Eastern Turkey
11-11-2021, 03:45 PM
Hey all,
First off, please let me know if this post belongs best in the Newbie Forum.
The main question: what is your best advice for most effectively and efficiently familiarizing one's self with western-style hunting?
In many more words,
Is there particular game you would suggest targeting first, to help get used to glassing, reading and moving through the land, and packing out meat?
Are there particular types of places/geographies I should be looking for, both for better opportunity and to learn how to navigate big country safely?
What areas should I avoid? Not because they don't have great success rates, but because that's where the 22-rapid-fire-and-mudding club meets on Saturdays.
Would you suggest getting more comfortable with a rifle right from the start, or should I double down on my bow skill from the ground? (Actually, while I'm at it, should I reconsider using an old wood-stock blued-barrel 700 in BC's climate?)
I'm guessing I'll need to invest in really good rain gear, wont I?
Some quick background and context: You've heard this story before. I am moving from the east in a couple of weeks, so I'll be new to BC (lower mainland for the start) and western-style hunting, but not new to hunting. I want to take the learning curve as soon as possible, in hopes of getting out on my first hunt in fall 2022. I predominantly hunted whitetail with a bow and turkeys with a shotgun on public land only, but am looking to get into western big game full tilt. The closest experience I've got is spot and stock hunting + calling for turkey - I like to think of it as the poor man's mini elk hunting. I've got some experience trekking mountains and surviving in the backcountry, but only ever for the hell of it, hiking and camping, so my fitness is decent and I've got most of the right gear to get started. Eventually, I see myself graduating to hunting elk and alpine hunts for sheep and goat. I plan on joining an association or conservation organization at some point when I am settled in the new year, but will be prepping to hunt solo for the time being.
Anyways, my intention here is not to seek out the "easiest" way to start, let alone prying people's honey holes. I just want to make sure I don't time fumbling around places where people come to shoot up old refrigerators, like I did my first year hunting in Ontario... Any advice is greatly appreciated!
First off, please let me know if this post belongs best in the Newbie Forum.
The main question: what is your best advice for most effectively and efficiently familiarizing one's self with western-style hunting?
In many more words,
Is there particular game you would suggest targeting first, to help get used to glassing, reading and moving through the land, and packing out meat?
Are there particular types of places/geographies I should be looking for, both for better opportunity and to learn how to navigate big country safely?
What areas should I avoid? Not because they don't have great success rates, but because that's where the 22-rapid-fire-and-mudding club meets on Saturdays.
Would you suggest getting more comfortable with a rifle right from the start, or should I double down on my bow skill from the ground? (Actually, while I'm at it, should I reconsider using an old wood-stock blued-barrel 700 in BC's climate?)
I'm guessing I'll need to invest in really good rain gear, wont I?
Some quick background and context: You've heard this story before. I am moving from the east in a couple of weeks, so I'll be new to BC (lower mainland for the start) and western-style hunting, but not new to hunting. I want to take the learning curve as soon as possible, in hopes of getting out on my first hunt in fall 2022. I predominantly hunted whitetail with a bow and turkeys with a shotgun on public land only, but am looking to get into western big game full tilt. The closest experience I've got is spot and stock hunting + calling for turkey - I like to think of it as the poor man's mini elk hunting. I've got some experience trekking mountains and surviving in the backcountry, but only ever for the hell of it, hiking and camping, so my fitness is decent and I've got most of the right gear to get started. Eventually, I see myself graduating to hunting elk and alpine hunts for sheep and goat. I plan on joining an association or conservation organization at some point when I am settled in the new year, but will be prepping to hunt solo for the time being.
Anyways, my intention here is not to seek out the "easiest" way to start, let alone prying people's honey holes. I just want to make sure I don't time fumbling around places where people come to shoot up old refrigerators, like I did my first year hunting in Ontario... Any advice is greatly appreciated!