More than likely you will shoot a grouse or rabbit first and that will boost your confidence
More than likely you will shoot a grouse or rabbit first and that will boost your confidence
Originally Posted by lip_ripper00
Don't argue with an idiot, you will be dragged down to his level and beaten by experianceOriginally Posted by bearhunter338-06
Problem is easy to fix........Sell Chevy buy Dodge problem fixed..................
For gutting make sure you have a good sharp knife. The havalon series of knives would be good for a beginner as you can just swap blades out when they get dull. First bear I shot I only had a super dull folding knife.
Look at a lot of videos and written lessons like the following one.
BUT: Remember there is one thing wrong in this one from Washington because in BC you must not remove all the genitalia. You have to leave evidence of what sex the animal is, so I just leave the whole testicle penis assembly or udder if it is a doe attached to the carcass, even once it is skinned. You have to leave the tail attached too.
https://www.hunter-ed.com/washington...001_700046905/
There are a lot of videos out there, some I agree with, others not. Some split the pelvis and breast in the field. I usually have to drag an animal a distance and that just opens up more exposed meat to gather dirt you will have to discard so I don't do that. I cut a deep ring around the anus, then slit it open from right beside the genitals where the gut cavity starts up to the brisket and extract the Guts through that opening. The toughest thing is to be VERY VERY careful to NOT split the stomach with your knife as you slit the skin open. Look at some of the videos for how to make a little slit to get a couple fingers under the hide so you can guide the knife along without puncturing the stomach.
Once it is open, reaching in and cutting around the diaphragm is a bit tough to learn at first, as is reaching all the way up and cutting the windpipe and esophagus. Once that is done though, it will mostly just come out with a strong tug though there may be some cuts necessary along the backbone.
If you have cut deeply enough around the anus then the lower intestine should pull out fairly easily too, but it is slippery.
I hunt alone so I often skin out and section the animal on the ground, usually after I have dragged it close to the truck. I use clean ground, (preferably grass or heather) tarps and the skin of the animal itself as it is peeled off to keep the carcass clean. I take it apart in components and put them in home made cotton bags. The two front shoulders and legs go in one bag, the neck/chest and portion of back bone cut off where the ribs start in another bag and the lower back and hindquarters in another.
That's just me though. Others will tell you their methods.
When with companions, we usually hang the deer up by the back end and skin it suspended by the back legs, and use a big cotton bag around the whole carcass to keep bugs off.
Check your email.
Last edited by MichelD; 05-14-2019 at 12:53 PM.
Hey gashunter,
I completed my CORE one year ago almost to the day. I met a few great guys on this site that were willing to take me out hunting for my first trips. We (shout out to Dylan!) spent about 7 days elk hunting unsuccessfully, but it was a great experience and i learned a ton! I then spent a week hunting mulies with a family friend and some of his hunting buddies; again, we were unsuccessful but also learned a lot on that trip. I then took a few of my friends out up Harrison hunting blacktails on some weekend trips; also unsuccessful but we did get a grouse, so learned how to clean a ruffed grouse and enjoyed some meat. I then did a local trip for blacktail with another friend of a friend and I successfully harvested my first deer. I met another awesome guy (shout out to Rob) on this site willing to take me out duck hunting for my first 2 waterfowl sessions; I was able to bring a few ducks home for dinner. I just went turkey hunting by myself and was successful at harvesting a nice big gobbler. Podcasts such as meat eater, rookie hunter and Jay Scott outdoors were good resources. This site and youtube were also very helpful. You will always be learning as a hunter and some of the best fun is getting out and learning how to hunt, whether you are successful at harvesting an animal or not. I personally would start by going to the monthly HBC group meeting at Jimy Mac's pub on the first Wednesday of every month. You might meet some people there willing to go out with. Lots of great people on this site that are always willing to help. I am going for my first bear now, so fingers crossed! Best of luck! Chris
To be completely honest, I believe its just a get together of local huntingBC members (this website) where locals meet monthly that are avid hunters/anglers (I went last month but didn't know which group it was in the pub lol). I will be there on June 3rd to see what's all about
I just got back yesterday from the eatwild hunter workshop, it was very tough but I'm now confident in my stalk and spot skill!
me practicing spot and stalk
https://streamable.com/pvtac
https://streamable.com/um2hq
https://streamable.com/fkghn
Last edited by gashunter; 05-21-2019 at 05:11 PM.