I know this is a big question. I want to start hunting. I own a .22 Marlin rifle with an old scope (don't know details, yard sale stuff). Back whe I was 14 or so I used to target shoot regularly and still have a pretty good aim.

My problem is that I don't know anyone who hunts. I know local public lands where I can hunt and want to go out there and have a good time. Can anyone give some advice as to how / where to start? The library wasn't much help either.

Also, advice on cleaning / skinning / cooking?

Thanks to any and all.
Peace

What are you hunting? Rabbit? Squirrel? Possum?

Also, in meadows? Deep woods?

Give us some help here.

Sorry for being vague.

I was hoping to hunt small game to start with. Squirrel season starts in Oct here in MD. That's one of the earliest. Of course you can hunt Groundhog 7 days a week all year on public lands in MD as well so I may want to do that firt to get my feet wet. Then on to bigger and tastire things I hope.

Thanks

My favorite and so far most successful way to hunt squirrels and rabbits is to First, find a good food source such as trees bearing acorns (can't beat these as far as I am concerned), chesnunts, persimmons, various berries whether it be black berries or dew berries, etc., or even in the late season, pines with a few cones left. Generally speaking, I find most of this in river/creek bottoms and this is also where I find most of my rabbits as well as they tend to love the new year ferns that sprout in the early Spring.

Second, a good camoflauge is, in my mind an essential (don't forget to mind the local hunter orange regulations as well). Along with sitting still, however, no matter how long you can sit still, you won't kill anything if there isn't anything in that area, soooo don't be affraid to move around a little if you don't see anything for about 30 minutes to 1 hour.

For the most part, hunting small game as well as anything else, is just about 90 percent perspiration and about 10 percent thought process. The absolute best thing to do is just get out there and before long you will get an idea of what works and what doesn't.

This may not be worth too much to you in your neck of the woods, but this what has worked for me down here in South Alabama and Georgia.

Squirrels- walk quietly or sit near oaks and other food sources and look for movement

Rabbits- easiest with snow for 22, track them by walking slowly and looking ahead under and around clumps of brush, stumps, any ground cover, youll learn

Can also get grouse this way too

as far as cleaning them the easiest way to do it is to grab the hide in the middle of the bach, cut a hole large enough for your middle and index finger from each hand and pull hide off in opposing directionscut head off with front hide, cut feet and tail off with rear hide. Next make shallow incision to open gut cavity abd remove all of them getting lungs, kidneys and heart too. Break pelvic bone by flexing thighs outward remove rest of guts. as far a cooking rabbit and squirrels quarter them soak in salt water. Fry with flour and season salt, pressure cooking them for a few minutes first helps too. Hope that helps some and good luck hunting.