Help a complete noob start hunting!

Y

yepimonfire

Joined
Nov 7, 2013
Messages
465
I want to hunt, but have zero experience with it and no one to show me. I'm a good shot, can shoot a bow and a gun.

First and biggest question I have...

Where can I hunt? Afaik the area I live in (dekalb county ga) is mostly urban and suburban, I'm sure there's a few areas of wooded area around here that doesn't specifically belong to anyone. No firearms in this county, just bow. I could go over into Gwinnett to hunt where firearms are allowed I suppose. I tried googling "places to hunt in dekalb" and found absolutely nothing useful.


Any good resources as far as learning the ropes. Hiring a guide is way out of my budget.
 
You need to get in touch with Georgia DNR, (Department of Natural Resources) or what ever they call it there.

Look up game warden in Georgia, if its not DNR there that should get you some info.

Then go to a Hunter Safety course, and ASK QUESTIONS. Odds are the person teaching the class will go above and beyond to help you out.

I don't know how old you are, but most of the people in those courses are young, don't let that bother you.

Sounds like it would be the opposite but being a good shot with a bow or a gun isn't the most important thing when you first start hunting.
Punching holes in paper is a bit different than hitting fur or feathers.

Good luck.
 
There are some big suburban deer in your area. I think the state record bow kill is close to where your at. I'd start looking at the wildlife management areas (WMA's) in the Georgia hunting guide. You can pick them up at your local Walmart in the hunting and fishing section. Here is the online guide. Find an area you can hunt on the WMA and start looking for rubs, scrapes, trails, feeding areas, bedding areas.. etc. Get off the road and scout those areas good. Get on craigslist or Georgia Outdoor News forums online and look for a good climbing deerstand. Get out their early and starting hunting. Georgia Outdoor News (GON) forums has some great information on where to hunt in the state. There are some good folks on their to answer any questions you may have.

Here is GA DNR hunting regs with all the WMA's and there should be a couple near you:

http://www.eregulations.com/georgia/hunting/
 
Try to hook up with someone that will take you hunting to show you what to do.

There is plenty of information on the internet, you can research all the general information about hunting, but an experienced hunter can share his/her knowledge to get you started on the right track.

The first thing to do is take the Georgia Safe Hunter course and go from there; you might get to meet people from your area and "buddy up" with someone to hunt with.
 
A mentor can be invaluable, but they can also be very hard to find. Many people are afraid to take a "new guy" in the woods with them. They're scared they will ruin their hunt or steal their spot. Finding a place to hunt is often the biggest hurdle for new hunters. Once you've done that, whether you're lucky enough to get permission to hunt private land or you're hunting public land, the next step is to just go out and do it. Here's some advice I've given to friends and co-workers who wanted to start hunting:

1) Be Safe. No exceptions. Always let someone know where you're going and when to expect you back. Never get in a tree stand without a safety harness. Keep you phone charged and on (silenced of course).
2) Take people's advice with a grain of salt. "Experts" may or may not be. I know of a situation where the manager of the hunting dept. in a national outdoor chain advised a customer that it was ok to fire 7mmRUM ammo in rifle chambered for .300RUM. "It's like shooting 38spl from a .357" he said.
3) Be in the woods as much as possible. Spend time hiking, scouting, hunting. Just get out. You'll be a better hunter the more familiar you are with the outdoors in general and your hunting area in particular. Also, with very rare exceptions, you can't hunt from your bed/couch.
4) Have realistic expectations. The deer you see the "TV" hunters pass on, may be the trophy of a lifetime for your area. Also, every deer is a trophy if it's your first (or second or third). Don't get to caught up in scores and bragging rights. Hunting isn't a contest.
5) Have a plan for "after". You've killed your quarry, now what? Can you physically get it back to your vehicle, do you want to put it in your vehicle? Who will process it for you, how much does it cost, where are you going to put the meat when you get it from the butcher? These questions are not meant to deter anyone from hunting, but the work Starts after the trigger is pulled.
6) Don't get caught up in the marketing hype? Every new product that comes out isn't needed and won't necessarily make you a better/more successful hunter.
7) Have fun. This is supposed to be fun. Enjoy being outdoors and appreciate nature.
8) Don't be afraid to ask questions. You've got a great resource right here.
 
If you are interested in deer and feral pigs, look for the local chapter of the QDMA, the Quality Deer Management Association, and their members probably can help you.
They are very active in the Southeast, so there should be someone near you. Most of the members are very conservation minded and really have their head on straight - mostly. :)
Other options would to pay to go with a local guide/outfitter to help get your feet wet, and learn some basics. They may have some very affordable options, and also might trade a doe hunt for helping with some maintenance chores.
There probably is a Georgia hunting forum, where you can ask for someone to take you under their wing.
 
