Preparing to hunt...?

[Molson]

Basically, if you wear a blaze orange vest and hat during a season that requires orange, you'll be covered. If memory serves me, you must wear blaze orange when small game hunting in PA whether with a bow or not. When bowhunting in the gun season, I just wear a cheap blaze orange vest over my jacket and a blaze orange watch cap.  You can get both just about anywhere for less than $20 combined.

[Sarah]

ok, good deal.

[GR]

Sarah,
check out the Trad Gang DVD, available at the tradgang store.

[Talondale]

Wearing blaze orange is plain smart, period.  Ask Guru if he would wear orange.  If there's any type of gun season I'd be wearing orange.  A vest and hat is plenty.  Also be thinking all the time where you can and can't shoot safely.  Especially if you have a friend along. (make sure they have orange on as well) Try to have your friend abreast or behind you so they aren't in your line of fire.  Have good, comfortable shoes (boots) and I'd suggest brush pants.  These are pants that have some sort of extra cloth stitched on the front of the legs (sort of like chaps).  If you're hunting rabbits you're most likely going to be in and around briars and these pants will help save you a lot of scratches.  Don't over dress, you are going to be moving a lot and will get warm.  Go slow and have fun.  Laugh at your misses.

[eidsvolling]

Moderators,

I'd like to nominate this topic as suitable for duplicating in the "Classic" forum.  Yeah, it's a little green for that status perhaps, but there's lots of good info here for beginners (and others) and it will probably continue in that vein.

[Sarah]

glad there truly are no "dumb questions" around here.    :p

it has been really helpful to me at least.

can anyone just sort of tell me what hunting is like in a very basic sense? I mean...do you tend to run into other hunters (traditional bowhunters, even?) I always sort of thought hunting was a very solitary thing but the deal with the vests has me thinking otherwise...

is there any "hunting etiquette" that i am unaware of?

maybe this stuff will be answered in my hunter's ed...but i want to know now! (haven't had a chance to look over the online bit yet)

how far do you usually end up having to walk before you find bunnies? hope that one makes sense.

thanks also for all of your help everyone!

[Bill Shepard]

Your "solitude" will depend greatly on where you plan on hunting.  I've found most hunters don't like to venture too far from their vehicle, so if you don't mind hiking you might be able to find a quiet spot.

I like to get out and hike around all year.  The off season is a good time to find areas that hold bunnies.  I've seen them at all times of the day, but they may act different out here on the west coast.

I'm sure someone in PA will read this link and point you toward an old homestead where you will have a good chance at finding something to shoot at.  

I admire your drive to learn the sport.  I'm sure you'll have many days worth getting up early for.  

[Bonebuster]

Sarah, here in Michigan we have lots of predators that are after the same bunny we want to hunt.
I imagine it`s the same where you are too. They are food for many hunters.

Therefore, they must have a place where they are never too far from good escape cover. In short they like it thick. Often the best cottontail hunting is very near old barns, fallen down sheds, old cars, overgrown fence rows, and usually very close to habitated buildings.
You don`t usually have to walk very far from where you park to find bunnies. What you must do, is learn to slow down and train yourself to spot the rabbits as they are hiding. The rabbits that live the longest are the ones with the most nerve
that remain motionless when something walks near them. If you find a spot that has lots of rabbit sign(droppings, padded trails through the grass resembling tunnels of sorts, chew marks on brush near the ground) and you don`t see rabbits, it`s probably because you moved through it too fast.
When they do run, often they won`t go far before they stop. You will find, that a rabbit taken with a bow, is a well deserved trophy. Although the target is small, the rewards are big.
A cold, clear, still morning is the best time to find rabbits. This is when you will find them warming their bones on the edges of thick cover. Move very slowly, and use your eyes as you may have never done before. When you go after rabbits, alone, without a dog... you are truely HUNTING.

Hunting etiquette is the same as daily life for the most part. Be nice, and you`ll have it made.
Big game is different than small game, and if you are looking to hunt a certain location, and happen across someone else, or a treestand, or other sign of another hunter, usually the best thing to do is relocate. You don`t usually have to go far, and I have found that once I locate where another hunter is, I know where the game WON`T be when the other hunter is in the woods.

I have been bowhunting for thirty years, my first time out was at the age of twelve. In all that time I have met only two traditional hunters while in the field.

I assure you that you will meet other bowhunters while you are out. I can also assure you, that you will make them think. You will walk away, with your simple beautiful bow, and they will look down at the contraption they hold in their hands... and they will wonder. And even though you are new to hunting, you will have taught an experienced hunter... something.