How to get Started in Hunting

Written By: Tiffany Hill

How I got started hunting and how you can get started, too.

Yes, I’m that kinda’ preppy, kinda’ country southern chick with a true love for the outdoors, but I definitely did not cultivate that country side of me until my latter years. I honestly never knew I had it in me. I grew up in the city in Florida, as the only girl, and the youngest of three siblings. When I was younger, I always followed my brothers around and imitated what they did. I climbed trees, picked up grasshoppers, and basically had no fear. I’d get hurt, but I’d always get back up, and keep going as nothing ever happened. I guess you could say, I had an adventurous spirit at an early age.

My mother always tried to maintain that balance and made sure that I was well rounded. I took piano lessons, drama classes, ballet, and public speaking just to name a few. Yes, I was considered to be that prim and proper girl, and still am to this day, but when I’m outdoors, it takes on a whole new meaning for me. All bets are off, and I truly become one with nature.  

A Hunting Lifestyle Began

After graduating from high school, I attended college in Georgia, and it became my permanent state of residency. This is where I would later meet and marry my husband Craig. Life for me would never be the same, as I married into a hunting family. My father-in-law told me that he would make me into a country girl.

I have always been amazed with the beautiful nature of country living. Things that I often took for granted, I developed a deeper appreciation for. I stood on the sidelines for almost 10 years observing and seeing what was involved in the hunting process.  I never once thought that this would be the activity that would change my life forever.  Hunting and being outdoors is my “Happy Place” and I am forever grateful and indebted to my father-in-law for introducing me to the wonderful world of hunting.

To some, hunting may seem like a sport with simplicity especially if you were reared in an environment where hunting was a way of life and that is all you knew. For others, like myself, hunting was not an easy task, and definitely to this day takes continual practice.

Patience and Determination

In becoming a hunter, it has definitely taken patience, hard work, and determination. Please believe me when I tell you that I have not arrived and it is definitely not something that I mastered overnight. It is a continual learning process and I am evolving daily. There are so many benefits that hunting offers, and I can truly say that I am so fortunate and grateful to have been mentored by in my book, one of the greatest, and that is my father-in-law. Again, he told me, that he would turn me into a country girl.

It wasn’t something that happened right away. I sat on the sidelines for almost 10 years before showing interest or giving it a try. Hunting has afforded me the opportunity to learn the habits, and movements of the game I am hunting, respect the game, and hunt ethically, enjoy and have a deeper appreciation of nature and the outdoors, and so much more. What truly matters to me at the end of the day is whether I have harvested or not, I can walk away with my head held high knowing that I have used ethical tactics and had a most enjoyable experience.

My Passion Desired Knowledge

The passion that I have developed for hunting has definitely encouraged me to gain as much knowledge and incite that I can, and share what I have learned with other young ladies and women who are interested in getting started.

It’s not always an easy task, but we must start somewhere. Hunting is a fun sport and also a commitment that takes one’s interest, time, and patience. Always remember that every hunter in the field started with zero knowledge as a newbie.

9 Steps to get Started in Hunting

If you have interest and patience, you also can be a hunter. You may have never hunted before but are interested, then stay with me to gain a clearer idea about how to begin. In this article, we will briefly discuss some basic essential steps and skills that will assist you in cultivating your skills in becoming a hunter. 

1. Hunter Education

 I am so grateful I had someone to show me the ropes, and serve as a mentor to me through the process before taking a formal required Hunter Education course. If you do not have a mentor, right away, don’t allow that to hinder you. Before starting hunting, you are required to learn the rules and regulations as required by your state. Most states provide hunting licenses only if you have taken a proper hunting course or hunting safety course. 

After completing this hunter education and safety course and passing a test, you will earn a  certificate. Using that certificate, you can acquire your hunting license. In the course, you’ll learn how to handle firearms safely, ethical shot placement, rules, and regulation of your state regarding hunting and many other things. 

Your learning does not stop with a certificate. Every day you’ll learn new techniques and tactics related to hunting. You should try to learn new ways of hunting that lead you to a safe and successful hunting experience. Try communicating and connecting with other hunters who have more experience, read related books, magazines, and blogs to learn more. I can tell you that you will truly learn by doing. 

2. Hunting Seasons

Every game has its own time to be hunted and there is no exception. The best season for hunting is from late summer to late winter. Some states allow hunting even in early summer and spring as well.

The duration of the hunting season can vary depending on the animal you want to hunt. For some animals they allow you to hunt for some weeks and a few months. The fish and game department fixes the hunting season accordingly to manage the proper wildlife population. Just imagine that if we were allowed to hunt for the whole year, there would be a possibility that we may harm the wildlife ecosystem and as a result, the animal could become extinct. To avoid such situations, the fish and game department set restrictions and limits on how many can be harvested within a season.

