whitetail tips
whitetail tips
Hunting is definitely not for everyone. But for those that partake in the oldest sport in human history, they can find something special. When you are out in the middle of a forest, desert or field there is time for introspection, meeting new people, spending time with friends & family and being able to get away from it all. If you are seeking whitetail tips today, then it seems that you have found it. Thank you for visiting our site today.
I want to start hunting?
Hey, I’m 16 yrs old and over the past year or so I’ve gotten really interested in hunting. I started watching outdoors shows on VS Network and just thought it looked awesome. I’m also really getting into guns and buying some gun magazines and looking at the NRA. I’d love to start hunting deer and turkeys. The main problem is that I don’t come from an outdoors background at all. I live in rural New Jersey and we’ve got tons of whitetail and other game nearby, but my dad never hunted or owned guns so I’ve never been exposed to that. Any tips on how to become a hunter? I want to start a new outdoors tradition in our family by passing it on to my own kids in the future.
Thanks y’all!
Let me begin by saying that it is great to see a young person get involved with hunting and shooting.
Being that you are only 16, you are either going to be restricted to only bow hunting or you are going to need help from your parents to acquire a firearm.
i am assuming you are interested in hunting with firearms, but whether you decide to hunt with firearms or bows, you need to learn to shoot. If you are interested in firearms, I would invest in a 22LR rifle. The reason is that the rifle is pretty cheap, the ammo is dirt cheap, and recoil is non-existant. If you do not know anyone who shoots, I would find a gun store with an indoor shooting range. Buy your 22LR rifle from them and see if they’ll throw in a shooting lesson or two if you buy the rifle, ammo, and range fees from them (or at least give you a discount on a lesson). Once you have an idea how to work a firearm, shoot, shoot, and shoot some more. If you are planning on hunting with a bow, the same thing. Go to an archery shop, have the pros help you with a set-up, and negotiate for a lesson.
While you are practicing, contact your Department of Natural Resources and find out about Hunter’s Education classes. At your age with no military experience, I believe almost every state requires you to have completed a Hunter’s Safety course. The cost is pretty minimal if it is not free.
Once you are comfortable with shooting your 22LR, invest in your hunting firearm. Check your local laws to see what type of firearms you can hunt with.
If you are looking for a rifle, I would check out the Chuck Hawks rifle recoil table (http://www.chuckhawks.com/recoil_table.htm). Any cartridge you select, I would keep the recoil energy under 15 ft-lbs for a beginner rifle.
If you need to use a shotgun, I’d stick with a 20 ga for deer slugs (a 12 ga if it is buckshot only for deer). The 20 ga has pretty mild recoil yet still has pleanty of power to take down a deer. I’d even suggest buying a single shot shotgun. This will only set you back $150 or so for a new one.
Once you feel comfortable with your hunting weapon, it is time to hunt. It is easier if you have someone to show you how to hunt. If you don’t then you just need to go out and try it. If you are hunting deer, find a place in the woods and sit down. Start simple. Just bring a chair, a knife, a deer drag, and your weapon. Don’t be afraid to move once or twice in a day to see if you can find a better spot. Don’t be discouraged if you don’t see many animals. It takes time to develop an instinct on finding animals.
I can’t speak to intelligently on the NJ area.
If you are interested in hunting whitetails, I’d recommend reading the book “Hunting Big Whitetails” by Bruce L. Nelson. I think this is one of the best books for beginners.
Also, don’t be afraid to ask people for help. Ask the people at the gun/bow shop where they hunt or where their customer’s hunt. The state’s Department of Natural Resources is a wealth of information. When I hunt new places in Wisconsin, I go to their website, find the local wildlife biologist, and either call or email them asking them what they think the best areas are. They have always been extremely helpful (and often time, they will provide maps with the areas that have high animal populations marked). Who best to ask than the people who actually survey and count the animals?
You also want to make sure you know how to clean the animal you are hunting and what to do with it afterward.
Good Luck and Happy Hunting!
