Hunting is a sport that has been around for centuries. While deer hunting was once used as a necessity in order to retrieve food for the family, in modern-day, hunting is considered a luxury sport. It’s something that people will do with their friends and family to have a bonding experience. Over the last few years thanks to TV shows, YouTube channels, and social media, hunting has become far more popular.
While not everyone can have the family hunting experience and grow up with it, for many, this sport grows an interest in adulthood. So there is completely nothing wrong with being a first-timer and wanting to get started on this fun sport. This helpful guide is going to lay out all the first-timer hunting tips that you’re going to need!
Hunting Safety 101
Hunting is a sport that can be practiced in many different ways. Some people enjoy hunting animals while others hunt for fish (which is essentially just fishing). No matter the type of hunting you’re interested in, there are some safety tips to keep in mind. The following is a list of safety tips for first-time hunters:
- Make sure you have the right equipment and clothing for your hunt. This can also include wearing Body Armor Packages in case you’re going to be in a highly-populated area with other hunters (as accidents have the potential of happening).
- Always wear bright colors and use bright lights to make sure you're visible to other hunters and animals. Ideally, this is going to be neon colors like orange.
- If using a crossbow instead of a rifle, make sure you know how to maintain it and understand the parts of a crossbow.
- Keep your firearm unloaded until it's time to shoot and never point your gun at anything but an animal or target. Also remember, do not use these hunting rifles for home defense. They are very powerful, and their shells can go through walls, so they could put your family in danger.
- Use a tree stand if possible instead of sitting on the ground or on a fallen tree trunk because hunters often forget about their surroundings when they're sitting down, which can lead to an accident.
- Scoping out your game can be tremendously helpful in getting the shot accurate. It’s helpful to have a red dot site and shop where there is a trijicon sro in stock.
Hunting can be a dangerous sport if you don't take the proper precautions. So, you’re going to need to be careful. Safety is incredibly important.
The Fundamentals of Hunting Gear
When you go hunting, you need to be prepared for a variety of different weather conditions. A hunter needs to have the right type of clothing and gear for the weather, terrain, and game they are hunting. For example, if they are hunting in deep snow, they will need snowshoes, gaiters, or crampons. Hunting gear is an important part of the hunting experience, and this alone can enhance your experience. Unless you‘re wanting to go the old hunter-gatherer route, it‘s ideal to have a weapon that can reach long ranges.
There are a variety of different types of hunting gear that can be used to hunt for the game depending on the type of animal being hunted, so this needs to be taken into consideration too. The first thing that you need to know when going out hunting is what gear is appropriate for your specific type of hunt. You will want to wear layers so that if it gets cold, you can remove them, and if it gets warmer, add them back on. Usually, hunting season for animals such as deer will be in the colder months.
You should also invest in a good pair of gloves because they are helpful when handling firearms and they protect your hands from getting cold. But, even if you’re not using a firearm, but instead opting to using a crossbow, you’re still going to need to think of the protection of yourself and your hands.
Finding the Right Location
Hunting season is at its peak from October to December, and depending on where you live, and where you hold your permit, you can only hunt during certain times of the year. It is not easy to find the right location so that you can enjoy your hunting experience. Each city and region will have its own rules about this. But, you can’t just hunt anywhere. You’ll need to have permission or some type of authorization. While hunting may not be what it was centuries ago, this current form is best as it allows stability in wildlife populations and the balance of allowing hunters to have fun.
Keep a Good Distance from Animals
Hunters should be aware of what time of day to hunt, in order to have the best chance of success. If they sit in a deer stand during the day, they will not be able to see as far into the woods as they would at night. They also need to consider how high they are sitting, because deer are more likely to spot them if they're up high. Overall, you’re going to have to keep a safe distance from animals. This isn’t just to not scare away the animals, but also to ensure your safety.