Art Eatman
Staff in Memoriam
Most Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land is open to shooting and hunting. Check a local BLM office for details and maps.
New to hunting
- Thread starter TheScout
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buck460XVR
New member
Since you're 17, I certainly would. Maybe you can get him to go with you. Seems Arizona doesn't require hunter education for anyone over 14 years of age. Still, I would take a class somewhere, even if it's just online. Just having a hunting license and jumping a fence does not give you permission to hunt private land. While public land is a different matter, you are responsible to know who owns the land you are hunting on. Many states require you to have written permission from the landowner.
No reason to excuse yourself for asking questions. Much better than going off into the field with no idea of what you're doing. Every one of us here was in your position at one time. We had to ask questions too, take a course....or learn the hard way. You are approaching this as a responsible hunter. Continue on that path.
The absolute best advise I could give to a new young hunter is to find a good mentor. If you have no one in your family that hunts, finding a mentor will be a little tougher - but not impossible. If there is decent hunting in your area, then chances are that there is going to be a local online hunting forum. If you can find such a forum, then join. Not only will you get good, local advise you also stand a reasonably good chance of hooking up with someone willing to show you the ropes.
Mentoring
Be Safe !!!
Now, understand that I am not familiar with Arizona's hunter education programs. Here in Iowa we do have a Mentoring program that I use to participate but lately, not so much. Contact your states DRN for assist. There is also IHEA (International-Hunter Educational-Association that you may want to contact. ….
Be Safe !!!
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Thank you all so much for your replies. I bounced the idea of hunting off of my dad, and he says he’ll think about it. He also said that he has a lot of friends who hunt who could take me on a hunt sometime I’ve been watching a lot of Keith Warren on YouTube (a hunting YouTube channel) and there just seems like a lot of hassle and complication that goes into hunting on a private reserve or even public land for that matter. Small game hunting on a piece of land just seemed easier and more appropriate for my level of skill with a rifle. Yesterday I took a hike through the desert. Without a rifle, I practiced walking quietly and observing the environment for quail sounds, mourning dove sounds. I found very very quickly that rabbits are elusive. If I had a rifle with me, I could’ve taken a few birds, I was able to get within even 10 yards of some quail before I spooked em. The closest I got to a rabbit was 25 yards. Though my air rifle can shoot at 25 yards, there’s about a 3 inch group which doesn’t give me much confidence in landing an ethical shot. But it was very very fun and relaxing to just scout the desert. At one point I even used a stick as a training tool, to see if I could bring it up to a “firing position” with silence. Walking quietly however is something I’m struggling with. Is it the my boots? Is it the terrain? I suppose I could walk quietly but it would take forever, and it isn’t every idea when I’m trying to follow a quail or rabbit. Thoughts? I’ve tried the tips you’ve given me, but something just feels wrong.
And not to whine, but in the desert, thick brush and cactus become very problematic for hiking and scouting.
I’ve been watching a lot of Keith Warren on YouTube (a hunting YouTube channel) and there just seems like a lot of hassle and complication that goes into hunting on a private reserve or even public land for that matter. Small game hunting on a piece of land just seemed easier and more appropriate for my level of skill with a rifle. Yesterday I took a hike through the desert. Without a rifle, I practiced walking quietly and observing the environment for quail sounds, mourning dove sounds. I found very very quickly that rabbits are elusive. If I had a rifle with me, I could’ve taken a few birds, I was able to get within even 10 yards of some quail before I spooked em. The closest I got to a rabbit was 25 yards. Though my air rifle can shoot at 25 yards, there’s about a 3 inch group which doesn’t give me much confidence in landing an ethical shot. But it was very very fun and relaxing to just scout the desert. At one point I even used a stick as a training tool, to see if I could bring it up to a “firing position” with silence. Walking quietly however is something I’m struggling with. Is it the my boots? Is it the terrain? I suppose I could walk quietly but it would take forever, and it isn’t every idea when I’m trying to follow a quail or rabbit. Thoughts? I’ve tried the tips you’ve given me, but something just feels wrong. And not to whine, but in the desert, thick brush and cactus become very problematic for hiking and scouting.
