So I don't see a beginners forum anywhere so guess I'll just ask here.

I've never shot a gun. I've never shot a bow. I've never been camping before. Bugs and nature don't bother me though, I've been through it all.

I want to learn hunting. Hopefully get to the point that I can kill a wild boar and some turkey then make it into some jerky. Eventually when I own a decent place I'd like to own a nice hunting dog to take with me. I don't know, I just think I'd really enjoy it. I already know the first dog I want is a Pudlepointer so thinking taking up some sort of bird would be nice too so he can retrieve it.

This is a long ways away obviously but I'm looking for advice on where to start. I don't care what I hunt for now, I guess whatever is easiest. I also don't know if I should start on Bow, Crossbow, Rifle, or Shotgun? Are there any hunting groups in Central FL that I might be able to meet and talk to? I went to ShootStraight today and the guy there seemed to be advocating getting a recurve bow to start practicing with and then get a compound bow once I'm ready to hunt. We didn't talk guns though at all.

I asked them about courses and they told me MyFWC has a class that does basic skills and lets you try shooting a bunch of different guns and bows.

Is there any simple guide for hunting in FL? Like a checklist:
-Boar are located in ______ Park. The season is ____ to ____. You can hunt them with _____, _____, or _____. Sign-ups begin _____. Cost is _____, requires _______ Permit obtained by this _____ site.

Sorry if this is long and difficult to answer but any and all advice would be appreciated. I'd really like to just buy a gun and go start hunting but I know thats not really how it works and that without proper training I not only won't kill anything I probably won't have any fun either and might even get hurt.

Step 1...Get your Hunter Safety Course under your belt

Step 2 Purchase an 870 12 guage Remington Shotgun..then you can hunt turkey, squirrel boar and deer. mine hits the bulls eye at 100 yds with a slug...can also put 200 pellets in a turkey kill zone at 35 yds..Awesome gun can be purchased at Walmart.
Shotgun cost about 350.00 and you can always sell an 870 Remington if you ever quit hunting..Very nice reliable gun.

Hunting is a very expensive hobby/ sport..count the cost my friend..Most of us have been buying our equipment a little at a time. I have very little equipment and my stuff probably cost about ....
climber stands..650.00
Firearms 1500.00
30-30 / 50 cal. blackpowder..22cal. 2 Shotguns
Archery stuff and the bow was free 500.00
Calls . Therma cells.decoys etc. 250.00
yearly license 50.00
Clothes / boots 400.00
gas...few hundred every year..
Time scouting and sitting
30 times 7 hours
about 210 hours miniumum per year.

Welcome to the forum EndersDrift. I know how it feels trying to learn the ropes by yourself as I went through the same 3 years ago when I started hunting. I'm still learning, but I can give you some pointers from my experience. Before I start let me say that I'm no expert and I'm sure others here can give you more and better advice.

1. Start by reading the hunting regulations, WMA brochures quota hunt process etc. from the FWC website, www.myfwc.com. All you need to know regarding regulations permits needed, camping, quotas, etc. is there. Read the regulations as many times as needed as they change year by year.

2 Take the hunter's education class. You'll learn a lot and have a chance to shoot a 22 rifle, shotgun, bow and muzzle loader.

3. If you can not afford a lease or have access to private land, your option is a wildlife Management Area (WMA). Hunting in Florida, specially public land, is challenging. Focus in one WMA, one that is close to where you live, and scout as much as possible. The first 2 years hunting FL, I made the mistake of going to too many different WMA's thinking I had better chance of finding game. Guess what, I wasn't learning much and never saw anything other than squirrels. This season I was about to quit hunting (I'm serious, and I really enjoy hunting) but decided to give it one more try. As I live in Riverview, Green Swamp is the closest to me. I spend quite a few weekends scouting there and I've been hunting every single weekend since archery, with the exception of the first weekend of Upper Hillsborough small game. The results, I saw game every weekend during archery and mostly every weekend during General Gun. The first weekend of general gun I killed my first hog, a 90 pound sow.Also killed my share of squirrels during small game. That is why I think its important to spend your time learning one area.

4. If you can afford, get a compound bow and a shotgun. I started with a bow because I though I'll try to hunt only during bow season and/or areas were only bows are allowed. Later I found that while I was having a good time walking around trying to find/kill some game, I was limiting myself in regards to distance. I don't own an expensive bow, its a Parker form Bass pro shops, but it works for me (aprox- $600 after arrows, release, etc.). I also got a Remington 870 Express shotgun. I can't be happier with it. I pay $235 at Dicks Sporting goods. I can't afford, neither I want to, have multiple guns. I bought a set of chokes from improve cylinder to extra full. That gives me the options of shooting from #6 shot for squirrels, rabbits and birds, 00 buckshot for small hogs (although I don't recommend buckshot) and 1 oz. riffled slugs with an improve cylinder choke, which is the one I used to kill my hog.

