A first time hunter

Slipery

Slipery

CGN Regular
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Location
Ottawa, Ontario
So, this year I turned 18. I bought my first rimfire, my first rifle, and my first shotgun. Also got my hunting license. Also, I know noone, noone at all, that hunts. Now, my best friend and my twin brother, both got their P.A.L's and their hunting license as well.

None of us have ever gone hunting before. So I am wondering what you guys would recommend. We plan to hunt geese, grouse, and deer this fall. Grouse, I think we will be able to handle and figure out ourselves. My friend lives on a large property, and they have lots of grouse out in the back apparently, so they have offered that to us. Geese, well, I have watched video's and read a few things, so I think that will be a matter of finding a property and learning to call.

Deer is what I am kind of in need of help on.

We can either go in our WMU that is only shotguns (Russell, Winchester, etc, etc, near the Ottawa area) or we can go west/north west to a rifle area.

Do you guys recommend that we buy a stand or some sort of ground blind and set up some sort of bait nearby?
Should we scout out a few weeks before hand to try to find tracks and set up accordingly?

I would honestly be fine with also just finding a place, bring a GPS and bring a tent in a pack and just walk through the forest. I imagine that few deer are caught this way though.

It is a little intimidating having all this space and forest everywhere and having no clue where to go. Basically we will have to pick a road on the map in Google maps and go there and start exploring.

Any advice? Sorry if this has been done before, the search feature is kind of hard for a question like this.

Thank you.
 
I'm pretty much in the same situation as you, except I wont be ready to hunt until next year.

My only advice - learn all you can about field dressing whatever you plan to hunt. I can't imagine much more frustration than having your deer meat spoil before you can get it cleaned, sectioned and in the freezer.
 
If you have the rifle and the area is near by, go for that.
It may be difficult starting your first season as a shotgunner for deer.
Plus, you'll get to use your shotgun on the geese and you'll have the opportunity to use your rifle.

Get out now and get at it. Go for hikes and walks in the area. Dawn and dusk, eyes peeled.

Personally I would not go for a blind setup your first year.
Find where the deer are, get used to how they run, how observant they are, etc etc.

For your furst season, find out where they are. Use the wind to your advantage, use good binos and be low and quiet.
If you can find an area with water and tracks, there's your spot to keep an eye on.

No one starts out as a good rattler and grunter who knows the deers next move and favourute hiding spot. This year you'll start to build a wealth of knowledge that will begin to allow you to take your deer hunting into whatever directions you choose.

Good luck
 
What provence you in. to know that would be a help for those you would like help from. each area is different and with an area you could get evan better sugestons ( I hope anyway ) from local hunters.
 
For deer it is easy..... walk the edges of fields/corn/soyebeans and look for tracks and entrance trials coming from the bush..... In certain areas you will notice more tracks than the rest of the edge, this is where you concentrate your hunting.....

Watch the field for a few evening from a distance and you soon will be seeing deer....

Keep the prevailing/regular blowing wind in mind and set up along the edge of the bush, facing the field about 20 yds away from the entrance trail to the field downwind using your shotgun.....

Use slugs and be sure to sight it in before the hunt.... sometimes things are easy and we just make them more complicated..... get me deer every year this way just sitting on the ground...

Now going after a paticular/individual deer thats a different story...but for meat or a first deer, this set up will work just fine.... start scouting now...just remember to set up about 20 yds downwind from the deer entrance trail(s)
 
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Start by finding somewhere to hunt. If you a access to property great. If not get yourself a map of crown land from MNR. Start scouting for deer soon. Rubs and scrapes will be starting soon if they haven't already. Look along field edges for well used trails, you would want to set up about 50 yards inside the bush line. In large acreages look for water, ponds swamps etc. Find where 3 types of forest intersect ex. cedar, hardwood,swamp, and set up there. The new tent blinds work great and are cheap + keep you out of the elements. Be quiet, look around alot and try to keep movement to a minimum. Oh...and please practice with your gun, and learn deer anatomy. Good luck.
 
nothing but trial & error brother is the only way you are going to learn.I've been hunting over 30 years and still learn things every year
 
Thank you everyone so far, its all very helpful. Thrush, I am from Ontario and I live just outside of Ottawa, to the south east..