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Some good advice here.
One thing worth mentioning, if you aren't used to finding your way around in the woods, learn some land nav with a map and compass before heading out or you might find yourself lost. If map and compass aren't a good option for you, a handheld gps can be had cheaply and will track your movement so you can find your way back.
 
You've gotten some really good advice here. I would do as some said and see if maybe you could apprentice for a guide hog or deer that way you learn to hunt and guide so you gain 2 skills that are made up of a bunch of smaller individual skills. Also check to see if there is any bounties on any critters in the area hogs,coyote,Ect...make some money while your at it! Just some added things to look into and think about since everyone else pretty much said it all and got ya covered.
 
YoungCurmudgeon said:
A mentor can be invaluable, but they can also be very hard to find. Many people are afraid to take a "new guy" in the woods with them. They're scared they will ruin their hunt or steal their spot. Finding a place to hunt is often the biggest hurdle for new hunters. Once you've done that, whether you're lucky enough to get permission to hunt private land or you're hunting public land, the next step is to just go out and do it. Here's some advice I've given to friends and co-workers who wanted to start hunting:

1) Be Safe. No exceptions. Always let someone know where you're going and when to expect you back. Never get in a tree stand without a safety harness. Keep you phone charged and on (silenced of course).
2) Take people's advice with a grain of salt. "Experts" may or may not be. I know of a situation where the manager of the hunting dept. in a national outdoor chain advised a customer that it was ok to fire 7mmRUM ammo in rifle chambered for .300RUM. "It's like shooting 38spl from a .357" he said.
3) Be in the woods as much as possible. Spend time hiking, scouting, hunting. Just get out. You'll be a better hunter the more familiar you are with the outdoors in general and your hunting area in particular. Also, with very rare exceptions, you can't hunt from your bed/couch.
4) Have realistic expectations. The deer you see the "TV" hunters pass on, may be the trophy of a lifetime for your area. Also, every deer is a trophy if it's your first (or second or third). Don't get to caught up in scores and bragging rights. Hunting isn't a contest.
5) Have a plan for "after". You've killed your quarry, now what? Can you physically get it back to your vehicle, do you want to put it in your vehicle? Who will process it for you, how much does it cost, where are you going to put the meat when you get it from the butcher? These questions are not meant to deter anyone from hunting, but the work Starts after the trigger is pulled.
6) Don't get caught up in the marketing hype? Every new product that comes out isn't needed and won't necessarily make you a better/more successful hunter.
7) Have fun. This is supposed to be fun. Enjoy being outdoors and appreciate nature.
8) Don't be afraid to ask questions. You've got a great resource right here.
Click to expand...

An old Codger couldn't have said it better but to add the advice to check with your State Game management division first off about hunter training courses. And firearm safety courses if that will be your preferred hunting method. Hunting indeed can provide a lifetime of healthy exercise, entertainment and satisfying sense of accomplishment. Be safe friend and enjoy!
 
Great info so far.

In Mi. there's a section in the hunting guide and online to help you find public hunting on private land, these are usually unhinged and prime spots. From my experience it's almost always good farm land where the owner is getting too old to hunt and wants the animals that are eating his crops thinned out. They e always been very pleasant and helpful to me, especially when I've taken deer.
As mentioned above, wherever you take your safety class will most likely have brochures or pjs poets that can help you find an organization that may be exactly what you're looking for and the other "students" at the class may be in your exact same position.


Find food and water sources as well as the bedding and trails between the two. SCOUT A LOT BEFORE SEASON to find out when they're moving between the two and at what times. Look for natural funnels where the deer are forced to move, these are prime places to set up. Funnels can be water, hillsides, cliffs, fallen trees, where ridges come together in a saddle, high fences, etc; whatever forces them in a certain direction.

Most importantly, pay attention to the wind. Even a breeze so slight that you barely feel it will give you away at a great distance.

Train your eyes while your sitting dead still to look through the trees and shrubs and not at them, look as far as you can or until you see ground through the vegetation and watch for movement not your prey. We're set up to detect movement and you'll start to see so many things that you may have never noticed. Don't count on your ears, until you've spent a lot of time sitting still in the woods you'll find that they're lying to you- that's not a big buck that you hear, it's a dead tree moving in the wind or a squirrel, etc.

Give it a few trips and you'll be writing stuff for us old timers.

However you do it, have fun and if you get the opportunity please teach someone else.
 
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