New to Hunting - Any Suggestions?

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olds442man

New member
I am 50 and only go turned on to firearms about 2 years ago. Bought my first rifle Jan 2006, shotgun Jan 2007 and handgun Apr 2007

I am going on my first hunting trip in Novemeber in Craig Colorado for mule deer. We will use the spot and stalk technique. I am going with a great group of guys a few that are long time hunters. In spite of that, are there any suggestions? I am a little concerned about the field dressing aspect of the hunt.
 
Good for you.
I am going with a great group of guys a few that are long time hunters
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This will be a huge help.
Concerned about field dressing you say? Not as bad as you may think. Just pretend its a big trout ;) Plus the guys you are going with, at least one of them will probably want to show off his field dressing skills in front of the new guy. You will probably have all the help you need and more. There are also some good deer dressing instructions in various books and online. I have seen them with pictures.
Good luck to you.
 
Never too late to learn, welcome to the addiction of hunting!!

I got started late (late 20's) and never had been taught by my dad, so had probably the same learning curve you are looking at.

Field dressing is not rocket science, but, in my opinion isn't something you can learn by watching a video or reading either.

My learning went video/reading, "helping" (holding a leg while watching closely) and having it explained, doing it with guidance, then solo. The guy I hunt with makes it look super easy, but has been doing it forever. I am not fast, but get the job done.

If you are hunting with a partner (experienced) and want to get the extra practice, offer to do his. After I had "graduated" and wanted more practice, I did all 4 taken by our camp one year. We had radio check-ins every hour, so when someone got one down, I went to them. I don't think anyone would turn down someone (trusted enough to hunt with) who offered to dress thier deer.

I guess the only other suggestion is watch/help as many different people as you can do the process. I think everyone has thier own little twist/trick/secret for some of the more difficult tasks.

Good hunting!!
 
Ever done any hiking in high country? Lots of lowlanders get up there and run into serious health problems. Heart attacks are a major item for those not in good physical condition. "There ain't any air in the air, up there."

Get. In. Shape. Or, stay in shape and improve your wind as much as you can. :)

I started in with centerfire rifles in 1950, taking up loading for a .30-'06. So, I'm sorta biased. :) Anyhow, I'd use a 180-grain bullet, sighted in for two inches high at 100 yards. That puts you six inches low at 300 yards.

Lightweight binoculars. I'd use something like 8x30.

My 2¢,

Art
 
+1 to everything Art said.

Get in the best possible shape you can before you go or you will be up there in altitude. Stick close to the guys that have hunted the area before and been successful. Good quality glass is a must for searching for deer. Get as much practice as possible shooting from as many positions as you can.

Bring plenty of water, topographical map, and a small survival kit in case you don't make it off the mountain before dark.
 
I am a little concerned about the field dressing aspect of the hunt
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Butchering critters is always going to be a little nasty, but it's not so bad. Have somebody who knows how to do it show you the technique. You don't want to do any cutting until somebody gives you some pointers or you may ruin some meat.
 
Welcome to the sport. I love hunting, the scenery, the solitude, the companionship, the comraderey, the firearms, the food, the camping...well you get the picture.

Great advice and mine will mirror some you have already received.

Practice, first from the bench to get sighted in and build confidence, then from field positions. I would recommend no less than 100 rounds (in small amounts) before you go.

Get in shape, absolutly essential.

Pick a good set of boots, break them in and get comfortable with them. Quality socks at least two pairs per day are important also.

Optics are essential, good (as good as you can afford) compact binoculars are a must, I really like the 8X32. As good a rifle scope as you can afford.

A good pack that has the ability to comfortably pack what you need. Load it wear it adjust your load, take out what you don't have to have.

A good first aid kit.

A quality knife. Most people think large for hunting, but in reality a 4 inch blade is as big as you need and my two favorites have great steel, good handles a quality sheath and are no more than 3.5 inches in length.

Most importantly take your frinds out to dinner and pick their brains, look at their gear, what works for them. Their gear may not work for you but I guarantee you can learn from their load out.

Good luck. As for field dressing, pick up a good book, read about how to do it, then when the time comes dive in with a friend who can help guide and teach you. It really is not hard, it just takes a little time to learn.
 
First thing to do is go buy your lefthanded smokechanger, right now. After a long day of hunting, you will want to sit around the campfire and swap stories about the day's hunt. The problem is, the smoke from the camp fire keeps blowing in your face. If you have a smoke changer, it will re-direct the smoke away from you. I think Cabela's sells them...

Art is right about being in shape. If you do feel chest pains or have trouble breathing, you may be having a heart attack. Immediately bend over and grab your ankles. It won't sop the heart attack but it will be easier to load you on a horse if you die...
 
