Hunting [bird hunting specifically] has been a passion of mine since I was ten years old. I grew up shooting double guns, waking up with a German Shorthair next to me, throwing on my upland vest, and walking overgrown apple orchards. It was the norm; my norm. In the current Covid pandemic, more and more folks are building an interest in hunting and being able to share in the satisfaction of providing a meal from the ground up. In New York, the Department of Environmental Conservation made the hunter safety course available 100% online so folks wouldn’t miss out on the typical spring/summer courses pre-big game season. With the ever available online course, I’ve gotten many people asking me – What do I do once I pass the course? What gun do I need? Where do I go? What’s next? The good news is, you’ve got options and you aren’t alone!
First and foremost – congrats and welcome to a passionate group of outdoorsmen/women and conservationists! For Part 1 of this series, we’ll keep it simple. 5 steps to hit the ground running and start your hunting career:
#01: Find A Mentor
You got your Hunter Ed Certificate and are soon getting your Hunting License – I’m a firm believer that every new hunter should start by finding a mentor. Whether that is in the form of a family member, close friend, a local gun club/conservation group [see #04], or by hiring a licensed guide to help you get the ball rolling. A mentor will significantly lessen the learning curve, set you off in the right direction, help you find success in the field, and likely save you money when you’re making your first purchases. Your hunting mentor will often become a best friend, confidant, and someone you’ll share many days each season with!
#02: Determine A Starting Pursuit – Your “Shopping” List
So you want to enjoy your first hunting season and don’t own a gun, bow, camo/blaze orange, ear or eye protection, etc. etc. Before going shopping, make an educated shopping list! What do you want to pursue: Whitetail deer? Black Bear? Turkey? Pheasant and grouse? The list goes on! Some shopping tips to get started…
Gun Selection: Be sure to check the laws of the unit you’ll be hunting – It may be shotgun only. A great starting point is a Remington 870 or Mossberg 500 shotgun. They’re both offered as a combo kit and will set you up to shoot slugs for big game and bird shot for turkey and upland birds. If you’re able to use rifle for big game, you can’t go wrong with a bolt action chambered in .270, 30-06, or 7mm-08 for a lighter recoil option. You don’t need to spend a fortune here and don’t be afraid to buy used! Any reputable gun shop or a larger outfitter such as Cabela’s will be knowledgeable and able to help you make that selection. As a life long hunter and former competitive shooter, I’m happy to help you make your decision!
Camo: Sure it’s nice to have the latest Sitka Gear or First Lite camo set. You certainly don’t need it! My grandfather hunted deer in blue jeans while smoking a cigarette – being still and stealthy is the best camo. Head to your local Walmart and grab your first set of camo pants, shirt, and jacket for a reasonable price. The same goes for upland hunting hear – your first upland vest and brush pants don’t need to be the highest end! Field & Stream makes some great upland gear at a good price.
Boots: Don’t skimp on the boots – your feet will thank you! You’ll wear down some serious boot leather upland hunting. For big game, you may be in a tree stand for the better part of the day so be sure to have insulated footwear. I often wear a pair of Muck Boots that are a more athletic fit. They’re great for wet environments.
Extras: Don’t forget the ear and eye protection, hat[s], a hunting pack, a good field knife, and a tree stand harness if you’ll be hunting elevated.
#03: Safety, Safety, Safety!
Your hunter education certificate get’s you your hunting license and shows that you read the book – it’s not a substitute for an actually firearms safety course [especially if you took the all online class]. You’ll want to attend a safety class or spend time with a seasoned hunter or shooting enthusiast that can teach you general gun safety, how to use and maintain your gun, and help you with real life hunter safety scenarios while in the woods. If you’re not new to guns or shooting, be sure to spend time on the range with any new gun before the season to properly sight in and learn the gun in and out.
#04: Join A Club or Conservation Group – Network!
One of the best ways to get involved, learn, and make connections with like minded people is to join a local gun or hunting club. This will be a great way to meet people that can teach you and help you learn quickly. When you’re joining a club, approach it as an interview. Ask your questions up front – understand your monetary commitment, any work hours and meeting obligations, and the clubs mission. Reach out to the club president, stop by a monthly meeting, or go see the club with a current member if you’re being referred as a new member. Talk to the members and get to know those who are experienced in, for example, upland bird hunting. Shoot clays with them, ask questions, train dogs together. Once they get to know and trust you, you just might find you’ve got an invite for that weekend’s grouse hunt. A gun club is a social club for men and women who are ingrained with the love the outdoors, hunting, and fishing. Some clubs cater more heavily to target shooters and some more to hunters, some are more about the social aspect than hunting, and many are in between. Determine what you’re looking for and then find the right club for you.
#05: Just Enjoy The Ride!
You don’t need to get it all ‘right’ in the first year or five years. You don’t need to kill your first deer in your first season, or ever. Don’t let anyone else judge you as a hunter or sportsman/woman. You determine your own success and what hunting means to you. Maybe that’s putting food on the table and meat in the freezer; maybe success is walking a cut corn field with your pointer and vintage shotgun in hand just to see the sunset. Whatever you find is meaningful to you, do it. Enjoy the ride. Your tastes will change every year and one day the thought of the hunt will be more meaningful than anything else.
Well, those are my not so short 5 Tips to get you started. Congratulations on taking the step in getting your hunting license – Take it piece by piece and start yourself off right, and do it safely. We’ve got Part Two coming soon – Leave us a comment below or on Instagram @creekandcackle. In part two, we will answer some of your questions and dive specifically into the world of Upland Hunting and I’ll share some of my early experiences. Remember, just have fun!
Talk Soon – Joe / Creek & Cackle Outfitters
Joe Heusinger(http://ccoutfitting.com)