Art Eatman
Staff in Memoriam
Soft soles are a must for quiet walking.
I look down briefly to see where my next few steps will be, looking for sticks or rolling rocks. Then, I move forward for those three or four steps, looking around for critters.
Another part of it is to try to move smoothly, without being jerky. It takes practice. Flow, don't march.
If you don't have a lot of low-growing cactus, high-top moccasins are great. Otherwise, crepe-sole boots like Russell Birdhunters or RedWing Twenty-mile are very good.
I hunted "nasty country" for some forty years. Mesquite, catclaw acacia, multitudes of varieties of cactus. I learned to deal with it. IMO, the Chihuahuan Desert is meaner than the Sonoran.
I look down briefly to see where my next few steps will be, looking for sticks or rolling rocks. Then, I move forward for those three or four steps, looking around for critters.
Another part of it is to try to move smoothly, without being jerky. It takes practice. Flow, don't march.
If you don't have a lot of low-growing cactus, high-top moccasins are great. Otherwise, crepe-sole boots like Russell Birdhunters or RedWing Twenty-mile are very good.
I hunted "nasty country" for some forty years. Mesquite, catclaw acacia, multitudes of varieties of cactus. I learned to deal with it.
IMO, the Chihuahuan Desert is meaner than the Sonoran.I will definitely check it out. I did some more hiking/scouting today. WOW, are animals good at seeing you coming. Often times I wouldn't even know a bird or lizard was even there and they'd get spooked. I tried following a squirrel I saw, but he just disappeared right into the brush, never saw him again. And it might sound like I'm making this next one up, but I saw a quail go behind a bush, but when I got there, he was absolutely no where to be seen. Walking in the desert, it feels like everything there knows something that you don't.
big al hunter
New member
I am not surprised. I have had deer do the same thing to me! Seems the more you learn , the less you know.
. Every trip out will teach you something new. I have been hunting since 1986, and I am still learning.buck460XVR
New member
That's why it's called hunting. As for the quail, it may well have been there. One day my bird dog took a point on a cornstalk bent over in the snow. From two feet away, I couldn't see anything and tried to call him away. He insisted on sticking to hos point until several quail took off from in front of his nose. After they flushed he came back to the same cornstalk and struck a point again. Again there was nothing visible to me, but again a coupla more quail took off. Four time that dog went back, four times I could not see anything resembling a bird in front of him. Four times I was wrong. Game does not live long by being stupid or obvious. The more pressure from hunting and predators, the better they get a surviving and hiding. You are seeing game.....that is a good start.
Case in point. The first picture is from me sitting on a stool behind a bush (for shade) while dove hunting. I had moved to this spot because I had heard foot falls of a larger animal. I searched the area as well as my senses would allow and found a shady spot to continue my dove hunt. So the first picture is without magnification and is pretty close to what I saw. Can you see anything in picture 1A? 2A is a close up of the same picture. See it now? 3A is from the other side of the brush between me and the object.
Attachments
This will sound incredibly ignorant of me but, do I need a compass? I mean, I know which way north is at all times. I was lucky scouting today, because it rained last night and the ground is soft and doesn't make much noise. It is really tough though. Even when I was trying my best, it seemed like everywhere I walked, the immediate are around me when silent, while everywhere else was still live with bird calls.
Also, I have no need for a center fire rifle quite yet, but I'm just wondering. How do you choose the right brand for a bolt action rifle? There are so many brands and they all seem to have kind of the same thing.
Also, I have no need for a center fire rifle quite yet, but I'm just wondering. How do you choose the right brand for a bolt action rifle? There are so many brands and they all seem to have kind of the same thing.
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Got late one afternoon squirrel hunt. I just had to try for that last one of the day and it got dark. I had hunted the tiny plot dozens of times and knew it like the back of my hand. No matter where I was on that plot all I had to do was walk South and I'd get to the road I was parked on. The highway was to my West as an audible sign of direction. Or so I thought. Once it got dark I might as well have been transported to Mongolia. Trails I knew disappeared and the highway noise I was sure would give me a positive West direction seemed to come from all directions. North star blocked by the canopy of trees. I knew I was less than 1/2 mile from my car (yeah back then it was a field car and not a truck).
