Advice for a newbie? What game would you recommend? - Page 2

bootman · August 6, 2009, 03:11 AM

Don't let the fact that you don't have a dog deter you from hunting birds. I've been hunting dove, quail, chukar, etc for years and have rarely used a dog. You might have to work a little harder but that's part of the fun.

+1 rabbits and squirrels too

treg · August 6, 2009, 06:52 AM

+1 for all the squirrel recomendations!

Also, here, hogs are open season year round. Carrying some slugs for your shotgun while squirrel hunting could lead to a nice bonus if you happened to cross paths with Mr. Piggie. Have to check the rules for where you plan to hunt.
Some experimentation may be required but for example my daughters NEF 20 gauge with a modified choke shoots sub 3" groups with Remingtons rifled slugs at 50 yards.

Dr. Strangelove · August 6, 2009, 08:22 AM

Here's a link to find a hunter safety class in Georgia:

http://www.georgiawildlife.org/hunte...n_hunting.aspx

Hunting regulations in Georgia:

http://pub.jfgriffin.com/doc/jfgriff...HD/2009072301/

WMA maps:

http://www.georgiawildlife.org/huntingmaps_maps.aspx

Sounds like you will be hunting on WMAs, be sure to read up on the regulations for the one you choose as they aren't the same in each WMA and all are very different than private land.

wyobohunter · August 6, 2009, 09:27 PM

Quote:

A small freezer is under $200 bones and will hold 2 hogs and 2 deer fully processed.
that is about a year of meat for a bachelor who really likes fresh meat!

+1, buy a smallish freezer, you can even go in halfsies with your buddy. When I was going to college (before the G.I. bill $ ran out and I had to work for a living) I had an old freezer in my dorm room; it was always full of Deer and Elk. A single guy with a small apartment need not miss out on the good life, hell, I even had a tiny little reloading bench set up in the room. I know, I'm getting off topic now so I'll make a "single guy gun post"... Point is, go for it man, just get that freezer and you'll have hog/ven/etc. all year and you'll be damn happy and proud to have it.. And, like Hogdogs said, share with friends (just keep those backstraps & tenderloins to yourself). Also, as others have suggested, try to get with a mentor, esp. when it comes to field care. Gutting, skinning, quartering and processing may seem a bit daunting at first so I'd advise getting an old salt to teach you. Other option is just learn to gut and haul the critter to a butcher, maybe he'll even let you watch and learn.

jephthai · August 11, 2009, 10:52 PM

Sriracha:

I'm not in GA, but I'm on the same quest. I want to work my way up to deer. But, I've decided to take the advice of others on this forum and start with squirrels and rabbits. I've got my hunter safety class this weekend, and the season starts relatively soon!

-Jephthai-

SKULLANDCROSSBONES65 · August 12, 2009, 03:34 PM

G'day. I learnt to hunt Rabit without a dog. Our dogs name was Shivers, he was scared of anything you had in your hands that he thought you might be able to hit him with. If he saw a rifle he would run and hide behind mum. I used a .22LR on the Rabit mostly so I had greater range then a shotgun, but the shot gun would have been OK.

Dearhunter61 · August 14, 2009, 04:49 PM

I agree with the others...squirrels! At least if you can stand to eat them. I LOVE TO SQUIRREL HUNT! But I had to give it up because I simply could not bring myself to eat them anymore. Here in the pineywoods they taste like turpentine. YUK! They are fun to hunt and it also allows you time to learn the woods as others have stated and prepare you to hunt other game. if you have to be as quiet and stealthy there as you do here you will have the chance to see a lot of other game which to me is what is so cool about squirrel hunting.

Good Luck.

August 6, 2009, 06:52 AM	#27
treg Senior Member Join Date: November 26, 2006 Posts: 1,102	+1 for all the squirrel recomendations! Also, here, hogs are open season year round. Carrying some slugs for your shotgun while squirrel hunting could lead to a nice bonus if you happened to cross paths with Mr. Piggie. Have to check the rules for where you plan to hunt. Some experimentation may be required but for example my daughters NEF 20 gauge with a modified choke shoots sub 3" groups with Remingtons rifled slugs at 50 yards. __________________ .44 Special: For those who get it, no explanation is necessary. For those who don't, no explanation is possible.

August 12, 2009, 03:34 PM	#31
SKULLANDCROSSBONES65 Senior Member Join Date: August 19, 2008 Location: Far Nth Wst QLD Australia Posts: 992	G'day. I learnt to hunt Rabit without a dog. Our dogs name was Shivers, he was scared of anything you had in your hands that he thought you might be able to hit him with. If he saw a rifle he would run and hide behind mum. I used a .22LR on the Rabit mostly so I had greater range then a shotgun, but the shot gun would have been OK. __________________ If you're not confused, you're not trying hard enough! When you're confused, I'll try to use smaller words!!!

August 6, 2009, 03:11 AM	#26
bootman Junior Member Join Date: July 12, 2009 Posts: 8	Don't let the fact that you don't have a dog deter you from hunting birds. I've been hunting dove, quail, chukar, etc for years and have rarely used a dog. You might have to work a little harder but that's part of the fun. +1 rabbits and squirrels too

August 6, 2009, 08:22 AM	#28
Dr. Strangelove Senior Member Join Date: August 1, 2008 Location: Athens, GA Posts: 1,436	Here's a link to find a hunter safety class in Georgia: http://www.georgiawildlife.org/hunte...n_hunting.aspx Hunting regulations in Georgia: http://pub.jfgriffin.com/doc/jfgriff...HD/2009072301/ WMA maps: http://www.georgiawildlife.org/huntingmaps_maps.aspx Sounds like you will be hunting on WMAs, be sure to read up on the regulations for the one you choose as they aren't the same in each WMA and all are very different than private land.

August 11, 2009, 10:52 PM	#30
jephthai Senior Member Join Date: July 5, 2007 Posts: 463	Sriracha: I'm not in GA, but I'm on the same quest. I want to work my way up to deer. But, I've decided to take the advice of others on this forum and start with squirrels and rabbits. I've got my hunter safety class this weekend, and the season starts relatively soon! -Jephthai-

August 14, 2009, 04:49 PM	#32
Dearhunter61 Senior Member Join Date: May 5, 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 518	I agree with the others...squirrels! At least if you can stand to eat them. I LOVE TO SQUIRREL HUNT! But I had to give it up because I simply could not bring myself to eat them anymore. Here in the pineywoods they taste like turpentine. YUK! They are fun to hunt and it also allows you time to learn the woods as others have stated and prepare you to hunt other game. if you have to be as quiet and stealthy there as you do here you will have the chance to see a lot of other game which to me is what is so cool about squirrel hunting. Good Luck.