I've never hunted. I want to learn to hunt. I want to teach my children to hunt. I don't know what I should hunt for. I've had a deer steak once and didn't like the taste. I thought maybe I should try for turkey or wild pig. How do I get started in hunting?

Hi mike,

Here's my advice/story.

I was brought up hunting in the great state of KY. Mainly deer and small game. I fondly recall deer hunting as a kid when it was an event just seeing a deer irregardless of gender (times have changed since then). I joined the navy & then went to college and didn't hunt for ~ 10 years. Then one day a friend asked me if I'd like to go hunting. It was the middle of the rut and the bucks were really chasing the does. I thought that sound very cool and accepted the offer. It was AWESOME! I saw more deer than I've seen in all those years in KY. Bucks were chasing, grunting, and running all over the place. I shot a nice buck and I've been hooked since. That was ~ 4 seasons ago. Since then I've shot 6 deer (4 bucks - 2 does).

However, the harvest is not why I hunt. Its the time I spend w/ myself in the woods and the friends/family back at camp. I can take a long weekend and feel more rested than spending two weeks at a beachside resort. When you are in the woods, you are not rushed for time. You get to wach nature wake-up. I've seen so much wildlife that most people miss (deer, hogs, eagles, hawks, owls, osprey, coyote, bobcats, alligators, racoons, possums, songbirds, water birds, turkeys, armadillos, etc..) So for me it's not just the harvest, but time alone, spent thinking about my life, values, contemplating...

Well anyway, my advice to you is to find out whom you interact w/ at home/work/school that enjoy hunting. Ask them questions, find out where & why they hunt. Also, see if there are any shooting ranges nearby, see if they have a hunters group and join. Take a hunter's safety course if you are just getting into hunting (even if you are adept at handling firearms).

I enjoy eating venison. It's the only red meat I eat (if I have any in the freezer). But it can be tricky to prepare. When done, there is a reddish brown coloration of the meat. Some people may mistake this for not being done and thus overcook the meat. Venison has little fat, so if over cooked it becomes tough. So I'd suggest try again especially the tenderloins or back strap cuts.

Good Luck,

BT

I used to go hunting quite a bit, but there are too many morons in the woods now. I only go in bow or muzzle loading season now. People tend to wait until they see what they are shooting at in those seasons.

i go hunting every deer season, just yesterday i broke in the barrel of my new savage 7MM rem magnum

hunting is either in your blood or it isn't. it's in my blood, i can't sleep the night before gun season opens..just like a 5 year old on christmas eve that is the best way i know how to describe it

army56mike Wrote:I've never hunted. I want to learn to hunt. I want to teach my children to hunt. I don't know what I should hunt for. I've had a deer steak once and didn't like the taste. I thought maybe I should try for turkey or wild pig. How do I get started in hunting?

Quail is the best for eating Mike.

All of the following is aimed towards deer hunting.

1st step - You more than likely need a hunters education card. Most states require them. You should be able to contact your state game and fish people to find out where to take the class.

They will talk about this in the class, but one of the most important parts of ethical hunting is to learn the anatomy of they game so you can get a quick clean kill. Also practice your marksmanship until you can put every shot in a 6" circle ( for deer ) and use enough gun. You can't go wrong with .270, .308, or 30-06, but I recommend 7mm-08 for most beginners.

After that you need to talk to other people you know who hunt. Going with someone else on their land or lease is a good idea if you have never hunted.

Your options on places to hunt are generally land owned by people you know or that you lease or public land. You state's game and fish department publishes a yearly guide that has rules, regulations, seasons, and public places to hunt.

If you have never hunted before I don't recommend just going to public land on your own.

Every couple of years I'll take someone hunting with me who has never been on my family land. I bring them up a few weeks before season and go over the layout, and show them where each stand is and the safe directions to fire from each stand.

If you had deer that you didn't like it could have been preparation. It can be tough and gamy if prepared wrong. I'd give eating it another try.

Quote:

army56mike Wrote:I've never hunted. I want to learn to hunt. I want to teach my children to hunt. I don't know what I should hunt for. I've had a deer steak once and didn't like the taste. I thought maybe I should try for turkey or wild pig. How do I get started in hunting?

Find a mentor and DO it - you will never regret it and your children will thank you. Don't wait till they are too old, because once they are past a certain age, they may not be receptive. Anything that gets you into the woods and fields is richly rewarding and well worth the time. I small game hunt a little and have a couple of coonhounds that I hunt a couple nights each week during the season. The good thing about night hunting is that you can do it without taking off from work or waiting for the weekend. I enjoy just "rambling" around in the woods, doing nothing in particular. Take the hunter safety course asap - you will learn a lot and will likely meet valuable contacts.

Find someone who makes some spicey venison sausage...you will LOVE it!

Yes...vension stakes (just like Cows...different cuts are much better than others) can be good or bad.

Try some sausage...can't go wrong!

KL

Quote:If you had deer that you didn't like it could have been preparation. It can be tough and gamy if prepared wrong.

Usually the case. "Gamey" taste is mostly due to the deer not being dressed immediately and the meat cooled as quickly as possible. Waiting 4 or 5 hours before dressing the deer will definitely do it. Nothing better than properly prepared venison back-strap marinated and grilled. Some folks develop a taste for "gamey" - doubt I ever would.

a favorite venison steak recipe of mine

take a pound of crushed and ground chestnuts, some nutmeg, and some orange slices,

squeeze the orange slices into the nutmeg and chestnuts, mix it all up and spread over the deer steaks, let it sit for 24 hours..then broil untill done..the chestnuts really bring out the flavor of venison

I usually hunt buffalo, seal, baby seal, and road runner.

Quote:

Ziggy Stardust Wrote:I usually hunt buffalo, seal, baby seal, and road runner.

Ever tried wild condor? Tastes like a cross between bald eagle and baby seal.

Gray Avenger Wrote:

Quote:

Ziggy Stardust Wrote:I usually hunt buffalo, seal, baby seal, and road runner.

Ever tried wild condor? Tastes like a cross between bald eagle and baby seal.

Ooohhh! Sounds tasty! Maybe with a side of penguin jerky??