From that day forward I don't leave the truck without a compass. Have never needed one since then either. And that was 1980 or so. GPS' have compass' and track back features. But batteries and electronics fail. Though I do use a compass to project the future wind direction from forecasts. I have never had to rely on it to get me out.
From that day forward I don't leave the truck without a compass. Have never needed one since then either. And that was 1980 or so. GPS' have compass' and track back features. But batteries and electronics fail. Though I do use a compass to project the future wind direction from forecasts. I have never had to rely on it to get me out.
Optional
It's always best to get to know, your hunting neighborhood. I use to hunt a thick banked river bottom and going to my stand I tied reflective tags to branches. made it a lot easier staying on my trail at night. …..
By the way, are you afraid of the dark? I have hunting with buddies that were. Most of the time, the only thing I feared more than Yotes and Bob-Cats were skunks. Lately there have been a number of sighting of Cougars, in Iowa. ….
Be Safe !!!
Need? No but of course it's optional. In all the years of hunting, I have gotten a little confused, a couple of times but never lost. However when I hunted in Colorado and Wyoming, I took one with me but never had to use it. ….
It's always best to get to know, your hunting neighborhood. I use to hunt a thick banked river bottom and going to my stand I tied reflective tags to branches. made it a lot easier staying on my trail at night. …..
By the way, are you afraid of the dark? I have hunting with buddies that were. Most of the time, the only thing I feared more than Yotes and Bob-Cats were skunks. Lately there have been a number of sighting of Cougars, in Iowa. ….
Be Safe !!!
Ah okay. Got it. I’ll pick up a compass in case. And I’ve printed out some maps of the places I plan to hunt. Generally I do okay in the dark. There are coyotes, mountain lions and bob cats down where I live. Rattlers too. I’m not too scared of them though, maybe that’s a bad thing. Always comforts me to know I have a rifle slung in my back
Just get out there and enjoy
I recall one late afternoon in my stand and a full moon started to come up. I decided to spend the entire evening up there and you really get an eye-full. .,
Be Safe !!!
To elaborate a bit, just get out there and get to know your hunting grounds. There have been a number of occasions where I just go out there and "scout" an area. I just take a walking stick but it's really more like a lance. Look for "signs" like nut hulls and basically observe. Your prey is only looking for three things. What or where to eat/drink, to seek protection/shelter and a mate, When I scout an area, I look for doorways, windows and paths. Learn to identify tracks of the animals in your area. We have a lot of poison oak, sumac and ivy. Seems that I am immune to most, so far. Take your time and enjoy the environment you are in. I know a lot of folks that are not very comfortable , in the wild/woods.
I recall one late afternoon in my stand and a full moon started to come up. I decided to spend the entire evening up there and you really get an eye-full. .,
Be Safe !!!
Bottom Gun
New member
I would encourage you to take the hunters ed course. You’ll learn from it and when you decide to move up big game, taking a hunters ed class gives you a permanent bonus point for the game drawings.
Big game tags are issued on a lottery type system here in Arizona. You apply for several choices of hunts in one or more areas then wait to see if you app is drawn. A bonus point gives you an advantage which basically amounts to another roll of the dice.
Basically you can hunt on any national forest land here. Your rimfire rifle with decent ammo will allow you to take some varmints as well as small game. Generally there is no closed season on varmints. I’ve found varmint hunting to be as much fun or possibly more than game hunting. Coyotes can be quite challenging but you’ll need to move up to at least a .22 magnum for them.
I need to do more coyote hunting around here because they keep eating my cats.
Are you mobile? Do you drive and own a car yet?
Ask a lot of questions before you invest in any firearms. The members here can be very helpful and may save you from making a choice you may later regret. Some rifles are better for hunting than others. It’s not just about caliber.
I’ve leaned a lot from simply getting out, finding a nice area and sitting still. You never know what you’ll see and you will learn much from observing the critters that move about.
