How to get into hunting?

nVi2x

nVi2x

Member
Joined
Jun 30, 2025
Messages
8
Hey guys, first of my family to get into guns, let alone hunting. I've virtually no support system to learn how to get into it and so relying on people already doing it to help me get started!

Would love to start but it's hard enough to hunt, let alone without any guidance. Do you guys have any good resources that don't spend the first 30 minutes/pages introducing themselves?

Would also be awesome if I could find a group that helps new people, hunt shadowing, walkthrough, etc.
 
nVi2x said:
Hey guys, first of my family to get into guns, let alone hunting. I've virtually no support system to learn how to get into it and so relying on people already doing it to help me get started!

Would love to start but it's hard enough to hunt, let alone without any guidance. Do you guys have any good resources that don't spend the first 30 minutes/pages introducing themselves?

Would also be awesome if I could find a group that helps new people, hunt shadowing, walkthrough, etc.
Click to expand...
You are on the right track, a little bit of humility goes a long way! Be patient, I'm sure you wii find a mentor to guide you!
 
nVi2x said:
Hey guys, first of my family to get into guns, let alone hunting. I've virtually no support system to learn how to get into it and so relying on people already doing it to help me get started!

Would love to start but it's hard enough to hunt, let alone without any guidance. Do you guys have any good resources that don't spend the first 30 minutes/pages introducing themselves?

Would also be awesome if I could find a group that helps new people, hunt shadowing, walkthrough, etc.
Click to expand...
Let me know if you find something because I'm in the same boat.
 
more_ammo said:
Let me know if you find something because I'm in the same boat.
Click to expand...
It's a tough boat to be on for sure. Most people nowadays seem to want less hunters out there so they can get more bucks rather than keep the tradition alive and pass it down. Then again, most hunters are probably not dwelling around in forums and social media.

I'll keep it in mind and let you know if I find someone willing to teach us, you do the same!
 
nVi2x said:
It's a tough boat to be on for sure. Most people nowadays seem to want less hunters out there so they can get more bucks rather than keep the tradition alive and pass it down. Then again, most hunters are probably not dwelling around in forums and social media.

I'll keep it in mind and let you know if I find someone willing to teach us, you do the same!
Click to expand...
Part of the tradition is taking the bull by the horns and get out and do it. If you're waiting for someone to come along and take you by the hand and guide you through it, you may be waiting awhile. I'm not saying that trying to be a hard A$$ or anything like that. I agree, this lifestyle has become very territorial, and getting worse each year. Most guys just want to protect what privileges they have. With all the technology available through all the different media platforms, a guy can pick up on alot of useful information to get you heading in the right direction. However, nothing can replace good old woods time.
 
Jim Mayo said:
Part of the tradition is taking the bull by the horns and get out and do it. If you're waiting for someone to come along and take you by the hand and guide you through it, you may be waiting awhile. I'm not saying that trying to be a hard A$$ or anything like that. I agree, this lifestyle has become very territorial, and getting worse each year. Most guys just want to protect what privileges they have. With all the technology available through all the different media platforms, a guy can pick up on alot of useful information to get you heading in the right direction. However, nothing can replace good old woods time.
Click to expand...
I always get positive replies and people saying how exited everyone is to share the experience.... But can't find anyone to actually physically help "mentor" the process
Yes as you said, I've just been winging it myself, hucking around the woods .... It's just extremely inefficient when you don't have a good grasp one what specifically you should be doing/looking for
 
Most of us were lucky to have a family member or family friend to teach us the ropes of hunting. Being an adult it most certainly will be harder to find that right person. Wayne national park has thousands of acres to roam through and most of the time you won't see anyone around. ODNR has maps that will show you all the state parks you can hunt in. You might just start out squirrel hunting. You can enjoy a quiet day in the woods hunting and observing all the other animals around. It will amaze you to see how deer roam around and will get close to you without knowing your around. One more thing, field dressing a deer for the first time can be quite a job. Maybe starting out on something smaller like squirrels would be a good start.
 
