How do you get into hunting with no experience whatsoever?

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4boresandwhores

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Always wanted to learn to hunt but my grandfather died before I was old enough to get an FID or take the hunter safety course so he couldn’t teach me. Any tips for getting into it? Already have the safety card and a couple rifles just have no idea how to start or where to even go.
 
Last edited:
4boresandwhores said:
Already did it, I meant more like what to do after. I know I can buy tags and go on a WMA but I have no idea how to skin a rabbit or a deer or how to process it or where to even look.
Click to expand...

This.

A buddy took me out after elk once, and he was going to teach me all that stuff, but we didn't spot anything worth shooting.
 
4boresandwhores said:
Always wanted to learn to hunt but my grandfather died before I was old enough to get an FID or take the hunter safety course so he couldn’t teach me. Any tips for getting into it? Already have the safety card and a couple rifles just have no idea how to start or where to even go.
Click to expand...
If you don't have a mentor to take you then you'll have to figure it out on your own. When my son was 11 years old he asked me if we could start to hunt....I already had some fire arms.....just had to take hunter ed and learn the regs......we learned together.

Turkey is a tough season yo start on but.....manage your expectations and get your ass in the woods. You'll learn shit every time you go out. Alot of stuff you just have to learn on your own. Not because nobody is willing to tell you......but because it has to be learned by being in the woods....alone....and just get the experience on your own.

Next fall hit the wma lands for squirrel.....that's how we cut our teeth and had a blast......my son is now married and has his own house and we still hunt squirrel together.

As far as field dressing .....thank god for you tube.
 
At the least join a gun club and meet some of the members and I am sure there are plenty of know at it all's who have no problem helping you out.

Just kidding most of the guys are good guys, always plenty of them willing to help newbies, my club is like that and others I have been too as a non-member are always very accepting of those willing to learn.
 
watchman said:
At the least join a gun club and meet some of the members and I am sure there are plenty of know at it all's who have no problem helping you out.

Just kidding most of the guys are good guys, always plenty of them willing to help newbies, my club is like that and others I have been too as a non-member are always very accepting of those willing to learn.
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Already in MRA but only met one hunter so far.
 
whacko said:
If you don't have a mentor to take you then you'll have to figure it out on your own. When my son was 11 years old he asked me if we could start to hunt....I already had some fire arms.....just had to take hunter ed and learn the regs......we learned together.

Turkey is a tough season yo start on but.....manage your expectations and get your ass in the woods. You'll learn shit every time you go out. Alot of stuff you just have to learn on your own. Not because nobody is willing to tell you......but because it has to be learned by being in the woods....alone....and just get the experience on your own.

Next fall hit the wma lands for squirrel.....that's how we cut our teeth and had a blast......my son is now married and has his own house and we still hunt squirrel together.

As far as field dressing .....thank god for you tube.
Click to expand...
I went to the hunter ed with a buddy of mine and we were supposed to hunt rabbit this Eason both bought .22. Rifles for that exact purpose but never got the chance to and I can’t justify spending the money for a license if the season is about to end in a week. Guess I’ll have to try next year.
 
4boresandwhores said:
Already in MRA but only met one hunter so far.
Click to expand...
Get involved in the club and volunteer we all need volunteers. I have been a volunteer since I joined my club ( my FIL said the club doesn't exist without those willing to help) and you get to meet people a lot faster than to just bump into someone at the range.

No one wants to hear it but your club needs volunteers and I do know that monthly sacrifice or maybe a couple times a year is not easy but just think if no one did it your fees would be triple or there would be no club to join.
 
How to shoot and how to clean are easy.

"Where to hunt" is the hard one. I did my best to beat up NHFGC about their insane number of hunting zones, because in NH you can be in violation of zone rules by crossing a highway without even knowing the difference.

All the commissioners are lifelong hunters who simply have no idea what it's like to start from scratch and then get scared away by reading the annual Guide Book.
 
4boresandwhores said:
I went to the hunter ed with a buddy of mine and we were supposed to hunt rabbit this Eason both bought .22. Rifles for that exact purpose but never got the chance to and I can’t justify spending the money for a license if the season is about to end in a week. Guess I’ll have to try next year.
Click to expand...
What town are you in? FInd a local Sportman's club. Check-out MA Hunting group on facebook, you'll find some good information as well as other hunters willing to have you "tag along" on some hunts. There are many videos on youtube to help you scout, hunt, process, and store wild game. I find if you are going to hunt Deer then you may want to limit your search to this region. I'd be happy to reccommend some. The Hunting Public has a great youtube channel for hunting rabbit without dogs, not this region, but you will certainly gain some knowledge. It's hard enough to shoot a rabbit with a shotgun nevermind a .22 so you may want to rethink your weapon of choice, just my opinion. Buy your license, it's small price to pay to have access and hunt the land, and it's good for the year. Small game starts in October. Lastly, go explore local WMA's, and have fun but be safe. OnXHunt is a great app to have. I've been hunting since 1994 and would be happy to help answer any questions.
Alex
 
What state do you intend to hunt?
What part of that state are you interested in hunting?
What critters do you intend to hunt?

