Hunting Advice to a Newbie

[tamure]

Originally posted by Charlie Lamb:
Many's the child that's stood before a target piling arrows deep and tight in the very center only to fall apart in the presence of game.

Nothing prepares you for shooting at game as does shooting at game.... any game!

Boy, that's me to a T.    

[xia_emperor]

start small, hunt rabbits, rocks and what ever to get in the field.

[lt-m-grow]

I have to totally agree with Dean.  

Interestingly I started trad hunting two years ago but shot for several years prior as I worked my way through whether "I was good enough for this trad hunting stuff" - though the constraint was self imposed.  Yet I struggled with all the mental isssues that Dean so wonderfully suggested might occur if the newcomer waits.  So right on and re-enforces your answer whether the pressure is precieved from within or a... with - out.

One inference that seems to be seeping into this thread a bit from several others, is that small animals are practice for larger animals.  I am sorry if I misinterpreted, but I don't agree with that.   Large or small, pig or elk they are all great quarry and all deserve the same personal level of respect for shot selection and such.

- Dave

[Tom Mussatto]

Originally posted by lt-m-grow:

One inference that seems to be seeping into this thread a bit from several others, is that small animals are practice for larger animals.  I am sorry if I misinterpreted, but I don't agree with that.   Large or small, pig or elk they are all great quarry and all deserve the same personal level of respect for shot selection and such.- Dave

I agree Dave, but I think that what they meant by that is that in big game hunting you may get one, or two, or three shots in a season, while small game hunting you probably get many times that in a single hunt. Hence, more practice in shooting at game. I don't think the practice remarks were intended to give the impression that small game is less worthy of our respect as large. At least that's the way I'm gonna read it until told otherwise.

And Dean...behave yourself!  

[Dean Torges]

quote:Originally posted by Tom Mussatto:
And Dean...behave yourself!  

[vermonster13]

Yeah Dean behave already.                

[Tom Mussatto]

You know me Dean. I don't believe in edits (or spell checkers:-). Think quickly, write even faster, and let it hang out there as is for the world to see. Never grammatically correct, and seldom politically correct, but oh so much more fun and entertaining.  

[Dean Torges]

Would you remind me once again how you got the name Tom Longbo? LOL.

[Tom Mussatto]

No

[SELFBOW19953]

I was as proud of my first squirrel with a bow as I was of any deer I've shot.  I got him with a hickory selfbow I had made. To think that I had actually hit something that small at 15 yards.  In fact, I bragged to anyone who would listen.  That shot gave me so much confidence.  I still seldom if ever take a shot at deer over 15 yards, but when it feels right , I go for it.  If I have to think about it, think about the distance and how I should compensate, I don't shoot, whether it's deer or squirrel.

[paleFace]

from my view point i can say without question that i have shot much better at live animals than at targets and 3D critters. maybe it's that i'm more focused when it comes to the real thing.  regardless i think a person can get to know his bow in the short time it takes to get it tuned and shooting properly. stump shooting and loosing blunts at small game will help to find the groove needed to shoot larger animals. once you know your effective range the rest will fall into place.

[Shaun]

Hunt if you must, as I must. It is a primal drive that will not be ignored. An obsession. All life is sacred - the animal's life big game or small game and your life too. Live it. Get out there. Find your ethics the hard way - in the field.

[Ghost Dog]

Shaun, you have still got it!

[toddster]

Had a similar conversation with a young man the other day myself.  As already stated, told him the hunt was the joy, not the harvesting of an animal.  If you focus so intently on the blood sheding, you will not see all the wonder and beauty around you.  Hunting is spiritual, emotional and uplifting.  Perhaps that is why native americans held it high.  Nah, they like meat as much as me.