Newb questions
 

First off...greetings to all. I didn't see an "introduce yourself" thread (or overlooked it), so I'll preface here.

I'm 37 y/o, live in the Atlanta, GA area, have only "hunted" people before (recon specialist, US Army, '94-'00). Have fired all sorts of firearms, so have no fear (tons of respect) for firearms. Largest caliber I've shot (that didn't involve the main gun on a Bradley) is a .50.

I have decided that I want to start hunting finally now that I have enough freezer room to store meat.

Other than safety (FIRST), patience, etc...what are some pointers you experienced folk can give.

I do NOT know how to field dress. I've watched vids on it, but guessing that i'd make a total mess of things.

I do NOT know the "good" areas to hunt around here (could/will ask in the regional sub-forums).

I've been told (and read here) that a .243, or .270 would be a good starter rifle for hunting deer. Same for my 14 y/o that's only shot a .22 until now?

If these answers are somewhere in the forums, I'll eventually find them, just don't have a lot of "digging" time currently.

Thanks in advance.

Welcome to the forum!

Deer can see, smell, and hear much better than you or I. So you must control your scent, hunt downwind from the deer, and conceal your movements with a good blind or high enough tree stand. And minimize noise. You need to get this right above all other things. Once you are "busted" a few times in an area, you may need to give up on the whole area for the season since the deer will then be especially cautious.

Then, it is a matter of hunting in the right place at the right time.

welcome,
first step is that hunter ed course,
if you havent taken it, will learn most of what you need at the course,
for where to hunt, look up state lands on your local state wildlife site.
will find many have great lands very close to them,
for field dressing,
just focus on not contaminating the meat
dont have to do a pretty job at it,
keep your finger at the back end of the blade so you can feel how deep you went,
also dont need a big rambo knife,
small knife that fits in your hand is easier to control.
tie off that anus.
look for that heart/liver, good eating right there

and of course as questions come up,
jump on here, lots of helpful people here,
just hard to say everything with a general post,

Welcome to the Forum and deer hunting 101. This is a great place to learn from guys and gals who have been at this for a long time. Being new to hunting myself,just 2 seasons so far for deer and turkey, I'll share how I went about it. First,I sought to become skilled with my weapon of choice,my compound bow. I got good advice on what to buy to get started,arrows,broadheads,release and a decent range finder. Bought some cheap camo at Walmart,you military camo will work fine if you still have it. A pair of good boots,I chose Muck Wetlands for their comfort and quality. A good backpack for your stuff,I use a military issued pack I got for 20.00 bucks,it holds all I need. A hands free headlamp for gettin to your stand is a great tool instead of a handheld lamp. I practiced with my bow everyday for weeks or with my Muzzle Loader until I could get the job done with either. Know your prey,read up on the whitetail and learn everything you can about this amazing animal. Learn the different phases of the season and how to hunt them. Know your hunting area and learn how the deer are moving from a distance if possible,and if you go into their area scout it like you where looking for the enemy and lear how to read sign as best you can.Where they bed,how they get to food and water sources and return to the bedding area. Your scent and movement can get you busted ,the nose is their number one defense,hearing second and sight third. Your goal is to not get upwind of them,not let them hear or see you and ambush them at the very best time and spot. Trial and error will teach you quickly once you get out there,there is no substitute for just getting in the woods and thinking through as best as you can with common sense as your guide. I read,watch and discuss all the time with other hunters what works best in any given situation while the season is in full swing. I've not set the world on fire as a new hunter but I have had deer in the freezer for two years along with some turkey,so it's not impossible for a new hunter to have success right off the bat. I'm fortunate to have private and public lands to hunt on but all the spots in the world will do you no good if you can't get on game and then seal the deal. GOD bless and good hunting to you and your family this season.Later

First off...greetings to all. I didn't see an "introduce yourself" thread (or overlooked it), so I'll preface here.

