My wife and I are just starting out...

J

Jmassecar

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Norfolk County, Ontario
So, like the title states, my wife and I are just starting out with hunting. I have my hunting license, waiting on my PAL. My wife is taking her PAL and hunting course next month. I am looking for the opinion of the group here on what would be the best way to go, given our situation. At first I was just going to gun hunt with people I know, so I wasn't too worried about starting out and not knowing what to do, etc. Then my wife took up interest in what I was doing. She also loves the outdoors and is not afraid to get dirty and get involved with hunting. Only thing is, she is more interested in archery, as she used to shoot bow in high school. So, now we are looking at compound bows for the both of us to do archery/bow hunting together. I'm still interested in getting a basic shot gun to start out so I can hunt deer/turkey. Things are starting to add up after purchasing all the clothing, let alone gear for gun hunting and bow hunting for two people. I just don't know anyone who bow hunts, so it could be challenging to tag along with someone to get some experience. What would you more experienced guys/gals on here recommend? Would it be acceptable to start out with just bow hunting, and then next year when I can afford it, I can get into firearms (my wife is also interested in firearms, just not as much as bowhunting)? Or, is this asking way too much for two newbies to try and accomplish? Obviously, I am accepting that it is going to take a while regardless of method to actually be successful, and the experience for us if more time in the field together. I guess I'm just more or less getting some opinions here...anyways, thanks in advance.
 
Eventually you are going to do both gun and bow hunting. Since you don't have experience with hunting either way, I suggest the opportunity to start out with mentors - assuming they are successful hunters - is more important than whether you get to start with guns or bows.
 
I agree. Hunting with a bow or gun is still hunting. You should think of getting the shotgun sooner then later. Dependingnon were you want to hunt, bears after your kill could be a drawback. Most of the bow hunters I know carry a shotgun with them as a just in case...hunting with a rifle gives you farther distance were as a bow makes you become a tracker.
 
I do both.
I hunt bear/white tail/mule deer with my bow and was successful for all 3 last season.
Myself I suggest starting out with a rifle.
Bow hunting is very, very challenging and takes a lot of dedication and work to harvest an animal.
With a rifle you will have better odds and not get discouraged right off the hop.

But in the meantime shooting the bow is a great hobby you and the wife can go to a range and do together.

I don't feel anyone should hunt an animal with a bow until they can hit a basketball size target a 50yds everytime. The 40yds is easy.

If your looking for a budget compound bow you cant go wrong with a bear rts package.
I now shoot an APA Mumba but that may be more than a lot of people want to spend.

Good luck~
 
Did no one tell you that any game you harvest will be worth a bout $300 a pound once you get all the required gear LOL. It is worth every penny and to spend it with a spouse will be even better whatever way you choose to hunt.

Good luck
 
Thanks guys for the input. I'm thinking of leaning towards getting the bow for now, so we can go to the range together (we are looking at a membership at the new Triggers and Bows range[35 mins from our house]). I'll see what happens and maybe pick up the Remington 870 combo package I've been looking at for the fall turkey/deer seasons. I think the important thing here is the shared interest in something to do together. I think you guys are right in that starting out bowhunting would probably present such a huge challenge for us, with no experience. I'll see if I can tag along with some hunting in the upcoming seasons "unarmed" while enjoying some quality range time while increasing our skills with the bow, and go from there.

thanks for the bow package recommendation. Bear is #1 on my list right now. Triggers and Bows has a PSE RTS package on for $449.00. I feel pretty confident that there are some pretty decent packages for me to start out on.

And ya, I got the warning that moose can run upwards of $800/pound lol.

This is a pretty sweet community on here. I'm looking forward to getting into the sport.

Thanks again,

Justin.
 
Jmassecar said:
So, like the title states, my wife and I are just starting out with hunting. [cut] thanks in advance.
Click to expand...

There are a lot of people that are envious of you two and your shared "interest" of hunting. Together there is nothing! that you cannot accomplish. Be safe and enjoy.
 
I'll just toss this out - have you considered a crossbow?

Depending which province you live in they might be "hunting legal" for all manner of game.

They are a lot easier to master than a compound, can be had for about the same money (all the way up and down the line of price points) and you get fairly positive results right from the start - can be frustrating to see poor results, repeatedly, despite significant amounts of practice.

I hunt with a recurve bow, my shotguns, rifles etc, but also my crossbow - in fact I often take my crossbow out in rifle seasons because I like it that much.

Maybe something to consider..
 
galamb said:
I'll just toss this out - have you considered a crossbow?

Depending which province you live in they might be "hunting legal" for all manner of game.

They are a lot easier to master than a compound, can be had for about the same money (all the way up and down the line of price points) and you get fairly positive results right from the start - can be frustrating to see poor results, repeatedly, despite significant amounts of practice.

I hunt with a recurve bow, my shotguns, rifles etc, but also my crossbow - in fact I often take my crossbow out in rifle seasons because I like it that much.

Maybe something to consider..
Click to expand...

I had thought about it, the only thing is my wife really isn't interested in crossbows as she is used to archery, so I thought for the sake of learning that new skill together, we would go the compound route. My cousin's husband has a crossbow, and I think I'd like to give it a try just to be sure.
 
my wife and i hunt together as well and at first it was a bit of a challenge, because she had to pee all the time...so heads up on that...but its a nice way to spend time with her other than just at home, so have with it. we hunt turkey when in season and duck most of the time so shot guns are our main meat getters.
 
The fact that you both are into it is great! The guns or bows that you buy should last you years. If I were you, I would buy for the 1st hunting season that you would be taking part in. Two bows get the Job done for Turkeys, as do two shotguns.

