Thinking about getting into hunting

[Will]

Im thinking about getting into hunting. My family has never really been big into it, but i know alot of friends that hunt and says its very addicting. So if you have any advice to give me then feel free to.

 

[Jmax]

DON'T DO IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Over the years I have taken many a person deer hunting and/or duck hunting. Now their wives hate me and blame me for their husbands leaving them in the winter to go out in bad weather, fight the elements and come back with dinner when they could have just gone to the store and bought meat for what they spent to go when you include the licenses, gas, gun, ammo, clothing, boots, waders, decoys, stand, blind, ex....(and the list goes on and on).

emoEvil
It is addictive and once you start hard to stop. If you love the outdoors and enjoy just going out with a couple friends to hunt, talk about nature, talk about what you saw, the excitement of seeing game in the wild....then it is for you. If you go just for the kill you would be better off getting some kind of hunting game on your TV. emoBigsmile Dress for the event, a lot of rookies go and do not dress for the day, they are cold, wet and just unprepared. They ofter end up not liking it. But go for the day and dress right, you will have a much better day and a good experience. emoToast Jmax

 

[reliable]

Will - there is an awful lot to learn out there - can be very frustrating for a beginner, but the rewards are priceless. The best thing that you can do is to try and shorten the learning curve by appealing to some experienced hunters to help you and teach you. If you pick the right guys, and do not expect them to just put you on game you will learn a lot.

Remember, there are no stupid questions!!! Not knowing can kill you sometimes.
Get the right gear, and do not go cheap....good gear can last forever, cheap gear costs you every year.

Visit with one of your local twra officers, they will even walk you around some of the management land when the season slows down, you can learn a lot from them.

Visit other forums, like tndeer.com, lots of good info on there, when you can wade through the bragging.

Like Jmax said - do not go for the killing, you will be a frustrated hunter in no time, learn to appreciate the silence and the quiet times in the woods, the opportunities to harvest game will come with a direct proportion to the time you spend scouting and spending time in the woods.

 

[REELWORLD42]

If your rich it might be for you , I gave hunting a few years back because of not too many places left to hunt, unless you hunt public hunting area's or get in on lease. When i was growing up farmers would let you hunt on their land but somewhere in the late 80's i think a man could have got rich selling posted signs. Most of farmers that grew pumpkins would kill the deer at night and just leave them laying and would not let anyone hunt . So I gave up hunting and started fishing .

 

[MooseKnuckle]

Hunting is just the opposite of fishing:

Fishermen, Wait and Lie

and

Hunter's Lie in Wait.

 

[blownf150]

Start deer hunting it is fun and addictive. But if you don't want to drop alot of money never go on a duck hunt.
If you like it then you gota get a boat,blind,new gun, latest decoys, new ammo, and on and on. Just ask my wife she probly has recipts I know she tells me we should have bought her some nice stuff but all the ducks get her money.

 

[M GO BLUE]

...Turkey hunting cost me my first marriage!

 

[dragfish]

Start on stray cats and work your way up!

 

[NRG]

I want to hunt , but no one but me will eat wild game in my family, so I dont bother

 

[elwestb]

Young man, never, ever go hunting or fishing we anyone! Run! Take your money and find a good financial adviser and just hand it a little at a time to him! Stay at home with your wife and family! If you just have to, get a 22 rifle and a cane pole. No more! Spend your time squirrel hunting and sitting on at a quite creek bank or secluded pond somewhere. Then you'll probably have a prosperous, peaceful life and retire in comfort! Otherwise you'll be doomed, chasing that new gun, that up grade boat, lures and other expensive, newest and the latest equipment. Waking up in the middle of the night after dreaming about antlers, V's of geese in the skies, ducks with wings cupped up dropping into the decoys or listening for that early morning gobble. Listening for the bay of the dogs or straining your eyes to see if that one is on point. Sometimes you catch yourself mumbling something about basses ... great big 'ol basses! Green ones and brown ones too! Be warned! But, thank God I'm a country boy! A southern fried, hearthen, red neck'in, back woods country boy! And wouldn't have it any other way! Good luck to you!

 

[3391]

Instead of jumping right in to big game hunting try small game first. Squirrels are an easy thing to try. There everywhere and it's easier to find a place to hunt. You'll see several quickly and success will soon follow.