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Background: Have never been hunting before. Didn't grow up around guns, got into them a few years ago. Don't really have any friends around here that hunt either.
So I take hunter safety and then what? Should I pay to go on a guided hunt the first time or two to figure out what the hell I'm doing? Seems like an expensive way to get into the sport...
What do you want to hunt?
Elk, Deer, Duck? I would try anything/everything and see what I like I guess.Quote:
Originally Posted by newracer
Get your hunter safety done and then post back up here. I'm sure there are people willing to help.
If I could afford it, I'd probably hire a guide or outfitter myself. Damn expensive, but trying to go it alone just sucks. I have nobody to go with, and have no idea where to go either. And who has the time or gas money to drive all over the state scouting? I sure don't. If you don't know a friendly landowner with critters or a good public place, you're pretty much sca-rewed.
I bought a leftover tag last year for unit 104 because it's close to home and there's lots of deer, but there ain't a speck of public land there, and my tag was for white tail doe, not mule deer. There ain't no goddamn white tails there either, not that us unwashed heathens can get to anyway. The CPW folks will tell you they don't want white tails in this state and want to get rid of them all, but they won't help you get one either.
Shooting and gutting the animal is the easy part, getting it out of the field is another challenge altogether. But IMO, the really hard part is finding a place to go in the first place. For that, a guide/outfitter just might be worth it. If you can afford it.
Finding a place to hunt is not hard. Finding a place that you will be successful is hard.
I will echo getting your hunters safety class done then I'd say start small with bird and small game. There's a SWA in Hudson that I have smoked a few ducks and it's not a 3hr drive. Post up when you get your class done and I'm sure someone will chime in with some learning opportunities for you to take advantage of.
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Originally Posted by henpecked
Yes, call CPW and sign up for a hunter safety course ASAP. The instructors can help you with advice, as can the hunt planners at the CPW offices. Then get in on the drawings for deer, elk and pronghorn licenses. The deadline for big game applications is April 5th. You have enough time, but don't delay, you need your hunter safety before you can apply. Read the CPW website and the hunting brochures thoroughly. There are application seminars being held across the Front Range now, see http://cpw.state.co.us/aboutus/Pages/News-Release-Details.aspx?NewsID=5689
Consider applying for doe deer and cow elk instead of hunting bucks and bulls. You'll have a much higher likelihood of early success.
Go to the library and pull any books on hunting, you can learn a lot by reading. Spend time in the outdoors, search for and watch wildlife of all kinds to develop your outdoor and observational skills. Get some decent binoculars and use them daily. Small game hunting this summer will help condition you for the big game seasons, mentally and physically. Hunting isn't shooting but it requires good shooting skills. Both time in the outdoors and time on the range are important. You'll get out of it what you put into it.
A guided or drop camp hunt can be a good way to accelerate your learning and increase your success, but it's costly.
This is a good thread. I've hunted before but never seriously in Colorado. The draw and lottery stuff confused/intimidated me for a number of years here - was nothing like back home. Would love to get back into it, with "years of wisdom" behind me now. LOL
You definitely have to decide whether it's something you're going to spend money doing, or whether you like living rough. I know people that hunt from hotels with guides and it's not very difficult to get set up to do. I personally hunt either from a camper or a pack tent. Small game is a much easier way to start. A guy can go kill some pheasant at Kiowa or Rmr or do a guided duck or goose hunt for only a couple hundred bucks. If you are going to get serious about big game, there are a lot of different ways to do it.
New this year is a free apprentice license. It is a one year waiver of the hunters ed requirement and can only be used once and must be accompanied by a "mentor" at all times in the field. It aim is to get new hunters in the field. Not sure if it includes birds.
If you are going to hunt birds spend some time shooting trap. You want to be able to hit what you see or it will be a frustrating trip.
Lots of time and lots of gas money. Lots of years scouting and learning. Not many folks I know who hunt, were shown a place to hunt. Had to figure it out all on their own.
Grab a friend, apply for a license go have fun. Even if you did a guided hunt, it's most likely on private land that you can't get back to anyway. Not really the same as having to find good and bad areas to hunt on your own.
Good places are typically known and semi-restricted by how many hunters will be allowed by DOWP.
I had to go out with family. They are familiar with the area, I mostly show up for the trip and help plan where to go each day. Even having done that for one or two years, I feel that I've learned enough to at least feel comfortable scouting if I needed to.