I'm 37 y/o, live in the Atlanta, GA area, have only "hunted" people before (recon specialist, US Army, '94-'00).

well i would think ya should get a bow, the boy too..great family fun..learning together is a bonus, and in no time the boy will be out shooting you lol

Have fired all sorts of firearms, so have no fear (tons of respect) for firearms. Largest caliber I've shot (that didn't involve the main gun on a Bradley) is a .50.

I have decided that I want to start hunting finally now that I have enough freezer room to store meat.


already gettin ahead of yourself, assuming you will fill it up is good confidence though.

Other than safety (FIRST), patience, etc...what are some pointers you experienced folk can give.

you said other than safety, so ill respect that..
spend the time at the range, 2000 was a long time ago (no..i am not calling you old, it is what it is), getting back in the bubble can take time, not to mention jr, he is gonna need alot of time and patience from you...easy fer us to get frustrated when we already know, not to mention how frustrating it is when you do not know.

I do NOT know how to field dress. I've watched vids on it, but guessing that i'd make a total mess of things.


gutting takes time to perfect..but once ya figure it out its like riding a bike...dont ya have a buddy, father figure er sum1 that hunts already, maybe they can show ya. i recommend a good pair of limb loppers to cut the sternum up to the neck.

I do NOT know the "good" areas to hunt around here (could/will ask in the regional sub-forums).

grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.

I've been told (and read here) that a .243, or .270 would be a good starter rifle for hunting deer. Same for my 14 y/o that's only shot a .22 until now?

as you know, all guns kill...choosing a caliber is all preference. go shoot some different cals, figure out what both of you like, or can settle on if yer sharin a gun...(sounded to be the case?) then get on here and ask the gun guys what the best action and tube are.

If these answers are somewhere in the forums, I'll eventually find them, just don't have a lot of "digging" time currently.

if you dont have time to read on here, i doubt you will ever find time to get out in the woods, might just save that money and find a different hobby. hunting takes time and dedication.

Thanks in advance.

hey man, anytime.

HB I just love reading your posts, you just crack me up sometimes. lol

Ghostred, welcome to HNI, always glad to see new faces.
Using the search feature, you can quickly find answers to most of your questions in the various forums, for what you are interested in. ie. Guns, Hunting Gear, Whitetail deer Hunting. If you don't find it, then simply ask. You will get a wealth of knowledge from all in the replies. Just sort what will work in your situation.

Or you can just ask halfbaked or me. lolol

First Off.....Welcome to HuntingNet GhostRed7.


As mentioned one of the most important things about learning to Hunt is staying as Scent-free as possible,You don't have to have the most expensive Camo Gear out there on the market...wash all Your Hunting clothes in scent-free detergent and when ready to go out into the Woods possibly spray down with some scent-killer spray....a good pair of rubber boots will help cover your scent also.Learning to read Deer signs and sitting quietly and patiently will help You become a better Hunter also.


What Gun to use/buy......You probably know what Caliber Rifle You can handle and whats lighter on recoil,which one would I reccomend that You and Your Son could start out with and use together,I love those .243 Rifles with the less recoil yet it will put a nice size Deer down with good shot placement.The 30-30 Rifles are great when hunting thicker brushy area's/woods and many a Deer have been taken with that caliber Rifle,whats next in line....the 7mm-08 are good Rifles with less recoil,a .270 and a 25-06 is getting up there in recoil along with the 30-06 but if You get a Bolt-Action Rifle and use the Remington "Managed Recoil" shells You'll get a lot less recoil and still have a hard hitting Deer Rifle.

Where to Hunt....if You don't own or have a decent size piece of Land the next best thing is to either find Public Land in GA. or Lease some land so You can hunt.


Taking a Hunters Safety Course is a very good idea and in some States it is required if Your born after a certain date or if You plan on taking a Youth Hunting...check into the rules and regulations in your home State to find out for sure.

Always be safe,aim any Rifle/Muzzle in a safe direction and respect the Wildlife/Animals You hunt and always make a clean ethic shot and Enjoy the Outdoors as much as the Hunt itself.

Thx for the input all...sorry for the delayed response...PC's been down.

I'll have time to get out...but until that time hits, i'm stuck reading at work.
Safety is always paramount.

