First Deer Hunt

Stewie333

Stewie333

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I am planning my very first deer hunt this fall, and I am a little nervous as I am not familiar with how to go about it. I am quite new to guns in general being in the sport only about 4 years now, all of which has been bench-rest shooting. I am planning to use my 12 gauge. Other than reviewing the MNR regulations is there anything I should be aware of in terms of etiquette while in the bush. I don't want to piss somebody off and ruin my first experience at this. I am in the Lanark County area and will be hunting near Tatlock.

I don't post very often, but a little input from some experienced hunters would be appreciated.

Regards

Stewie
 
keep an eye out for tree stands and dont hang around other hunters spots if it can be avoided. go through your equipment, make sue your knife is sharp, you have some rope to help drag him out, compass is a must.

do some scouting before going out and dealing with all the other hunters, look for sign.

good luck!
 
I would have liked to go out with someone who has experience. Unfortunately, most of the guys that hunt that I have asked regarding this usually respond that their group is "closed" ie. a group of buddies that have hunted together for a long time on private property. Friendly, yes but it's not really easy to get in with these guys. I didn't grow up in this town. You can only learn so much from Gun Nutz and the internet before you have to get out there and do it. I am really stoked, I haven't felt like this since i was a little kid. Which was a long time ago by the way. LOL

Thanks for your replies.
 
Well - You have to realize that the woods are crawling with "men in orange" during deer season. That piece of crown land that you have your eye on will likely be hunted by others, so be prepared for that.
I live north of Peterborough, and I avoid going on public land during this period. I made the effort to join a camp, pay dues, etc for the privilege of hunting on private property. Perhaps someone from Gunnuts will offer to show you the ropes. Most camps arent as "closed" as you think - they are suffering from declining enrollment, for a variety of reasons.
 
May want to wonder over to the Hunt Ontario forum. It has a few guys looking for people to join their hunting camps for this season as they have had a few guys back out this year due to money issue. Good way to get your start.

Good luck though it tends to take a while to get into it. If you didn't grow up with someone to help with the contacts for all the talk about hunting and sports shooting being a dying sport in Canada there are and aweful lot of people who will block you from getting into it that are in it. :)
 
Don't drive on trails with your diesel trying to "stalk" deer from it.

Yes I "caught" a poacher doing it this weekend. He didn't seem to know much about hunting.
 
Make sure you are familiar with shooting your 12 gauge with slugs. When you add up all the money you spend on deer hunting, sighting in your gun properly is well worth the money.

I am guessing you have done this already, coming from 4 years of shooting from the bench, but it is worth repeating.
 
LuckyLuc82 said:
have a good time and don't let the old farts push you around, use common sense.
Click to expand...


agreed! I hunt just west of Tatlock and have had the odd run in with the "locals" that think they own the bush, up to and including crown land.
You hunting crown?
I guess cause Im only 27 they feel they can push me around, but Ive been in that bush with my grandfather since I was 10 years old, so thats a big negative. :kickInTheNuts:
 
Well - Here in Central Ontario, a lot of Crown Land has hunt camps which are leased out by the govt. Owning the lease does not give anyone exclusive right to large chunks of land, however, its easy to understand how tempers can flair when the lease holders encounter "highwaymen" (colloquial term...) who may be intruding on a hunt. As a minimum, there is a safety issue.
Best to know who is where... Even better, join a camp!
 
Good land up near Tatlock - I used to hunt there years ago. I found the locals to be bullys and they might try and tell you to "get off their land" despite the fact that it's nearly all crown land.

The locals up there run dogs all week in the rifle hunt and mostly hunt from the roads/power lines. Your best bet is to get on some of the interior trails and hope that the dogs run something by you.

I also found that at mid-day (11-2) they all go back to camp for lunch and the deer know it. Some of the biggest bucks I had ever seen were up there and I would only see them from 11-2.

Good luck!
 
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