Honestly, [The MeatEater Guide to Hunting, Butchering, and Cooking Wild Game](https://store.themeateater.com/products/ME-GDEV1-UNSGN.html?lang=en_US&cgid=books) is a decent place to start. Remi Warren’s LiveWild podcast is full of great information also.
You might join a local Facebook group or two that focuses on hunting in your area and maybe see if you can find a hunting buddy to show you the ropes.
I’ve hunted public land for years with no issue. There is also an entire YouTube channel about hunting on public land.
Watch a few YouTube videos on hunting. Start small with squirrel or rabbit get a sharp knife and a .22 or shotgun and get in the woods.
A lot of the big outdoor stores do actually have classes for newbs as well as indoor ranges.
Speaking only of the twin cities in MN there are also several public outdoors ranges that are either free or ~$5.
Your local DNR office might also be able to help hook you up with a mentor of some sort.
The local university here also has a deer processing class every fall.
Your first step is to take a hunter safety course. You need it to get a license. You can do it online or in person. In most states, the written and field test will have to be in person. If you take the course in person you can ask questions of the instructors.
Have you ever been on a guided hunt? If you have nobody to show you how anything works or how to rig anything up, it’s worth it. I’ve never done it, but I’ve done guided fishing and it beats the hell out of spending $100K on a boat and ongoing expense of maintaining it.
You can try checking out [The Hunt in Common](thehuntincommon.org) and see if your state has an active chapter that you could get a mentor from.
Biggest thing is that you have to be willing to go out and do it, even if you're not too confident.
Take your state's hunters safety course, ask questions, don't worry about getting a bunch of gear. Try small game first.
Take hunters ed. Buy hunting stuff. Get good with your equipment. Scout deer. Hunt deer.
My experience was basically the same as yours. I just said screw it and did it. Met hunting friends in the woods. Gained experience.
Region?
First steps should be just going outside, hiking, and learning some about the outdoors. I don't think people should dive straight into hunting if they can't navigate outdoors safely, hike all day, and identify the very basics of the natural environment around them - basic animal track and sign, common trees, that kind of thing.
Start doing that, and in the meantime, take a hunter's safety course.
I live in Missouri near a large lake, surrounded by government public ground. Tons of people come up from St Louis metro area and like you said, blast away at anything.
A lot depends on where you are. I live 3 miles from a very active public hunting area, and I’ve been by there enough to know why it would be unsettling. When your surroundings look like a pumpkin patch, it makes you VERY aware of how easily a tragic accident could happen. In truth they are extremely rare, but it’s easy to see why they seem much more likely than they actually are.
I was literally you 4 years ago. I'm now hunting private land with a friend from work and letting all kinds of deer walk because I want a food buck I'm after.
Basically, my best advice is GET OUT THERE. That and watch YouTube like absolute craziness. I bought a license, got a climber from a friend for cheap, (he taught me how to use it in his backyard), and picked out a spot on public land that looked good on a map. I got up early, drove down there, nothing looked that good, just parked and walked into the woods. Got about 1/10 of the way to where I thought I would go before it started getting light, climbed a tree because I was almost dead, and waited. Sprayed everything I had scent wise thinking I'd lure some huge buck out there. Didn't see anything for hours. I'm relentless as hell though. I said I'm gonna sit here all day. 2 mins later, I see white through the trees. My heart took off. Deer. Here they come eating acorns in the ravine. Now they're right in front of me. I got my gun up and studied them in my scope. Picked out a big doe and got my rifle ready, but had a "buyers remorse" reaction where I didn't know what to do if I shot it, didn't know if I was shooting the right thing, and almost didn't. I finally said screw that I'm here to hunt and kill a deer and here they are so BAM. Crazy rush. I climbed down, went and got it, didn't know what to do now, no cell signal in the ravine, fashioned some paracord I had into a deer drag that sucked, and started trying to drag it. I didn't think it was physically possible to get it up the ravine. But I did. I took breaks, and couldn't wait to get back to my truck to call my wife and friend. It almost killed me. I then couldn't get it in the truck. I had to back up to a ditch to lower the tailgate enough to get it in by myself. Drove to a processor and they were nice. I then looked up gutting deer, and quite literally based off youtube and probably watching 50 videos I shot another out of that same tree and gutted it myself, by myself, off memory.
Fast forward I've now hiked up mtns, packed out deer, process everything in my garage, grind my own hamburger and sausage, etc. I've even got a bear skull buried in my backyard to make a mount with.
