Hey guys, I am really interested in getting into hunting. I looked up the hunting saftey classes for Virginia online and am defenitly going to sign up for one of them. I went into Dick's not long ago and was asking the guy at the gun counter about getting into hunting and he would not get overly specific with me about anything just said that there are so many options out there.

What I'm curious about though, is there a good resource out there for someone getting into it? Either online or paper, doesn't matter. I don't know to much about the different guns and so forth that people use. No less the camo and the other clothing that people wear when they go out. It almost feels like something you have to be born into to actually know anything about

- Chris

 

Hunting, yes its in the blood....

A tradition handed down from generation to generation by the fathers to their sons. Starts at about 8-10 years old for the son with his first Red Ryder B.B. gun for Christmas. The son gets taught that the BB gun and all the guns in his hands for the rest of his life ,SHALL NEVER be pointed at anything that he does not want to die. He is taught to keep clean, maintain and cherish that blue steel intrument, as it is his heritage to pass on to his sons....

Then at about 11-12 he gets his first shotgun for his first rabbit hunt on Thanksgiving with the men of the family. He is taught by his elders how to never swing the sites upon on the game until he knows what is behind the game. How to walk safely with gun, how to cross fences, how to pick the right gun, ammo , clothing, etc for tha game sought to hunt. The thrill of the hunt and kill, his tastes for wild game gets embedded in to the young hunters very being as time goes on. ...

Then the son will get his high powered centerfire rifle for his first whitetail deer hunt at about 13-14 years of age. He is then graduated in to "huntin" manhood when his first whitetail is field dressed. The elder men all get to sit around the campfire, tell past and future hunting stories , flatuate, and eat from the iron skillets. It is all good, the legend of the spirit of the hunt lives on thru the young man passing on the rites of the killing and eating of his wild game...

That is until the big city sprawl came upon us slowly, the farm lands were eat away, the electronic age fills our sons minds with nothing but TV, x box games and arcades. The media has filled the minds of society with hatred and fear toward the gun, now made in to the evil thing upon which all people shall blame all wrongdoings in the world. The new generation father sells his guns and takes up fishing . bowling and hang gliding , for fear of the wrath he will get from the antigun community. The sons gets his first X box at 8- 10 years old, then at 12 gets his x box sales sites as his favorites on his home PC....

Sensationalizing here a bit in making my point, but hopefully this will shed some light on why your young clerk at the gun store did not know what to say when you asked him about hunting. Learn the sport of hunting and shooting from your local sportsman club. They will teach you the proper respect for the wild game and the safe use of the properly matched gun for the game hunted, that is essential if good hunting/sportsman skills and shooting are your desire. good luck

 

Greg 79 f150 hit the nail on the head , Well said, sounds like my childhood with guns and hunting. And like he said, check with your local sportsman clubs, Also your hunting guide book you get with your hunting licence has info that could be useful. Good luck and HAPPY HUNTING.

 

Check out sopme hunting mags for good info on hunting. Some that come to mind are Field & Stream, Outdoor life,Sports Afield & Deer & Deer Hunting to name a few. Check the phone book for a local shooting range or club. I've been hunting since I was 8. My hunting training was much like the post above. It was passed on to my by my elders. I love hunting & have passed it down to my son & am passing it on to my grandson now.

 

Hey, Hunting is for Girls too
But I couln't agree more that it is in the blood, and the kid at the counter is correct in saying there are alot of options. Don't think of it as being overwhelming, just bite off a piece at a time to understand it.

My biggest thing is respect for any weapon. Treating any weapon as if it were loaded was drilled into my head before I could walk by me parents and grand parents that were NRA instructors. Matter of fact, I found my husband's hunter ed card, and my mom-mom had given him his test.

Anyhow. Personally, my husband and i look up to Ted Nugent as a respectable person with the beliefs of a true sportsman. He contributes to Deer and Der hunting magazine, you could take a look at that too.

Good luck and happy hunting
Kaiti

 

Thanks guys, I'll defenitly be checking out those magazines and sportsman clubs. I'll probably go over to the Bass Pro Shops to pick them up, then maybe talk to the guys there. They seem a lot more knowledgable then the guys at other stores.

- Chris

 

Congratulations and welcome to a GREAT sport! It's an amazing and fulfilling challenge that has brought me closer to friends and family over the years. It's also provided many fantastic memories and stories. I just love being in the field!

What animals are you considering hunting? There is a huge difference between deer and turkey hunting, for example. That would help us help you in referring to resources for information.

Here's one link: www.outdoorlife.com/outdoor/

 

I dont know if this is true around there, but it might be better to talk to a local store, instead of the big timers liek bass pro... Usually the small town store will know what the people around your area use to kill what.

 

I do have to agree with GC, the smaller shops know more locally, BUT you can't act like a know it all. Period.

Bass Pro and Cebela's know what they are taught, told, been through......sorry, no disrespect, but we don't have one around here to say personally.........just what what I have heard...........hubby has been to a bass pro shop and is DYING to go to cabela's...........not without a few dollars though........hehehe

but with anything that is reputable, trust your gut. If a store your not sure about is trying to sell you a crock, it might be.