One more thing about field dressing.

This may be obvious but, make sure your knife is razor shape before you head out. You wouldn't believe how much easier it is to gut a deer with a razor sharp knife as compared to a 'sharp' knife.
 
+1 On the sharp knife.




One other thing that no one has mentioned here, that I use especially if there is no water near by. Surgical gloves!

You can buy a box at just about any local drug store. No more blood under the nails and hard scrubbing. Also a lot more sanitary. Just take them off and throw them away (make sure you pack them out). Then wallah, clean hands.

Am I the only one that uses these?
 
I'll second some other field dressing suggestions here.

Definitely have someone who knows how to do it coach you. Have them stand over your shoulder and give you step by step instructions. Carry a sharp knife with a blade no more than 4-5 inches in length. Sharp is what matters, not size. Size just makes it unwieldy.

Rubber gloves are a great idea. I like those kits that have the shoulder length plastic gloves that you rubber band around your upper arms. you then put a pair of latex gloves over the top of them. Gives you good grip and control while keeping both your hands and arms blood free. If I dress one without them I have blood to the elbows. :)
 
It may be over-kill, but I usually have 2 sharp 4" knives, one with a gut hook, with me - plus my pocket small old-timer for the delicate operation...
 
I am usually the camp butcher and have field dressed many a critter. If your going with a group that has hunting experience, just let it be known and ask for some help ahead of time. Maybe agree to wash a few extra camp dishes or something for the help of someone with experience to do your field dressing for the first time.
From my past experiences, there has been many a time when I wish the hunter had just waited for me to do the work than spattering the gut contents all over inside. And, should your kill be something you want to mount, the taxidermist will thank you.
Just my .02 on field dressing- but like they said, be in shape to begin with!
 
I like a 2 1/2 inch knife for the guttin' part. A small knife is much easier to get to the windpipe, and easier when trimming the connective tissue. I use a larger knife for butchering.

PS, don't buy that BS about drinkin' the blood (but do eat the liver if that floats yer boat.) Go slow and try not to pop anything with contents.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=uqm1DA2nyvw
 
+++ on the short knife. Not only is a long,heavy knife more of a pain to carry in the field, it doesn't do you any good when cleaning.

I use 4 implements when cleaning.
1. The first is plain box cutter utility knife. It will always be sharper than your hunting knife and if it gets dull, turn the blade around. If that gets dull, throw that blade away and put in another. I use that for any cutting of the skin that I have to do. On deer, I could use my skinning knife, but on hogs, I'd rather ruin the disposable blade.
2. The bulk of the work is done with an ordinary 2" pocket knife. I do all the skinning with it. It is short enough to really maneuver. It is also good for reaching into the gut cavity and cutting stuff left over from field dressing.
3. To cut through bone, I found by accident that an ordinary coping saw works beautifully. It was handy in my garage and I grabbed it. Worked so good that it is all I use now.
4. For separating large pieces of meat, I use either a Buck with a 5" blade or a commercial fish fillet knife.
 
I went on a hog hunt with a group of 10 hunters. We did well and all got a pig. Most of the guys were contractors. after we hung, skinned and cooled the pigs, one of the guys brought out a Sawzall. We quartered all the pigs using the Sawzall. They all fit into smaller coolers. Pretty cool.

Also, a recommendation for your hog meat. I used to cut the meat into chops, hams, steaks, roasts then make the leftover into sausage. The sausage turned out so good that all I save now are the loins and get the rest ground up into sausage. If the hog is lean, I mix some 25%-30% ground beef in with the pork. Damn but that is good eating...
 
As always Art has some pretty solid advice, and there are some pretty good tips here. I have no idea what the the weather is like where you hunt, but having spent *some* time in the southern alps can suggest A Few other things:

Good sleeping bag. Aside from your boots, this is what you spend your money on. You can get wet. You can get cold. But, with a decent sleeping bag, you wont care.

Boots. Buy a decent pair- and DECENT socks. Wool. And wear them as often as you can before hand in all conditions. I once didnt break in a pair of Meindels before a thar hunt and was in a blistered way by day 2. Having said that, now they are broken in they are the most comfortable boots I have ever owned.

A good pack and day pack. Ensure the pack sits low enough so the weight can sit on your hips, not your shoulders. I have a British Bergen I swapped from a Brit SAS dude and it is an awesome pack. huge kidney belt, and it sits on your hips. Top notch.

A GPS. Cant beat em. But they can still fail , so get a map, and learn how to orintate map to ground, and march on a bearing. It will take all of 5 minutes to do that.

Gutting- I absoltly hate it, and am a bit squeemish about it, so dont feel bad!
 
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