Originally Posted by
John.Starks
Good afternoon everyone...I'm completely new to hunting deer. Never had a parent to teach me. Don't really know anyone who is serious about hunting but I want to learn so that me and my kids can spend time together when they get older. Plus being out in the woods is just plain fun anyways.
I've narrowed an area down where I've seen quite a few deer in the past. It's near water, food, and there's acres of extremely thick brush and growth that deer could use for bedding or cover. There's a good size swamp in the area that is adjacent to a large open field. From the little I know this seems like a decent area as any for hunting. I've seen a couple of trucks parked on the side of the road nearby so I guess some other folks have the same idea I do.
Now that I've got an area singled out what do I actually do? Do I HAVE to use a tree stand or can I hunt on the ground? If I hunt on the ground do I have to remain still or can I walk around? Do I just keep walking until I see or hear something? Where should I be walking to find deer? How can I keep my scent down - dowse myself in doe or fox urine? Should I try to avoid bedding areas?
Quite a lot here I know but just looking for any sugesstions. Ideally I'd like to move around as I don't know how I'd get a ladder into the woods for a tree stand but either way. Don't really know what I'm doing so obviously any thoughts or recommendations would be sincerely appreciated.
Apart from the arguing theres a lot of good info on this site. Search is your friend, heres some threads to read.
http://www.huntingnet.com/forum/sear...earchid=177770
Big thing is to be legal where you hunt, ie hunters ed, hunting license, tags, correct weapon etc. Pick up your states hunting regs book at walmart or hunting store. read up on basic rules and seasons for the animal (deer) you are hunting. Some dates you can only use rifles, some are bow only, some are muzzle loader only, some are shotgun only etc just have to do some research for your state and county.
When hunting be sure to know your target and whats beyond. It sounds like you are hunting public land so be careful of other hunters. Wear as much hunter orange as your state requires. This is more for your safety. You dont want to get shot. Same goes for the other hunter, you dont want to shoot another hunter. Get your rifle sighted in prior to your hunt.
A DIY hunt is possible but learn from your mistakes, I learned bow hunting this way. Also I had equipment problems the first year I hunted exclusively by myself. ( i didnt take my gun to the range and properly test it) SO consequently my gun didnt shoot like it was supposed to because of some crappy propellant/powder and I missed a chance at a couple deer. Then next year I did much better and got a muzzle loader kill and bow kills.