Want to get into Hunting. Point me in the right Direction.

[TheBigBulgarian]

Hello All,
This something that I have always wanted to try. Hunting that is.
And as I am with everything I like to research, read up, and go over all the details of whatever I am getting into.
I have no friends and relatives that have actual hunting experience, other than my father who hunted boars while in the military with an AK-47, but that was in another country.
Anyways what books would you guys recommend? I am thinking of deer hunting in PA, with a Rifle. I don't own any bows yet .
Any other forums out there that focus on hunting as well?
I know to get a hunting license I have to attend a lecture of some sort. Is it safety instructions? That’s just my guess.
Also where could I find laws concerning hunting with handguns or rifles in PA?
I have heard some states have restrictions on what firearm you can hunt with?
And finally what are in PA should I try my first hunt?

Thank you all.

 

[30-06 lover]

http://www.pgc.state.pa.us/

You should find regulations there.

"The Deer Hunters Bible" is a good read for deer hunters.

The Hunter Safety Course here in CA deals with firearm safety (Ex. Usual don't point at anything you are not going to shoot), archery saftey (Ex. don't run with arrows) , hunting safety (Ex. hunt with a buddy), and lightly on what is leagal to hunt (Ex. can't shoot swans here).

 

[Thefabulousfink]

First. Take a hunter safety course. Not only do they teach you good weapons safety in the woods, but also have a lot of information about hunting and the instructors are usually experienced hunters.

The hardest part about deer hunting is finding the deer. Marksmanship is important, but the best shot in the world wont do any good if there is nothing to shoot at.

I hunt mostly on public land, and unless you know someone with lots of land out in the country you probably will to. In my area tree stands are frownd on in public forest so that restricts me to the ancient art of the Stalk. Deer tend to go to the same places if deer have been there once, chances are they will be there again.

It is well worth the extra time to go to the area you are planning to hunt several weeks before the season starts. Walk around, familierize yourself with the area. Look for food, water, and shelter that the deer might use. Look for droppings and tracks. When you come back durring the season, these are the places where you are likely to find deer.

Check old issues of Field and Stream Magazine, they have lots of informative articles on hunting.

Deer can't see color but people can, allways make sure you wear hunter orange and be completely sure of you target before you shoot. Loosing the deer is better than loosing your freedom for a manslaughter charge.

Keep the wind on your face, deer can't see color but they sure can smell. Some people like to animal sents to mask their smell, just make sure that you don't use and perfume or smelly soap before going hunting. Walking into the wind or across it means that your smell will be behind you or to your side and the deer infront of you will not notice it and flee. The wind can carry your smell over several hundred yards so if you can't find any deer, it might be because they ran away before you ever got into range.

It is not neccesary, but it is allways a good idea to go with someone more experienced, and even better if they know the area. If you have friends who hunt ask them, ask the instrutors at your hunters safety class, or pay for a guide. If you have the money and no one else to take you, a guided hunt can be a very good experience. Be sure to research you guide ahead of time, just because you paid money doesn't mean you will get a deer, a good guide has a lot of experience so ask questions and listen, and ALLWAYS tip your guide.

I hope this gets you started in the right direction. Don't get discouraged if you don't get a deer, I went out 4 time my first season and didn't even see a deer. Learn to enjoy being in the outdoors and hunting will be fun nomatter what the outcome.

 

[Art Eatman]

For you, I think it would be worth subscribing to the Big Three: Field & Stream, Sports Afield, and Outdoor Life. Numerous articles on hunting and fishing.

You state wildlife management agency has a lot of literature about areas to hunt. Pennsylvania has a great reputation as a deer-hunting state.

Check the "mentor" thread at the top of this page to see if any are near your vicinity.

