Hey guys I’m looking at getting into hunting. I’ve shot guns since I was a kid but I’ve only been out hunting for the last two years. I have gone on a few deer hunts and passed up on a few deer hoping for a bigger one to come by. I also went out duck hunting this year and got a bunch of ducks and a few geese which was a lot of fun. The problem is that my father does not hunt and my friends don’t have their pals yet and I’m not sure if they know what they’re doing either. I’ve been going with my uncles the last two years but it is hard to find time to go together and they live a ways away so I was just wondering if there is another option. Is going and trying it out myself a bad idea? Should I go with a friend that’s been hunting a few times even though they aren’t 100% confident either? Or is it best to keep going with my uncles until I learn more. If that’s the case, how long should I go with them before I go out by myself? Any advice is really appreciated thanks for your time.
Advice on getting into hunting.
- Thread starter K.s.47
- Start date
Honestly, ive had some of the best hunts by myself, or with my retriever, depending on what I am hunting. If you can get permission for land, or have land of your own get out there and hunt! If you rely on other people, you may just end up disappointed. Ive been there many times, up to and including quitting hunting due to nobody to go with and no property. Since I got my lab, she is all the motivation I need. She has a crazy drive for game! That being said why not do both? Have a little something for yourself to hunt solo, then do some hunts with your buddy as well.
North
North
What do you mean by knowing what your doing? What exactly will you be hunting? Aside from the safety issues with firearms etc, hunting really is all that hard! elaborate more on what your plans are.
North
- Location
- Saskatchewan
Learn to do by .. doing!
Just get out there and hunt! Doesn't matter if it's alone or with whoever as long as safety is the first priority.
If you are worried about going alone in areas that don't have reliable cell signal get yourself a personal locator beacon like the Garmin or Res-q-link.
If you are worried about going alone in areas that don't have reliable cell signal get yourself a personal locator beacon like the Garmin or Res-q-link.
Being in the woods will always have some element of risk that increases with being alone. You need to assess if this something you are comfortable with and is not a risk that will ever disappear when you reach some arbitrary level of experience.
I just started hunting last year and most of my first season was alone and doing overnighters. I am not some kind of backcountry star, just a fellow who is a bit older and feels comfortable wandering around in the woods.
My advice, spend this summer out in the woods as much as you can - take it slow and let your comfort level grow.
I just started hunting last year and most of my first season was alone and doing overnighters. I am not some kind of backcountry star, just a fellow who is a bit older and feels comfortable wandering around in the woods.
My advice, spend this summer out in the woods as much as you can - take it slow and let your comfort level grow.
1963beretta
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Vaughan, Ontario
I hunt alone more than I do with others. Nothing wrong with that at all. Its nice to get away alone sometimes. You’ll definitely need to figure out what it is that you want to hunt first so you can properly prepare for it. As mentioned, you’ll learn by going out there and hunting. Yes its nice to learn from someone, but its just as rewarding to successfully learn on your own
Start small and work your way into longer hikes and hunts. Stay close to your vehicle until you get comfortable finding your way back. Head back in daylight vs at dusk. Just get out, make ethical decisions, and have fun and be safe. I started hunting by myself with a cross bow when I was 16yo. Most of my hunts have been alone until the last couple years when I reunited with a buddy that is in better shape than me. Its way easier having a friend to help pack game to the truck.
You’ll find that hunting with others can quickly become an experiment in group politics. I am very selective with who I hunt with and will pass up certain opportunities if the chemistry isn’t right. Some love to hunt and others just like being away from home and drinking/relaxing etc. Some also like to hunt 10min from camp and others prefer getting into the black and not coming back until dark. My point is, figure out what you like about hunting and try to find some folks that feel the same way, it will pay dividends in the long run. In addition, brush up on your woodsmanship, orienteering and general bush sense any time of the year by camping, hiking and/or scouting and you’ll be fine to hunt alone. Tell others where you’re going, equip properly and don’t do anything you’re uncomfortable with.
Patrick
Patrick
All these guys are correct. When I was growing up I was hunt and fish crazy. I had no one in my family that did either and no computers back then.
Everything was trial and error by myself but eventually found friends that hunt and got a couple of friends into guns and hunting. Now most of my friends are hunters but I still hunt solo more than not.
I enjoy the freedom of starting out for here but changed my mind on route and ended up there...found something interesting and decided to site there for a couple hours, etç.
As long as your safe and ethical there is no bad decision, but do remember...shooting a deer a km from where you can get a truck at last light may not be the best decision...I keep doing it and keep asking myself why I do that to myself.
Get out and have fun
Everything was trial and error by myself but eventually found friends that hunt and got a couple of friends into guns and hunting. Now most of my friends are hunters but I still hunt solo more than not.
I enjoy the freedom of starting out for here but changed my mind on route and ended up there...found something interesting and decided to site there for a couple hours, etç.
As long as your safe and ethical there is no bad decision, but do remember...shooting a deer a km from where you can get a truck at last light may not be the best decision...I keep doing it and keep asking myself why I do that to myself.
Get out and have fun
Ah yes hunting, it's an activity that is somewhat difficult to get into but it sounds like you are along by quite a bit more so than others trying to get into things. You do have some experience with your uncles and downed some small game. You really should have taken a deer when you had someone around to help and show you the ropes, you have much more restraint than myself, I was so excited to get my first deer I was shooting anything.