Dstegjas said:
Most of us were lucky to have a family member or family friend to teach us the ropes of hunting. Being an adult it most certainly will be harder to find that right person. Wayne national park has thousands of acres to roam through and most of the time you won't see anyone around. ODNR has maps that will show you all the state parks you can hunt in. You might just start out squirrel hunting. You can enjoy a quiet day in the woods hunting and observing all the other animals around. It will amaze you to see how deer roam around and will get close to you without knowing your around. One more thing, field dressing a deer for the first time can be quite a job. Maybe starting out on something smaller like squirrels would be a good start.
Click to expand...
Yea one of the other real pains is how far away even public spots are. It's 40 minutes to the nearest and its tiny in comparison.
Field dressing will be a first and I'm debating what method to use. I've got a decent (I believe) location scouted, but it's a hike through some pretty aggressive terrain.... Lugging a whole deer through would be a challenge and I'm sure It will be a catastrophe trying to pack out for the first time! It is what it is and the season is closing in!
 
It would be a big help to know where you live. more ammo a 40 minute drive to hunt is nothing, IMO . I have to drive 90minutes. complaining before you even have a place to shoot at a deer, about how hard it will be to get it out?

Start out hunting groundhogs or pests, things you can shoot and watch die , you might not like it so much.

One Hell of an introductory post, I will see myself out now
 
I am glad you didnt get to offended. I live in licking county and while i cant get you a hunting spot, i can be of some help, i hope. First you will need a hunters education certificate to get a hunters license, then you need to decide what you want to hunt, where you can hunt and an appropriate weapon,,s and the correct hunters clothing ( not real tree ) lol.

Wood berry, i think its called, is public hunting west of coshocton, dillion damn has some public hunting trapping areas, They make deer carts of all shapes sizes and different price ranges,

Watching animals die can be a game changer for some, guess thats outa the way, not sure what if any questions you have ask away and i will try to help out, deer archery is the way most people go anymore if that would be an option for you?
 
I'll check out Woodbury thanks. We lived on 10 acres in PA with soy fields pushed right up on us... So you could shoot deer from the back porch, then send it off to process. That's the extent of my "hunting". I've never had to exercise any "woodsmanship" or knowledge of how to hunt. I would like to.... As well as be able to butcher myself. I recently got a crossbow as I plan on being on public, and archery seems the way to go. Mostly looking at white tail, but considering turkey
 
How far are you from Jockey Hollow public hunting in Harrison county Ohio? I've hunted that area for 40 years, its 100 miles one way for me to hunt. I'm 72 and all my hunting friends are deceased. I learned my hunting skills from my dad. You need to spend time in the woods and see how animals react and move, pay attention to the wind, terrain weather, time of year. Books and reading may be helpful buts its not the real experience. And you have to have Patience, I've hunted days without seeing a deer. Purchase a range finder unless you are really good at judging distance, mainly for bow hunting.
 
Woo that's a pretty good hike for me... But I'm more than willing to travel in order to be successful. I've been looking at range finders.... Assuming I should be fine with something simple as like ng as it calculates angle. Shouldn't need any extravagant gizmo for 1000 yards?
I think I'm somewhat on the right track as many of the spots I'm trying to set up in seem to already have stands and blinds nearby.... But I'm also a bit concerned that I may be "ruining" other guys spots as I've accidentally kicked up a few does out of these spots
Thanks for the information, and if you want a new hunting buddy I would tag along
 
Yea.... What would be a considerate distance? For example, there's a blind near the edge of the woods where the deer enter/exit to the ag field.... About 200 years further in it looks like they cross a stream, would it be rude to set up near the stream?
 
200 yards apart would be good. Make sure you practice shooting at 10, 20 ,30 and 40 yards with your bow. With your range finder pick out something at a given distance in the area you are going to hunt, tree, rocks, edge of field. Pick out something that stands out in low light dawn, .dusk. or get some different color flags like they use for marking water or gas lines and put them at a given distance. These things help take the guess work out of the equation and you won't have to check each time you go out ,write it down so you know.
 
I think its time, for me to tap out, first you state youve never hunted or gutted a deer, turns out you have shot them from your back porch and turned them into the processor .

I had none of that, your already ahead of the game and best of luck in your endeavor....peace ! jp4ever
 

Similar threads

A
Getting Ready for Hunting Season: What’s Your Summer Routine?
Replies
2
Views
51
Dstegjas
Dstegjas

Latest posts

Back
Top