Art

 

[borrowedtime69]

advice:

take a hunters safety course

practice target shooting

start small the first year, go for small game and varmints and birds. i would think it would be kinda overwhelming to start out with a big deer as your first kill and need to know how to proccess. if you start small, you can shoot alot more, enjoy it more often, and can learn alot of skills that transfer over to big game. if you can clean a rabbit, you can clean a deer.

i do alot of squirrel hunting and shoot varmints and that shooting really helps me with my big gaming. good luck -Eric

 

[Grumulkin]

Pennsylvania Hunting

During the deer gun season in PA, rifles, handguns, shotguns and muzzel loaders are legal (check the caliber restrictions). You cannot use semiautomatic firearms for deer hunting in PA. The place you buy your hunting license should have booklets on PA hunting regulations. Your sporting goods store will also probably have information on hunter safty courses.

You of course need a gun and need to be proficient in its use. Since PA deer country is frequently heavily wooded, you probably won't do much long range shooting. I got 3 PA deer with the simple strategy of sitting quietly on a hill with my back to a log and letting the deer come to me; they were all taken at less than 15 yards. My longest PA deer shot was perhaps 80 yards. These were all taken with a rifle but obviously the closer ones could have been easily taken with an handgun or maybe even a rock. Tree stands are probably a better way to go than my technique.

At a minimum, you should subscribe to Outdoor Life. Field and Stream and Sports Afield magazines are also good. If you don't belong to the National Rifle Association, you should join it and will then receive either the American Hunter or the American Rifleman magazine. Go to a large book store and browse in the sports section and you should have enough to read for several weeks.

There are many choices of firearms if you don't already have one. If I were limited to one gun for varmint and deer hunting, I would probably pick a bolt action rifle or Thompson/Center Encore single shot rifle in 243 Winchester, 7mm/08 Winchester or 308 Winchester all of which have great accuracy potential and very reasonable recoil. If you are just getting started in hunting, I wouldn't recommend starting with a handgun unless you're quite proficient with it already and can handle stiff recoil. If memory serves me correctly, handguns for PA hunting must be no less than 357 Magnum with barrels no shorter than 5 inches.

 

[22-rimfire]

I would cruise the news stands for the magazines noted above. Look for articles on deer hunting and if one grabs ya, buy it. Subscribe if you want to. Outdoor Life, Field & Stream, and Sports Afield are similar magazines. There are usually deer hunting annuals done that are at the news stand.

As mentioned, Deer Hunters Bible is not bad. Check it out at a big book store.

Hunting PA Forum that might interest you: http://www.huntingpa.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?Cat=

Do take a hunter safety course. You are pretty much required to take one unless you are pretty old. There are many given in PA. Look at Sports men's clubs etc.

Hardest thing to me other than finding deer is finding a place to hunt if you don't know people who hunt. Even if you do, it can be a little difficult as most won't tell you their spots. State Game land maps are available on the PA Game Commission web site. State is divided up into areas. Check them out. They are open to hunt on. If you trout fish, try to get out fishing some of the trout streams and keeps your eyes open for deer and sign. PA is a great state!

If you cruise the PA forum, you will see a lot of complaining about deer populations and unending discussions on deer management. Deer populations are down a bit in public hunting areas. If you can find some private land, you would probably be better off getting permission to hunt there. Hunt in the woods as it is generally easier and shots are closer.

Find a friend to talk about hunting, tactics, shooting, hunting areas, etc. It is the best way to go. If you don't know anyone who hunts deer, you can participate in the forums, especially Hunting Pa forum as it is "close to home" and it is one of the better state hunting or ourdoors forums.

Buy a suitable deer rifle such as something like a 270, 308, 30-06. 30-30's are good in woods areas. Lowest caliber to consider is 243 and larger calibers than those mentioned are not necessary, but everyone has their own preferences. Do some shooting at a range and get comfortable with the rifle. It is not hard to be able to shoot well to 100 yds.

Just noticed handgun topic. Automatic pistols (or rifles) are not legal to hunt with in PA. I believe the minimum caliber is 357 mag. Regs will be listed in the PA Game Commission web site or the little booklet that comes with your license. Most use revolvers (or single shot rifle pistols like the thompson Contender) and there are many to choose from. I think of deer hunting with a handgun in the same way as hunting with a bow. Think 50 yds max and if you are a good shot, perhaps a little further out.

I hope you are sucessful and enjoy the quest. New hunters always seem to be lucky!