Start with birds or squirrels (good old brunswick stew). Cleaning a deer is a bitch if you haven’t done it before. Shooting is the easier part, cleaning is where you find out if its for you.
I was just wondering today if there was a hunting thread on here. The best thing to do is just go out and learn trial by error. Find an experienced hunter to go with. Alot of really good hunters can’t tell you how they hunt, so watch them. Theres no magic tricks to it. Put the hours in. And depending on the game, you have to learn how to be quiet and patient as hell. I know here in new brunswick we have the privilege of some monster deer and moose, but we dont have HUGE population density as something like 90 percent of our province is wooded so there is alot of skill involved to being able to tag a deer every season. The first 3 years I hunted deer I didnt see a single shootable deer.
On a side note, I think just being out in the woods alone stalking game is the best fucking feeling in the world.
'sup?
I personally dont hunt because getting a license is a pain around here and id feel a tad guilty lol. A gun would be easiest and cheapest but I personally favor traditionally archery but it would require atleast 6 months-1 year of dilligent practice to shoot consistantly from 15 yrds. compounds are for losers haha.
I applaud you for taking your spot at the top of the food chain. Bow hunting is my passion and love every minute being in the woods. I have at least two deer in the freezer every year that I have killed and processed myself. Venison is also very tasty. Like alot of people have said you will have to find a bow that fits your price range and your body size, there are lots to choose from and for the most part are all pretty well made. IF I can give you any advice it would be practice practice practice. Shooting a bow must become almost second nature. I shoot year round when my schedule permits and still have my mess ups. Be patient it will take time to get in the swing of things. I can guarantee that when that big buck comes cruisin your way them knees will start to shake and the heart will race, and it feels great. Good luck and Good hunting.
Matt
First deer I shot I literally fist pumped in the middle of the woods, by myself.
Look up Roger Raglan for a laugh
awesome thread guys. i’m only 19 now, and there isnt much to hunt in singapore, except crows and the occasional stray dog. but one of the things i wanna do before i die is to go hunting and eat my kill. (if that sounds right) i was thinking of maybe the US or even Africa once i get the money to do so. so please continue giving advice and tips!
*thebodyguard, have you ever caught a monster hog like the one they showed on discovery channel before. that’ll be awesome. ;D
how do you kill something you are not angry at?
I’m going elk hunting out in Colorado for the first time this year. I’m freakin psyched.
[quote]eremesu wrote:
how do you kill something you are not angry at?[/quote]
Sarcasm?
[quote]Artemisia wrote:
[quote]eremesu wrote:
how do you kill something you are not angry at?[/quote]
Sarcasm?[/quote]
Kindness?
[quote]LTKO wrote:
awesome thread guys. i’m only 19 now, and there isnt much to hunt in singapore, except crows and the occasional stray dog. but one of the things i wanna do before i die is to go hunting and eat my kill. (if that sounds right) i was thinking of maybe the US or even Africa once i get the money to do so. so please continue giving advice and tips!
*thebodyguard, have you ever caught a monster hog like the one they showed on discovery channel before. that’ll be awesome. ;D[/quote]
No, nothing quite that large but believe me, a 200-300lb hog is ALOT of hog. We’ve taken bigger, but a 225-250 or so boar is very powerful yet very agile and quick. Boar in this range are usually the dog killers. Size doesn’t always equal more challenge but believe me, even a 225lb boar is a TANK - low to the ground and powerful. A 400lb boar is a very big catch in the States.
In fact, I think one of the “hogzillas” I’ve seen was nothing more than a farm raised sow that went a bit feral. Not that feral hogs cannot be every bit dangerous and as aggressive as the russian boar strains, but size doesn’t equal danger all the time. A 250lb to 400lb boar will give the dogs all they can handle and then some. These monster hogs are almost alwasy farm raised and got loose.
