. all I could think about was that every animal within a square mile must know exactly where I am.
3. Don't get distracted by grouse... I brought a slingshot with me as my "sidearm" and found myself chasing bush chickens more than I probably should have. I am sure I made way too much noise thrashing through the bushes after them.
4. The Matrix - I live in the city, and it almost felt like I was in some sort of hyper reality. after a few hours of not talking, no city noise, and just pure committed focus, it felt like I could hear better. Colours were brighter, and I could even pick out specific smells. Hunting seems to dial your senses up to eleven.
5. the measure of a good hunt isn't necessarily a dead animal at the end. I enjoyed every unsuccessful minute of being out there. I spent all year thinking about those two outings. All I wanted was for Fall to come back around so I can try again, get better, and gain more memories. I have a feeling that a decade from now, I will look back on me crashing through the bush, trying to still hunt, with low chances of success and laugh. I also think I will be damn happy that I took the plunge and jumped in head first.
Part 2 - season 2 LEH moose draw - preparation and pre hunt thoughts.
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