Learning to Hunt. Starting from scratch.

The wife and I have decided to try our hand at hunting big game this year. We are interested in hunting deer and elk(maybe pronghorn too). We are basically starting from ground zero. I have no experience hunting. My wife hunted whitetail in Ohio on the family farm, but it's been a while and probably is quite a bit different than going out in the CO back country to hunt.

I'm looking for recommendations for education resources. Can anyone suggest any books or videos that would be helpful? Are there any affordable courses or guide services you know of? There are some educational items on the Colorado Parks and Wildlife website, but I am looking for something more in depth.

We completed our Hunter Safety course this past weekend. Currently trying to figure out the convoluted application process and figure out where we want to hunt. Anyone have suggestions for how to pick a GMU?

www.rokslide.com is a good backcountry hunting resource.

Deer and Pronghorn are not that tough. Maybe a day to fill a tag (maybe another day for Buck deer) if you know what you are doing. The old fashioned way is to pick an area that you are comfortable driving to, with the types and means of accommodations and access you desire. Then you plan 3 or 4 weekend trips to go scout the area. I'd do one this month before the draw. Then you go in July, August and actually hunt with a camera. Get the lay of the land, find probable water, routes, etc. Some people use deer hunting to scout for elk. Like hunt 2nd season deer and 3rd season elk in the same unit. Buck deer like dry ravines, does stay closer to water and Pronghorn...just get some Binoculars.

Elk are different. They do not day cycle like deer and pronghorn, maybe 2-5 day cycle, during the hunting seasons. Of course the bulls are dumber during rut, but still harder than deer or Pronghorn. You have to really know the area well. Even though a lot of elk are shot near roads, they tend to be 1/2 mile or more from the roads. Getting in deep is the best way to fill a tag. After about 7 or 8 years of getting deer and Pronghorn, but never an elk, I packed up my pack and spent 3 weeks in a wilderness area learning elk habits. The eating off the land part was cool too. I got a 6 point bull that year and in the 23 years since, I have only failed to fill 3 elk tags, and one year I did not even get to hunt elk. When you push them out of a bed, where do they go...in your area? When they cross an opening or a road, how do they do it? Where are they with no pressure, with lots of pressure? Where are they when it is 0F, 30F, 60F, 2" of snow, 12" of snow, dry, wet? How do they feed before a storm, with and without moonlight.

While I would not say reading a book is not valuable, time in the woods is the best way to become a good hunter.

As for becoming a good field shot...get off the bench at the range. I like a 50 round box/day, light caliber to start is fine, even a .22. Sprint 20 yards, take 2 deep breaths, then shoot 2 offhand, one reverse kneel, one sitting, one prone, then do it again, at a 8" paper plate at 100 yards, no other support. When you can go 10 for 10. You are good. Then, if you are going to hunt with a bi-pod, monopod or sticks, work those, same paper plate out to your maximum. If that is 230 yards, then fine, that is your range, just don't push beyond what you can hit 10 for 10 at the range.

I used to take the orange polymer targets out and toss them in the woods where I hunt. I would practice ranging them and shooting them. Also beneficial. If you don't have to fret about making the shot, you can focus on the hunting.

Guides are not affordable for me, but if you make a ton of money, they pretty much do all the "hunting" part for you.

Are there any reputable "basic" guides, or is everyone chasing the big money? Say someone who would be a mentor instead of a babysitter and caterer, demonstrating in the field that stuff that just can't be picked up from reading or videos.

For example, parks and wildlife has a mentoring program for upland birds.

The easiest kind of hunting is pronghorn antelope in Wyoming - and Wyoming has some inexpensive non resident tags. Basically, hunting pronghorn in Wyoming is like going out to a drive-by shooting only in the plains ...

Next easiest would be deer hunting. I'd look through the Division's data for success ratios for GMU's and look for several GMU with a good success ratio, and then narrow down to GMU's with plenty of public land. Go do some deer hunting before trying for elk would be my suggestion. Elk hunting is harder hunting in some ways. Its hard to describe the differences between deer and elk hunting really, it sort of has to be experienced.

In the meantime, go do a lot of walking in the wild and practice observing game in the field so that you can learn to spot game. Novices often miss game because they've not trained themselves to observe.

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Originally Posted by XJ

Are there any reputable "basic" guides, or is everyone chasing the big money? Say someone who would be a mentor instead of a babysitter and caterer, demonstrating in the field that stuff that just can't be picked up from reading or videos.

For example, parks and wildlife has a mentoring program for upland birds.

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This is the type of guide I would be interested in.

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Originally Posted by zulu01

This is the type of guide I would be interested in.

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Also known as "Hunting Buddies". :)

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Originally Posted by MarkCO

Also known as "Hunting Buddies". :)

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Hard to find them anymore. No one wants to give up their hunting spots or knowledge to others.

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Originally Posted by MarkCO

Also known as "Hunting Buddies". :)

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Unfortunately, some of us don't have hunting buddies. If I did, I wouldn't be looking for other resources.

I agree with MarkCO and Spqrzilla, spending time in the woods, hiking and observing wildlife is important to gear yourself up physically and mentally. Take binoculars, camera, and go "hunting" throughout the summer. Learn to use binoculars in the woods on fast moving birds, squirrels and other critters. When you can spot kinglets and brown creepers in the forest with regularity you'll have the observational skills to move on to elk, and elk can be harder to find.

I learned big game hunting on my own and with a few exceptions have hunted solo ever since. It took a few years before I killed my first deer, a couple more for elk, but for three decades I've taken elk, antelope and/or deer every year. I worked for an outfitter for nine years and learned more about hunting, hunters and and horses.

I'm an 'on-your-own' hunter, but if you can afford to go with an outfitter, either guided or an unguided drop camp, you can learn a lot from a good outfitter.

Without a hunting coach you have to develop knowledge of the animals and how to hunt them, along with a hunting mindset, on your own. You can do this by reading everything you can get your hands on, and spending time afield. The public library, the CPW website and internet hunting forums offer a wealth of information.

Go to the library and check out every book and DVD on hunting western big game. Through your local library website you can access all library books & DVDs in Colorado through the Marmot system. Select the books online, put them on hold and the library staff will have the books collected and waiting for you. Can't get easier and it's free. Read anything by Jim Zumbo, who is one of the best western big game writers in modern times.

As far as picking a unit to hunt, I suggest you visit a CPW office and ask for suggestions. The folks are there to help you and will if you go during a time that's not too busy, like now before the Apr. 1 deadline. If you're very familiar with a particular area in the mountains, I'd start with that.

Another possibility to bridge the gap between a novice on their own and a guided hunt is to apply for a Ranching for Wildlife tag. There the RFW supervising outfitter will give you a little guidance specific to their property - although they will not get so specific as to tell you exactly where the game is on their property. And you have someone to ask for help in game recovery on many of the ranches. Some are better than others however, for example the worst hunting experience of my life was Deakins RFW.

What was your experience on the Deakins ranch?