New to deer hunting - things I learned

[n2thecraft]

Here are some things I learned out hunting this weekend. This stuff ain't in the regs:

Gas is a finite item, it's better to take an extra half hour to fill up before you head up the hill than to spend 3 hours wishing you would have while you're walking down.

Brakes are also finite, learn what 4L is and those numbers under D are and how to use them.

You can spend $700 at Cabela's the week before the season opens and you'll probably still be cold.

You get real mad when you're cold and you try to take a leak and end up pissing on $700 of gear ya bought at Cabela's a week ago.

Hunting deer doesn't always include shooting deer

Hiking in a couple miles is ALOT different at 44 than it was when you were 22.

Just because you think the place you're sitting for hours on end would be the place you'd go if you were a deer don't mean the deer are gonna go there to get shot.

Whether it's 36 or 28 degrees outside, that rifle barrel is gonna feel like it's -30 when ya touch it with bare hands.

No matter how much smack ya read about those folks that road hunt,, you'll still and up doing it.

Cabela's won't exchange your $700 gear cuz they're cold and ya pissed on 'em a little.

My jeep can and will go places their Subarus won't, take advantage of that.

When you stop and ask some Ol boy who looks like he knows the ropes, where the deer are, and he tells you, you're probably gonna end up where ya started from.

I can't wait til later in the week so I can go learn some more!! I hope some of you new hunters can learn a thing or two from this.   

[deerhunter_98520]

Sounds like you had a hell of a weekend...it'll get better keep at it

[irishevox]

good stuff... i am gone right now on deployment, and if i were there i would go out with you and show you some pointers and give you a hand

[n2thecraft]

Sounds like you had a hell of a weekend...it'll get better keep at it

I'll be back at it in a few days! Still beats the hell out of a Monday in the office!

[irishevox]

Sounds like you had a hell of a weekend...it'll get better keep at it

I'll be back at it in a few days! Still beats the hell out of a Monday in the office!

It's all trial and error , i couldn't even begin to tell you about some of the issues i had when i first started!

[DeArBuCK4me]

I always have my animal callers w/me and when deer don't come out I call animals that are predators like coyotes, bob cats you name it. fun to shoot them suckers and say you got something...

[gunrinwa]

I always have my animal callers w/me and when deer don't come out I call animals that are predators like coyotes, bob cats you name it. fun to shoot them suckers and say you got something...

fawn bleats etc. in a backpack. It will also help you know an area and once you know it you'll get more dialed in. Spend time still hunting and exploring, I think that's the most fun aspect of hunting is walking in nature and using your instincts that get suppressed in your daily email, iphone, powerpoint, phone call office bull pucky life.

[deltaops]

Sounds like how my hunt went except the running out of gas part.  Now I will have to wait for late season and hunt Western WA. I think tag soup is on the menu this year for me. Always next year. Good thing is, we have a certain area north of republic that we know like the back of our hand now. next year will be a whole new adventure for sure!

[spotter26]

just cuz your jeep will go where others dont mean you need to drive it, get out and walk those roads.

[n2thecraft]

Had a much better second weekend! No deer, but no problems either. I'll be up again this weekend,, maybe Friday and Monday too. I need to scout out 407 before late season (if I read the regs right,, I can hunt it during late hunt). I'm in 418 now,, and I'm pretty sure I can't hunt it during late rifle season. I'm having a great time hunting,, sorry I didn't start much sooner. Till now, the only area I've stared at for four hours straight was a soccer or football field.

[n2thecraft]

just cuz your jeep will go where others dont mean you need to drive it, get out and walk those roads.

There's some hunter traffic on the roads I take,,, so I dunno if walking the road will get me much more than a sack of beer cans. I find a spot to park and hike in,, I park where the loggers block off the road into a clearcut and hike in there. I do what I can to make sure I'm not steppin on someone's toes out there.

When I hike in, it's usually a ways in off the road. I tore my ankles up pretty good playing football when I was younger,, although not to often,, I've rolled one and been "man down" for a little while,, so I carry a pretty full pack,, enough to keep me where I lay for a couple days,,  think that's overkill? I always lived by "better safe than sorry".

Feedback?

[Eli346]

ntothecraft-I'm in the same boat but have only had to stay out once. I'm always prepared in case it does come up though. Firestarter, lighters, flints, survival blankets, and enough food to live on for a day or so are always in my day pack.

[spotter26]

its better to be safe than sorry, even if im only going in for a couple hours i always make sure i at least carry a flashlight and some sort of fire starter.

