General Hunting Question

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dburkhead

New member
I'm just getting started at hunting. (Went on my first squirrel hunt this past Saturday--planning on going again this upcoming Saturday).

At the moment, the only things legal are squirrels and frogs. I'm pretty much not interested in frogs, so "what to hunt" is pretty much decided for me right now. However, soon, a number of other seasons will be opening: Ruffed Grouse and Deer Early Archery on Oct 1 (this is the only archery season I list here because I'm not ready to get into archery hunting at this time, but I list this one because I have tentative invites to "tag along"); Fox, Coyote, and Fall Turkey Firearm on Oct 15; and Pheasant, Quail, and Rabbit on Nov 7, and then, of course, "the big one" deer firearm on Nov 15.

A couple of questions:

Is it better, as a beginner to stick to one or two game animals or better to sample a variety? I'm doing squirrel now and I'm planning on trying deer when the season rolls around. Would I be well advised to consider others or just stick to those, or also try some others for variety?

Note that I don't have hunting dogs and none of my "social circle" hunts so except for what I get on groups like this one, I don't have much in the way of mentoring, advice, or hunting companions. So far, my weapons of choice are a Ruger 10/22 with a scope and a Mossberg 500 12 ga with both a vent rib barrel (screw in chokes for Mod, Imp. Cyl. and Full choke) and a cantilever rifled barrel (scope just arrived, installed, and boresighted with a laser, but not taken out to shoot yet).
 
I think it would be a little overwhelming to try to start hunting lots of different species all in the same year. I would certainly try the fall turkey hunting and deer seasons. Fox and Coyote don't do anything for me since you can't eat them. (I guess you could but I don't know anybody who does.) If you don't have dogs, rabbit and quail are difficult to hunt. I've always wanted to hunt ringnecks but we don't have them where I live so I can't comment on them.

If doves are considered game animals in your state, it doesn't get much more fun than that. Check your DNR regs to see if they have any public dove fields. The guns you have will work fine with the proper load and choke for anything you mentioned.
 
The more time you spend in the woods observing the animals and there habits the better hunter you will become. You will learn to note time of day weather conditions with spotting different game. Don't limit yourself to 1 or 2
Game animals but go for it all, then with time you will determine what you like and want to hunt. Don't get discouraged if you come home empty handed. I have hunted for 30 years and did not get a dear last year. Remember to try to always use what you harvest, meat or pelt. Vermin are for sport though. Safe hunting, and always save a shell for the trip back to the truck.
 
No time spent in the woods learning is wasted. I'm a big proponent of small game hunting as a trainer. Learning how to sit and listen for squirrels and then sneak up on them is a skill that will pay big dividends when you go to hunt bigger game.
 
All of the advice so far has been good. The only thing missing is a long range rifle. You don't say where you are so maybe this isn't a requirement, may not be legal in your area and maybe isn't right for a beginner.

I'd recommend finding a mentor. Spending a lot of time at your local gunshop is a good step towards finding one. Joining a local club would be another.
 
I'm in Indiana. What's legal to take with rifle is rather limited.

I have a Mosin Nagant 91/30 at the moment although it's not planned for use as a hunting piece. I plan to get an AR15 type rifle when next the Indy1500 rolls around in October. (A friend of mine is a dealer there and says he can help get me fixed up with the components for a decent build at a good price.) And at some point I'd like to add a decent .308 or 30-06 to the mix. Still, between them the shotgun and the 10/22 can kill anything legal to hunt in Indiana.
 
USe what you have...

for squirrel used the 10/22, as long as you can place all ten rounds into a small OJ concentrate lid @ 50yds. Shotguns good use standard velocity loads of #6 shot.
Use the squirrel season as a primer for deer, I found that my best days were when a light drizzle had or is occurring(overcast), squirrels seem to be more active the instead of bright days, then they seem to be active early light or before dusk.
Use your ears and listen for the scampering/ scurrying on the woodlands floor.
Listen for the intermittent pattering of nut husk hitting the floor, or the barks (note: the Fox barks,the Gray mews like a cat) of the squirrels.
Look with peripheral vision for a shake of a tail, or the swaying of leafy branch where there's no wind.
Tagalong for the archery deer, and LISTEN!!!

Good Luck and enjoy.
 
I'd skip over the AR if you want to be taken seriously among hunters, especially the older ones like me. Tack the AR to the end of your list.

I've hunted your area, Dad was from Indy and Mom is from Crawfordsville. I have relatives scattered all over the state. When you go looking for access a rolling block will get you much farther than a AR. Traditional folks like traditional weapons and looking like the Terminator is not going to score a lot of points.