Navigating in the woods is critical skill. It is important to be able to get back to your vehicle at the end of the day. The Map, Compass, and Survival class is an excellent primer.

Massachusetts does have some learn to hunt classes if you want to try them. I have no experience with these:

A mentor is the ideal way to go. You need to learn the habits of the critters you want to hunt and where to find them. Field dressing is the last skill you will need to learn.

Success for this falls hunting seasons are determined between now and the spring green up. There are no short cuts you need to get out there and burn some shoe leather.
 
4boresandwhores said:
I went to the hunter ed with a buddy of mine and we were supposed to hunt rabbit this Eason both bought .22. Rifles for that exact purpose but never got the chance to and I can’t justify spending the money for a license if the season is about to end in a week. Guess I’ll have to try next year.
Click to expand...
Turkey opens in spring. A license u buy now will be good thru the fall season.

And a 22 for rabbit......um......they run real fast. Just sayin
 
4boresandwhores said:
Always wanted to learn to hunt but my grandfather died before I was old enough to get an FID or take the hunter safety course so he couldn’t teach me. Any tips for getting into it? Already have the safety card and a couple rifles just have no idea how to start or where to even go.
Click to expand...

Just a heads up that in MA you are going to want a shotgun and/or muzzle loader on top of the rifles. You can’t shoot deer with rifles in MA.
 
I just went into the woods and started blasting. Seemed to work.

As far as gutting and such. . . . I'm often reminded of this.

It's 1992. I just got married. I've got this mass of chicken breast to process. I almost didn't make it through. LOL. It was gross. Slimy and slippery and just. . . ewww!!!!

33 years later - I'm sure I could "process" anything short of a human without a second thought. I will often break down larger store-bought items into manageable segments. If my kids are around, they get a bit squeemish. Especially chicken. Break down a chicken or a turkey. EEEK!! So be prepared if you are not AOK with breaking down store-bought stuff. Having to make a first cut into an animal can be trying if you are of a. . . . normal 21st century stomach.

Most animals you'll shoot have the same basic structure. So that helps. Ribcage. Guts. Outside stuff (fur or skin or feathers or. . . with fish, scales). Bunghole. Don't forget the bunghole!
 
Dennis in MA said:
I just went into the woods and started blasting. Seemed to work.

As far as gutting and such. . . . I'm often reminded of this.

It's 1992. I just got married. I've got this mass of chicken breast to process. I almost didn't make it through. LOL. It was gross. Slimy and slippery and just. . . ewww!!!!

33 years later - I'm sure I could "process" anything short of a human without a second thought. I will often break down larger store-bought items into manageable segments. If my kids are around, they get a bit squeemish. Especially chicken. Break down a chicken or a turkey. EEEK!! So be prepared if you are not AOK with breaking down store-bought stuff. Having to make a first cut into an animal can be trying if you are of a. . . . normal 21st century stomach.

Most animals you'll shoot have the same basic structure. So that helps. Ribcage. Guts. Outside stuff (fur or skin or feathers or. . . with fish, scales). Bunghole. Don't forget the bunghole!
Click to expand...
Never forget the bunghole 😂

You should have seen the look on my brother in laws face up in Maine years ago when I push gutted a snow shoe hare in front of him. He was what I call a Gucci hunter.....he hunted pheasant before that was it.....and with a guide lodge in the Dakotas...the guides take care of all the unsavory part of hunting 😂

We got back to the truck and I had a pair to clean up......push gutted the first one and he about had a stroke.....said "i probably don't want to know where you learned how to do THAT" 😂😂

For the un initiated in push gutting bunnies.....


View: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=WK78UrGmHzc&pp=ygURcHVzaCBndXQgYSByYWJiaXQ%3D
 
whacko said:
Never forget the bunghole 😂

You should have seen the look on my brother in laws face up in Maine years ago when I push gutted a snow shoe hare in front of him. He was what I call a Gucci hunter.....he hunted pheasant before that was it.....and with a guide lodge in the Dakotas...the guides take care of all the unsavory part of hunting 😂

We got back to the truck and I had a pair to clean up......push gutted the first one and he about had a stroke.....said "i probably don't want to know where you learned how to do THAT" 😂😂

For the un initiated in push gutting bunnies.....


View: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=WK78UrGmHzc&pp=ygURcHVzaCBndXQgYSByYWJiaXQ%3D
Click to expand...

Wow. I’m never squeamish about stuff like that but damn I was not ready for that 😂
 

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