I'm thinking of taking up hunting....

[DoNotRefill]

and am interested in information about hunting in areas like the various National Forests. Anybody know where I can find information? Will I need to take some kind of a hunter safety course to get a license?

I figure I should be able to get outfitted for under $50, including licenses, some blaze orange, et cetera. Obviously, I'm armed already.

Are tree stands necessary, or can I just find a spot with a decent view/field of fire? I'm looking to do this with a minimum of additional equipment, since I'm doing this for food, not recreation, and it's important to keep the cost down.

Any info/hints would be appreciated.

[CPschem]

1. why don't you get

a savings card at your local grocery store if you wanna save money. It's a whole lot less barbaric, time-consuming, unnecessary, and well, messy.

[papau]

3. Field butchery - cutting down a kill and taking home the meat - is

something you should learn before you hunt - IMHO

But there are a lot of strong crazy folks that kill a deer and drag it 5 miles back to the car. Just thinking about that makes my back hurt.

[el_gato]

4. if you eat meat somebody has to kill it

unless your a vegetarian you're just getting someone else to do your dirty work

[ant]

8. I would add

I think shooting the animal yourself is probably more humane than what animals go through in slaughterhouses.

[HERVEPA]

9. Exactly True, though both stink (from a vegetarian, obviously)

[DBoon]

11. And how they are raised

Animals raised on most factory farms are basically living tissue cultures. The conditions under which most grocery store meat is raised is absolutely horrific.

At least the wild animal has lived well up to the point it is killed. Hasn't been confined to a cage, drugged, etc.

[Wcross]

21. I agree

Have you ever seen a chicken barn? Thousands of chickens packed in a barn, many die from fighting. Of course they are only three months old when killed. Thats because they pump them full of bio-tech growing crap. The last moment of their lives comes hanging upside-down on the line being sprayed with water- so the electricty makes good contact.

[DoNotRefill]

6. because...

I recently bought a 60 pound case of beef @2.09 a pound at Costco. This was 3 20 pound chunks of cow. This stuff goes for $3.59 a pound if they cut it up and package it. I cut it up and packaged it (saving around $90), and stuffed it in the freezer.

If I could shoot 300 pounds of meat (figure 3-5 deer) for under $50 total cost each season, that'd be a considerable cost savings. Gotta be frugal with a baby on the way, don't you know...

It's either hunt, or buy a cow and butcher it in my back yard... but that would understandably irritate my neighbors.

[LARED]

2. Start

With the state game commission or whatever it is called in your area. Definitely take a hunter safety course.

What type of hunting do you plan on doing? Bow, gun?

[DoNotRefill]

7. definitely gun...

I'm probably going to use an AK (with a 5 round mag, obviously, and maybe I'll throw a scope on there), so I'm looking at under 100 yards. Besides, my sight ain't that great at long distance, so for safety's sake, I obviously want to be able to get a good look at my target.

[LARED]

13. use an AK ????

Not sure what you mean

Based on your comments, take a safety course before you do anything?

[jhfenton]

15. He's going to use an AK variant semi-automatic rifle to hunt.

The AK-47 variants fire 7.62x39 cartridges (0.311" diameter bullets) that are marginally suitable for medium game hunting. While an AK variant wouldn't be my first choice for hunting due to its typically indifferent accuracy, it would be functional for small-to-medium-sized deer. There is certainly no safety difference in hunting between using a 7.62x39 cartridge and a .308 Win (7.62 NATO) cartridge.

[DoNotRefill]

18. accuracy....

isn't that big of a deal with an AK, provided that it's not completely worn out. The "hunter" variant I have gives me consistent hits on a coke can at 100 yards, despite having crappy sights (which is why I'm thinking of throwing a PVO on it). That's accurate enough for me.

I've got rifles in bigger calibers like .308, but will go with the AK because of the light weight and the fact that it's the gun I've got the most experience shooting.

[jhfenton]

20. Accuracy

Actually, you're right that hunting doesn't require astounding accuracy. You're not likely to take shots much over 100 yards, which is "short range" for a good rifle.

[DoNotRefill]

16. Use a rifle built on an AK-47 style semi-auto action.

Believe it or not, the AK-47 IS suitable for hunting game like deer...despite what CO and Bench say. The same exact features (reliability, light weight, ease of use) which made it a sucessful military arm are also generally required for hunting purposes. The 7.62x39 cartridge is roughly ballistically comparable to the 30-30, which is the most commonly used deer round.