I would probably go for two good compound bows. Then get two entry level rifle packages. Used shotguns are cheap as low as $100 for a single shot 12 gauge. My guess is that you can get all three for minimum $2300. Tough call for anyone to say, not knowing how deep your pockets are.
 
I didnt really have a "mentor" when I started, basically my new father-in-law sold me his used bow, helped me put up a permanent hanging stand and gave me some pointers on scent control and sent me out to my stand after leaving corn and apples for a couple weeks. I managed to shoot a nice buck on my 5th day out to the stand and didnt have a clue what to do with it, he came and gutted it for me. HOWEVER, in todays day and age, youtube can be a great friend and teach you lots of techniques in every aspect of hunting.

As for getting your gear, it will take you years and years to get everything for every situation and every game you want to hunt....unless you are loaded LOL. So that being said, if you have private property to hunt on, maybe consider getting a 2 person stand and 1 bow and 1 camera and take turns with the bow and hunt from the same stand. And let the wife try out that crossbow before she completely makes up her mind.

To the person that said the meat will be worth about $300/lb. just so you know, 12 or 13 years of moose hunting and 1 calf between 12 guys, I would guess my 25 pounds of moose meat was worth.....PRICELESS LOL.
 
Don't go too crazy on gear, if you go the bow route I would advise suitable clothes for the weather in neutral colours or underneath a pair of coveralls. Find a spot with deer, take a lawnchair in about an hour before sunrise, sit and drink a coffee and watch the world unfold.

Enjoy the time with you wife and don't take things too seriously.
 
This is all amazing advice for me starting out, thank you.

My pockets aren't super deep, as we are buying our first house this year too. However, we have been staying with her parents for quite a while now (probably so long that I erased most of it from memory) so at least we have a LOT saved up. I didn't consider used shotguns (which is kind of funny, considering I buy stuff off kijiji, and always used vehicles, never new). I guess I just never thought of how to evaluate the quality/price of a used gun. Not too much to go wrong with a hinge action single shot eh? good idea.

I think at this point I'll start bugging the people I know that hunt and offer some free labour for a couple tag alongs, and go from there. The primary objective is to enjoy the outdoors together, learn the skills required for hunting and then somewhere down the list, actually shooting something.

Man, I really do wish I had someone get me into this when I was younger. I'm pretty stoked.

Have a good one!
 
I think you're making the right decision by starting with bows. Bowhunting, though more challenging than rifle hunting, offers a much better learning opportunity. When you're rifle hunting and a deer walks out at 100 yards, it's often game over right then. When you're bowhunting, you wait, watch, and learn. If you transition to rifle hunting in the future, you'll be successful as a result of what you learned bowhunting.
A 12 or 20 gauge shotgun also opens a lot of doors.
 
Rob F said:
I think you're making the right decision by starting with bows. Bowhunting, though more challenging than rifle hunting, offers a much better learning opportunity. When you're rifle hunting and a deer walks out at 100 yards, it's often game over right then. When you're bowhunting, you wait, watch, and learn. If you transition to rifle hunting in the future, you'll be successful as a result of what you learned bowhunting.
A 12 or 20 gauge shotgun also opens a lot of doors.
Click to expand...

it did me a world of good starting with a bow hunting rabbits and grouse plus I pick up sum grate habits and have had lot of fun
 
Jmassecar said:
So, like the title states, my wife and I are just starting out with hunting. I have my hunting license, waiting on my PAL. My wife is taking her PAL and hunting course next month. I am looking for the opinion of the group here on what would be the best way to go, given our situation. At first I was just going to gun hunt with people I know, so I wasn't too worried about starting out and not knowing what to do, etc. Then my wife took up interest in what I was doing. She also loves the outdoors and is not afraid to get dirty and get involved with hunting. Only thing is, she is more interested in archery, as she used to shoot bow in high school. So, now we are looking at compound bows for the both of us to do archery/bow hunting together. I'm still interested in getting a basic shot gun to start out so I can hunt deer/turkey. Things are starting to add up after purchasing all the clothing, let alone gear for gun hunting and bow hunting for two people. I just don't know anyone who bow hunts, so it could be challenging to tag along with someone to get some experience. What would you more experienced guys/gals on here recommend? Would it be acceptable to start out with just bow hunting, and then next year when I can afford it, I can get into firearms (my wife is also interested in firearms, just not as much as bowhunting)? Or, is this asking way too much for two newbies to try and accomplish? Obviously, I am accepting that it is going to take a while regardless of method to actually be successful, and the experience for us if more time in the field together. I guess I'm just more or less getting some opinions here...anyways, thanks in advance.
Click to expand...

I've been hunting since I was 16 and am now 42. I had a 15 year break in there while I lived the city and have been hunting again for the past 7 years. My wife got her hunters safety training a couple years ago and comes with me now and again. This was her first year deer hunting with a tag. I find the best way to start is to get a bait pile going and a trail cam. It's fun to go out and bait together and check out the pictures. If you decide to hunt the bait it will offer you a easier shot (ethical shot) and decrease the chances of tracking a wounded animal (a real buzz kill for a new hunter). Or alternately you can just sit where you know deer come out to feed. If you are in a position to shoot accurately without moving too much you will be more likely to be successful. scouting out these possible hunting areas can also be a good way to get out of the house.

I would personally get a cheap bolt action rifle (used if possible) and share it. Also spend some time at the range. When we go out we often just go with one gun. I go a lot on my own So when I take the wife out I do whatever she feels like doing and it's working well so far.
 
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