*all firearms are loaded
*don't point your weapon at anything you do not wish to destroy
*be aware of your target and what's behind/around it
*fingers don't go on the trigger until you're ready to destroy what's on the other side

I have a membership to a range, no worries there. I always practice with my weapons (mainly my pistol). I have a compound bow, as does the kid. His isn't strong enough to kill anything bigger than a rabbit. I've been considering going that route too and just get a new bow & accessories for me and give him my old one.

I like setting ridiculously high expectations (this case, filling freezer) for myself. It may not be there this season, or the next, or the one after that...but doesn't mean I can't want it full. I plan on having a few weekends and a maybe some weekdays off to go this season. I may even visit my uncle in NC as he has 12 acres of private land he hunts on.

I have some of my camo, but not much of it. I can get it if needed though. Would still probably be cheaper getting them at a surplus store vs. regular gear at a retail chain.

I would NEVER go hunting as a noob w/out someone experienced with me. That's not only for field dressing reasons. I acknowledge the value of experience.

First thanks for your past service... I would imagine there are some folks from ATL on here that can help you out.. Best way to start is by going with someone, or getting involved with a deer camp. Look in the paper for camp openings, call one that is close to you and go out and meet the camp manager, tell him your situation, if he is willing to "show you and your son the rope" per say.. Then I would consider joing the camp..

More of the same from an old dude that has been hunting white tails since '62. Lots of great and straight advice already given. My advice ain't gonna ad much.

First off being a military guy, you are familiar with the 308 Win. This is a heck of a deer killing round. It is my number one choice and I highly recommend it. Of course there are dozens of other very good rounds for killing deer out there, the 243 Win. and 270 Win. are among them.

I'd also add don't get caught up in the hype of the 1000's of hunting product ads. There are no magic bulllets, or always work scent potions, or calls that bring only giant buicks and from 100's of yards away, or foof plot seeds that create 200+ racks, or cammo patterns that can hide an elephant in pine tree, or a broad head that create 2" holes in 6" concrete block, or a poket size light that can second as light house becon, or binos that can pick out a wart on a gnat's at 400 yards, etc. Nothing is going to make you into a D. Boone, Jr. other than experience. Keep your gear simple and of high quality, learn how to move around in the woods quietly and read sign, stay down wind and you are more or less good to go.

As for where to hunt ? I know nothing about Ga. public land hunting. I tried Al. public land hunting back in the mid 1970's but opted out after 5 shots sang their song just over my head on Coosa Co. GMA. Where they came from, to this day I have no clue.

I'd suggest you network with some buddies and see if you cannot come up with a good hunting club to join. A well run club that has a lease on adequate acreage of good deer habitat is not a bad way to go. May be expensive, but ...

As for field dressing .... you'll learn. It's just guts and blood ! Just take your time. Besides, field dressing is sort of self instructing ... slit open a stomach full of half digested acorns, and you'll not to do that again !!

Welcome to the looney house of deer hunting and good luck !

Welcome, Hunting is an awsome sport, just getting out side early in the morning makes it worth it, let alone if you get to see or harvest somthing. I second half baked approach, try out some archery, its pretty affordable, and it can become a off season hobby. If you dont have tons of land to shoot a gun, then a bow is where its at. Practice in the back yard in your spare time, you make no noise (no mad neighbors). Youll have a longer hunting season. And hunting smaller plots is possible if your in search of hunting land, cause arrows dont fly miles (at least mine dont). Good luck!

I started hunting a few years ago at 44...its lots of fun and a great father/son activity.

I went with a 30-06 because it seemed to me to be the most popular caliber. I am not recoil sensitive, and really enjoy feeling it unload.

As far as public land, there is good hunting on most public land, the key is to do some scouting and set up where others seldom go (if you get 1/2 mile form the nearest parking lot, you will most likely be alone. I also like to be up in a tree (using a climber) on opening day of rifle season on public land, as I feel safer up there:-)

Gutting is pretty easy...the only tricky part is freeing up the butt hole so you can get the inards out. Skinning also is not to hard, it just takes a little practice and a nice sharp knife.