[itgoesboom]

Looks like I will get my first chance to go hunting next year. I figure that gives me just under a year to get ready.

None of my current firearms are really suitable for hunting, so I know in the next couple months I will be purchasing something just for hunting.

I am a little nervous about going out during the regular deer season, since it seems that there are a fair amount of accidents each hunting season.

So I am entertaining the thought of going either Blackpowder or Bow hunting instead.

What do you think?

I.G.B.

[musher]

I'd suggest using what you know. If you're most comfortable shooting modern rifles, then I'd use that. Buy the new rifle and shoot it a bunch at ranges you expect to see in the field.

If you're normal, you're first game animal will be accompanied by a big adrenaline dump. That's not the time to be using a new skill.

Also, I'll bet your risk of getting smoked while hunting is pretty small compared to the risk you take driving to your hunting spot.

[nygunguy]

You have a whole year to prepare so I'd suggest bowhunting. The things that you need to do to be a successful bowhunter will make you a succesful gun hunter, but not vice versa. Another plus is that bow season is a wonderful time of year to be in the woods, not too cold and the scenery is fantastic.

[Greybeard]

Check into your State's Parks & Wildlife website for info. on Hunter Education Courses. They are generally quite inexpensive and information - and often mandatory for certain ages. And you will learn that hunting is actually one of the safest sports on a per 100,000 basis - particularly if you can hunt on private land.

Edited to add:

http://www.ihea.com/

http://homestudy.ihea.com/contents.htm

[itgoesboom]

Thanks guys

Still not sure what way I am going to go.

I will have to talk this over with the guy I am planning on going out with on the hunt.

He was talking about maybe going blackpowder, so we will see.

Thanks again.

I.G.B.

[rbernie]

I suspect that learning to accurately shoot a bow will be a pretty steep learning curve. If you have any real rifle skills at all, I vote for blackpowder. It'd be the most familiar to you, but will place you out there in a setting which seems more comfortable to you.

[WYO]

I hunted some managed land last week, and the manager told us that he was most frustrated by the muzzleloader hunters, because they often couldn't tell him the direction in which a deer ran because of the smoke, and it made tracking more difficult. I would stick with what you know first, then branch out into archery and muzzleloading.

[Newt]

I'm going to go with musher on this one. Stick with what you know. If you don't really get into it, then you'll have a new rifle to shoot to your heart's content, but if you really get into it and enjoy the hunt with a rifle, then you can branch out in years to come to a ML or bow.

I'm fond of ML hunting myself for several reasons. Our black powder season here opens up before any modern rifle season and the deer aren't as wary and spooked, they're still in their routine, and there are more of them being that all of the rifle only hunters haven't made it out there to get their annual meat yet. You'll have to put a good shot on one though. One shot is all you will get, so make a good one.

I just bought a bow this year, and I'm looking forward to getting my first one with my bow. Hopefully that will happen before the end of the year.

If you're in for a good buck, you're best chances are probably during the peak of the rut. Those old wise bucks that you just don't see during normal daylight hours or don't usually get shots at will be out chasing the does. None of their normal tactics apply when they're chasing. If this is the case, I'd go for the rifle. Good luck and let us know how you make out.

Just my 2 cents.

[mtnbkr]

I'd go with the rifle first, then choose between muzzleloader or bow after you have some time in the woods. The bow's differences are obvious, but even the muzzleloader is alien if you've never shot one. There's the longer "locktime" and it's affect on the shot, the lack of a follow up shot, and the smoke. Taken together, it can be just enough to throw you off your game.
If you're normal, you're first game animal will be accompanied by a big adrenaline dump.
I was the exact opposite. When I got my first deer this year, I was as relaxed and focused as a person could be. Which is odd, because normally I'm a fidgety, excitable person.

Chris

[Cindog]

I'll second the bow hunting suggestion. I prefer the archery season for several reasons -- less hunters in the woods, you can't beat the early fall weather (most seasons start in October), and the thrill of the everything coming together as a deer walks past your stand at 20 yards and gives you the perfect broadside shot. :)

[Art Eatman]

First time hunter? Shooting is almost the least important part of the deal.

First off, now is the time to line up a place for next year's hunting. Now. If your buddy has a "deal", all well and good. The thing is, don't wait until next summer or fall; that's too late. You want to be able to go out and look over the territory before you actually go to hunt on it.

Always remember that a deer practices being a deer some 365 days a year.

As a beginner, you'll probably do better as a "sitting hunter". Many of the regular outdoor magazines--Field & Stream, Sports Afield, etc.--have articles on best places to set up to ambush Bambi. Scrounge around for this year's recent back issues. Barber shops are a good place to look. Maybe a public library...

Almost any old good used bolt-action rifle will do, and almost any non-bargain-basement 4X scope will do. Cartridge? Anything from .243 on up. A .308 is as good as any. IMO, people worry too much about their "package", and make careers of picking flyspecks from pepper. Geting persnickety about rifle, scope and all that is for when you're more experienced in this ancient game.

Hey, I killed a lot of deer with a $70 J.C. Higgins .270 with a Weaver K4 on top, before I went to getting all fancified. :)

$0.02,

Art