Any Advice for a Newb?

[NeuroToxin109]

Hello Everyone!

I was hoping I could get some advice... My wife and I are wanting to start hunting, we live in Lynnwood next to Martha Lake and have never hunted before nor do we have anyone who goes hunting that we know.

We're wanting to go next year and we're trying to learn and prepare as much as we can now.

Does anyone with experience hunting in and around Snohomish county have any recommendations for something on the easier side we can try? We're open to pretty much anything that's practical. And by practical I mean we're not going out to buy a boat and bird dog.

As far as gear goes we don't own anything save for the odd hiking/camping equipment so we're going to be getting gear based on what we decide to try first.

Thanks everyone!

[Duckgtr]

pm sent

[Squidward]

Welcome to the sport. sorry but I do not live, nor do I hunt in that area. however my 1st bit of advice is to find a hunter safety course.  At this course you may also be able to find people in your area to help you out. Good Luck!

[NeuroToxin109]

Thanks for the PM Duckgtr!

And Squidward for sure, both my wife and I are going to do hunters safety relatively soon and plan on spending time at the gun range. Hopefully we can meet some awesome people who'll be willing to show teach us a thing or two.

[trophyhunt]

Lot's to learn and plenty of guys on here to help.  The first thing that comes to mind when I see people asking for help is, keep the wind in your face while hunting small or big game.  They can smell you from a mile away and they will be gone before you even know it.  Get a gun that your both comfortable to shoot, don't run out and get the biggest gun you can find, it doesn't take much to kill big game.  Welcome aboard

[SweetCosmicPope]

My advice would be to either borrow some guns or go to a gun range that rents them, so that you can get a feel for what is most comfortable to you.

For example, my dad shot with a .35.  I wasn't particularly comfortable nor capable shooting that particular weapon.  My main has been a .243 for about 25 years.  Though, I'm considering moving up to .270 for some of the larger game.

As others have said, a hunters safety course is a must, not only because it's a legal requirement, but I speak for others when I say that I don't want an irresponsible, uneducated person out there shooting around me.  I sat in on my son's and I learned some interesting things about the laws in WA, as well (got my hunter's ed in Texas).

Hit the range as much as you can!  Again, I don't want an untrained person shooting around me and my boy.  Additionally, it's inhumane to shoot at an animal not knowing if you're going to give it a mortal wound or not.  When I was a kid, I made that mistake one time and never made that mistake again.  Believe me, when you have to slit a deer's throat because it can't walk, you grow up really quick.

[dmv9]

Typically, a gun range won't rent to you unless you already have a gun. It least that's the way it was a several ranges.

Also, consider a 12ga pump or semi for birding.

[NeuroToxin109]

Thanks for the advise! We were looking at getting a 12ga semi, it just seems like the most practical choice given the opportunities in this area from what I've read.