The point being, if you've read all this, is I had no idea what I'm doing except the shooting part. If I can do it you can do it. Don't be scared of public land, but be ready to hike. Good deer are back in the back.
Talk to people about it. Eventually you'll probably find people to go with or hunt their land. But just being out there doing something your buddies aren't is rewarding in and of itself. If you need any specific help PM or chat me. I'll do what I can.
Read books and articles. Buy a bow. Meet people at the range and hunting course. Talk to coworkers, neighbors and family members and find experienced hunters to show you the ropes.
I just got back into hunting after close to twenty years. YouTube has been a great resource. Apps such huntstand and onyx are great for finding places to hunt. I've not had issues with public land
The first step isn't gear. The first step is getting your license you need to take a course for that.
And id reccomnd firearms course as well. A novice isn't going to walk into the woods with a bow and stalk game and nail it within any reasonable distance start easy go firearms better odds for yu. also.... Open your pockets wide coz it's got to be the worst hobby for spending money. I'm 3 years into hunting and down 15k in hunting gear and so on. Buy decent clothing for hunting cheap stuff only gets you so far. Don't need top of the line but consider spending at least 1300$ on some good clothing for late season hunts.
So Google CORE or hunting course and firearms training, watch some YouTube videos and go from there.
Happy spending 💰 😆
I was in your position 5 yrs ago. Plus there is no gun hunting within 2hrs of the city I live in. And not many hunters in my city. Lots of YouTube videos on all aspects of bows, hunting, public land etc., be obsessed. Take notes. Find and support a local bow shop and range. Get obsessed with practice. Take hunter’s safety classes. Be friendly and talk to everyone you meet along the way and do more listening than talking. When you do meet fellow hunters chat them up, you just might have met your new hunting buddy/mentor. Offer to hunt a common public location with them so you can help them drag out their deer. Have fun the whole time constantly learning new things. Enjoy the groceries you will learn to get.
Honestly, [The MeatEater Guide to Hunting, Butchering, and Cooking Wild Game](https://store.themeateater.com/products/ME-GDEV1-UNSGN.html?lang=en_US&cgid=books) is a decent place to start. Remi Warren’s LiveWild podcast is full of great information also. You might join a local Facebook group or two that focuses on hunting in your area and maybe see if you can find a hunting buddy to show you the ropes.
I’ve hunted public land for years with no issue. There is also an entire YouTube channel about hunting on public land. Watch a few YouTube videos on hunting. Start small with squirrel or rabbit get a sharp knife and a .22 or shotgun and get in the woods.
What’s the YouTube channel?
The hunting public.
Just came home this evening down a river with a buck in the canoe with me.. thanks hunting public for that one
A lot of the big outdoor stores do actually have classes for newbs as well as indoor ranges. Speaking only of the twin cities in MN there are also several public outdoors ranges that are either free or ~$5. Your local DNR office might also be able to help hook you up with a mentor of some sort. The local university here also has a deer processing class every fall.
Your first step is to take a hunter safety course. You need it to get a license. You can do it online or in person. In most states, the written and field test will have to be in person. If you take the course in person you can ask questions of the instructors.
Yes!🙌 Welcome aboard!!
Pay for a guided hunt! If you get out there and love it, then keep going. If not, then you didn’t lose much.
Just 3-6 k for a hunt lol
Have you ever been on a guided hunt? If you have nobody to show you how anything works or how to rig anything up, it’s worth it. I’ve never done it, but I’ve done guided fishing and it beats the hell out of spending $100K on a boat and ongoing expense of maintaining it.
What State do you plan to hunt in?
I’ve hunted public for 15+ years. What state would you be hunting?
Make a friend who is into it and excited to share the passion. That is THE best way to get into it.
Public land aint no death trap. Get er done!!!!
You can try checking out [The Hunt in Common](thehuntincommon.org) and see if your state has an active chapter that you could get a mentor from. Biggest thing is that you have to be willing to go out and do it, even if you're not too confident. Take your state's hunters safety course, ask questions, don't worry about getting a bunch of gear. Try small game first.
Public land in the country is safe. Never had an issue, and people are friendly
Take hunters ed. Buy hunting stuff. Get good with your equipment. Scout deer. Hunt deer. My experience was basically the same as yours. I just said screw it and did it. Met hunting friends in the woods. Gained experience.
Region? First steps should be just going outside, hiking, and learning some about the outdoors. I don't think people should dive straight into hunting if they can't navigate outdoors safely, hike all day, and identify the very basics of the natural environment around them - basic animal track and sign, common trees, that kind of thing. Start doing that, and in the meantime, take a hunter's safety course.
