I just received my hunting licence, now what?

Dake21

Dake21

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Hi everyone, like the titles says, I have my licence now. I'm in nova scotia and I was hoping the hunting course would cover hunting territory, tag purchasing and all that but no.
What would be your advice for a beginner like me? I'm more inclined for small game hunting. Thank you all.
 
Buy thousands of dollars of gear, watch every hunting show imaginable, read all the hunting mags and a few books, ask questions online (check) and of hunting friends.

Then hunt for a couple of days and realize you still know nothing and start all over again... for each type of hunt (waterfowl, deer, moose, etc).

And have some of the best times you'll ever have....

Good hunting...!
 
Dake21 said:
Hi everyone, like the titles says, I have my licence now. I'm in nova scotia and I was hoping the hunting course would cover hunting territory, tag purchasing and all that but no.
What would be your advice for a beginner like me? I'm more inclined for small game hunting. Thank you all.
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You are a smart man you will learn lots from hunting small game and Develop all the necessary skills
Don't get carried buying equipment you don't need it for small game a cheep 22 and a Single shot shotgun Sharp knife and a compass is all you need.
You will figure out what you need and what you'd like to have down the road but to start keep it simple
Your local Rod and gun will be an excellent resource you'll find everyone friendly and very helpful
You can call your local fish and wildlife office explain to them you just got your license and they will help you as well then you know for sure you are getting the correct information.
I bet if you ask they will even give you some suggestions on where you can legally hunt for small game
Good luck to you and have fun
 
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Is there a fish and game club in your area? You might start there. Also there any number of hunting videos on YouTube which can provide some insight. One thing for sure, to hunt you need access to property. What are your options there? In any event the best advice I can offer is make contact / friends with other hunters - the fish and game club, the shooting range, the local sport shop. Good luck and welcome aboard.
 
I would offer the following:
1. Figure out what it is that you want to hunt? Rabbits don't need a licience most places! Chickens, you do need a licience.
2. Figure out where you would like to hunt, WMU##. WMU- Wildlife Management Unit. Does it allow you to hunt what you want to get? You will need your provincial hunting regulations for this, read them all twice, ask questions. Your local Fish & Game office is a good place to go.
3. Get your liciences, main licience and any specialty liciences, upland game bird, deer, moose, etc. Get your gear organized, you don't need a shotgun if going after rabbits, don't need slugs for chickens...get familular with your gear, how it handles, kicks, ease of loading under pressure...
After you do all that if hunting season is not over, go have fun, be safe. Never mix alcolhol & firearms, after a day of hunting and they are safetly stored, then you can drink.

A good place to start looking for any information on hunting would be your local Fish &Wildlife Office, or Sustainable Resource Office. As a beginner you could also post on your local hunting shops bulitin boards that you are looking to learn or on your local Kijiji site that you are looking for an experienced hunting partner...I have taken many beginners out & always seem to learn as much from them as they learn from me, some questions that people ask are very interesting and we all see things in a different point of view, even if you don't agree with something, you can still learn from it.

My 2 cents.

George
 
You getting good advice ther is no need to throw Thousands of dollars into this sport
You don't need Highend 22 to hunt rabbits and grouse I started with a rusty old Single shot 22 lr
It did not shot all that Accurately but I got know it like the back of my hand and it worked for me
 
In NS its illegal to shoot grouse with a .22, he will need a shotgun to hunt upland game. However the question isn't clear, do you have a big game or small game license? What kind of game are you pursuing?
 
Dake21 said:
Hi everyone, like the titles says, I have my licence now. I'm in nova scotia and I was hoping the hunting course would cover hunting territory, tag purchasing and all that but no.
What would be your advice for a beginner like me? I'm more inclined for small game hunting. Thank you all.
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He's looking at small game
 
Thanks everyone for your insight. It's good to hear you don't need to spend too much for hunting. I know it's a big industry and they sell so many different tools sometime it makes you wonder.
No .22lr for grouse in NS? damn. I talked to my father about using a 12 gauge for small game and he says it's going to destroy the meat even with the smaller shots.
Other than that thanks for the link I'll read it and I'll also get in touch with a hunter friend of mine.
 
Dake21 said:
Hi everyone, like the titles says, I have my licence now. I'm in nova scotia and I was hoping the hunting course would cover hunting territory, tag purchasing and all that but no.
What would be your advice for a beginner like me? I'm more inclined for small game hunting. Thank you all.
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Hey Drake21,...Novascotiahunting.com forum would be a good place for you to check out, (if you haven't already),....there are some pretty good guys on there that would give you some good advice/help with places to hunt in your area, and I'm sure some of them would even take you out hunting and show you some things. If I were you I would check it out and join the forum,..ask your questions, and/or ask if someone would like to take you on a hunt or two.

Here is a link to the site,...http://novascotiahunting.com/forums/
 
Figure out where there is public land to hunt for starters.

Join a Nova Scotia hunting web site. Here in BC we have a couple sites where total newcomers get tons of advice and even get invited out for hunts.

There's one yappy doughhead who posts regularly on the site though I wouldn't take for a walk down to the letterbox. Guys took him out and basically led him by the hand to a very nice deer and he shot wildly at it and missed spectacularly. We all miss easy shots sometimes but this guy even had the nerve to post it on video.

Don't be like that guy.
 
Dake21 said:
I talked to my father about using a 12 gauge for small game and he says it's going to destroy the meat even with the smaller shots.
Actually you'll find other than some die hard older Cape Bretoners, like my father, who will hunt with nothing bigger than a .410, the majority of grouse and hare shot in the Maritimes is with a 12ga. A 1oz load of #6 is about perfect for most situations, the should be choked no tighter than Modified. A short pump or SXS would be damn near perfect for the job. My father and I have the same conversation every fall, he reminds me how a Cape Bretoner only has 3 guns. A .22LR for hare, a 30-30 for deer, & a .410 for birds. I listen to him, then uncase my 12ga SXS and we go for a walk. At least once year, out of respect, I do carry his old .410 SXS that I never witnessed him miss a grouse with, he does like to see it used.
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I would suggest checking out Steve Rinella/Meateater website and YouTube channel. Its a great resource for new and experienced hunters. He also has a guide to hunting and butchering coming out soon.
 
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