My Journey to become a Hunter...

[Joe13]

Let me clarify the Topic, this is an account of my desire to become a Successful Large Game Hunter.

I have hunted small game as a kid but outside of that, I have had no interest in hunting.   My mother is from S.CA and my dad is from Texas, so my natural tendency is to hug it then shoot it (some sarcasm intended).   My dad hunted small game as a kid but has since (to my knowledge the only exception was his tour in 'Nam.) not touched nor shot a firearm of any kind.

My grandfather started me shooting cans at the age of 4 and I have been hooked ever since.   I just never had the desire to include hunting in my love of firearms until a little over a year ago.

I have been having intestinal issues for a few years and thru diet and monitoring, I've found that game meat sits much better with me then beef (even free range expensive stuff for some reason).   So now hunting is an interest because of an economical standpoint of not being able to pay $15/lb for elk or venison.

As it has evolved though, I have come to love a lot about hunting.

One of the first things I learned was that scouting is really important - people say it but on my first time out with a 50 year hunting veteran we found ourselves in a forest that this gentleman had not been too for 20 years and no idea where to look.

It was almost the end of the 3rd day out that we even found Simi fresh deer droppings...   By that point I believe he was frustrated because next thing I know, he's done hunting and ready to go home.   I was just along for the ride, as I did not have a tag, so I was home 4 days after leaving instead of the 7-9 we planned on.   

So scouting is really important lol - my second hunting partner taught me quite a bit more practical knowledge, as well as showed me how to start scouting and things to look for that could be helpful.

My second trip out trying for a deer, I had my tag an we found tons of beds and fresh droppings but in 2 days just never saw anything bigger then a chucker.   End of the 3rd day was a massive storm that rolled thru and we decided to break camp and ride out the bad weather at home.   We never were able to connect again but I did go back out a week later by myself and learned another valuable lesson...

You never know when your going to see something!

I roamed around all day long looking for sign.  Finding plenty but no deer.   After a long long walk thru the woods, I arrived back at my vehicle and just sat in it on the edge of a meadow for an hour or longer just enjoying the quiet.   As the sun went down, I started my truck and turned around.   Right as I turned back onto the dirt road I couldn't quite believe what I saw...   A darn deer was just starting to step off it and turned around to look at me - then off he went! 

By the time I got to the spot he had gone into the forest he was long gone and I didn't have enough light left to follow him, so I went home empty handed but excited because I felt like I was at least on the right track.

I set up one last hunt on Halloween day (end of the deer season where I was) to see if I would get lucky.   Unfortunately, the man I was to go hunting with had to take his dog to the vet and by the time I realized I wouldn't be in a place to shoot and then drag a deer back to my rig and clean it with the little time I had left, I decided to call it a season.  This year I'm going to try for an elk as well.

Little stuff I figured out on the way:

1.  My pack is never as light as Id like it to be at the end of the day - I started the season with about 30lbs on my back.   Now I'm down to around 15lbs plus the rifle.

2.   I'm very glad I had boots that were broken in long before I needed them.

3.   Taking time and being quiet seems to be a good way to go.   In the off season (while scouting - I try to learn my lessons the first time lol) I unintentionally walked up to about 30 ft from a bull elk with his lady and youngun.   I even got video of them before they spooked and ran off.

4.   Good Hunting Partners are SUPER hard to find if you don't already know someone.   I get along with most folks, it's been difficult to find an interested person not already committed to a previous years partner and that has the available time to hunt as much as I would like too.

5.   Sometimes you just have to go do it and make up the ret as you go.   My best laid plans rarely turned out as I had intended.   It pays to be flexible.

6.  I was nowhere near in as good of shape as I thought I was this time last year.   I have dropped most of my extra weight and my stamina is now what I would consider "decent" enough to hunt alone if I have too.
 

Now you'll have to wait till the end of 2015 to see if everything I learned in 2014 pays off...

[Eli346]

Sounds like you're going about it the 'right' way. I'm sure that a lot of other ways work too but what you're plans are and the situations that you've encountered so far are good learning lessons and will benefit you well in the future. I got my first elk at 16 years old after only being in the woods for an hour and a half. I thought it was so easy and a slam dunk that the following year I would only have to hunt a few days at most. What a misconception! It took me another 4 years to find a legal elk after that. I've got a couple of dozen more under my belt since then but it's never been as easy as the first one nor would I want it to be. I love the experience and frustration, the trials by fire so to speak, of spending a week in the woods just waiting and hoping for the opportunity to see the 'one'. Keep at it and just know that the right situation will come along when you least expect it. The right hunting partner will also be there in time. Good luck.

[TVHunts]

Excellent write up Joe13.  I think if you ever stopped learning it would be time to quit.  Every season brings new challenges, problems and situations to overcome but, that's half the fun.   

I have had my fair share of letting my guard down thinking I was not in a good spot or was done for the day and out pops an animal and catches you off guard and giggles as it runs off.

Seems to me your headed down the path (no pun intended) to success.  Keep it up and it will happen in time.   

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

 

[Little Dave]

There's been quite a few times after hiking all around the mountain I get back in range of the truck and there's a buck right next to it.

Keep at it.  I've had similar experiences with some of my first few hunting partners. 

[zike]

You need to get you a truck load of apples and let the deer come to you.

[Joe13]

You need to get you a truck load of apples and let the deer come to you.

Hahaha, nice!   I have considered that, but thought that baiting in WA was illegal?

Down in TX they use auto feeders that spread grain at the same time every day - just set up and wait.

[jackelope]

Baiting deer and elk in Washington is completely  legal.

[Joe13]

Looks like I'll need to find an orchard with more then they can handle then...