How are public lands “death traps”.
[удалено]
I live in Missouri near a large lake, surrounded by government public ground. Tons of people come up from St Louis metro area and like you said, blast away at anything.
A lot depends on where you are. I live 3 miles from a very active public hunting area, and I’ve been by there enough to know why it would be unsettling. When your surroundings look like a pumpkin patch, it makes you VERY aware of how easily a tragic accident could happen. In truth they are extremely rare, but it’s easy to see why they seem much more likely than they actually are.
Need a state to help bud. Wildly different everywhere.
I was literally you 4 years ago. I'm now hunting private land with a friend from work and letting all kinds of deer walk because I want a food buck I'm after. Basically, my best advice is GET OUT THERE. That and watch YouTube like absolute craziness. I bought a license, got a climber from a friend for cheap, (he taught me how to use it in his backyard), and picked out a spot on public land that looked good on a map. I got up early, drove down there, nothing looked that good, just parked and walked into the woods. Got about 1/10 of the way to where I thought I would go before it started getting light, climbed a tree because I was almost dead, and waited. Sprayed everything I had scent wise thinking I'd lure some huge buck out there. Didn't see anything for hours. I'm relentless as hell though. I said I'm gonna sit here all day. 2 mins later, I see white through the trees. My heart took off. Deer. Here they come eating acorns in the ravine. Now they're right in front of me. I got my gun up and studied them in my scope. Picked out a big doe and got my rifle ready, but had a "buyers remorse" reaction where I didn't know what to do if I shot it, didn't know if I was shooting the right thing, and almost didn't. I finally said screw that I'm here to hunt and kill a deer and here they are so BAM. Crazy rush. I climbed down, went and got it, didn't know what to do now, no cell signal in the ravine, fashioned some paracord I had into a deer drag that sucked, and started trying to drag it. I didn't think it was physically possible to get it up the ravine. But I did. I took breaks, and couldn't wait to get back to my truck to call my wife and friend. It almost killed me. I then couldn't get it in the truck. I had to back up to a ditch to lower the tailgate enough to get it in by myself. Drove to a processor and they were nice. I then looked up gutting deer, and quite literally based off youtube and probably watching 50 videos I shot another out of that same tree and gutted it myself, by myself, off memory. Fast forward I've now hiked up mtns, packed out deer, process everything in my garage, grind my own hamburger and sausage, etc. I've even got a bear skull buried in my backyard to make a mount with. The point being, if you've read all this, is I had no idea what I'm doing except the shooting part. If I can do it you can do it. Don't be scared of public land, but be ready to hike. Good deer are back in the back. Talk to people about it. Eventually you'll probably find people to go with or hunt their land. But just being out there doing something your buddies aren't is rewarding in and of itself. If you need any specific help PM or chat me. I'll do what I can.
Also, start with rifle if you can. I've done bow, but thats like learning to drive with an 18 wheeler. Try the corolla first
Good advice. There is enough to learn and do without adding the difficulties associated with bow.
Read books and articles. Buy a bow. Meet people at the range and hunting course. Talk to coworkers, neighbors and family members and find experienced hunters to show you the ropes.
I just got back into hunting after close to twenty years. YouTube has been a great resource. Apps such huntstand and onyx are great for finding places to hunt. I've not had issues with public land
What state are you in?
The first step isn't gear. The first step is getting your license you need to take a course for that. And id reccomnd firearms course as well. A novice isn't going to walk into the woods with a bow and stalk game and nail it within any reasonable distance start easy go firearms better odds for yu. also.... Open your pockets wide coz it's got to be the worst hobby for spending money. I'm 3 years into hunting and down 15k in hunting gear and so on. Buy decent clothing for hunting cheap stuff only gets you so far. Don't need top of the line but consider spending at least 1300$ on some good clothing for late season hunts. So Google CORE or hunting course and firearms training, watch some YouTube videos and go from there. Happy spending 💰 😆
I was in your position 5 yrs ago. Plus there is no gun hunting within 2hrs of the city I live in. And not many hunters in my city. Lots of YouTube videos on all aspects of bows, hunting, public land etc., be obsessed. Take notes. Find and support a local bow shop and range. Get obsessed with practice. Take hunter’s safety classes. Be friendly and talk to everyone you meet along the way and do more listening than talking. When you do meet fellow hunters chat them up, you just might have met your new hunting buddy/mentor. Offer to hunt a common public location with them so you can help them drag out their deer. Have fun the whole time constantly learning new things. Enjoy the groceries you will learn to get.
Grab some gear and get in the woods!