I was just wondering, you say to walk the edges of corn/soyebean fields.. If I was exploring in such a manner, would I have to ask every farmer when I come across a new set of fields? I know it is polite and necessary etiquette to ask farmer's to hunt on their land, is this the same for scouting? It seems like it would make it much more tedious.

Does anyone from the Ottawa area know of good 'general locations' to hunt?
 
Slipery said:
Thank you everyone so far, its all very helpful. Thrush, I am from Ontario and I live just outside of Ottawa, to the south east..

I was just wondering, you say to walk the edges of corn/soyebean fields.. If I was exploring in such a manner, would I have to ask every farmer when I come across a new set of fields? I know it is polite and necessary etiquette to ask farmer's to hunt on their land, is this the same for scouting? It seems like it would make it much more tedious.

Does anyone from the Ottawa area know of good 'general locations' to hunt?
Click to expand...


Yes, you have to ask each and every land owner permission to enter their land or else you can be charged with tresspassing. I am currently in the process of catching a couple PR's on my land ;)

So yes, get permission, written permission if possible if you find a nice person who will let you hunt on their land.

Good luck with your first year, I remember how exciting it was for my first year.
 
Being an outdoorsman, is more than shooting a gun at game, etiquette is most important in our sport... You must ask for permission to enter someone's property... Most every bush (probably greater than 10 acres maybe less) will probably have deer, especially if next to a corn/soybean field... You say you have a spot for grouse, if there are grouse on the property, there will most likely be deer there as well...go for a walk on a piece of property that you have permission and walk the edges of the field, look on the ground (soft earth) for the tracks, you will be surprised by how many you will see, and just set up about 20 yds or so downwind... Bring a small chair, have a seat a yard or 2 in the bush and face the field... Most deer activity takes place early in the morning or late in the afternoon, just before dark.... No talking and no sudden moves....

Repost after your first scotting trip and let us know how you did....
 
I'd hope someone (perhaps on this board) would show you the ropes, and access to land - particularly if you want to hunt deer with a high power rifle.
Be aware that central and eastern Ontario is crawling with men in orange come November - hunting in the wrong place at the wrong time can be hazardous to your health! Being on a large piece of private land with people you trust is most beneficial from the perspectives of personal health and game harvest.
 
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Since you are a new Hunter, I want to welcome you to our great sport. As others have said, you are now representing hunters in Ontario. Anything you do will reflect on the sport & other hunters. Ethical behavior, & respect are two of the most important aspects IMHO. Please don't trespass on private property! It doesn't take much to ask politely, & the worst that will happen is they say no. A lot worse could happen from trespassing. Ontario has a lot of crown land that you can access without permission, but expect lots of company during deer season. Here is a link to Ontario Crown land maps. http://crownlanduseatlas.mnr.gov.on.ca/clupa.html As others have said, hunting public land can be dangerous. A friend of mine put up a doe decoy while hunting on crown land last year, & it was shot at by another hunter! Some people think that because they have hunted a certain piece of crown land for years, that it is their personal hunting ground, & they will defend it vigorously. I have even seen "NO Trespassing" signs up on crown land. I am fortunate to have large private farms to hunt on so this is NOT an issue for me. I urge you to go out & find some private farms that you can hunt on without worrying about other hunters. Another thing you could do, is to join a hunting or shooting club. Making friends there will usually net you invitations to new hunting areas if you are polite & friendly. I wish you the best of luck in your hunting endevours.

George
 
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Is it legal in ontario to hunt deer over bait? here in Mb it's not. MAKE sure you know the rules and regulations for your hunting area. If there are any rules that your not clear on, ask someone that knows. such as a C.O.
Do some target shooting to get comfortable with your rifle.
 
I'm in the same boat as you - Been shooting for a few years, just took my CORE at the end of the summer, now I'm sitting here scratching my head. It makes it more complicated that I don't have a car, but that's that...

Luckily deer are thick as leaves on some parts of the island so I just need to get something organised...

Anyone on the island hunting???;)
 
I will be hunting in the same area as you this year. You can hunt with a Muzzle loader if you want as well. Was just the reason I needed to get one.

Best of luck on your hunt.
 
My first suggestion is that you move to BC, AB or SK. Then hook up with one of the many CGNers out there and tag along to learn.

I'm sure you could do the same thing in Ontario, but you're young and just starting out. Go West, young man! Besides, most of the Ontario hunters I know pine for a move to the West. Actually, most of the Ontario firearm owners I know pine for the same thing.
 
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