New to Hunting - Any Suggestions?

It is fun to make sausages from your kill and its the only way I found that being in the US I can make my own lincolnshire style sausages with pork shoulder, pork belly, bread crumbs and sage. Its best if you also grow your own sage. I just can't cope with the polish and german sausage etc that they have in the supermarkets.
 
New to Hunting - Any Suggestions?
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Don't shoot the other hunters. There are too many "accidents" where hunters shoot other folks (usually other hunters) because they got excited in glimpsing a potential prey and shot at a sound or movement, or took a shot that they never should have taken that resulted in striking somebody down range.

Since you will be spotting and stalking, it is that much critical that you know exactly where all your hunting buddies are as their positions are not going to remain fixed.

It sounds almost silly, but a person is more likely to be shot by another hunter if that person is hunting with a group of hunters. Deer hunting is apparently a lot more dangerous than bird hunting in this regard.
 
Ok, there is a lot of good general knowledge here.

Noticed you said you were hunting in Craig Colorado so I thought I would chime in with some of my own. Especially since you didn't indicate how experienced you are with the area, and with the weather out here.

1) Carry a good canteen. Drink deep in the morning before leaving the camp and make sure its full before you leave. CO has some hellacious weather during the season and it'll go from cool and dry to hot and dry in a heartbeat sometimes.

2) Carry a decent survival kit (including first aid supplies), including 2 different ways to make a fire. Yeah, you'll be hunting with a group, but still bad things happen. YOu could get caught by a sudden cloudy day turned blizzard, and having a way to warm up is a good idea.

3) Good gloves. Like socks I believe these should be wool. Neoprene if you have to go synthetic. Both keep your hands warmish when wet.

4) Wear layers.

5) Take it slow. Especially if you aren't used to the altitude. If you find yourself starting to breathe hard, take a breather. I don't know how many hikers/hunters I've seen that have failed to do that, and ruined what would otherwise be a good trip.

6) If you have it, carry a small handgun and get a small game license. Towards the end of the day, potting a grouse, or a rabbit (when they are in season) goes a long day towards making a long hot, hard day with no deer seen a great day of hunting.

As for field dressing... Well I've got my way of doing it, everyone else has their way. +1 to the "sharp knife". Boots, well if you don't have a pair now, buy one today and start wearing them around the house/in the garage/while doing yardwork. They don't have to be insulated, but if they aren't make sure you can still get them on without being too tight while wearing thick pair of wool socks and a thinner pair of cotton (I like tight thin cotton socks under wook, simply to keep abrasion down).
 
Based on my last experience with a new hunter:

1. You can't buy your way to a successful hunt. Spending thousands of dollars on gear won't help you get a deer. You don't need a range finder, special electronic ear protection, 18 million calls, and/or other gadgets. Most of that stuff will just weigh you down and make noise when you move. Whatever you do, don't brag about how much your uber-special rifle and super scope (and the rest of your gear) cost. Not saying you'll do this, but man....the last newbie we hunted with was driving me crazy with price quotes. And a beat up old Marlin lever gun will take an animal just as well as the super-special Weatherby that cost thousands of dollars.

2. Know your rifle and scope before you hunt. That means actually shoot it before the morning of the hunt. If you ask your friends how the safety works or how to load the gun the morning of the hunt, they'll be really nervous! :p

2.5. Make SURE that you sight that scope in before the morning of the hunt. I don't care if some "gunsmith" from the chain store where you purchased the rifle and scope told you that bore-sighting will make the rifle "close enough."

3. You have to be quiet and not move. For example, runny nose? Let it run (don't move those hands). Find a good spot near some good cover and sit there, and do your best not to move. Take some long-lasting candy (like Jolly Ranchers) to help keep your throat from getting dry while you sit there.

4. Gore tex is your friend. Waterproof and breathes. Good gloves and good socks/boots are also necessary. Don't try and break in those boots during the hunt, because blisters will result.

5. You are in the mountains, so you'll need a good survival kit, extra jacket, socks, etc. The GPS sounds like a good idea (that's one gadget that's good for a "directionally challenged" person such as myself).

6. Get set up in an area fairly close to a more experienced hunting buddy, so if you do shoot one, he or she can moosey down to your area and help you gut and clean. See if you can find a good spot with a make-shift rest (tree branch, log, etc.) -- see below.

7. If you see one, wait for a good broad-side shot. Trying to hurry a shot will make you miss (ask me how I know :mad:). Use a rest whenever possible. If you miss and the animal runs off, don't move! There may be other animals just out of sight in the same area. Wait for them to show themselves.

That's the best I can do for right now. Good luck, and have fun! :)

Edited to add: spot and stalk? O.K. Get a good pair of binocs, and follow the lead of the more experienced hunters. Sorry I didn't initially notice that part of your post.
 
Thanks for some more great suggestions.

I am just getting back to the gym to get in shape. I know the altitude will be difficult. I plan to look for boots this weekend.

I just got my rifle back together. I replaced the synthetic stock on my Savage 111 30-06 with a custom wood stock. I need to get the scope sighted in as some of you have suggested. I plan to get to the range at least once a month between now and Nov for practice.

As for a canteen, I have a hydration pack that holds 2.5 liters.
 
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