Take hunter safety
figure out what you want to hunt
if it's in the mountains start getting in shape while you're doing the other two things.
try to find someone to show you the ropes
if you can't ask lots of questions on hunting forums like you are doing.
then just go at it alone!
i hunt big game a lot by myself.. Sometimes it sucks some times I love it... Starting out though I guess I probably wouldn't suggest it.
feel free to ask me questions.. I don't have a tv show but I fill the freezer from time to time.. I only bow hunt for big game but it's all the same!
Born and raised in Colorado, hunting is nothing like it used to be. Less and less places to go with good game compared to when I was young.
I wouldn't recommend doing guided right away. You will most likely have a huge success rate and then when you go try on your own and don't get much action you may be very discouraged. Trial and error is all you can do.
Your best bet is to find a friend, your significant other, or family member willing to go with you on the expeditions and go enjoy the outdoors with you. Try small game first and don't get discouraged, enjoy the time outdoors and with your friend. I have had many days of seeing absolutely squat but I still enjoy spending the day outdoors, watching the sunrise/sunset, joking with a friend, eating lunch on the tail gate, etc. You will both remember and cherish the days.
Hardest part about getting into good hunting places is the time and travel to find it. And most hunters will not give up their locations because they don't want you getting to that public hunting place before them and add to the hunting pressure. I feel most members here will point you out an area at least to do research on. Go to Sportsmans, Cabelas, Bass Pro, etc, and grab the Walk In Access, SWA brochures, Small Game Brochure and start your research. Start close to home and work your way farther out. I personally like the books so you can scribble on it and cross areas out you personally didn't like. You can also print out maps online for a SWA you find and want to check out.
Good luck and happy hunting!
^^ Great advice.
Thanks for all the advice folks. I hike and backpack a lot in the summer so spending time hanging out in the woods shouldn't be an issue. I signed up for a hunter safety course in April, that was the soonest close to Denver I found open but I will look some more for sooner dates.
For Elk I recommend looking for an area with limited access: no motor vehicles. I hunted them for several years based on tips from people, in areas such as Rabbit Ears Pass, and Maybell area, I saw so few that I was beginning to believe they were mythical. Then finally got invited to go with a friend. The difference is spectacular. We don't know if it matters but there is a road above us a coupe of miles that sometimes is open during hunting season. Below is a private ranch with limited hunting. Our area is not wilderness, but no cars.
Scout and find a place where you see herds, at least groups of 3-4 to large herds of nearly 50. 1 and 2 elk at a time is a waste of of time, locate the herds and then hunt there. Also over the years I have become a believer in stand hunting. We use a ground blind, handy for napping or when the weather turns bad. Particularly with elk walking around just spooks them. I have shot a few that were stirred by other people.
Cow cal works great. Son and I called in a 5x5 bull last year for his first elk.
1. put in a preference point for every species you think you will ever be interested in (remember the more/longer you hunt, your desire for different types of hunting may change). Cheap in my opinion, and all proceeds benefit CO hunting and other outdoor activities.
2. if you have kids do same for them (tags are cheap for kids), also enroll them in the youth program. You will have to accompany them and both of you will learn ;) Both my sons were selected/hunted for all species through the youth program. I required my daughter to obtain hunter safety, she wasn't interested in hunting, however it was a cheap safety class. Now she hunts 10 years later and is thankful for the preference points! I think the youth program has changed and now you can only be selected for 1 big game, still good experience.
3. Ask friends, family, neighbors, coworkers, even people you dont think are hunters to; take you, give you advice, or "point you the right direction". You will realize quickly what is good/bad advice, in the beginning it is all good! You will also realize many hunters are happy to help, just not show you their "spot".
4. Pick an area to hunt this year. throw a dart at a map, choose someplace interesting you, choose an area you want to hike/camp/shoot, you get the idea. You may not get in on draw this year, but look up the area, find out if there are leftovers, buy one, or buy OTC. A left over cow/doe tag will increase your odds.
5. Hike, camp, visit the area this summer. Get acquainted with the area, buy a map, call DOW, get in touch with the local officer of the area and talk to him/her (during summer, not during hunting season, they probably don't have time to chat you up during their busiest time of year). Finally, now you have a tag and a reason/excuse to actually visit during hunting season.
6. Enjoy your experience, whether you are successful or not! Average Elk success rate in CO is 18%, keep that in mind. It may take you 5 years to harvest one.
