Your advice on getting into hunting

[Sideofabarn]

I would scream MENTOR! I like the idea of the newbie to tag along on a hunt before they kill anything themselves, so they can see what the effort required is for basic field dressing for hide or meat. That, along with other things already mentioned such as hunting ethics, development of personal hunting morals, and that the hunt is about so much more than killing stuff. For some, it is cameraderie, for others it's solitude. That said, if you're a total greenhorn, can you pick out the foibles of others? I got into it by myself, starting with rabbits and a bolt action .22. I read obsessively about hunting, and working on farms taught me about slaughtering and dressing animals and birds. I hunted with a friend who was at my level for a time, and I cherish those experiences as we found things out together. In other ways, sometimes a mentor could teach bad habits/attitudes, so get to know the person thoroughly first. I do however appreciate everything I found by myself, and it remains a sense of accomplishment. Hell, an observant hunter learns for the rest of their lives, so why not start well?

[Phil]

Hunting small game is not nessecarily important before hunting deer. Each hunter will feel differently about this answer I'm sure but I would say that the animal you chose to hunt should be because of a need you are attempting to fill. Hunters hunt for sport, nurishment, trophy, comoradory exercise and many others, not to mention various combinations of these. Hunt the animal that fills your needs.
New hunters should spend time with the people who inspire them to hunt. Hunting is contagious and eventually family freinds become interested in it. The excitement of a new hunter makes hunting new again for experienced hunters. I don't think one needs to make new associates to pal around with. Use the human resources you've got experienced or not. Make some new friends if this doesn't work for you.
Seeking help when you need it is obviously important to be successful in a timely manner, however, this approach also makes you a do-it-yourselfer. I have learned that my best tool before, during, and after hunting is information. You have got to talk to people and be willing to ask questions during all of these times. Sometimes a small tip is all you need to be successful. A do-it-yourselfer fore sure. Solicit help from others, ...you bet.
There is no doubt that hunting is expensive but is can be kept within your budget. Minimize what you buy by utilzing what you already have. Buy used when you can. Go without if possible. Plan ahead so you have time to look for sales. Although some of the hunting toys are fun, not all are required and they do not guarantee a kill. In the end it will come down to being in the right place at the right time, so take what you need to get you in to that spot.

[huntwriter]

Thanks to everyone for taking part in this. Some good thoughts and ideas. I think I am able to use something from everyone. The column should be published by Monday. I'll post the link to the column here.

Huntwriter:
Firstly, I'd like to say that I think you have an excellent idea for an article that's sure to the draw the attention of many eager and up-and-coming hunters.

Thank you Bushman.
The idea of making the column came to me when I received about ten emails last month from my readers asking; “…how can I get into hunting” or something along these lines. All of these emails where sent to me by people that have no hunting background but would like to enter the sport, or “hunting heritage” as I prefer to call it.


The column may help some readers to find the answers they are seeking. I’ll will post a link to HuntingBC with my column, that way some might even find there way here and we can take them under “our wings”.

[Bushman]

Huntwriter:

I'm sure I'm not alone when I say I'm truly looking forward to reading your soon to be published article.

If my guess is right, there's plenty of good men and women here on HuntingBC with room under their wings for children with a yearning to learn all they can about our hunting heritage.

Who knows, maybe one day it will be the all genuinely caring people here on HuntingBC that blaze the trail for children wanting to get into the great sport of hunting here in British Columbia?

Bushman

[elkster]

I started out samll game hunting with my older brother and my dad. Mostly grouse, squirrels etc. When I left home and joined the navy, got married, raised some kids, coached sport for those same kids, I just didn't have time for, me only activities. When my two kids turned into working people and gave us some time (my Lady and I) I started back going out in the bush as the camp b#$ch, just to see if I had any interest. I'd go along with guys and see what was happening. It wasn't long before I had my PAL, and my core and licence. So my advice for new hunters starting out, IF, you don't have a family to go with, find a group of people you enjoy spending time with out in the bush, and go from there.

[kishman]

Well it would seem my lack of experience finally found a way to come in handy around here.... . I think alot of the guys on this site know I'm a rookie hunter, I started hunting last year at the tender age of 36. My folks didn't hunt, we camped and fished all the time, but hunting wasn't something the old man was into. I didn't get exposed to hunting untill I met my uncle Allan in Saskatchewan at the age of 9.
By that age I'd killed hundreds of fish, Salmon, Bullheads on the Fraser near my home, Bluegills at Christina lake...etc...etc. But watching my uncle shoot a Buck near his home in Quinton, and then eating some of the animal later that day (backstraps I'm guessing???) was something that stuck with me.
So, later in life when circumstances allowed I took the P.A.L / C.O.R.E.
intent on hunting of all things, wild Turkeys. And it was at this point in my hunting career that I realized I needed help. Read all you like, but untill you've done it, you haven't done it. Enter the internet , nobody I know hunts, so I began a general search of hunting sites, mesage boards, anything that related to Turkey hunting and eventually stumbled apon this very site.
It was through this site that I've met all my "mentors" and without them I can't imagine what trying to learn all that I've learned would've been like. I got a loooong way to go, but being out with folks who know what they're doing has made a big difference in how I approach the whole sport.

[brotherjack]

• What recommendations would you make for keeping the expense down for the new hunter?

Getting setup for the first hunting season need not be expensive. An inexpensive single-shot shotgun (NEF's were $129 new at SIR last I looked), or an old Lee Enfield in .303 British (commonly available under $200 for one in good working order) will more than suffiice for early hunting efforts. Camo, GPS, quad, etc, etc, etc - all can wait till later.

[Mr. Dean]

Is it important for a person to hunt small game before "graduating" to deer?

IMO – YES!
I have typically found that the bigger the game, the more cost involved in the hunting for it. Also, starting out on pigeons and rabbits (read: easy kills) helps with dealing with the emotions of taking a life and understanding what it is meant when we say “having respect for the animals we seek,” as well as getting an understanding of dressing out the quarry. Just because the game is small, doesn’t mean that the aspects of hunting big game are missed.

Should a person try all kinds of hunting (deer, waterfowl, archery, squirrels, turkeys, etc.) to see what he likes?

Not necessarily.
For me, I knew what I wanted before I got into it.

What kind of "associates" should the new hunter pal around with?

As the old saying goes.
If tou want to be a millionaire, you should hang out w/ people that are...


This is a toughie.
I’d say start out w/ a DIY approach.
This way a new hunter could start forming his/her own ethics and modify them as they see fit as the unenviable knowledge is past on through associations they make as they pursue their newfound past-time.

What recommendations would you make for keeping the expense down for the new hunter?

The price of admission is what it is.
Start out with the minimum of what you need and take it from there.


It goes without saying that a GOOD mentor would be the secret to success! BUT they ARE hard to come by...

[huntwriter]

The column is published and as promised I post the link here Thinking of taking up hunting?

Thanks again for your input on the subject. Also a big thank you to the members who keep posting on the subject. Hopefully we can keep this thread going with advice, tips and hints. I might serve novice hunters as a welcome information resource.

[Elkhound]

Enjoyed the article. Thanks for posting it Othmar