I want to learn to hunt!

[esaabye]

So I never have had the opportunity to learn to hunt. I have wanted to learn for some time but just don’t know where to start. If anyone has suggestions please share.

[gnihcraes]

gun? bow? small game? birds? varmints? big game? need input to help.

[esaabye]

gun? bow? small game? birds? varmints? big game? need input to help.

I am thinking bird, small and big game. Meat on the table activities would be the goal.

[gnihcraes]

Got your hunters safety card?

[esaabye]

Will be getting it this spring. Going to do the class at Sportsmans.

[cowboykjohnson]

Read books they help, and get a subscription to field and stream. They have some really good tips in there.

[MarkCO]

Small game and bird hunting is pretty easy if you have decent marksmanship. SAFETY, as with any gun activity is the goal. I just finished working a fatal hunting accident that occurred due to violating the gun safety laws.

Big game, totally different. I start people out on Antelope, maybe coyote or deer and make them go along for at least one season. A mistake with a high powered rifle is pretty much irreversible! Then I make them shoot 100 rounds in a variety of postions and a variety of ranges to establish their range limits, over 3 or 4 range trips. Spending several weeks in the woods in the summer and fall with no tag to fill will allow you to practice your spotting, stalking and woods skills. Obviously fieldcraft is for some people and not for others. If you want to hunt, that is one thing. Filling the freezer is another, road hunting yet another and Trophy hunting yet another. I spent 3 weeks in Mt. Zierkel Wilderness followig elk herds around one autumn, living off the land, learning the animals. Now, 100 head of big game later, that was still the most productive time I may have ever spent on anything.

[cowboykjohnson]

I spent 3 weeks in Mt. Zierkel Wilderness followig elk herds around one autumn, living off the land, learning the animals.

One of the nicest places i've ever been... mostly due to the lack of people.

[Mtn.man]

Practice walkin, walking walking walking and then walking..
You will do alot for birds small game and ELK,,,
My guns love to go walking.

[GunTroll]

I like it^ walking! My wife would call it "armed nature walking" when I showed up with nothing. Best damn nature walking I've ever done that showed no results!

And for the OP....you need a buddy. Books and mags and even videos only go so far. You'll see what I mean when you try to field dress your first big game kill! But if you don't have a friend to show you the ropes don't let that stop you. Take MTN. Mans advise and just go walking. Luck might make up for the other part that you lack.

Now trying to figure out the regs book...good luck! Bout time I figured out CO rules I moved to yet another difficult state to figure out. You need a lawyer to interpret the regs. Especially if your a newb.