Hey All!

[Bogie85]

Hi!

My name is Zach, and I am relatively new to the area. I grew up hunting but never cleaned an animal only fish. I have wanted to get into it for the longest time, but never really had others to go with me and allowed that to hold me back. But now I got the OnXMaps and I plotted out an area after talking to a Master Hunter in the area to get rabbit. I am going solo currently, but if someone wanted to go I would be down.

I only have a Civic for now, and just bought a house. So the truck is the next step but may take a bit lol. I am a Tech head and work in the game industry. So it is rather difficult for me to find people ok with the idea of hunting. So when I found this forum through reddit, I was pretty stoked. Anyways there is a lot I could post here that would likely be boring to many. But I am trying to get into hunting for the first time as an adult.

P.S. If anyone would be willing to show me how to butcher a deer, I would be eternally grateful and gladly buy some beer or food or something in return for your time. Granted I know the season is a bit of a ways out. And I have watched videos but it's not quite the same as if you were doing it.

[Boss .300 winmag]

Get a goat off Craigslist, smaller but virtually the same to butcher. 

Plus it'll fit in your civic.

[jackmaster]

Welcome to the site and welcome to the huntn world !! Never to late to start man !! If you can afford it look into getting a Hancock pass or a vail pass !! You will have not only a great chance at whackn a deer but there are plenty on here that hunt those areas including myself that would be willing to help you if you get something down, my suggestion is to hunt modern, master that before picking up a bow!! And shoot shoot and shoot some more, you owe it to whatever your huntn to put it down quick !! Other than that get out in the woods and learn a day in the bush is better than a month on the internet !!!

[garrett89]

I can show you how to gut some animals. I live somewhat close to your location. PM and so we can schedule a time.

[Bogie85]

Get a goat off Craigslist, smaller but virtually the same to butcher. 

Plus it'll fit in your civic.

Not a bad idea! Thanks for the suggestion!

[Bogie85]

Welcome to the site and welcome to the huntn world !! Never to late to start man !! If you can afford it look into getting a Hancock pass or a vail pass !! You will have not only a great chance at whackn a deer but there are plenty on here that hunt those areas including myself that would be willing to help you if you get something down, my suggestion is to hunt modern, master that before picking up a bow!! And shoot shoot and shoot some more, you owe it to whatever your huntn to put it down quick !! Other than that get out in the woods and learn a day in the bush is better than a month on the internet !!!

Any idea how much a pass costs? I looked online but it didn't list the price yet. And I have a .308 ready to go for modern firearm. And I definitely don't want to make the deer suffer, quick kill is what I am for. I have been practicing but now that I moved here I need to find a new shooting range to practice long range at. Ideally I want to be within 100 yards with the .308.  And I agree nothing makes me feel more refreshed than a day in the woods without a lot of people around. So glad I found this site, you guys are awesome!

[garrett89]

Welcome to the site and welcome to the huntn world !! Never to late to start man !! If you can afford it look into getting a Hancock pass or a vail pass !! You will have not only a great chance at whackn a deer but there are plenty on here that hunt those areas including myself that would be willing to help you if you get something down, my suggestion is to hunt modern, master that before picking up a bow!! And shoot shoot and shoot some more, you owe it to whatever your huntn to put it down quick !! Other than that get out in the woods and learn a day in the bush is better than a month on the internet !!!

Any idea how much a pass costs? I looked online but it didn't list the price yet. And I have a .308 ready to go for modern firearm. And I definitely don't want to make the deer suffer, quick kill is what I am for. I have been practicing but now that I moved here I need to find a new shooting range to practice long range at. Ideally I want to be within 100 yards with the .308.  And I agree nothing makes me feel more refreshed than a day in the woods without a lot of people around. So glad I found this site, you guys are awesome!

$50 for walk in for most. Up to a few hundred to drive in.

[Bogie85]

That really isn't bad at all. I would do that for sure this year.

[garrett89]

Yeah, it's okay. Getting the Hancock permit is kind of tricky. They post dates when you can buy on their websites and what you're allowed. The weyerhaeuser permit is easier to get as you can buy as early as january every year from what I've seen but, they sell out fast. 

[pianoman9701]

Welcome to the site. Definitely check YouTube for videos on how to process different animals. Keep watching the posts on here and participate in different discussions. You may want to look through old threads in the different categories before posting questions which may be already answered.

[sumpnz]

If you can't find anyone that will show you for free on their livestock look up Farmstead Meatsmith out on Vashon Is.  He runs classes on the slaughter and butchering process.  Not cheap, but great instruction.  My elk hunting buddies and I did a goat slaughter class (killing, skinning and gutting) there to try to get better and more importantly faster at the process.  Didn't do the butchery class, though I'd like to.  Learned some valuable tips that I have never seen demonstrated on YouTube.

[pianoman9701]

I agree that the value of attending an in-person butchering class can't be overstated. But in lieu of the funds necessary, YouTube is an awesome resource for doing just about anything on the planet. Here's the search page just for goat butchering:
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=goat+butchering

[KFhunter]

buy some meat rabbits, some sellers might even show you how to butcher them.  It's a good place to start.

[Bogie85]

This is all awesome info! Thanks! I have been checking out youtube videos for months now lol. I am going out for Rabbit this next Monday/Tuesday to do some of that as well. And the butchering class/processing may not be a bad idea once the funds come back to normal. Just bought a house and got a new puppy and all of those things like to eat that money up .

[garrett89]

Rabbit would be an excellent choice to start. Nice and small and gives you an idea of the basics. Look for spots on the organs though, spots could be a sick rabbit.