5. Buy a good tree stand. At first you'll feel tempted to start by still hunting, but its not easy in the Florida woods. At the beginning I bough a blind just to find out that although its easy to set up, it offers limited range due to the FL vegetation. Go ready to spend all day on the tree stand. That means bring enough water, things to eat, and empty water bottle for disposing of the "waste water". Most people leave their stands early (9-11 am) and sometimes they make game move your way.

6. Get yourself a good backpack and put together a first aid kit.

7. Buy a GPS and a compass. You can get lost very easy and a GPS or compass is your way out. The GPS is also good to mark your favorite spots and any important location. As an example, 3 weeks ago I went to Upper Hillsboroug to chase the hogs. I came across some human remains and the only way LE was able to find the location was because i gave them the GPS coordinates and they send a helicopter to lead the ground units to the place.

8. Get yourself some snake boots and a pair of rubber boots. I bough mine from Bass Pro in Orlando. Lots of options.

I can keep going, but I think these are the basics based on my experience and mistakes. Don't be afraid to ask questions here as you'll find people willing to help. However, don't ask other to give you their hunting spots.

If at one point you want to hunt the Green Swamp (which is close to Orlando) during spring turkey (March-April), send me a PM and I can show you around. I'm no expert and I haven't killed a turkey yet, but I'm trying and I'm sure sooner or later I'll succed. I have a camp site on the Rock Ridge side and you are more than welcome to stay there if you want.

Greetings and blessings forum help!

As with EndersDrift, I am new to hunting. I am the first in my family to pursue the sport and I have two boys and a daughter that I am bringing along. My situation is a little different. I am an avid outdoorsman, as is my family. We shoot regularly and have a decent assortment of firearms and bows.

Each of us, including my daughter, has taken the hunters safety course and are comfortable in the outdoors and with firearms and archery. I understand the comments made about learning the ropes so to speak and that it takes time. A lot of time, but this is really mainly about just being outdoors with my kids.

Since we currently do not have access to any private land, we will be hunting a WMA. There are three or four to choose from here in the Gainesville Florida area. I do have one that I think we would frequent most often due to the fact we also fish there a lot. Here is my concern, driving to the WMA during hunting season, parking the truck, loading up and actually stepping into the WMA to hunt. At that point I am taking the most valuable things in my life and entering a situation where I have little experience. I am not talking about the skills and techniques; I am referring to the human element.

I am very traditional and highly respect the social/humanistic “rules” so to speak. Has anyone had a bad experience in the woods during hunting season with other hunters? How could that have been avoided? What do you need to do to avoid potentially “aggressive” behavior? The bottom line is outside of the obvious safety concerns we all learned from the hunter’s safety course, what can I expect and what do I need to make sure I avoid embarking into a WMA? I have heard of many really bad situations in WMAs. Am I overly concerned, or are there some things I should know?

We will most likely start with small game season and “work our way up”. Before I do though, I have to get it in my mind, (and their mother’s) that we will be safe and have a great time. If we don’t get our kids involved we are going to lose this beautiful sport.

Thank you everyone!

This thread was started 3 years ago lol

Yea, but I just found it and "forum protocol" dictates that if a post already exists, don't start a new one.

Noogindad. I've been hunting both public and private land (hunt club lease) in Florida for about 6-7 years now and never had a bad experience with people. That been said, I do avoid areas where I know others are hunting, and when I see someone has the intention to hunt an area close to where I intend to hunt, I sometimes just move to another spot.

Most of the time I hunted Green swamp and can't complain. Never saw anyone in my area and those I came across never had any issues. Since I joined a lease in Jasper, I've been hunting only the north area and planning on going back to full time WMAs after this season. I joined a lease and they are also excellent people and never had any issues, but I realized that for some unknown reason I'm not enjoying it as much as I enjoy the challenge of public land. Besides, over the years I made good friends with people I met hunting WMAs and I miss hunting with them.

Small game hunting is the ticket. You probably won't see a lot of hunters, but you'll see a lot of parents taking their kids hunting.

If you enjoy the outdoors, hunting and camping, make sure to take the drive to Osceola. Not far from Jacksonville and the place is beautiful. You'll love the Ocean Pond campground and you can just walk and hunt from there.

Thanks Lolobond... very helpful and I am guessing/hoping that others would agree since I am not seeing any opposing accounts.

Small game season starts December 30 I believe in Loochloosa which where we will most likely start. Gain some experience and start getting more familiar with the WMA.

Thank again!

Blessings