If gutting and getting a deer out of the woods your not comfortable with then you probably should have someone show you and or be close by to help you. I had a mentor in this area and I think it's very helpful. I do the majority of my hunting now solo, especially for deer.
If gutting and getting a deer out of the woods your not comfortable with then you probably should have someone show you and or be close by to help you. I had a mentor in this area and I think it's very helpful. I do the majority of my hunting now solo, especially for deer.
cant_rope_the_wind01
CGN Regular
- Location
- West central Alberta
there is pro's and con's to hunting alone
while hunting with others learn from them but also don't be afraid to experience the time hunting alone, to test yer own skills in yer own way you will be amazed at how you truly discover yerself and what type of person you really are and what yer ethics are(unless yer afraid of yerself and don't like yerself)
hunting alone you learn by doing, ( my father never hunted or fired a gun in his life, he was way to in love with his cows to enjoy life with his wife and children , I never had anyone to teach me to hunt or any outdoors skills , I learned by doing , reading anything and everything its been a great journey that I have shared with my daughters and grand children, I'm the only one in a family with 6 kids that took up hunting and the outdoors,)
read and follow yer hunting regulations to the word, if yer unsure carry them with you , don't do anything that's illegal ,
while water fowling (EG , setting up decoys and blinds for one person and a dog is way different then setting up for a group of hunters)
while big game hunting, I prefer the go it myself method, to many cooks spoil the broth theory ,
I normally hunt alone with my dog , ive given up big game hunting, a few years ago due to bad knees and heart issues,
but prior to that I normally hunted alone, only ever had one friend that I hunted with, since he passed, ive never hunted big game with another person,( that was 30 years ago he passed away)
I do only hunt waterfowl with my daughter and grandson we all take a week in the fall annually to hunt ducks and geese
together , before and after that its just my dog and I , and I prefer it that way no whining sniffling complaining unreliable hunting partners
unless you are afraid to be alone or just don't like yerself enough to be alone , I recommend you learn to hunt alone , you wont ever regret it , a dog you will find never complains, is always willing to go hunting with you or just riding in truck they don't care where yer going as long as its with you
leave the ego and the social media hype bragging at home ,
get out and
enjoy the journey,
If you consider an unsuccessful hunt to be a waste of time,
then the true meaning of the chase Eludes you all together
take a walk in the wild side of life not a walk on the wild side of life
sometimes hunting isn't about hunting at all
while hunting with others learn from them but also don't be afraid to experience the time hunting alone, to test yer own skills in yer own way you will be amazed at how you truly discover yerself and what type of person you really are and what yer ethics are(unless yer afraid of yerself and don't like yerself)
hunting alone you learn by doing, ( my father never hunted or fired a gun in his life, he was way to in love with his cows to enjoy life with his wife and children , I never had anyone to teach me to hunt or any outdoors skills , I learned by doing , reading anything and everything its been a great journey that I have shared with my daughters and grand children, I'm the only one in a family with 6 kids that took up hunting and the outdoors,)
read and follow yer hunting regulations to the word, if yer unsure carry them with you , don't do anything that's illegal ,
while water fowling (EG , setting up decoys and blinds for one person and a dog is way different then setting up for a group of hunters)
while big game hunting, I prefer the go it myself method, to many cooks spoil the broth theory ,
I normally hunt alone with my dog , ive given up big game hunting, a few years ago due to bad knees and heart issues,
but prior to that I normally hunted alone, only ever had one friend that I hunted with, since he passed, ive never hunted big game with another person,( that was 30 years ago he passed away)
I do only hunt waterfowl with my daughter and grandson we all take a week in the fall annually to hunt ducks and geese
together , before and after that its just my dog and I , and I prefer it that way no whining sniffling complaining unreliable hunting partners
unless you are afraid to be alone or just don't like yerself enough to be alone , I recommend you learn to hunt alone , you wont ever regret it , a dog you will find never complains, is always willing to go hunting with you or just riding in truck they don't care where yer going as long as its with you
leave the ego and the social media hype bragging at home ,
get out and
enjoy the journey,
If you consider an unsuccessful hunt to be a waste of time,
then the true meaning of the chase Eludes you all together
take a walk in the wild side of life not a walk on the wild side of life
sometimes hunting isn't about hunting at all
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Yea sorry I just wanted to be 100% sure that I’d be okay out there. I wouldn’t want to shoot the wrong type of deer or shoot one and not be able to eat it. Seems like most people think I’d be alright. Thanks a lot for the help.
Hunting is 90% location. If you can't find an area and gain access the last 10% doesn't matter much. Locations are jealously guarded, because experienced people have learned to be leary about giving away their hard earned ground work. Family is more reliable that way. That makes breaking into existing groups a bit tough, and some otherwise helpful people will stop well short of drawing you a map.
That doesn't mean you can't hunt, whether you strike out on your own or with some like minded friends and learn it together. Hunting is more about the journey than the destination.
That doesn't mean you can't hunt, whether you strike out on your own or with some like minded friends and learn it together. Hunting is more about the journey than the destination.
Like shoots asks do you know how to gut a deer? If you don't it's better to learn hands on with some one who does so next time shoot that deer and learn.
If you do know how to field dress then get off the couch and get in the field you will learn more about your own style if you are out practicing it
Sounds good. Thanks for the help!
Thanks for the advice! That sounds like something I would do haha. Do you usually walk or bring a quad? I’ve heard of both but I’m not sure how you bring the deer back on foot.
