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How to bag the biggest buck of your life
Today we have a guest post from my buddy Smilodon. He’s a Chad Hunter, and he took time out of his schedule to get us up to speed on hunting for beginners. Please follow him on twitter for Hunter Alpha.
I’m a firm believer in acquiring real world skills and becoming self sufficient. Hunting is one of the oldest skills on the planet for a reason, you have to eat. Wild game is one of the best ways to source protein that is free from antibiotics and it tastes delicious.
Take it away Smilodon…
Introduction
There are over 15 million hunting license holders in the US, which has grown substantially since the COVID lockdowns. Hunting is a great way to connect with the outdoors, build family traditions, and harvest your own high quality protein.
Some of my favorite memories were forged at the hunting cabin each year with friends and family, and my family looks forward to a restocked freezer full of wild game each fall.
The most common reasons I hear from people as to why they do not hunt are because they aren’t sure where to hunt and they are unsure what to do with a deer once killed.
Both of these can be remedied with finding a friend or family member to mentor you throughout the process. While I understand not everyone has access to someone with knowledge of hunting, the below can serve as a good foundation to getting started.
You can watch as many YouTube videos as you want, but hands on firsthand experience is the best way to figure it out.
Step One: Licensing
Your first stop should be on your state’s fish and wildlife or conservation website. They will have everything that is required to get licensed. To get a license, all states will have a prerequisite to complete a hunters safety course, which is equivalent to an entry level 101 of hunting.
They will go through basic firearms safety, regulations on where, when, and how you can harvest game, and basic knowledge required to go out there.
Many of these courses are now offered online via a self-paced study and a final exam (check out hunter-ed.com), so there is no excuse that you cannot find an offering.
There are still some in-person classes offered from what I can see, and I do think that being able to speak with an experienced hunter in person does have some value.
After the class, some states will require an in-person test, where you will need to display your ability to handle a firearm, identify game species, and talk through real-life situations.
There also may be different courses required for different types of hunting (i.e. small game, big game, bowhunting, trapping, etc.), so be sure to confirm the course you are taking will allow you to hunt the way you want, though you should try to get licensed to hunt in any means necessary.
Also, many states allow you to take the course as young as 11 years old, so definitely take your kids with you!
Step Two: Decide and Research
Now that you are licensed, you will need to determine what game you will be seeking. This of course is region dependent, but the exact species doesn’t matter too much.
Hunting a white tail deer, mule deer, elk or coues deer will generally require similar setups. If you plan to hunt for smaller game, such as rabbits, squirrel, etc, you will need different gear. Same goes for waterfowl and upland birds.
Now you will need to determine the manner in which you will harvest. Starting out, rifle/shotgun hunting will probably be the best and easiest. You will be able to take shots at longer distances with a larger margin for error, and there is also an easier learning curve for newbies.
For big game, a simple .308 or 30-06 will probably be the best and most versatile round. There are many debates on the best round for hunting, but these two will get the job done and are generally very available. For small game, you can get away with a .22. Bowhunting is also a great way to harvest game, and may be the only option for those that can only hunt in more populated areas.
There is a steeper learning curve here, but the rush and reward of shooting something with your bow has no comparison (my favorite way to hunt).
Step Three: Practice!
With a license and firearm acquired, you now need to PRACTICE. There is no point in moving on to the next steps if you aren’t proficient with you gun or bow.
Go to a shooting range, join a gun club, practice on your land if you have enough. Whatever it takes. This will be the biggest time commitment of everything you do, including time sitting in the woods. You need to be 100% comfortable handling and shooting a gun.
Slowly work up to shooting longer distances and in different conditions. Go beyond a range you think you would encounter in a real hunting situation. If you think you will only take shots a deer up to 200 yards, practice up to 300 yards.
Also practice loading and unloading the gun. Turning the safety on/off. Focusing on a target. Make it second nature. You don’t want to be in the field with a big 12 point buck walking by at 50 yards and you are fumbling loading a gun.
Step Four: Location
Once you are completely comfortable using the weapon, you will need to figure out where you will be hunting. For some, this may be on your own land, which is great, but most do not have that luxury. If not, you have two options:
Ask neighbors with land or local farms for permission to hunt their land
Hunt public property
Both have their pros and cons. To hunt private property, you MUST get permission to do so. Many times, it is a handshake agreement, but it may help to get an agreement in writing.
There have been times where hunters run into each other hunting the same property and they argue over who has the rights. Conservation agency will get called and you are left trying to defend yourself without much proof. If you have a simple letter signed by the landowner, this will clear things up quickly.