BTW, I TEACH firearms safety courses, just not HUNTING courses.

[jhfenton]

19. You're right about the ballistics.

The 7.62x39 is very comparable to the .30-30 Win. And both are adequate deer cartridges at short to medium ranges.

And there's nothing that says you can't tune your AK-47 variant to be more accurate. :)

I'm in the same boat. I'm an NRA-certified instructor in Basic Pistol, Basic Rifle, Basic Shotgun, and Personal Protection in the Home. But I've never been hunting. :)

[Overkil]

29. Makes me smile when........

the gun-grabbers say "what do you need an AR for? It's not like you're gonna hunt with it!" Well, actually we do in Arizona. Our choice is the AR-15, very flat shooting, perfect size for deer and we kill coke cans at 300+ yards with a decent scope. And it's a lot lighter than most hunting rifles. Have fun learning to hunt!

[Wcross]

22. Make sure you use hunting rounds

Those FMJ rounds are not right for hunting- use lead tip bullets.
I know you already were aware of this but I had to add it;)

[DoNotRefill]

24. Aw, DANG!!!!

and here I was planning on using my special super-duper de-luxe armor-piercing yet completely frangible Black Rhino ammo just in case I ran into a deer wearing a bulletproof vest!!!!! :evilgrin:

[el_gato]

5. approach this activity with respect and reverence for the animal

be aware of your smell
wear rubber boots

[DBoon]

10. Got Possum?

I am looking forward to future posts of some very interesting recipes...

[blu_dog]

12. Make sure you have a sidearm backup

If hunting in brush or wetlands, a .357 or .44 is handy incase you come across boars or bears that are too close. 3 shots in you rifle might not be enough, especially if it took 2 shots to kill.

Also a good butcher to make sausage is suggested.

[jhfenton]

14. Hunting

I'm not a hunter either, but I am interested in getting started too.

In addition to the hunter safety course and everything else, I would find an experienced hunter to go out with the first time. There's so much more you could learn that way, both from a safety and from a tactical standpoint.

[DoNotRefill]

17. ex-military here...

Can't think of much I'd learn from a tactical perspective that wasn't covered in AIT. ;-)

[Emoto]

23. I would start...

...at a local gun store or sportsman's club.

I just bought my first hunting license this year (at a gun store) and have been out for pheasant a few times with a buddy. He is going to show me how to dress the game, if we ever get one. He is also showing me the ropes on how to hunt. You must be very careful to obey all game laws, and there are probably lots of them, so if you can start off hunting with a friend who will teach you, that is probably the bst thing. The game laws vary from state to state.

The American Indians used to thank the game for giving it's life to feed and clothe them. We may be at the top of the food chain, but respect for life is a good thing...

[funkyflathead]

25. Where do you live?

Google your state's wildlife agency for all the information you need.

Try ESPN and look for their ESPN Outdoors section.

Deer hunting is a blast and so is turkey hunting.

[jody]

26. Assuming you are new to hunting, I would buy a .22 rifle and spend

the season hunting squirrels on state or federal lands. You will have hours of enjoying nature in all its beauty as the seasons change and you will discover personal skills you never dreamed you had in trying to outwit a game animal.

One final point, every connoisseur knows, Brunswick stew originated in Brunswick County, Virginia and requires squirrels to be authentic.

[beevul]

27. I agree

"Assuming you are new to hunting, I would buy a .22 rifle"

This is about the most inexpensive way to get equipped, practice to a degree of proficiency, and see if hunting is your thing.Cheap to feed too.:thumbsup:

On the other hand, if your sold on using what arms you have and going after bigger game, I tend to agree with many here.

Try to pair up with another hunter with some experience. Game experience is invaluable.

Learn all you can about field dressing.

Don't hunt beyond your needs.

Be a good steward of the outdoors, leave areas at least as nice as before you got to them.

Respect mother nature.

[Spoonman]

28. Refill

Where are you hunting? (State and Area)

[Liberal Classic]

30. Start small

Rather than jumping in feet first into deer hunting, maybe you should start more modestly. Find some friends who are going dove or quail hunting, and already have bird dogs. It is fun and easy, something you can do in an afternoon, and cleaning small birds is easier to learn on than dressing large game.

[CO Liberal]

31. Good - Hunt For Ted Nugent's Brain

He lost it years ago.......

:-)

[Name removed]

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