7. Repeat next year, maybe pick a new area. Soon you will know several areas in the state, determine your hunting style. Soon after that you will be pro, have honed your skills, and know what/when you want it.
that was my approach when I first moved here 15 years ago. Mostly, I hunted alone, or with one of my kids. I've learned quite a bit of the state and have settled in on my favorite "spot" for the last 5 years. I still visit other places, usually with a leftover tag for a new area, different season, just for the experience. As an example, I hunted 3 GMU's last year and didn't fill a tag, however I would never consider it a waste of time or $, I still enjoyed it and I'm still learning. I've also been invited to several hunt camps over the years and learned who I like/dont like to hunt with. You may be surprised who might actually invite you, if you follow point 3 above. My current hunt camp consists of primarily my kids and several close friends. I've just started to be interested in fowl hunting, so I put the gun and dog in truck and drive to an area on a map, check it out, then repeat the next weekend. CO is fortunate to have LOTS of public land.
Finally, you will learn real fast that finding your "spot" will require a little more work than tooling around in your truck, get away from the crowds. PM me and I'd be happy to point you in a couple directions for areas that i've hunted with leftovers.
Cheers and happy hunting,
Tim
Take up lion hunting...That will get you plenty of trigger time.
And publicity!Quote:
Originally Posted by Sackett
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I cannot echo enough the find a friend statements. While successful hunting is always the end goal, the experience of deer camp is where the magic happens.
I have a group of guys I have been hunting and fishing with since high school (and that was a lot longer ago than I care to admit), and the even if one or all of us get skunked, just having that time are the best memories I have.
No doubt you always want, need, dammit just let me see one to shoot, a successful hunt, however don't put too much emphasis on it. Disappointment can taint early hunting experiences too much.
Find a good group of hunters and just have fun, and if you ever need a hunting buddy give me a ring. We're always open to brining rookies up.
This is really what it's all about. I'd rather get nothing and spend the day in the blind with good guys than limit out with a bunch of people I cannot stand.Quote:
Originally Posted by StoutBassKiller
Most of the fun of hunting is not from harvesting anything- that's the end of the fun and the start of the work. That being said, getting nothing all the time, might as well go camping.
So find guys you enjoy being around and match your seriousness for hunting.
I ended up going last year with two close friends and one of their dads that has been hunting for the last 50 years. I didn't take an animal but my friend's dad got a Cow Elk and she got a Doe. Learning how to gut and butcher the animals was a lot of fun. I have tags in for a Cow and Doe for this year. Thanks for all the advice everyone.
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Originally Posted by sniper_tim
+1
I have been lucky and was invited to hunt with family. I was luckier and invited back. Went hunting with them in an area that was new to me and in turn, I tend to go back to that area in the summer. Camp, hike, explore the area around you, the lay of the land and all. As you learn what to look for you can find trails, watering holes and just general knowledge of the area.
Plus it gets you outside and roaming the land.
I don't go hunting expecting to fill my tag. I go spend a week camping with family, long walks in dark timber, hours gazing across meadows. We just happen to carry firesticks :)
I've been invited to hunt with family.
Not sure I'd consider that "lucky".
Once you get into a hunter safety course you'll be good to go. You literally learn everything to learn.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mazin
I must have just gotten the abridged version. They didn't tell me anything about any of the areas or have any discussion about migratory patterns of game animals or anything. Heck, they didn't even have instruction about field dressing or anything.Quote:
Originally Posted by RobertFrosty
It was probably a good thing I had over twenty five years experience hunting before I had to take the course.
If I had gone out in the woods after Hunter's Ed without someone that knew what they were doing I would have no idea what the hell I was doing.
Don't ever Misquote a member like that again, are you a spammer or just here to sell Bow strings?Quote:
Originally Posted by RobertFrosty
ETA: ahh makes sense little shop in Ohio, yea don't think you'll be getting any customers here, good try but just wait for the hammer......it's coming [Coffee]
Below was my OP from the first page.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mazin
Wow. Now THERE'S a steamin' load o' bullshit.....Quote:
Originally Posted by RobertFrosty
Both His posts are editing someone's quote and adding the Bow String Bullshit in.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mazin
BAN HIM!!!
+1Quote:
Originally Posted by kawiracer14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kawiracer14
CPWs Novice Hunter program: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...ewform?c=0&w=1
http://cpw.state.co.us/learn/Pages/Hunting.aspx
http://us10.campaign-archive2.com/?u...0&e=4880f45204