How to start hunting

[mindwip]

I would like to start hunting with bow and arrow and rifle but none of my friends hunt so I have never learned.

yea I know the basic grab rifle get permit/hunter safty course and go find the animal. But how do you cut it up to store the meat, track, places to go etc. how does one learn with no one to teach them?

I have no interest for hunting just for fun, but want to take the meat and sinew for my bows that I make

[lumwilliam]

I would like to start hunting with bow and arrow and rifle but none of my friends hunt so I have never learned.

yea I know the basic grab rifle get permit/hunter safty course and go find the animal. But how do you cut it up to store the meat, track, places to go etc. how does one learn with no one to teach them?

I have no interest for hunting just for fun, but want to take the meat and sinew for my bows that I make

I am interested in this as well. I thought about taking my AR out onto national park land or blm land...I hear hi cap mags are legal there since they are outside California control, so I will bring my unassembled drum magazine and put it together at the campgrounds. I plan to dress in camo, but not the digital stuff used by the marines because I do not want to look like a poser.

I plan on opening up on anything that moves. Bump fire most likely to ensure good hits. I'll be sure to put a new battery in my red dot. I hear that dear run fast so getting a good sight picture will be key.

Oh and one other thing, I have heard that sometimes hit animals can run several hundred yards before falling dead and can be quite difficult to find. So I have picked up some incendiary rounds from Arizona that I will be using. I figure I can just follow the flames, or if the brush gets to thick, I can follow the smell of cooked meat.

[Bigyates]

There is a lot of initial planning in preparing for a successful hunt. If you intend to hunt deer, you will need to apply for a tag for the area or state you wish to hunt in. Application dates are specific and just because you apply does not mean you will draw a tag. If you do draw you need gear to match the terrain and weather conditions you might encounter during your hunt. Hunting is just that ; a lot of glassing and searching for your intended animal. You will need a good set of binoculars and good set of broken in boots. There are many books available that will show you how to butcher your animal if you are able find and shoot one. I would highly recommend the use of a guide or outfitter on your first couple of hunts. You will learn more from a good outfitter on a single hunt than from a whole stack of books on hunting. Good luck. Statistically less that 5% of the shooting public hunts.

[bob7122]

I am interested in this as well. I thought about taking my AR out onto national park land or blm land...I hear hi cap mags are legal there since they are outside California control, so I will bring my unassembled drum magazine and put it together at the campgrounds. I plan to dress in camo, but not the digital stuff used by the marines because I do not want to look like a poser.

I plan on opening up on anything that moves. Bump fire most likely to ensure good hits. I'll be sure to put a new battery in my red dot. I hear that dear run fast so getting a good sight picture will be key.

Oh and one other thing, I have heard that sometimes hit animals can run several hundred yards before falling dead and can be quite difficult to find. So I have picked up some incendiary rounds from Arizona that I will be using. I figure I can just follow the flames, or if the brush gets to thick, I can follow the smell of cooked meat.

haha great imitation of a mall ninja

[bob7122]

be prepared to do alot of walking to scout an area ahead of time. skinning is pretty easy but time consuming. skinning a rabbit and skinning a deer are two different things, for one a rabbits fur will come right off. remember to field dress it asap and get the temp of the animal down to save the meat. and butchering can be read in a book some terminology maybe different for example backstraps and loin are the same thing, and finding out how to cut the joint with minimal energy.

[tony270]

First read all the books you can on hunting, the animal’s behavior, the CDFG/CFGC regulations, applicable county ordinances, how to find BLM and National Forest lands that are legal to hunt, and their regulations. Those are the two public agencies that we hunt the most, then Military Reservations and National Preserves and state lands. You also need to know how to handle firearms safely and accurately.

[mindwip]

Thanks for all the tips. Never thought of getting a guide for a local hunt. I already hike and camp and have a pair of boots. From my rock climbing/camping and BS Military Explorer days i have all the gear i would need with the exception of really nice glass.

What books are good? There are so many? do you know of any?

[tony270]

[taperxz]

I am interested in this as well. I thought about taking my AR out onto national park land or blm land...I hear hi cap mags are legal there since they are outside California control, so I will bring my unassembled drum magazine and put it together at the campgrounds. I plan to dress in camo, but not the digital stuff used by the marines because I do not want to look like a poser.

I plan on opening up on anything that moves. Bump fire most likely to ensure good hits. I'll be sure to put a new battery in my red dot. I hear that dear run fast so getting a good sight picture will be key.

Oh and one other thing, I have heard that sometimes hit animals can run several hundred yards before falling dead and can be quite difficult to find. So I have picked up some incendiary rounds from Arizona that I will be using. I figure I can just follow the flames, or if the brush gets to thick, I can follow the smell of cooked meat.

WHAT??? All california laws apply everywhere in CA!! Your AR MUST be legally configured anywhere in CA!! Do not think you make an AW because you are in FED. regulated property!! You can not hunt in a National Park!!!!!!!

You have a lot of reading to do before you go out and hunt!! Please don't ruin it for the rest of us because of your ignorance.

[dodgerfan175]

First thing you have to do when you start hunting is open up your wallet, and be willing to keep it open.

[winxp_man]

haha great imitation of a mall ninja

TRUE TRUE hahahahahahahaha

[clay32]

I plan on opening up on anything that moves. Bump fire most likely to ensure good hits.
So I have picked up some incendiary rounds from Arizona that I will be using. I figure I can just follow the flames, or if the brush gets to thick, I can follow the smell of cooked meat.

Three very important, yet overlooked, tips to a successful hunt. I try to follow these whenever possible and look forward to passing along these traditions down to my son.

(In all seriousness, if you listen to the anti-s, they actually think this is what goes on while hunting. Scary stuff.)

[Brd_Hntr]

Start by taking a hunter safety class. There are three online classes which allow a home study approach to the problem. This is followed up by a four hour class.
All these are free to study on, but two require a fee for an online certificate.

https://www.hunter-ed.com/ca/

homestudy.ihea.com/

https://www.huntercourse.com/usa/california/

Otherwise you need a traditional course which takes about 10 hours plus the exam time.

Class schedules and additional information:

http://www.dfg.ca.gov/huntered/index.aspx

After you have a license it might be worthwhile to hire a guide for a specific hunt. You can learn a tremendous amount from a day in the field with an experienced person.
California also offers advanced hunter education classes. These are a good place to connect with others interested in hunting. If you have any specific questions pm me and I'll try to assist. Field dressing and butchering of meat are very well covered in the big game advanced class. There are also several good dvds and books on the subject.

The use of sinew from harvested animals will require a little more research - I never made it past basic flintknapping myself, but search youtube for 'turkish archery sinew' and you can watch and learn quite a bit. Thanks - Mark

[nbkvig2]

First thing you have to do when you start hunting is open up your wallet, and be willing to keep it open.

[wjc]

First thing you have to do when you start hunting is open up your wallet, and be willing to keep it open.

You forgot the part about having to refill it often.