How can I self learn how to hunt? - Page 2

jrothWA · May 1, 2017, 07:55 PM

"you fish poorly,Pilgrim!"

There a several books but best is a mentor that you can spend sometime with.
Are you a member of a gun club or shooting club? Maybe there's someone you can get talking with or get some pointers from.

Is there a gunshop you hang around maybe they can direct you.

I'm a litle too far from VA.

Blindstitch · May 1, 2017, 08:02 PM

First thing I would do is figure out where the public hunting land is. Then walk it all over to see what lives there. Maybe you'll find birds or other things.

If you were near wisconsin I would suggest trying up here. I've taken a lot of people out hunting when learning. Squirrels can be quite abundant and aren't exactly everyones hunting game. That can be a sit and wait thing.

Roaming the fields could flush grouse, quail, pheasants or many other birds.

A marsh could produce ducks and geese.

I would start with one or two animals and add new ones as you learn. Last year I took up duck hunting. It was a real learning experience.

Grouse hunting as a kid got me into pheasant and quail hunting a few years ago.

Art Eatman · May 2, 2017, 08:25 AM

Lotsa good comments, but Post #6 is very good. The more time you can spend "out in the boonies", the better. Most animal movement is during the first hour or two of daylight in the morning and the last hour or two in the evening. Sitting and watching during those times is a good beginning in learning their behavior.

Jack O'Conner · May 4, 2017, 05:35 AM

This is an excellent book to read: Successful Deer Hunting by Sam Fadala. Try amazon.

Good hunting to you.

Jack

jersurf101 · May 4, 2017, 06:17 AM

I grew up in Springfield, Va. You will need to invest in a bow to hunt anywhere near the beltway. There are some great deer in and around the beltway. I did a lot of hunting in Frederick and the surrounding Cotoctin Mountain area. Pm me if you want any more info.

MosinNOUGAT · May 4, 2017, 10:54 PM

What are you hunting?
Just practice putting a few rounds downrange and get good at shooting.

Then learn how to be pretty quiet. . .You don't want to scare anything away.

Erno86 · May 5, 2017, 10:22 AM

Join an outdoor shooting range --- Go to a public library, that hopefully has books and magazines on the art of hunting. Hunt a place that has actual huntable wild game on it.

cptjack · May 5, 2017, 11:10 AM

be thankful for your harvest and properly tend to the meat ,hunting is NOT about the kill ,I am always saddened by the kill and thank the animal for their nourishment ,hunting is being part of the environment and blending in with nature

Berserker · May 5, 2017, 05:48 PM

I am usually tired,and sometimes frustrated, from sitting out in the cold for days, and glad its over. Ha. Then the work starts.

Wyosmith · May 5, 2017, 06:04 PM

Hunt what ------- and where?

May 1, 2017, 07:55 PM	#26
jrothWA Senior Member Join Date: November 11, 2006 Posts: 2,519	recalling a movie about... "you fish poorly,Pilgrim!" There a several books but best is a mentor that you can spend sometime with. Are you a member of a gun club or shooting club? Maybe there's someone you can get talking with or get some pointers from. Is there a gunshop you hang around maybe they can direct you. I'm a litle too far from VA.

May 4, 2017, 05:35 AM	#29
Jack O'Conner Senior Member Join Date: July 11, 2005 Location: Manatee County, Florida Posts: 1,976	This is an excellent book to read: Successful Deer Hunting by Sam Fadala. Try amazon. Good hunting to you. Jack __________________ Fire up the grill! Deer hunting IS NOT catch and release.

May 4, 2017, 10:54 PM	#31
MosinNOUGAT Senior Member Join Date: April 18, 2017 Location: Southwest US Posts: 148	What are you hunting? Just practice putting a few rounds downrange and get good at shooting. Then learn how to be pretty quiet. . .You don't want to scare anything away. __________________ O LA VITTORIA, O TUTTI ACCOPPATI!

May 5, 2017, 10:22 AM	#32
Erno86 Senior Member Join Date: September 22, 2012 Location: Marriottsville, Maryland Posts: 1,739	Join an outdoor shooting range --- Go to a public library, that hopefully has books and magazines on the art of hunting. Hunt a place that has actual huntable wild game on it. __________________ That rifle hanging on the wall of the working class flat or labourer's cottage is the symbol of democracy. It is our job to see that it stays there." --- George Orwell

May 1, 2017, 08:02 PM	#27
Blindstitch Senior Member Join Date: April 14, 2013 Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin Posts: 2,693	First thing I would do is figure out where the public hunting land is. Then walk it all over to see what lives there. Maybe you'll find birds or other things. If you were near wisconsin I would suggest trying up here. I've taken a lot of people out hunting when learning. Squirrels can be quite abundant and aren't exactly everyones hunting game. That can be a sit and wait thing. Roaming the fields could flush grouse, quail, pheasants or many other birds. A marsh could produce ducks and geese. I would start with one or two animals and add new ones as you learn. Last year I took up duck hunting. It was a real learning experience. Grouse hunting as a kid got me into pheasant and quail hunting a few years ago.

May 2, 2017, 08:25 AM	#28
Art Eatman Staff in Memoriam Join Date: November 13, 1998 Location: Terlingua, TX; Thomasville, GA Posts: 24,798	Lotsa good comments, but Post #6 is very good. The more time you can spend "out in the boonies", the better. Most animal movement is during the first hour or two of daylight in the morning and the last hour or two in the evening. Sitting and watching during those times is a good beginning in learning their behavior.

May 4, 2017, 06:17 AM	#30
jersurf101 Senior Member Join Date: January 27, 2013 Location: Eastern NC Posts: 553	I grew up in Springfield, Va. You will need to invest in a bow to hunt anywhere near the beltway. There are some great deer in and around the beltway. I did a lot of hunting in Frederick and the surrounding Cotoctin Mountain area. Pm me if you want any more info.

May 5, 2017, 11:10 AM	#33
cptjack Senior Member Join Date: October 1, 2014 Posts: 314	be thankful for your harvest and properly tend to the meat ,hunting is NOT about the kill ,I am always saddened by the kill and thank the animal for their nourishment ,hunting is being part of the environment and blending in with nature

May 5, 2017, 05:48 PM	#34
Berserker Junior member Join Date: April 6, 2015 Location: WI & UP Posts: 284	I am usually tired,and sometimes frustrated, from sitting out in the cold for days, and glad its over. Ha. Then the work starts.

May 5, 2017, 06:04 PM	#35
Wyosmith Senior Member Join Date: December 29, 2010 Location: Shoshoni Wyoming Posts: 2,713	Hunt what ------- and where?