Think about it; how would being that big in the wild be of any benefit? It would make you slow, your caloric needs would be monstrous - it just doesn’t lend itself to survival. In case you didn’t know, hogs are pretty unique in that they can be farm raised and pink, get loose and within a short period - “go feral” or “wild” - wherein they actually begin to grow hair, etc. and take on the attributes of a wild hog. Weird.
call of the wild perhaps. haha hopefully someday i can experience all that. i think its one of those things youve got to do as a man. hunt your own food. i think if you can get one of those hogzillas, you can treat all of tnation to a bbq. id come! in like…5years…
Best thread ever.
Very insightful, BG!
Since BG isn’t a picture guy, I’ll help a little. I’ve never hunted hogs like this before, but I’ve always respected the sport, especially the Dogo breed. They’re something else.
Argentinian Dogo
Dogos at work. Note the protective vests. Looks like there’s a couple Patterdales in there too.
TheBodyGuard, a question:
Why engaging with a knife?
Our ancestors invented the spear for this. Why not hunt with these?
Are there no hight tech material spears, designed for hoghunting, for “traditional” hunters like you?
As for my take on hunting:
I grew up in rural Michigan hunting. Hunted everything that would come into season. Took my fair share of everything from rabbits to deer to pheasants to raccoons and a lot of animals in between.
For me, I was a lot like BG in that I found myself being more of a dog guy. I love hunting behind dogs, especially dogs that I’ve trained. I raised my own beagles for rabbits and coonhounds for raccoons, and my dad had German Shorthairs for pheasants. Once I got old enough I trained his pointers as well. Over the next year I’m going to get into duck hunting and eventually going to get a retriever for that endeavor as well.
For me, killing an animal was never the thrill, it was more about being with the dogs. Being in charge of a hunt because you have the best dog(s) is a pretty freaking cool thing that has a lot more responsibility than the layman would initially consider.
If I had to pick a top two, I’d say raccoon hunting and pheasant hunting are my favorite. The unfortunate thing about raccoon hunting is that it’s a major time suck and it takes place at night, which comes with it’s own brand of hazards and complications. I promise you, though, there is nothing on this earth like a pair of your own Blueticks singing in the night air when they first strike a track.
Chicken,
If you’ve never hunted before, I recommend rabbits or squirrels first whether you can afford bigger game or not. Get proficient with your weapon of choice, learn how to move in the woods/fields and be safe, and get an understanding of how each animal lives in it’s environment. Don’t just buy a weapon and go hunting though, get good with it. You’re going to be taking an animals life and the worst thing is to wound something to the point where it suffers immensely before final dispatch. You’ll also owe it to the dogs you’re hunting behind (if that’s what you chose to do) to take the animal they’ve been busting their ass all day to track down and make available for you to take.
.
[quote]BradTGIF wrote:
Since BG isn’t a picture guy, I’ll help a little. I’ve never hunted hogs like this before, but I’ve always respected the sport, especially the Dogo breed. They’re something else.
Argentinian Dogo[/quote]
I have a bitch imported from Argentina…from the grandson of one of the brothers who created the breed. I have another on the way within the next 6 months or so.
I have hunted my whole life and have belonged to several private deer leases over the years here in Texas. You can locate a deer lease online. Scout it out for several days depending how large it is. Find a few game trails and set up shop. I use a .308 AR-10 set up specifically for long range hunting. My preference is 200-300 yards out. I can fart around and I don’t have to sit as still.
Hogs - Here we go. My cousins are farmers/ranchers in South Texas. They destroy crops literally overnight. Hate the damn things with a passion. They love people who come in and trap them for their meat. Call your State Wildlife and Game, ask where the hog population is. Take a road trip and go talk to some of these farmers. Be honest and straightforward, they will welcome you as long as you take the hog with you and don’t leave him where you harvested him.
Tell them you have never been hunting before and they will probably put you right on top of them. You can do the knife/hunting dog thing. Hire somebody who does this for a living and you will have a ball. I’m too damn old with far too many injuries to risk it.
You might want to check out coyotes/predators. Year around also, easy to get started, loads of fun.
It’s gonna take a little work on your part. The farmer contact thing is the cheapest way I know. I was raised on a bayou in Louisiana. I went hunting damn near everyday and did not realize how good I had it. That is, until I had to pay for it using leases. Have fun and enjoy it.