Americans love their land. More than 100 million Americans participated in outdoor activities on public lands in 2016.
One activity that has surged in popularity is deer hunting. Yet many Americans refuse to hunt deer, even if they have tools for it. They assume that learning how to start deer hunting is complicated.
What should you do before you head into the forest? What laws and ethical principles should you master? What tools should you use for hunting?
Answer these questions and you can start hunting for deer in very little time. Here is your quick guide.
Take Some Classes
Your state may or may not require you to take classes on deer hunting before you get your license. Regardless of the regulations, you should take classes. They will let you sharpen your skills and get familiar with recent hunting laws.
You can go to your local community center and find advertisements for hunting classes. Try to find ones that are specifically for deer hunting. It is okay to take general hunting classes, but you may not learn the skills you need for butchering deer.
If you want to bow hunt, you should take a bowhunting class. When in doubt, take rifle and bowhunting classes so you have all skills covered.
Your course may require several sessions. Be patient. Take notes on what your instructors tell you and try to bond with your peers.
Read Your State Laws
Each state has its own laws for deer hunting. These laws may vary from year to year as deer migration and population patterns change.
If you are taking a hunting class, your teacher should go over the laws. Take notes when they do and write down the names of particular regulations. You should then go home and read them so you understand their fine print.
Many hunters get in trouble with tagging and transportation. You must know how to tag a deer you’ve killed and transport it without contaminating land or water. It may not be enough to put your deer meat in a cooler.
Familiarize Yourself With Hunting Ethics
In addition to formal laws, there are informal ethical codes that you should know. You should never litter or pollute the land you hunt on. You must bring a trash bag with you and collect your trash before you go.
You must avoid accidents. Never hunt near a roadway, walkway, or residence. Put the safety on your guns for deer hunting whenever you are not using them.
Practice with your weapon before you go out on your first hunt. You will seem sloppy if you don’t, and your inexperience may lead to an accident. Once you can hit targets and maintain your hunting guns, you can go hunt.
You must know how to use a gun responsibly, even if you are an experienced gun owner. Read about Condition Yellow and other ownership principles.
Get Your License
You must apply to your state conversation department to get your license. You may need a driver’s license or another form of identification to prove your identity and state residence. You will also need to pay the fee for an application, which can be substantial.
Make sure you have documentation to meet any education requirements. You should have a certificate that shows you passed an exam for your course.
Buy Your Gear
Ask a hunter what the best rifles for deer hunting are, and you’ll get a few different answers. As a beginner, you should take into account your budget. Most of the best rifles cost a lot of money, but you can get good cheap ones.
Popular cheap guns include the Winchester Model 70 and the Ruger American Rifle. You can use a pistol or handgun, but you need to test one out. You need a gun that can shoot long-distance while still packing a punch.
The same idea applies to bows. You want a bow that can hit targets far away. Popular bows include the Leader Accessories Compound Bow.
In addition to your weapons, you need good clothes. You should get long underwear and a long top with full sleeves. Get items made from wool and synthetic materials, not cotton.
Find Your Grounds
You may be able to hunt deer on private property. You need permission from the property owner and you must stay away from other people. You can always hunt on your own property, as long as you follow safety and environmental protocols.
You will find hunting on public land far easier. Do some scouting online and find several potential locations.
Go for a nature walk or camping trip to one that seems interesting. Evaluate how many people are there and what your chances of bagging a deer are. You should also become comfortable with being out in the woods for long periods of time.
The farther you are from other people, the more deer you will find. Learn the terrain, including sources of water. Deer like to gather here, and many hunters refuse to cross them.
Start Hunting
The deer season varies from year to year. But once it starts, you should start hunting.
Plan your trip out in advance. Lay out your gear the night before and pack your truck as soon as day breaks. Get out to your grounds and find your hunting spot right away.
It will take time for deer to appear before you. You may not see any deer whatsoever over the course of the day. Try to enjoy the nature all around you and take time studying for future trips.
How to Start Deer Hunting
You can master how to start deer hunting. You should take classes on hunting skills and regulations.
You should also research relevant laws by yourself. Talk to experienced hunters about ethics like maintaining hunting grounds. You can then apply for your license.
Find different hunting guns, especially rifles. Then examine a few different grounds and get familiar with their terrain. Once you have everything you like, you should hunt as soon as the season starts.
Deer hunting is one outdoor activity you can master. Figure out more by following our coverage.