Be sure you are aware of boundaries to avoid unknowingly hunting on or wandering onto someone else’s property.
Hunting public land may be the only option for some. You can hunt that land whenever you want within the legal hunting seasons. It is a public resource.
The obvious downside is that you are competing with other hunters for space, and there is nothing legally stopping them from setting up 100 yards away from you.
Most people are idiots, so be safe and aware of your surroundings. You should also always wear blaze orange when hunting public land, even if not required.
Many people think they need hundreds of acres to successfully hunt. While having that is certainly nice, there are many suburban hunters set up on half acre properties.
I have had several homeowners ask me to help with deer populations eating their plants, so many people are more than happy to have someone help them at no cost.
Step Five: Get Equipment
Time to purchase gear, but don’t get carried away. So many newbies want the latest and greatest gear and gadgets for hunting, most of it isn’t necessary.
A brand new Sitka camo setup will run you a few thousand dollars, and you can easily add on another thousand by buying scent killers, game calls, thermal underwear, seats, whatever the latest and greatest “technology” is.
Your grandparents likely sat in the woods in jeans and a flannel they pulled from their closet while smoking cigarettes. Much of the technology is nice, but not necessary.
You want to be prepared and comfortable, without going overboard. Starting out, you can buy a lot of second hand gear since there are so many people constantly buying the latest and greatest every season.
I know guys who need to have the newest equipment every year and will spend $2k on a new bow and sell their old one for 50% discount. To get out in the woods, all you will need are as follows:
Basic camo clothing to keep you as comfortable as possible in your region. This can be purchased second hand or at military surplus stores (if you’re hunting in the north in the middle of winter, buy a warm water proof jacket and pants and layer up. If in the hot south, wear light clothing and pack layers). Biggest thing is to have it not a solid color, keep you dry, and is quiet when you move.
Hunter’s orange hat/vest if gun hunting (especially on public land)
Binoculars & range finder
Sharp knife
Boots to keep for feet dry/cool/warm
Gun/Bow/Ammo/Arrows
Step Six: Scouting
Now that you have everything you need, you should be scouting the areas you will be hunting, looking for signs of game (rubs, scat, bedding, etc.). If you are hunting private land, you can clear trails and cut back branches to increase your line of sight.
You’re not able to do this on public land, so you should be looking for a place where you can set up as is. You want to look for natural funnels/trails where animals will likely be walking through. Find bedding areas and a food/water supply.
Setup between the two. Buy a trail camera and set it up in an area you think you want to hunt. This will allow you to see when animals are moving and where they are coming/going from. The more knowledge you have before the season, the better your chances of success in season will be.
Step Seven: Post harvest knowledge
After killing an animal, you will need to field dress it, which means removing the organs to prevent spoiling the meat. You want to do this within the first hour of the kill.
This may seem intimidating, but it really isn’t too hard. There are many YouTube videos of people field dressing their deer, so be sure to watch a few of those, however there is nothing like getting in there yourself. There are many techniques to do this, and it is animal specific, but you generally want to start by making a small slit in the skin near the sex organs.
Carefully, you will want to work the knife up towards the rib cage, making sure you know where the tip of the knife is at all times to avoid puncturing any organs.
Last thing you want is to puncture the stomach or bladder and it goes all over the meat. Once opened, you will need to reach up to find the esophagus and cut it, as well as cut out the rectum (many techniques).
Roll the animal over on its side and most of the organs will spill out, though you may need to cut away some connective tissue still. I like to keep the heart and liver, and will generally discard the rest, so make sure you carry some plastic bag to put them in if you will be keeping.
When you get back to camp, you should hang the deer in a cool place (or outside if cool enough) and rinse it out with clean water. You can then process yourself or find a local processor/butcher to do it for you (many state game agencies will have lists of processors on their websites).
Step Eight: Get out there
You’re ready to go now. Once the season comes, get out there as much as possible. Remember, you won’t harvest anything from your couch or desk. The more time in the woods will lead to more successful hunts.
The easiest way to stay out there longer is to be comfortable and have patience. If you have the right gear, comfort shouldn’t be an issue. Yes it gets cold. Yes it gets hot. Yes there are bugs.
Yes it will rain/snow. But all of that builds character and there is nothing like dropping a deer after toughing out a long day in the woods. You just need to stay patient and embrace the fact that you are out in nature with minimal distractions. Read a book.
Think about things you aren’t able to in your busy day-to-day life. I’ve done some of my best thinking out there.
Thanks for reading
WAGMI
Farmer