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2017 will be my first time hunting in over 35 years

RimfireRimfire Posts: 849 Senior Member
Title says it all.

Last year I purchased a Keltec RFB (.308 Win Bullpup) along with a scope and other accessories. For Christmas/Birthday this year I got my Virginia lifetime hunting license (still need to purchase Deer, Turkey, and Bear permits). A friend of mine purchased property(60 acres) a few years back to backs up to State/National forest. He doesn't hunt. They are having deer issues and several visiting Black bears. He and I got to chatting last week and things fell into place.

So for the first time in 35 years I'll be hunting. When I was growing up in WV, we hunted for meat because we couldn't always afford groceries (especially for strikes and shutdowns). We would go out early, sit down in the hollow behind the house, harvest a deer, gut it, drag it back up, wash up and get on the bus for school.

I'm going to make use of the time until hunting session to practice and re-learn what I've forgotten. Also acquiring gear this year as well. I ned to get back out to his property and learn what the deer & bear are doing. So if you have any tips and tricks, I'm all ears.

I'm kinda excited to go deer hunting again. Actually nervous about hunting Black bear because I've never done that before. I need to learn and understand bears better.
G&A Forum Member since: October 2000; Life Member: GOA, IWLA, NRA, & Escapees.

Replies

  • Six-GunSix-Gun Posts: 8,155 Senior Member
    It's never too late to return. Glad you'll be getting back into the field. There's still plenty to love.
    Accuracy: because white space between bullet holes drives me insane.
  • bisleybisley Posts: 10,815 Senior Member
    First thing, I would recommend buying a hunting rifle, unless a Keltec bullpup is a much more reliable and accurate rifle than I think it is. Next, game cameras, and if baiting is legal, feeders, by next fall. Baiting will not be legal in the national forest, but may be on private land.
  • bullsi1911bullsi1911 Posts: 12,426 Senior Member
    Nice! Congrats!
    To make something simple is a thousand times more difficult than to make something complex.
    -Mikhail Kalashnikov
  • earlyearly Posts: 4,950 Senior Member
    It sounds like your youth is a long way behind you.

    Take care of your feet. Keep them dry, warm, and well supported in good boots.

    Be careful field dressing and recovering larger type game. Cuts and or other injuries can have bad consequences. Take your time.

    Enjoy the woods, and good luck.
    My thoughts are generally clear. My typing, not so much.
  • jaywaptijaywapti Posts: 5,115 Senior Member
    The only thing i would add is to spend as much time as possible in the woods, learn the lay of the land, look for well used trails, bedding areas, scrapes and rubs, you might be surprised how quick hunting will come back to you.

    JAY
    THE DEFINITION OF GUN CONTROL IS HITTING THE TARGET WITH YOUR FIRST SHOT
  • BigDanSBigDanS Posts: 6,992 Senior Member
    60 Acres is big but certainly not too big and walkable.

    Get out and chart the area by grid and find your game trails. Walk 5 acres or 10 acres at a time and work in a methodical fashion, and if you can have a map mark what you find and where. Your phone likely has a GPS system, so use it. Take Geo-location pictures, and associate them with your grid.

    After a survey, find the best five spots or so and put out some food and a camera, sequentially and see who shows up. Select three and setup your blinds or stands. If you can afford three cameras, buy three cameras. You will see your game gong and coming through these spots and at what times the move. Want to get more into it? Chart it. Some of the newer cameras can be queried remotely, so keep a graph of the number of pictures or game that come by.

    Deer move a lot , but they have a territory like any animal and they will stake out food, water and their territory as will all game.

    Herd management. This means knowing your herd, and that means observation over time.

    D
    "A patriot is mocked, scorned and hated; yet when his cause succeeds, all men will join him, for then it costs nothing to be a patriot." Mark Twain
    Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.... now who's bringing the hot wings? :jester:
  • JerryBobCoJerryBobCo Posts: 8,227 Senior Member
    Good luck. I'm looking forward to your update(s) next fall.
    Jerry

    Gun control laws make about as much sense as taking ex-lax to cure a cough.
  • KMT2KMT2 Posts: 373 Member
    you will get so used to the property that you will be able to tell when the animals will be where by your watch.
    Did that on a property I hunted for years.
    It was 65 acres, with over half tillable and the owners residence.
    Look forward to the pictures.
    If you think OHSA is a little town in Wisconsin you may be in trouble!
    Peace is firing my guns or 60 feet below the surface of the water.
  • TurdusMerulaTurdusMerula Posts: 362 Member
    I started hunting again after 20+ years last fall. I used to hunt small game earlier but now I hunt big game. It was an exiting step for me but I loved it. And got a lot of game too!
    I don't know if it's allowed there but I would start a feeding place for deer in your friend's plot. Plant some oats for the summer and when then fall/winter arrives I would feed them with grain. That would be the best place to wait for them and then shoot them. But as I said I don't know if it's ok there. It's a traditional Scandinavian way to get deer to the pot.
    To see a World in a Grain of Sand And a Heaven in a Wild Flower
    Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand And Eternity in an hour
    -William Blake-
  • RimfireRimfire Posts: 849 Senior Member
    Thanks everyone. I appreciate the suggestions and support.

    I've talked with the owners a few times now. I can visit them and theirproperty whenever I want. I have a good friend at USGS. So the topo maps are on their way.

    I'll take and post pictures. I'll look into the game cameras.
    G&A Forum Member since: October 2000; Life Member: GOA, IWLA, NRA, & Escapees.
  • JermanatorJermanator Posts: 16,244 Senior Member
    If you are still doing the 22x9 thing, I suggest you get a 9mm rifle... a .358 Winchester!
    Reason obeys itself; and ignorance submits to whatever is dictated to it.
    -Thomas Paine
  • RimfireRimfire Posts: 849 Senior Member
    Jermanator wrote: »
    If you are still doing the 22x9 thing, I suggest you get a 9mm rifle... a .358 Winchester!
    I collected all that I wanted in those calibers. So I branched out to 12ga and .308 after I changed forum names.

    At one point I had considered a .35 Whelen, a .357magnum Carbine, and a matching .357magnum revolver. But I was trying to stay married and alive at the time. I can at least say now that I've had that black rifle, or pistol, for years and be truthful about it. Could not say that about the firearms with wood furniture. She knows I have only 2 of those. Caleb got the only other one I had.
    G&A Forum Member since: October 2000; Life Member: GOA, IWLA, NRA, & Escapees.
  • VarmintmistVarmintmist Posts: 8,305 Senior Member
    Leave the locks at home
    It's boring, and your lack of creativity knows no bounds.
  • RimfireRimfire Posts: 849 Senior Member
    Leave the locks at home
    I thought you all had forgotten that. Darn it.
    G&A Forum Member since: October 2000; Life Member: GOA, IWLA, NRA, & Escapees.
  • VarmintmistVarmintmist Posts: 8,305 Senior Member
    Rimfire wrote: »
    I thought you all had forgotten that. Darn it.

    Which time?

    If the wife hadnt let the BIL "fix" the old PC I would still have pics
    It's boring, and your lack of creativity knows no bounds.
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