How to get started with hunting?

[chalmitch]

Originally Posted by Helter

I honestly don't know what I'm looking to hunt. I guess I'm open to anything.

I have a nice Rem. 870 that could be used for birds, or possibly deer, I have a Ruger 10/22 that I could use for small game, and I have a Taurus Judge that I bought halfway thinking it would be good for rabbits and squirrels if they were close. I just sold a mini-14, the funds are going towards a hunting rifle *of some kind*, though I'm not sure what just yet.
I figure if I try a little bit of everything, I'll figure out what I like and am good at.

Helter,
The 870 is good for targets and small game-rabbits, squirrels, pheasant, grouse, or deer using a slug or buckshot.
The 10/22 is not legal for game in PA. The Judge is a good "carry" gun while hunting but not a good primary piece.
I'm local if you want to practice at the Field & Stream in Brookhaven, PM me if interested.

Best regards,
chalmitch

[doc454]

chazman321.... there is no "required distance from the road". You may exit your vehicle, but must move 25 yards before firing. Meaning, if you are drivinf, and see a deer on state game lands, or another property where you have recieved permission to hunt, then you may exit your vehicle with an unloaded weapon. you must move at least 25 yards before you may fire.

However.... driving around looking for game(road hunting) is highly looked down upon.

Helter... ROCK-IT3 is correct, you may not hunt with any semi-auto rifle, so the 10/22 is out. You may hunt with a semi-auto shotgun, but your 870 shloud do you right for small game. get yourself a rifled barrel for it (less than a couple hundred), and your set for deer and bear. being in chester county, you can only hunt deer with shotgun or archery gear. If you get a rifled slug barrel for your 870, I'd recommend one with an intregal scope mount, so that you can switch back and forth without losing your zero.

BTW... zone 5c has 113,000 antlerless tags available this season.

[Helter]

Originally Posted by ROCK-IT3

I'm not a hunter, so I can't help with where to go/how to do it, but just for info., you can't use any semi-automatic weapons in Pa, so the 10/22 is out.

doh! I remembered that you couldn't hunt big game with a semi, but for some reason I thought they allowed both shotguns and small game semi's.

Thanks! Looks like I should be in the market for a 22 manual then too.

[keystoneman 85]

Look at a .243 for a hunting rifle. It's great for PA. You can take Deer, Turkey, G-hogs, Fox, Coyote, and more with the same gun.

p.s. I have one for sale

[BanginBonnie2]

Originally Posted by Helter

For a few years now I've been interested in trying my hand at hunting. I don't really know anyone who hunts though, so for multiple years in a row I've gotten a license then never made it out.
The big trouble is that every time I think to myself "I should try to get out there", I start trying to plan a trip and get overwhelmed with all of the things that I don't know. Simple things like "where should I go", "what equipment should I get", and "what the hell will I do if I actually bag anything" turn into hours of searching online, and answers that seem much more complicated then they probably are.
So yeah, any advice for how to get started?

Hello Helter,

You might try signing up for a ' Hunters Safety Course ' at a Club that has some decent ranges.

The courses are usually free or darn close to free and you might encounter somebody there who's looking for a hunting companion .. even the Game Commission guys who come to the course might help you.

If you join a Club, I'm sure you'll encounter someone at the ranges while you're shooting that you could talk to and hopefully get you started. At the Clubs I belong to there's always someone talkin' shooting and hunting at the ranges.

Now's one of the best times of the year to get friendly with a farmer, especially one who raises Corn or Soybeans . I've found that most guys ask to go for Turkey or Deer ... not me, I want to go " C r u n t i n " (crow huntin') 1 st and then I ask to shoot his problematic groundhogs.

Gettin' rid of the critters that cost him money via crop damage often leads to a much more favorable reply should you ask to hunt deer or turks.

Good Luck

[Helter]

Originally Posted by keystoneman 85

Look at a .243 for a hunting rifle. It's great for PA. You can take Deer, Turkey, G-hogs, Fox, Coyote, and more with the same gun.

p.s. I have one for sale

haha, yeah I saw that. I looked at the post, but unfortunately it's outside of my current budget. Thanks for the recommendation though ;-)

[Helter]

Originally Posted by BanginBonnie2

Hello Helter,

You might try signing up for a ' Hunters Safety Course ' at a Club that has some decent ranges.

The courses are usually free or darn close to free and you might encounter somebody there who's looking for a hunting companion .. even the Game Commission guys who come to the course might help you.

If you join a Club, I'm sure you'll encounter someone at the ranges while you're shooting that you could talk to and hopefully get you started. At the Clubs I belong to there's always someone talkin' shooting and hunting at the ranges.

Now's one of the best times of the year to get friendly with a farmer, especially one who raises Corn or Soybeans . I've found that most guys ask to go for Turkey or Deer ... not me, I want to go " C r u n t i n " (crow huntin') 1 st and then I ask to shoot his problematic groundhogs.

Gettin' rid of the critters that cost him money via crop damage often leads to a much more favorable reply should you ask to hunt deer or turks.

Good Luck

Hmmm, both very good ideas.
Do you eat the crow? Or is it just pest control?

[MomTeacherFarmerHunter]

lol I think all of us hunters have some of these same questions at times regardless of how long we've been hunting... then once you're out you wonder why you didn't go to your other spot b/c that is where all the shootings at... I personally love my 270 and and also have a liking for an old 30 30 The most important thing about hunting in my opinion is the amount of time you actually spend out doing it. We all make some mistakes and wish like heck we didn't but it only makes us better. My advice---get out and go---don't worry about the small stuff b/c that never really goes away-its not golf where theres one perfect way to do things... Just enjoy your time outdoors. well I think that about sums it up.

[soup]

Don't forget today is the day they will start accepting doe tags... guess what I forgot :-( I'll get it in the mail tomorrow lol... 5c doesn't sell out fast anyhow

[shawmutt]

Helter,

I'm 33, and I just had my first hunting season last year. I spent very little money--a cheap orange vest and cap, a cheap pair of camo waterproof pants, a cheap $10 knife, and a cushion to carry with me and sit on, and a new Savage Mark II .22 (about $300 for the rifle, sling, and scope)--all told about $500. I also joined the local sportsman's club. For less than $40 a year I get access to a rifle range and spent a good deal of time target practicing. I went out squirrel hunting in state game lands five times last year, and finally got my first kill the week after rifle deer season ended. I kind of had a head start on cleaning thanks to college and biology labs .

I'm in the same boat, I had never gone, and really didn't know anyone. Small game is definitely the way to go for us newbies. Here's the story with the pic if you're interested (note the blue raincoat--this year I'll be buying a coat to match the pants )

http://www.huntingpa.com/forums/ubbt...983969&fpart=1