Things You Need To Determine Before Getting Into Hunting

Posted by: KHTS Articles in News Articles April 13, 2020 - 11:37 am 0 798 Views

Many people enjoy eating fresh meat that they worked hard to get, which is one of the reasons why hunters around the world gather their gear and walk into the woods to hunt deer, birds, and other animals. Hunting has its own charm; however, if you’re interested to start this adventure there are few things that you need to consider. The gear you bring along is definitely important, but so is the type of hunting you want to do, the location, and the clothes you wear. If you’re still a beginner, you might be a little lost as to where to start.

To help you out, we’ve assembled a complete guide of all the things that you need to determine before getting into hunting.

Type of Hunting You’re Interested In

There are several types of hunting you can participate in with different types of prey, such as a large game, small game, birds, furbearers, predators, and waterfowl. When you determine what type you’re most interested in, the learning process will be easier, as you will know where to start. For example, if you’re interested in hunting mountain lions, then you’ll search online for “mountain lions hunting for beginners”, and then follow the guidelines. However, most professional hunters advise beginners to start with small game hunting because this will allow you to be familiar with the weapons you’re using, practice, and improve your skills. Once you become familiar with your gear and you master the skill of small game hunting, you can move to a larger game and so on, until you reach the level you’re interested in.

Here are some examples of the most common types of prey.

Large game: deer, elk, bear, boar, or bison.
Game birds: Grouse, Pheasant, or dove.
Furbearers: beavers, fox, pine, marten, bobcat.
Predators: mountain lions, wolves, coyotes.
Waterfowl: ducks, geese, swan.
Small game: rabbits, squirrels, and raccoons.

Weapon

Before hunting, you should determine what weapon you’re going to use. Do you prefer using a bow and arrows? Or are you more into rifles? As much as it depends on your preference, you should also put into consideration how hard the learning curve is with each weapon.

Hunting with rifles is usually easier for beginners to learn and master than bows. With a rifle, you will be able to shoot from the location you find convenient, even if it’s not close to where the game is. Unlike bows, rifles allow for long range shooting, as you can add an extra scope to your rifle. This will help you shoot from anywhere you want without having to get too close to the animals. Having a rifle will also allow you to bring minimum equipment while you’re out hunting. However, you’ll most probably only hunt one animal as the rifle’s sound is too loud and it will scare the other animals away.

On the other hand, bow hunting requires maximum accuracy and concentration. You will also need to get close to the animals while you’re aiming because bows have a short-range. When it comes to the hunting equipment you’ll be carrying, it will definitely be more than having a rifle. However, many people prefer bow hunting as it allows them to hunt as many animals as they can.

If you’re already familiar with using a bow, then it will probably be a better choice for you. If you’re not familiar with both and you’ll still learn how to use any of them, it’s preferable to use a rifle. Choosing bow hunting as a beginner will only slow your progress, and you might not be able to hunt for a while until you know how to properly use it.

Licenses

You can’t just buy a gun and go to the woods to hunt; you will need to legally obtain a hunting license. Getting a hunting license differs from one location to another, so you should know where you’re going to hunt before you go through the legal process of obtaining a license. Each state has its own rules and regulations, but you’ll need to specify when you’re going to hunt, the weapon you’re going to use, and of course, the location. Some states may require that you take a safety course, have a tag to hunt deer, and other specifications. So, before you decide to hunt, take the time to know all your state’s rules and regulations.

When you’re planning to get into hunting, you should ask as many people as you can about the best locations around you and what gear you need to begin this adventure. At first, it could be a little overwhelming and you might come back the first couple of times empty-handed, and that’s totally normal. The most important thing is not to lose faith and know that you’re on the right track.