Information for new hunters

HammerHand

HammerHand

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Ontario, Canada
Can anybody point me to a good source of information (on the internet, or in book form) for absolutely zero knowledge new hunters?

I haven't taken the Ontario Hunter Education Course yet - but I don't want to walk into it without doing a bit of research, or work on my own, beforehand.

Finally did the CFSC (and CRFSC) this past weekend, and I was stunned by the number of people in the class that didn't know much - if anything at all - about firearms. Didn't any of them think to crack a book or even look up anything on the internet?
 
What do you plan to hunt? Thumbing through old hunting mags will give you an idea of what each style of hunting involves as far as equipment and techniques are concern.
 
The Ontario Hunters Education Course is more about Safety and Conservation, than it is about hunting.

take the course, go in with an open mind, and absorb all they teach you

there is never a stupid question, to me it's more stupid not to ask a question especially one that you want an answer to

Enjoy the course
 
sherlockbonez said:
What do you plan to hunt? Thumbing through old hunting mags will give you an idea of what each style of hunting involves as far as equipment and techniques are concern.
Click to expand...

Not 100% sure just yet - but I'm thinking probably deer and/or moose.

I'd like to get as much information into my skull as possible (followed by quite a bit of practice time at a range) before I actually go out and hunt. Want to make sure that if I do shoot a moose/deer, it's a quick one shot kill, done safely and according to the laws/regulations. I wouldn't want my first shot to be my last.

I plan on being a legal firearms owner and hunter until the day I die.
 
HammerHand said:
Not 100% sure just yet - but I'm thinking probably deer and/or moose.

I'd like to get as much information into my skull as possible (followed by quite a bit of practice time at a range) before I actually go out and hunt. Want to make sure that if I do shoot a moose/deer, it's a quick one shot kill, done safely and according to the laws/regulations. I wouldn't want my first shot to be my last.

I plan on being a legal firearms owner and hunter until the day I die.
Click to expand...

By your name I take that you're from Hamilton. If you are planning on hunting around that area, it'll most likely be bow/ shotgun control hunts. So that's the direction you should be looking at. Start up will be a bit steep, so don't worry about getting all the "must have" gear right away. Take the course and see if you can tag along for a hunt with someone. Barring that, you can always hire a guide to take you out for a hunt/ week. You'll learn a lot more first hand that reading, especially if you don't have any experience to draw upon.
 
You can read book, and be given boat loads of advice, but at the end of the day you learn the most just being out there.

Also it's better to walk in knowing nothing, no one likes the kid that reads ahead then tries to show off.

As for teh CFSC, I walked in knowing nothing, no one in my family has guns, yet the guy that was there because he had to replace his FAC scored lowest on his test.
 
If you're plannings to hunt deer the first thing would be
to learn all about deer and their habits. A good book to get is
"The deer of North America" by Leonard lee Rue III

http://cgi.ebay.com/Deer-North-America-Leonard-Lee-Rue-Paperback-2004-/341605564598

Every Year, I reread or skim through this book before hunting season.
I've been hunting deer for over 20 years and still re read that book.
Did I say it's a good book????





HammerHand said:
Not 100% sure just yet - but I'm thinking probably deer and/or moose.

I'd like to get as much information into my skull as possible (followed by quite a bit of practice time at a range) before I actually go out and hunt. Want to make sure that if I do shoot a moose/deer, it's a quick one shot kill, done safely and according to the laws/regulations. I wouldn't want my first shot to be my last.

I plan on being a legal firearms owner and hunter until the day I die.
Click to expand...
 
The ontario hunter safety course is designed for people who have zero prior knowledge. There was this 50 year old guy on my course who had never touched a gun before, and lived in Toronto his whole life, never did anything outdoors. He passed no problem.

They basically teach you the test, after your course, find yourself a hunting buddy with some experience.
 
swailmeister said:
I second that. You will gain more from an experienced hunter, than from a textbook. Find a mentor and spend some time with him/her.
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+1

I would also suggest that you find a few experienced hunters, not just one. It can be hard to get everyone's schedule to match and they migh be part of an established hunting party or travel for most of their big game hunts.

Each person will also have their own preference for hunting strategies too. One of my mentors just drives old logging roads looking for game, the second will usually walk those roads and some recent cuts, the third actually still-hunts in the bush (which seems crazy to the first two).

I just started hunting last year with zero experience and it's been fun and challenging to get into.

Even with three different experienced hunters that were happy and willing to help show me the ropes, I only got out 5 times the whole season (including a spring Hare hunt). Two of them only hunted moose and grouse, another hunted with their family 5 hours away for their deer tags, so hunting with me was just to help out and have a fun time outdoors.

All of them were really helpful for a complete noob like myself, but the main thing is to get out there. It's going to take a while to learn how to move quietly in the bush (I make tons of noise), how to slow down, get used to carrying a rifle/shotgun for a few hours at a time and NOT bash the barrel off of every little branch. Really, I was lucky to see any game at all. The first time that a grouse you didn't see flushes is a rush and it's amazing how fast they can dissappear in the bush when they want to.

All in all I ended up with one grouse and one rabbit with a side of deer-tag soup. I did see one deer though - scared the crap out of it while walking through a super dense area of 1/2" birch trees. It 'screamed' for a good 30 seconds while bounding in the other direction - craziest sound I've ever heard:D

This year I might be going out with an established moose party, but that has to be decided by the rest of the group first. If it goes well, I'll be in Pool 1 next year and the group will have enough members for a guaranteed adult moose tag. My deer hunting mentor is moving away, so I'll have to go it alone or try to get another person out with me.

Try to get out with as many people as you can. It's great fun and you'll get a bunch of new friends out of the deal.:)
 
mooboy76 said:
..................Really, I was lucky to see any game at all. The first time that a grouse you didn't see flushes is a rush and it's amazing how fast they can dissappear in the bush when they want to.......
Click to expand...

Make sure you have a strong heart for the times that one will flush two feet away from you when it's pitch dark. Chr!st, do I ever hate that. Takes 3 months off my life expectancy every time....:eek:

Good post mooboy! It's nice to hear a new hunters experiences. :cool:
 
oopswasthatyourdog? said:
Make sure you have a strong heart for the times that one will flush two feet away from you when it's pitch dark. Chr!st, do I ever hate that. Takes 3 months off my life expectancy every time....:eek:

Good post mooboy! It's nice to hear a new hunters experiences. :cool:
Click to expand...

Thanks,

I will pass on one bit of advise that I learned last year. If you buy a blaze orange vest, remember that it will also have to fit over all your hunting clothes in the late fall/winter. I looked like a neon sausage:dancingbanana:
 
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