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Advice for new deer hunter
natureboy
Member Posts: 4 ✭✭
Hello,
I am a beginning deer hunter. This was the second season I hunted. Unfortunately I did not grow up in a hunting family (I'm now 27) and don't have much access to experienced hunters, so I am picking it up as I go along. I was wondering if anyone has suggestions about good books to help me.
First, I would like recommendations for instructional/reference books about deer hunting. (I hunt white-tail in Wisconsin.)
Second, for ethical and practical reasons, it is important to me to cleanly kill the deer with one shot, so I am interested in improving my marksmanship. I learned how to shoot a .22 in Boy Scouts, so I feel that I have the basics basics down, but I would like to continue to improve. Are there any good books or videos that teach form, shooting positions, trigger control, etc?
Thank you.
I am a beginning deer hunter. This was the second season I hunted. Unfortunately I did not grow up in a hunting family (I'm now 27) and don't have much access to experienced hunters, so I am picking it up as I go along. I was wondering if anyone has suggestions about good books to help me.
First, I would like recommendations for instructional/reference books about deer hunting. (I hunt white-tail in Wisconsin.)
Second, for ethical and practical reasons, it is important to me to cleanly kill the deer with one shot, so I am interested in improving my marksmanship. I learned how to shoot a .22 in Boy Scouts, so I feel that I have the basics basics down, but I would like to continue to improve. Are there any good books or videos that teach form, shooting positions, trigger control, etc?
Thank you.
Comments
After you have shot at orange squares for a while, it is good to get a deer silhouette. You can buy them, I make them from a big cardboard box.
I just do the body with neck and head, and legs.
Then, I draw on the silhouette the outline of the lungs.
This is what you are shooting at in the woods and it is great practice.
Go to the range, set your cardboard deer at 100 yards, take one shot and go home, just like deer hunting. You can look at that hole in the deer, and if good, you know you would have killed the deer. It is great for visualizing how the hunt will go.
Sorry don't know the names of any books.
I bought a book called Whitetail Wisdom by Daniel E schmidt. Looks pretty good, we'll see if it helps.
I might add I HAVE gutted small game before, so the deer should be.....similar, just bigger, but am clueless on butchering. I will hopefully get some pointers next weekend but if I get one tomorrow, the local butchers will dress it professionally for $50 to $100 depending on location and cuts desired.
Welcome to the forum, and welcome to my addiction; white-tail chasing....hunting. Though I have read many good books on both hunting and shooting, titles elude me now. But for advise on shooting, there is no better than practice, practice, practice. Practice not only with your hunting rifle, but because it is so much less costly, practice with a .22 and/or pellet rifle. Buy an accurate .22/pellet rifle and set it up similar to your deer gun. (scoped/open sights) I have a CO2 pellet pistol and pellet trap that I use to practice with shooting down the hall while watching TV.
Wonderful advice! Practice Practice Practice!! But I recommend most of the practice with the firearm you are going to use! A man that knows his gun is a man that is going to get the job done! But practicing with a rimfire is the most efficent way to get comfortable and develop your personal shooting habits. As far as becoming a good deer hunter, Ha good luck! What is a GOOD deer hunter! I don't care what people say, 70% of it is luck, being in the right place at the right time! 20% of it is knowing your prey and the other 10% is experience gathered over years of doing it with joy. Patience is the key! Read, watch and talk! you would be suprised of what you can learn from people. And here is the big kicker! You don't have to invest a lot of $$$ to be successful at it. I hunt white-tails with a 12 gauge here in Indiana and I have a whole $275 in my Mossberg 500 combo. I don't use a lot of camo, because deer are mostly color blind, but I am big in to covering my scent which is a must! Hope I could help a little! Good Luck and Good Hunting!
BTW, the practice advice is one of the cardinal rules. You owe it to the game to be accurate.
always remember the most important part of any hunt is comeing home safe , so always be very carefull , know your target and whats beyond it , never shoot at a sound or just a flash of brown
try to find some one to go with you if you can , join a gun club and get to know the guys there , most of them will be hunters also so you can ask them questions , most will be willing to help
Good luck and enjoy the woods, it's as much fun as the kill
Lots of books on the subject of cutting up your own meat.
No need to do all the fancy store cuts either just cut it into pieces you can handle in the size of roasts or whatever you like. Make it all into little steaks if you choose, or buy a small grinder and grind it all up.
Please don't grind the tenderloins up into burger though, they will be above and below the spine and they don't call them tenderloins for nothing........ Most of the time they can be pulled out in one piece.....
No need to cut through the bones either, and it's actually better if you don't.
I like to hang mine for a few weeks if the weather will allow. Some don't think much of that but it works for me unless the daytime temps go over 40 degrees, and then it's time to start cutting.........