Rattlers aren’t normally aggressive and simply want to be left alone. When they shed and the old skin obscures their vision though, they can become a bit nervous and testy. Otherwise, snakes are pretty helpless critters.
We do have rabid animals in warm weather and they are what I would be cautious of. I always carry something when I’m in the forest just in case.
Questions? Just ask and we’ll be glad to help. I can’t speak for other members but feel free to PM me anytime with questions. Many moons ago when I was young, I was lucky to have a couple of old timers show me the ropes and the knowledge they passed to me was invaluable.
Good luck in your quest.
Big game tags are issued on a lottery type system here in Arizona. You apply for several choices of hunts in one or more areas then wait to see if you app is drawn. A bonus point gives you an advantage which basically amounts to another roll of the dice.
Basically you can hunt on any national forest land here. Your rimfire rifle with decent ammo will allow you to take some varmints as well as small game. Generally there is no closed season on varmints. I’ve found varmint hunting to be as much fun or possibly more than game hunting. Coyotes can be quite challenging but you’ll need to move up to at least a .22 magnum for them.
I need to do more coyote hunting around here because they keep eating my cats.
Are you mobile? Do you drive and own a car yet?
Ask a lot of questions before you invest in any firearms. The members here can be very helpful and may save you from making a choice you may later regret. Some rifles are better for hunting than others. It’s not just about caliber.
I’ve leaned a lot from simply getting out, finding a nice area and sitting still. You never know what you’ll see and you will learn much from observing the critters that move about.
Rattlers aren’t normally aggressive and simply want to be left alone. When they shed and the old skin obscures their vision though, they can become a bit nervous and testy. Otherwise, snakes are pretty helpless critters.
We do have rabid animals in warm weather and they are what I would be cautious of. I always carry something when I’m in the forest just in case.
Questions? Just ask and we’ll be glad to help. I can’t speak for other members but feel free to PM me anytime with questions. Many moons ago when I was young, I was lucky to have a couple of old timers show me the ropes and the knowledge they passed to me was invaluable.
Good luck in your quest.
Ok, let me tell you why you need a compass. I my young and stupid college days I was mule deer hunting in Utah. I was stupid enough not to take any kind of survival items other than a knife (not even water). One day while hunting, the clouds closed in and I couldn't see 20 yds on front of me. I had no way of knowing which way was north. Luckily, the place I was hunting had very limited terrain. I was on a mountainside bench. To my west, the mountain went up. To my east, the mountain went down. I knew that my truck was to the south of me at about the same elevation. Keeping those facts in mind, I was able to work my way back to the truck.
If I had been on flatter land, I'd have probably been walking in circles.
If I had been on flatter land, I'd have probably been walking in circles.
I will definitely look into some hunters ed courses. Yeah, a gentleman at a sporting goods store explained to me tags and seasons in Arizona. And where to hunt is super simple to. Basically it's anywhere on state land. I do have a car, and it's a utility so I can get in and out of hunting grounds pretty easily. I've been scouting a lot lately. Still yet to pick up patterns of animals and their habits, but I'll get there. I've been looking into a bigger rifle, but I didn't think I needed it yet. I thought my .22 would satisfy my need long enough. I was looking at either a .243 or .308 rifle for the future but didn't know how to choose a brand to select from (Why are there so many brands who basically all have the same thing?! Rhetorical Question)
My grandfather did leave behind a re chambered Arisaka Type 38 in .257 Roberts. I suppose I could use that? Ammo is available but a little more expensive.
With a bolt action centerfire rifle I'm gonna be "plinking" and practicing with it a lot, not just hunting. It should sharpen my marksmanship. So the cheaper and more available the ammo the better.
My grandfather did leave behind a re chambered Arisaka Type 38 in .257 Roberts. I suppose I could use that? Ammo is available but a little more expensive.
With a bolt action centerfire rifle I'm gonna be "plinking" and practicing with it a lot, not just hunting. It should sharpen my marksmanship. So the cheaper and more available the ammo the better.