New to Hunting - looking for advice

[78Rainier]

Hello everyone,
I am new to the group and am interested in learning about hunting since I didn't have the opportunity growing up.
I have already taken the Hunter's Education course but was wondering what the next step may be.
I was thinking about getting a shotgun with Field/Deer barrel as it seems the most versatile choice.
Can anyone recommend good training, clubs, mentor, websites?
Mike

[oldkim]

So you got the very basic done.

Hunter Ed.

You'll need to eventually get a hunting license but before that...

You'll need to figure out what to hunt, how to hunt it, the supplies and all the legal issues.
So birds? 4 legged (e.g. deer)

So choice of "tool" - shotgun, rifle, Black Powder, archery?


What club or place did you take your hunter's ed? Check your local sportsmen's club near you to find out if they have mentors available. Someone to help you get on the right path to the specific hunting you are interested in.

Then practice (shooting), going out and explore before the hunt.
http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/

Hunting Clinics

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is now offering clinics geared towards teaching participants the basics of hunting game animals. Clinics will be two to four hours of classroom time and may include additional range activities such as sighting in rifles or patterning shotguns. In addition to range activities, clinics may also offer opportunities for participants to use what they have learned with a scheduled hunting activity under the guidance of clinic instructors and local non-governmental organizations.

For all range activities and hunting activities, it is your responsibility to make sure your hunting implement is in good working order. WDFW reserves the right to do a safety check on all hunting implements before heading onto the range or into the field.

Please note that the clinics are sized for a specific number of participants. If a parent/guardian would like to participate with their child they will need to sign up as a participant.

If you have questions about WDFW’s clinics, please contact our Hunter Education staff at 360-902-8111.

http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/huntered/clinics/

[deadshot2]

I would suggest that a new hunter that has never been to the field before look for someone to take them out once or twice. Hunter Saftey classes are great but don't cover the fine points of looking for game, identification of "legal" game, and lastly, what to do with it once you kill it.

Get out with an old hand a couple times, learning the stuff you missed out on growing up when dads took sons, etc, and you will enjoy hunting a lot more.

[78Rainier]

Thanks for the advice. I will look into the clinics/mentor.
I was thinking of using a shotgun because I could hunt bird/turkey/deer with one weapon. Plus I could use it for home defense with a shorter barrel.

[jorgeu]

Hi, I just realized the existence of this forum and quickly registered looking for information like this thread.

So, OP anything to share? found out how to get started?

EDIT: ok, how to get started is already answered. Hmm, did you actually got started and how?

[DGM33]

Tagged for interest. I've never hunted either and have thought about learning.

[mislabeled]

Tagged for interest. I've never hunted either and have thought about learning.

Ditto. Turkey has always seemed like a decent place to start. Turkey season isn't totally freezing-ass cold and the birds make tasty sammidges. My ground-level requirements are pretty straightforward.

Also, yay for being old enough that I don't need to take the hunter education class!

[hkcavalier]

I've never seen anyone hunt deer with a shotgun here in WA. It's real popular back east because they restrict weapon types/calibers so much. Here it's 6mm/.243 and on up. Not that a shotgun is a bad weapon for deer, but you'll probably want a rifled barrel and scope, and with sabot slugs you pretty much have a .45/70 rifle. That's a 200 yard gun tops and only if you really know how it's going to drop (a lot) at that range. While there are plenty of guys who get game at 75 yards every year, there's also a lot of 250+ yard shots that hunters just got to take.

I learned from a non-family mentor. I know of no resource where you ask/beg/request for an experienced hunting buddy to show you the ropes. Ask around, bring something to the table, etc.

[DGM33]

Tagged for interest. I've never hunted either and have thought about learning.

Ditto. Turkey has always seemed like a decent place to start. Turkey season isn't totally freezing-ass cold and the birds make tasty sammidges. My ground-level requirements are pretty straightforward.

Also, yay for being old enough that I don't need to take the hunter education class!

Mmmmm. Turkey.... I'm in.

[dreadi]

There's a whole forum for this http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php

[NWGunner]

Look at dreadi, being all helpful & shit..

[dreadi]

Look at dreadi, being all helpful & shit..

Where do you think I get all my tips from?

[NWGunner]

Look at dreadi, being all helpful & shit..

Where do you think I get all my tips from?

LOL...it was a playful jab...doesn't surprise me you have resources to do research from, I thought it was cool to share....but since the night crew in other places seems to be gone...I have to get my digs into you here

[dreadi]

Look at dreadi, being all helpful & shit..

Where do you think I get all my tips from?

LOL...it was a playful jab...doesn't surprise me you have resources to do research from, I thought it was cool to share....but since the night crew in other places seems to be gone...I have to get my digs into you here

Yeah I can't hang at the other place anymore. It's turned into a soft porn gathering.

[RadioSquatch]

One tip. Get your preferred method of killing game be it shotgun rifle black powder etc and practice practice practice. Get a used archery deer target that has vitals and practice on that over and over till your confident on shot placement. Even then some game like deer are damn tough and will run a ways even with a lung shot and broken shoulder and then again sometimes its one shot and they are done.