How to start hunting

[Interloper]

Books on hunting?
I'm sure there are many that deal with specific regions or game animals.
But you need to learn to think like a hunter. Get True at First Light and any collections of short stories by Hemingway. The Snows of Kilimanjaro is a good one.
Find To Ride, Shoot Straight, and Speak the Truth and Fireworks by Colonel Jeff Cooper. We could give you all kinds of advice on how to hunt but these gentlemen will teach you how to think like a hunter.
"We do not hunt to kill. We kill to have hunted."

[GlockBlocker]

I've spent the last few months starting from scratch myself. Getting some maps which clearly outline the NF and BLM land helped focus me on my options. The forest service and BLM both have their own maps which you can get at ranger stations or blm offices.

[mindwip]

Brd_Hntr: Thanks for the links, i did not know that the hunting safety class went into a lot of my questions and reading about the advanced hunting course sounds like it is worth it. I have a lot to go on now. Thanks for pointing me in the right direction.

I have already made 3 bows 30, 35, 43 pounds and on my 4th. None have broken yet, and already have a book on how to get and use the sinew from deer. Bowyers Bible rocks for all things bows and arrows, i have all 4 editions. I plan to make a traditional bow makers kit from a deer once i get better (years from now). I actually like making bows more then shooting.

Interlooper and glockbuster thanks, will look into the books and maps

[tony270]

The folks at Bass Pro will tell you that many of the folks that take the
on-line part of the class and then attend the 4 hour class fail the test. It's best to take the all day class, especially if you are a new to hunting.

Books on hunting?
I'm sure there are many that deal with specific regions or game animals.
But you need to learn to think like a hunter. Get True at First Light and any collections of short stories by Hemingway. The Snows of Kilimanjaro is a good one.
Find To Ride, Shoot Straight, and Speak the Truth and Fireworks by Colonel Jeff Cooper. We could give you all kinds of advice on how to hunt but these gentlemen will teach you how to think like a hunter.
"We do not hunt to kill. We kill to have hunted."

Yeah, how toobooks on hunting. One can learn many aspects of hunting as well as trapping from them. Then combine the research and interviews to get a big picture on what's really going on, that's what helped me, mentors help a lot too.

[rob1105]

if you have never hunted before a good idea is to hook up with an Outfitter. They will have all the gear and info you need to a successful hunt. Sure it might cost you a little to get going but you need to learn the ropes from someone who know what they are doing.

[AndrewMendez]

bass pro shop off the 210 and 15 offers the class. You pay 20 bucks to reserve your spot, then you get a gift card for 20 bucks when you finish the class. I bought a nice orange hat. My class started at 9 sharp, we broke around 10, then 11, then had lunch from 12-1:30, and I think I was taking the test by 3. The course is not 10 hours long, its a breeze. I got 100% on the test...just think Nanny state, and you will be fine.

[semperfidelis354]

hmmm wanted to go to bass pro soon, and I've wanted my hunting license...

[tony270]

hmmm wanted to go to bass pro soon, and I've wanted my hunting license...

My future wingman took the class at Bass Pro this past Sunday. The test has 100 questions, nearly 60 students attended this particular class, and the class started at 9 am and ended after 5 pm. The instructor told the future wingman that 2 internet students failed the previous weekend.

[devilinblack]

Depending on what part of OC you're in Grant Boys in Costa Mesa might be closer. They have the classes at least a couple Saturday's a month iirc. They list the dates on their website, same deal as Bass Pro, go in before hand to sign up and pay for the class and get your book, go back later for the class and test.

[Chris M]

My brother and I were in this situation just a few years ago. Our father has always hunted, but never involved us. He lives 3,000 miles away, and knows nothing about hunting in CA.

So, we took the course together, bought some guns, camo, binoculars, and countless accessories over the past 4 years. All we've hunted so far are waterfowl and turkey. One of these years I'll give Pig & Deer hunting a try.

Pig hunting may be your best bet for starting off, though your chances for success are probably pretty low without a guide. You don't need a ton of gear. You don't need to apply for certain zones. "Pig Season" is all year round.

It's a bit late to get into waterfowl hunting, since this weekend will close the season...BUT, a lot of places will start discounting their waterfowl gear, so you may be able to get some good deals for next season, and it'll give you plenty of time to gather information.

Be warned that waterfowl hunting can get VERY VERY expensive. First there are the calls & decoys (not only buying them, but learning how to use them) - Mallard, Pintail, Canada Goose, Snow Goose, Speckle Belly, Teal, Wood Duck,..... and eventually you may be looking for a hunting dog, a boat, a duck hunting club, etc.

Of course, it doesn't have to be expensive. I can hunt locally (Alviso) for free, and with very little equipment by hiking or even biking in on a Levee with only my gun, a box of ammo, a couple calls, and a fishing rod with some kind of grapple that can be casted out - for retrieving your ducks that fall in the pond, if you don't have a dog. The downside is you're shooting ducks that have been hanging out at the Sunnyvale water treatment plant.

If you give us an idea of exactly what game you'd like to target, I'm sure plenty of us will be willing to offer up our collective knowledge (but not any of our 'secret spots', of course. )

Probably the 2 best things you can do are read the regulations to find out where, when, how, and what you can hunt, and get out there and scout. Spend some time hiking around in the wilderness looking for signs of life - game trails, tracks, poop (scat), watering holes, bedding areas, etc.

Starting this year, it looks like there will be 2 "Free Hunt Days", where no license will be necessary (look for the new regs around May or so) - but a licensed hunter will have to be present to ensure safety and all regulations are followed. Maybe either you can find a 'mentor', or if you get your license, you can try to convince one of your friends to take advantage of one of the free hunt days.

[GlockBlocker]

The folks at Bass Pro will tell you that many of the folks that take the
on-line part of the class and then attend the 4 hour class fail the test. It's best to take the all day class, especially if you are a new to hunting.

Freddie, the instructor I had at bass pro shop in rancho, said the same thing at the beginning of the class. (i took the online version)

Then he countered himself by reading off test scores from the last online class, and everyone got 80 to high 90s with 1 100%... except for 2 Fs.

He said those 2 guys actually showed up 1/2 way through the class, with no online certificate, which he suspects they didn't even do the online version.

If you're decent at self study, the online version is fine.

[AndrewMendez]

Freddie, the instructor I had at bass pro shop in rancho, said the same thing at the beginning of the class. (i took the online version)

Then he countered himself by reading off test scores from the last online class, and everyone got 80 to high 90s with 1 100%... except for 2 Fs.

He said those 2 guys actually showed up 1/2 way through the class, with no online certificate, which he suspects they didn't even do the online version.

If you're decent at self study, the online version is fine.

If it was the class on Jan 15th that he was talking about, the 100% was mine! Seriously!

[tony270]

I was told that a minor got 100 that day; it was actually put like this "a kid scored 100% and I got 80.

[professionalcoyotehunter]

Tag along with me sometime.

[royTheRidgeback]

Does anybody know of any good guides or outfitters in the San Diego area? I'm trying to get started hunting and would like to participate in the upcoming turkey season this spring. Unforunately, I don't know any hunters well enough to ask them to take me out on a hunt.