There are lots of sweet rifles out there for little money, I find deals at gun shows almost every time that I go. I'd suggest that you get a tack driver in one of the middle calibers.
 
Don't look down your nose at frogs. Little buggers are tasty.:D

Hunt up some bunnies if you like your squirrel adventures. You could still-hunt in an area of known rabbit activity with the .22 or go kick a few brushpiles and see what runs out the other side if you want to swing a shotgun.
 
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Reading books is not the same as being in the woods.Go outside and do it!!
But,there is a lot to be gained from reading the right stuff.
Do a search for Midway USA,they sell a lot of books.Look for "The Old Man and The Boy" by Robert Ruark.
Names like Nash Buckingham and Havilah Babcock are floating up,I can't even remember exactly what they wrote.Read some of these old guys and you will soak up a certain food for your soul that will mentor you in its own way.Karamojo Bell's books.Maybe some other folks can make suggestions.
 
Swampghost said:
I'd skip over the AR if you want to be taken seriously among hunters, especially the older ones like me. Tack the AR to the end of your list.
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The AR is not really intended as a hunting rifle any more than my Mosin Nagant is. It's just next on my general list of firearms to acquire. A long range "hunting" rifle is lower on my list for the simple reason that there's really nothing to use one on in Indiana. The only rifles permitted for deer, for example are muzzleloaders and rifles in "pistol calibers" with some definitions based on bullet and cartridge size setting what constitutes a pistol caliber for that purpose.
 
+1 to tagging along for an archery hunt. If the other guy gets one, you get all the excitement, get to help field dress, etc. Another big upside is the more you are around animals, the less "buck fever" when YOU are hunting. I know when I started, I was realy rushing everything. I finally realized I had more time than I thought to get it right.
 
Use your ears and listen for the scampering/ scurrying on the woodlands floor.
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Above all else- be safe and PROTECT YOUR HEARING! 16 months in Iraq and less than stellar ear protection habits over the past 40 years hasn't been kind to my hearing. Lord how I would love to be able to hear woods, pasture, and plains sounds like I used to.
 
The more time you can spend in the woods, the better off you'll be. When I first started hunting, I jumped into every thing. Squirrel, rabbit, turkey, deer, dove. I only hunt turkey and deer now, but learning to stalk things and learning how to make a shot are important. Rabbit and squirrel will give you lots of chances to make shots.
 
+1! I would hunt what interests me. The list grows over the years and as said, the more time you spend in the field, the better. It is not JUST about hunting, it's being there and toting a rilfe or shotgun and seeing wildlife that makes it both interesting and fun.

Woodchuck hunting can be a lot of fun if you have a series of farms that will allow you to hunt on them. I used to spend many a day chuck hunting until the grass got to tall to see them. The AR could be useful for this if it's legal in IN. Me, I prefer a bolt action as rapid fire is not a requirement. Savage makes some nice single shot centerfires that are pretty reasonably priced.
 
Hunting squirrel or anything else(thats legal) with your 22 will be very exciting. Be very carefull of your target and background. A 22 riccochets very badly and can travel approx. 1 mile. If your squirrel season overlaps deer archery season, remember you may have a camo`ed deer hunter sitting up in a tree stand with squirrels running all around him. Nothing will ruin a hunt faster than shooting another hunter out of his stand:eek:. Been there,had it done to me:mad: Also whatever weapon you choose to hunt with learn the ballistics and characteristics of the load your hunting with. Keeps you and everyone else in the woods safer. Have fun!
 
Your squirrel hunting could very well put you on some good deer sign. Learn some woods skills while squirrel hunting. If there is a lot of deer sign, there would be nothing wrong with putting up a stand and giving it a try when the deer season opens.

There is nothing wrong with a 12 guage for deer.
 
I agree with the others, whatever gets you more time in the field. Don't pass up an opportunity but I'd suggest you lean more towards small game because you can do more of it and take more of it home to the pot.
 
Rifles in pistol calibers? A lever .44 Mag will get you a deer,and ,if legal,there is a Puma 92 clone to be had in .454 Casull.It won't shoot as heavy of bullets as a 45-70 but it will give you the horsepower of old blackpowder 45-70 loads.Interestingly,the 1886 Win in 45-90 had a very slow twist and was designed for lighter 300 gr slugs.The .454 Casull from a rifle comes pretty close.It will make venison!I don't know the Puma well enough to say how good a rifle it is.
 
I believe it is more than just simply "rifle in pistol calibers". I believe there is also an overall case length restriction.
 
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