[Sun195]

I'm only on my second year deer hunting - sounds like my experiences.

Deer make noises like that? Bucks smell like that? Cougars sound like that? It goes on and on. I like to think I'm learning something... no matter how slowly.

[Recovering princess]

I really appreciated your post. Trying to learn everything on my own has been a daunting task, and I often grumble to myself that every other hunter has had a mentor and teacher except me. Okay....I know that isn't really true, but it feels like it. Hopefully I will be ready to go next season. I just got a rifle and don't even know how to shoot it yet. So thank you for posting, and in a humorous way, about some of the things I too get to experience as I stumble along on this journey.

[deltaops]

I really appreciated your post. Trying to learn everything on my own has been a daunting task, and I often grumble to myself that every other hunter has had a mentor and teacher except me. Okay....I know that isn't really true, but it feels like it. Hopefully I will be ready to go next season. I just got a rifle and don't even know how to shoot it yet. So thank you for posting, and in a humorous way, about some of the things I too get to experience as I stumble along on this journey.

you are about an hour away from me, but if you ever want to make the journey and or take the time, we can go up and shoot together. I will do my best to help you in any way I can. Both the women and I are ex military and combat vets. I taught my 9yo how to shoot, and he can shoot dang well as long as he follows directions and doesn't hurry.

[n2thecraft]

I really appreciated your post. Trying to learn everything on my own has been a daunting task, and I often grumble to myself that every other hunter has had a mentor and teacher except me. Okay....I know that isn't really true, but it feels like it. Hopefully I will be ready to go next season. I just got a rifle and don't even know how to shoot it yet. So thank you for posting, and in a humorous way, about some of the things I too get to experience as I stumble along on this journey.

How to use your rifle, Rule #1

The really dangerous end has a hole in it,, the other end has you on it. Assume you're going to kill anything that the end with the hole in it is pointed at.

[boneaddict]

I've been hunting officially for 33 years now (several years more in tow), and I am still learning lots, sometimes re-learning things I forgot.   Enjoy.

[JohnVH]

great thread!

[evburt]

Thanks for sharing I'm a first year hunter too and besides pissing on my gear it sounds like we have a lot in common 

[coachcw]

remember 4wd is to get you unstuck from 2wd . I always wonder why it's up hill both ways too.

[huntnphool]

Here are some things I learned out hunting this weekend.

Whether it's 36 or 28 degrees outside, that rifle barrel is gonna feel like it's -30 when ya touch it with bare hands.

Sounds like you should have spent $750 at Cabelas and picked up a pair of gloves.

[n2thecraft]

Here are some things I learned out hunting this weekend.

Whether it's 36 or 28 degrees outside, that rifle barrel is gonna feel like it's -30 when ya touch it with bare hands.

Sounds like you should have spent $750 at Cabelas and picked up a pair of gloves.

didn't wanna piss on my $45 gloves 

[huntnphool]

Here are some things I learned out hunting this weekend.

Whether it's 36 or 28 degrees outside, that rifle barrel is gonna feel like it's -30 when ya touch it with bare hands.

Sounds like you should have spent $750 at Cabelas and picked up a pair of gloves.

didn't wanna piss on my $45 gloves 

[Buckmark]

You will contiue to learn every year, we all do....
Don't get to discouraged either, the success rate last year was 27%, 115000 hunters killed 31000 deer, so 84000 hunters did not fill there tag.....
And of those i would bet more than half of the deer are killed by the same hunters every year...

[Carl]

I’m enjoying this thread and your sense of humor!  

I haven’t hunted big game for over 45 years, so I guess I’m starting over too.

I know what someone meant when they said “it feels like everyone else has a mentor”.   

Keep the humorous tips coming on future episodes… 

Carl

[methowman]

Couple of quick points for newby's

1) Never forget the butt wipe- I've used my tee shirt an a pinch

2) If your on a road with one way in & one way out You better have a chainsaw in the truck to cut the tree that could be laying across the road on your way back out -been there didnt have a chain saw or a tow cable

3) Carry what you need to spend the night in the timber... Ya I know you didn't plan on an overnight hunt
but @#$% happens. Firestarter, emergency blanket, extra water, etc.

4) Learn how to use your GPS before you get lost.. I know a guy who did this..

5) Dont piss into the wind... Its hard on Cabelas gear....

[andrebeergog]

Well said man! Great post!

[Crunch14]

Another thing I've learned... and have to remind myself of sometimes... K.I.S.S.  Keep It Simple Stupid, if youre not comfortable with it don't do it.  Yeah you gotta push yourself, but pay attention to the gut.