John,
First off, I commend you for seeking a trad archery site for wanting to learn about hunting-hunting the hard way, but the best way. Most newcomers would probably want to get a rifle, shotgun, or compound bow and expect to get at least an 8 point in the first season (thanks to TV and magazines).
I taught myself to hunt when in the Army and have since taught about half a dozen co-workers to hunt.
My dad hunted when he was younger but we never went together until I took him out turkey hunting about 6 years ago. He goes every year with me. He doesn't hunt but sits in the blind and takes it all in.
Anyways, here's some suggestions:
-Hunt everything you can. I started with rabbits and a .22 (never got one), squirrels with a shotgun, deer, turkeys, ducks, pheasants. I say this because a lot of people want to start hunting and want to start with deer and expect to get one the first time out (like on TV). Some of my coworkers whom I've taught to hunt have only hunted deer with a shotgun and after not getting one the first season, or getting one the first time and never again, have given up. This is hunting, not killing. To me they are in it for the wrong reason.
Squirrels will teach you a lot about camo, movement and patience. Plus they frequent the same area as deer and you'll learn to differentiate between the two rustling in the leaves. Different animals sometimes require different techniques, but while hunting one you'll learn about others. For instance, maybe hunting squirrels you find a scrape or rub line to set up for deer. While hunting deer you find the trees the squirrels like. Hunting rabbits in a marsh you may find out the pheasants like the cover too.
-Don't expect success the first time out or every time out. By success I mean coming home with something you killed. I hunted for years and came home empty handed every time-and loved every stinking minute of it! I hunted 5 years before I got my first deer. I hunted several years before I got a squirrel. Each hunt is a learning experience. Each hunt is a chance to learn. Don't leave disappointed. It's the journey, not the destination. Today I sat in a stand for 2.5 hours in 17 degrees with a strong northwest wind and didn't see a deer. The highlight of the trip was watching a brown creeper, white breasted nuthatch and chickadee ten feet away in the neighboring oak tree. To some it doesn't seem like much, but to me it was awesome. Two days ago all I saw was a possum walk by down the trail. Made my day!
-Read all you can. A good series of books is "The Complete Hunter" series. They are hardcover, easy reads and cover all sorts of topics..deer, small game, field dressing, ducks, pheasants, etc. You can find them cheap (used) from on line sites.
-Bowfish in the summer. Stalking carp along backwaters will teach you patience and stalking techniques. Plus it's a ton o fun!
-As far as your friend and the deer incident, remember that we all make mistakes. I hate to see that too but maybe it was someone who hit it and just couldn't find it for one reason or other (happens to the best of us). Maybe the person that shot it was just as heart broken by not finding it. Just something to think about. I know I always first think it was some slob or poacher but who knows?
-It was said before but take the hunting safety classes. State one and National Bowhunter Education Foundation (NBEF). State one is required, NBEF required in some states. NBEF is cool because you'll work a mock blood trail and learn in person how to set up a tree stand and maneuver safely. I heard one course they actually field dressed a road killed deer! Try to sign up right away-they fill up fast (a good sign). You can do the on-line version and do the field day later or do the weekend course. Back in my day (as I age myself) we only had the weekend course. Good thing about the weekend/weekday course is you can ask questions in person and chew the fat during breaks too. Your friend sounds very nice, nice enough to go to the woods to support your hunting even though she's not 100 percent for hunting. Ask if maybe she'd like to take the class with you. Could change her mind about hunting. If not, it's still quality time together.
You're probably not too far from me. My buddy is still learning and itching to go out (he helped me hang a stand this week and it was the highlight of his week!). Illinois has an apprentice license where you don't need to take the safety course if you go with an apprentice.
Talk it over with your parents and if they approve let's go hunting!
We can try rabbits and squirrels in January or February. May not be much, maybe just a walk in the woods with bows, but a chance to get out and learn.
Topic: Help me learn how to hunt (Read 677 times)
