New Hunter needs help

Field stripping a deer is not all that bad. Just be sure to get them in the boiler room and it won't be to messy. Worst one I have seen is buddy put a 1oz slug through the gut of a doe; what a mess, green slime everywhere and the stink was unbelievable. It usually does get a little bloody, but if you have a roll of paper towels in your pack, as well as some of that hand sanitizer that you get at the drug store, you can keep the gore to a minimum.

Lots of info on the web about field dressing, and it is pretty hard to mess it up. Just don't cut anything that looks like stomach or intestines. First one I did it probably took me half an hour, I can do it now in about five minutes. One of the guys I rifle hunt with carries these long plastic gloves, they come up to his shoulders:p . he is definately squeemish about the whole field dressing thing, but the policy in our group, is that if you shoot it, you deal with it. A good knife will will serve you well, just as important as a rifle thats shoots where you point it, in my opinion. I carry two, one that has a skinny blade for cutting around the pooper, and a bigger more robust knife for the rest of the cutting.

Good Luck
7.62mm
 
Get out there and practice looking for sign all year round. Some of the best days hunting I've had were days I ghosted a couple of does and an immature buck (non-shooters) hanging within 40yrds for a couple hours is exciting. Hunting is walking through the woods real quiet like, being aware of where you are and what's around you, hiking is walking through the woods being aware of where you are going. If you think you're moving to fast, you are, slow down, amble through the woods, slow and steady.
 
i would highly reccomend getting a guide, or at least an experienced hunter to show you the ropes the first few hunts. local wildlife organisations usually have a youth mentoring program, your not really a youth but i'm sure the group would be happy to help you out.

goose and duck makes good sausage!
 
ar15 I totally understand wanting to get a guided hunt being in your shoes. I was lucky and started hunting as a youngster but it would be a little overwhelming to have at er without someone showing you the ropes. As others have said though don't limit yourself to a guided hunt, if you can find someone with a fair bit of hunting experience to take you along go for it! You will soon find out its not rocket science. And dressing an animal is just like anything else, there's a few little tricks to it but its no biggy. Done properly its a smooth and clean operation and a lot less gruesome than the uninitiated would think. ;)

So I'm obviously a few thousand too many kms away to help but hopefully someone will read this thread and give you a hand from our site here. If not, post notices at your club, or ask around at gun shops/hunting supply stores near you. If they can't help maybe they'll let you post a notice. I'd go with something simple like "new hunter looking for experienced hunter to help me learn the craft. Have firearms and shooting experience but not hunting experience." somthin like that... You'll find generally that real and committed hunters are usually pretty generous about helping a newb out ! Good luck and thanks for helping preserve our (your) heritage.. :)

edit to add: ask around at the hunter training course too!
 
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I'd echo what Salty says.

Field dressing a deer is nothing to get intimidated by.

You know what would be a big help?

To go out with an experienced hunter or even by yourself after rabbits if you can find a spot. Field dress a couple of bunnies and you'll see it ain't a big deal.

A deer is just bigger.
 
OK, here is my experience....
being a city boy, and a "new canadian", it cant get worse than that!
the guided hunt idea came to my mind, but too expensive!
my advice, take the course, buy an 870, not because it is a great gun, but because its versatility, look for crown land, surprizingly there are a lot in southern ontario 1-3 hours away from To.
http://crownlanduseatlas.mnr.gov.on.ca/
check the interactive maps and locate crown land near you, print the maps and drive there to investigate. bring a compass or better yet a GPS.
there are a ton of crown land in the niagara region, Simcoe, and others.
2 years ago I drove up north to scout for Turkey, saw a ton of deer! all on private land, but i located the crown land near by.
I went to visit the different head offices for the conservation authorities, like grand river, hamilton, etc. they have all sorts of maps for crown land.
some were nice enough to send me maps by mail (paid by credit on the phone)
I know people don't want to take someone they dont know WELL on a hunting trip, but you can go out there on your own. just make sure you see the points before you pull the trigger!
waterfowl was hard to do on my own, so I went with a guide, and still do. we hunt in Brampton, 15 min from the 401!

if you do all that, guaranteed by the time to talk to people, check the land, visit the stores, you will have a good idea on where to go.

oh, and read the regulation book 3 times! buy the tags, and when the season opens PM me, I might be able to help!

Mo
 
MD said:
I'd echo what Salty says.

Field dressing a deer is nothing to get intimidated by.

You know what would be a big help?

To go out with an experienced hunter or even by yourself after rabbits if you can find a spot. Field dress a couple of bunnies and you'll see it ain't a big deal.

A deer is just bigger.
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but rabbits stink a lot more than deer
 
All the more reason to learn on a bunny, 'specially how NOT to puncture the stomach or intestines when opening them up!
 
gutting a deer is pretty easy after the first time. the hardest thing is rippin out the windpipe, can never get a good hold on the damn thing


try field dressing a moose!, you gotta pretty much crawl right in there lol
 
44fordy said:
If you want to hunt deer and upland bird, you may want to consider getting a shotgun first as you will have the versatility of hunting both upland, waterfowl, wild turkey and big game.
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+1 If you go for a Remington 870 Express Combo package, either the regular Express or the Super Magnum package, you'll have one gun that can do it all: you can use on deer (with the rifled slug barrel) and wingshooting, turkey, and small game with the vent rib barrel, anywhere (some Ontario WMUs, including mine, don't allow hunting with centerfire rifles).

Mossberg also sells combo guns.
 
I caught a mouse in a mousetrap earlier today.

I field dressed him and then I ate him. Didnt faze me at all! I didnt tag him though so I have been watching out for the game warden. If he comes I am going on the run.


Seriously though, thanks for all of the help. This board is always great for getting info from other people who like to do #### like this;)

I will definately look into the option of buying a combo. Save some money for a guided hunt or 2

I will be taking all of this advice into the mental file.....

Appreciated.:)
 
AR15meister said:
I caught a mouse in a mousetrap earlier today.

I field dressed him and then I ate him. Didnt faze me at all! I didnt tag him though so I have been watching out for the game warden. If he comes I am going on the run.
Click to expand...

Well, you definately have the sence of humor to be on this site!!

I'm sitting at my mom's kitchen table in my new leafy cammo suit, drinking rum and listening to Willie sing Whiskey River....

The only place I'd rather be is in the woods...
 
I started the same. Nobody to teach me. The hunting tradition in the family was lost. I started from scratch.
My advice is: Don't spend a lot at the begining. It will sour your experience. Get the course and then the tags. Read the regulations about 20 times.... and finally, get out there and if you don't find anyone to teach you, rest assured... there's so much info on CGN...more than any of us would know from our personal experinece.
 
a lot of good idea,s being giving here..
but if i may give another view here of a camp..
i,ll use our camp as an example..
our camp took years to build..lots of money and time envolved..but over the years..the ole shack is getting run down with age and all the damage caused by all the break in,s in the last few years...
now heres a new way to try and get an invite to a camp..;)
offer to cut up the fire wood/offer to redo that leaky roof/offer to do what ever your good at...all these chores dont get done on there own..;)
 
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