bleeber Posted July 9, 2008 Report Share Posted July 9, 2008 Just a, hopefully brief, background. I am 40 years old and have had a passion for hunting since I was 18. At that time, a high school friend who hunted the Florida Everglades turned me on to hunting. Unfortunately, we graduated and moved on without us hunting. I bought my first rifle shortly after that and began target shooting. Well, now I'm 40 and have only hunted 5 times in that 22 year time span. Each hunting trip I took was a day hunt for exotics with a guide. None of those hunts really tought me much. All had me bringing home game and were fun but not much knowledge. You see, I am trying to learn the sport of deer hunting and hunting in general. My goal is to become educated and experienced in the sport so I can teach my 2 sons, now 2 and 4 years old, the proper way of the outdoors. I want them to have what I didn't have growing up, a houshold that hunted. Still to this day, I really don't know anyone who hunts in my area and haven't made any friends to hunt with. I feel that I am too inexperienced to try a public land hunt here in Florida on my own. I've heard the lands are pretty crowded and I wouldn't want to ruin someone elses hunt due to my inexperience. Anyway, I thought I would write to see if any veterans could put in their two cents. Does anyone have any suggestions as to how I might go about getting some experience near my own town as far as deer hunting goes. If I decide to try a week long deer hunt in GA or N. FL, what kind of questions should I ask the outfitter? How do I know which are good. I am considering some acreage of my own once I am at the point to where I can call myself a hunter. Any thoughts would be much appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted July 9, 2008 Report Share Posted July 9, 2008 Welcome to the forums. This is a great place for you to learn more, do not be afraid to jump in and ask any questions you have. There are a few members here from Florida, maybe they can give you some insight on your area. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texan_Til_I_Die Posted July 9, 2008 Report Share Posted July 9, 2008 Welcome aboard. My best advice is find someone in your area who is experienced and see if you can tag along with them. You can read about hunting and watch hunting videos until the cows come home, but there's just no substitute for time spent in the woods. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hammerforged Posted July 9, 2008 Report Share Posted July 9, 2008 Welcome, as stated earlier don't be afraid to ask. We've all been there at one time or another. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevebeilgard Posted July 9, 2008 Report Share Posted July 9, 2008 welcome to the forums. check with your local gun shops for gun clubs or fellow hunters looking for a partner for a lease. good way to start. best of luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OJR Posted July 10, 2008 Report Share Posted July 10, 2008 Welcome to the forums! Enjoy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adjam5 Posted July 10, 2008 Report Share Posted July 10, 2008 Welcome to the forums:) This is a great place to learn. Most of the lessons I learned by hunting usually resulted in coming home with a unfilled tag. That was the motivation to get better. But be careful... That elusive mature whitetail, can consume MANY hours of your life and strain family relations. That I know 1st hand:D. You chose a great sport for your sons to get involved in. You won't be sorry. Good Luck and there is no such thing as a stupid question... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dawg Posted July 10, 2008 Report Share Posted July 10, 2008 Welcome aboard. My best advice is find someone in your area who is experienced and see if you can tag along with them. You can read about hunting and watch hunting videos until the cows come home, but there's just no substitute for time spent in the woods. My thoughts exactly. Reading helps but first hand experience is always the best. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bleeber Posted July 10, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 10, 2008 Thanks for the welcomes! I have done some extensive reading and have been an NRA member for 15 years...getting American Hunter Magazine. I've read so many books on skinning a deer that I could do it blindfolded...until there is actually a deer in front of me. There is nothing like experience. There are a lot of fishermen in this ocean town but not much for hunters. The local sporting goods store, Wal-mart, Sports Authority, etc. all took out there hunting equipment. There is a shooting range an hour from me that I may look into joining and a Bass Pro opening in that same city. That will be nice. I appreciate the comments and will stick to it. It looks as though I should get a lot out of this forum as well. Thanks!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ambuscher Posted July 10, 2008 Report Share Posted July 10, 2008 Welcome to the forums Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NS whitetail Posted July 10, 2008 Report Share Posted July 10, 2008 welcome to the forums you should be able to pick up some good information on this site, so stick around and make yourself at home Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flintlock1776 Posted July 10, 2008 Report Share Posted July 10, 2008 On Hunting: Read books and magazine; watch shows on TV and DVD's; surf the forums and then talk it up amongst friends and acquaintances. Then just start hunting when and where you can with whom you can. It is fun to learn at any age! Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbHunterNY Posted July 11, 2008 Report Share Posted July 11, 2008 welcome to the forums! the others are right this is a great place to gain knowledge regardless of your experience, so ask away! dvd's, seminars, books, articles, talking to people are all good and feasible sources for info. if you can though try and get out in the woods as much as possible, that's the best way to learn how the deer you'll be hunting act. This would be hard if you weren't seeing deer, but many places have a ton of does and no bucks. This is still good. Sit there, watch them, and learn what they do. After a while you may see crazy things you've never seen or heard of before. Hope that helps and good luck, Dan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bleeber Posted July 11, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 11, 2008 Thanks for the great advice so far. A question comes up...one that I didn't mention in my original post. What land do I go to to watch the deer? Here in Florida, people are pretty strict with their land...if it isn't already being developed. To be honest, I haven't thought about the WMA's during the off season. In season, they are pretty crowded with short seasons compared to private land. Thanks!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adjam5 Posted July 11, 2008 Report Share Posted July 11, 2008 Land is hard to come by...especially land to hunt. Public land does get a lot of hunters. I have been fortunate only to have hunted private land. Try introducing yourself to landowners asking permission to hunt. Try to exchange some small or large chores in exchange with the landowner for property access with permission to hunt. Offer some of the harvest. Don't show up in camo with a weapon looking for permission to hunt. You'll be surprised, some say yes. Leasing land to hunt might be an option also, many do it and land owners say yes often because income is derived without altering the land. As with all whitetails, food sources are great places to start looking for deer. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sskybnd Posted July 12, 2008 Report Share Posted July 12, 2008 welcome to the forum, im with steve, sporting good shops, archery shops are a good place to meet people that hunt, dont be a fraid to talk to some of them about your intrest of deer hunting, and that your new to it, reading and watching dvd's will get you familiar with some of deers habits and such, but the best experience you will ever get is hands on, trial and error is the best teacher. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoosierbuck Posted July 12, 2008 Report Share Posted July 12, 2008 I also began hunting as an adult after years of reading and watching, so I can empathize with you. Despite everything that I did to prepare to hunt, The first season of actually doing it, on private land, by myself, was a better learning experience than anything else. How do I suggest that you get on private land? PM me and I will throw you my suggestions, too much stuff to go into when I am watching the kids-15 months, 4 and 6. I am raising them up to be able to hunt should they choose. Again, I can empathize with you. Welocme, and best of luck. HB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bleeber Posted July 16, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 16, 2008 Thanks everyone for the welcome and thoughts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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