The hunting season is divided depending upon the game type and also the type of weapon. Those who hunt using bow and archery get the opportunity to hunt first then muzzleloaders and rifle hunting

3. Hunting Laws

Every state has some of its own rules and regulations as related to hunting. These rules cannot be neglected. The rules vary from state to state. To know the rules of your state, you can contact the fish and game department office or you can also visit their website to know the specific rules of your state.

Generally, these hunting rules give you a clear idea about the zone where you can hunt, the specific time of a day when you can hunt, the weapon you can use to hunt, and the weapon you cannot use for hunting in that area.

Most of the rules of hunting should be known to you as you have taken the hunting education. While they give you an education about hunting they also give you a clear idea of the hunting rules. For being extra sure you should check the fish and game department website before hunting to know the rules properly.

4. Proper Clothing and Gear

Wearing the right clothing and carrying the necessary gear is highly important before entering the wild. As women, yes we like to be cute, and definitely clothing for women hunters have come a long way. I have definitely learned while being in the woods, that I am looking for the comfort and warmth Here is some basic gear that every hunter should have just to name a few (the list does not include your firearm and ammo)-

· Sturdy hunting boots and warm socks

· Hunting jacket and pants

· Warm hunting gloves and hat

· Blaze orange clothing (depending on laws and season)

· Warm inner layer clothing

· Hunting backpack

· communication device (cell phone or radio)

· Maps or GPS

· Extra batteries

· Fixed-blade knife

· Pocket knife or multi-too

· Small first aid kit

· Emergency whistle

· High-energy food (protein bar or trail mix)

· Poncho or rain gear

· Fire starter

· Toilet paper

· Nylon rope or cord

· Wet wipes

5. Firearm Safety and Maintenance

While handling a gun, the most important part is definitely safety. 

In the hunter education course, the instructor will discuss the basics of firearms. That process is only the beginning. Once you have the full knowledge of the basics, you can go to any gun range training center for further instruction. 

Maintenance is an integral part of firearm safety. You need to make sure that your gun is safe and is also fully operational before you go hunting each and every time. 

The firearm that you use for hunting, should always be cleaned and maintained properly. It also should be inspected both before and after the hunt and the shooting session. Your firearm should always be kept in a safe dry place from harm’s way. In some states, it is highly recommended and mandatory for a gun to be placed in a safe or gun lock as required by law.

6. Learning to Shoot

It can definitely be intimidating if you have never handled a gun before. I started out learning how to handle a gun by practicing with a BB Gun and gradually progressed. Everyone is different and some learn faster than others. For me, I had to learn how to handle and get comfortable with the process.

The instructor from the hunter education course will briefly discuss gun safety and the basics of how to operate a gun. You have to practice patience with the gun you plan to use and you need to have full focus on it. You also need to take time for continual practice. The target or gun range is a great place to start learning the fundamentals of shooting and how to properly handle a firearm for hunting.

7. Hunting Tactics

Whenever you first begin hunting, you can field awkward, clueless, and even unsure of yourself or your next move. But no worries about that. Begin to put what you have learned into practice, and your movement will begin to feel more natural. You will always have to hone in on your skills on a continual basis whether you hunt, stalk, game call, or sit on a tree stand.

All these things come with practice and time. You have to spend more and more time on the ground to gain good skills. But the smart way to gain good skills is to learn from a more experienced hunter.

 Whether it is a family member, neighbor, or someone you know. Or you can even hire a guide. You can also join the membership of any club that is near to you. There you find veteran hunters with years of experience who are willing and able to take you under their wing. They’ll be absolutely thrilled to share their experience and the knowledge that they have gained with you.

8. Field Dressing and Cleaning Your Kill

The purpose of your hunting the game is to have meat for consumption, or for showcase purposes. Depending on your situation, that is how you decide where you need to prepare the hunted animal for consumption after the kill.

One of the most important things that you need to know is before you begin, you shouldn’t sit the game for too long. This reduces the risk of contamination through bacteria and other pathogens. 

The process of dressing and cleaning your harvest differs from one animal to another. It also depends on your purpose of hunting. This is quite true if you want to keep that as a game trophy or sell the meat. There’s 3 basic steps in it. They are- field dressing, skinning, and butchering.

Removing the internal organs of the animal which was killed in the first part. This is known as the field dressing. You should do that as soon as possible while you are still on the field or the hunting ground. After that, you can take the kill to your home to complete the process. You can also take the body to a facility such as a processor where they’ll finish the whole process for you and provide you with cuts of meat by your specified choice.

9. Continue to learn and become better

Learn from your experience in the hunting field and use those experiences to become a better hunter over time. To learn new techniques of hunting, you should read hunting books, magazines, blogs, and also see hunting videos.

These will help you to gain more knowledge about hunting and use it to continue to build upon your new acquired skill. Continue practicing with your firearm to improve your aim. A clean shot is very important in hunting and aids you in becoming a better ethical hunter.