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How to start in hunting... outfitter?

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Mikelodeon

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Discussion starter · #1 · (Edited)
Hey guys !
Well, I am member of this great website for few years and I remember when I joined just like an angler.
Since I own guns I thought it would be nice if I take the next step: Hunting.
Well, I am ready to go (just passed my Hunting Education Program this year) and get my permit for shotgun season.
BUT
BUT
I found kind of hard to go and scout with no experience, don't have time for doing this and planning to be busy for a while.
So I am thinking to join a club or outfitter in order to get the basics and confidence about hunting.
By any chance, do you know where can I find some guys who offer this kind of service?

any advice about this matter?

Thank you
 
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#2 · (Edited)
Don't let everything you read on here intimidate you. You don't need stands, bait, cameras or anything but your bow or gun that you are proficient with and some tools to get your deer field processed and then to the butcher. Next, you go out one day and find some state/federal land where you are allowed to hunt. Scout around a little and look for deer sign, trails etc., spots where you can wait for deer to come thru. When deer season starts you can have a very enjoyable day in the woods moving slowly, perhaps carrying a small folding stool, looking for deer and setting up in a couple of spots for a sit. I would be glad to answer any questions you may have via PM. Good hunting!
 
#4 ·
longbow said:
Don't let everything you read on here intimidate you. You don't need stands, bait, cameras or anything but your bow or gun that you are proficient with and some tools to get your deer field processed and then to the butcher. Next, you go out one day and find some state/federal land where you are allowed to hunt. Scout around a little and look for deer sign, trails etc., spots where you can wait for deer to come thru. When deer season starts you can have a very enjoyable day in the woods moving slowly, perhaps carrying a small folding stool, looking for deer and setting up in a couple of spots for a sit. I would be glad to answer any questions you may have via PM. Good hunting!
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x2

And beware of pop-up posts on here for "outfitters" that aren't exactly what they say they are...if ya know what I mean....[lol]
 
#7 ·
Dude, you don't need an outfitter or a club. I've helped plenty of guys get into the woods and do it on their own. You just need to link up with an experienced guy that can answer all your questions and put it all together for you. You will learn more and more after every hunt. Longbow gave you some good advice. Follow that.
 
#8 ·
Mallard1100 said:
Dude, you don't need an outfitter or a club. I've helped plenty of guys get into the woods and do it on their own. You just need to link up with an experienced guy that can answer all your questions and put it all together for you. You will learn more and more after every hunt. Longbow gave you some good advice. Follow that.
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I agree with this totally, you have the perfect tool at your fingers right here to learn from experienced hunters. If anything see if one could take you out a few times just to teach you the right things to do first hand. That's how I went,threw it out there to join up for hunts and learn and great guys and ladies stepped up and helped out. You've been on here long enough to know who to listen to and to just smile and nod at. Deer master was first contact I had and just in that first meeting I learned a ton. Don't be afraid to ask. Good luck this year.
 
#10 ·
I am living proof that if you want to learn to hunt on your own you can. I literally bought a bow, got it worked on, picked a spot and hunted. I got a lot of advice, and had some ears I could ask questions on, but I walked out into the woods by myself and shot my first deer in October of 2011. Each sit I learn something new, see something new, grow as a hunter... each season I step up my game. And it's paid off in spades for me. I'm not saying it's easy, but if you want it... it is worth it.
 
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#11 · (Edited)
I just started hunting last year. Mallard1100 and several others on this forum have helped me along the way. I also did quite a lot of reading and learning on my own via this forum, other websites, and books/magazines. Take longbow's advice and start basic. Don't buy more than what you absolutely need then add things along the way. If you're trying to cut costs, you can find plenty of used hunting equipment that will save you some cash. It's easy to get sucked up into thinking you need all kinds of camo, fancy stands, private land, etc. The bottom line is you don't.

Just a few things:
1) Ask before you buy, people are willing to help and there is a LOT of hype being pushed in the hunting industry
2) Look at the NJ DFW website to find out where there is public land you can hunt as well as were there are controlled deer hunts and decide what area make sense to you to drive to.
3) You actually have a leg up on me when I started as I had no guns etc. However keep in mind bow season is much longer in NJ than firearms.

Also before you start hunting, make sure you gather some information about the "other stuff" you need to know about as a hunter for example, where is the nearest butcher to where you're hunting, how do you field dress a deer, what are the local laws, freezer space, are you thinking of taxidermy (where/field dressing properly for that), what day are you planning on hunting (Sunday hunting isn't allowed on most public land), etc

I'm also willing to help but be forewarned I'm still fairly green myself. Best of luck...
 
#12 ·
You are smart to want to shorten the curve by going to a guide, joining a club or having some one take you out and show you the ropes. But you do not need it. To start hunting the MUST list is simple. Be safe and think! That is it. I feel bad for the new folks today (greenhorns) all you see and hear is perfection. all the talk of only taking 3 1/2 year old deer 130 class or bigger. Note Most 140's in the field seen by eye are most of the time only 110 in the hand LOL. Shooting only drakes with feet down. and the list goes on, must be intimadaing. they have to go from start to perfection in no time at all. in todays internet and one key know how there is not room for the imperfections. Plus the new folks are so use to high perfection in their everyday life that they expect perfection just because they read how to achieve it. If most of you was to ride with me for a week on my wildlife control jobs you would be amazed at how much in my job is not perfection yet getting the job done. In fact reading animal behaviour has nothing to do with absolute but rather what is that animal doing and most important why is it doing it. Here is some advice I have for the green horns. stop worrying about what I or others think should or shouldn't be. Don't try to go from start to perfection in a day a week or even in 5 years! don't worry about if you get busted by a deer or miss a duck. just go out and do it. If you want to hunt deer then go out now and start looking for deer, that's right the deer, you know the white flag looking thing that is running away from you[rofl] Last night I was setting up scent test sites for deer and ****. as I walked into the field there was 7 to 10 deer. I just kept walking they ran and snorted and did all the things that a deer is supposed to do the hole 20 mins I was setting everything up. and I will have them on the cameras coming in to check out what I was doing. go find the deer and then look at the sign that that deer made running from you [hihi] if you are in south jersey you owe it to yourself to get out there now and get a good dose of chiggers. if you are from the north then you owe it to your self to come down here and get a good dose of chiggers[rofl] come the time that a gun can be carried for hunting squirrels you need to go out and sit against a tree and shoot squirrels skin them out and fry them up. bake up some biscuits and make some white gravy. you owe that to your self. try to still hunt the squirrels. so what if you get one or not just do it and if you see me in a tree with my bow I will give you a waive and a friendly smile with no concern at all that you just walked by me. go hunt rabbits by stomping the brush when the season comes in. will you see and get a lot? NOPE but just doing it with that mind set makes it that much more fun. If I do not expect much then I enjoy it more. In a nutshell walking in the woods and field will show you much and if you see it. I will be giving a new hunters talk on the 20th over there in waretown I have a saying that I give in my many lectures and that is, learn to see what is there, and THEN believe what you see. Just get out there and do it enjoy the time, and don't get upset if what you expect does not happen. one day all of a sudden you will see that you have learned much. By the way this is how we learned to this stuff 40 and 50 years ago.
 
Discussion starter · #14 ·
Thank you guys !!! I just remember when I started to fish in NJ ... took me a couple of season to be a decent angler but still learning a lot.
I am in west orange by Eagle Rock Reservation... some deers there but not bow season this year as far I know.
 
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#15 ·
longbow said:
Don't let everything you read on here intimidate you. You don't need stands, bait, cameras or anything but your bow or gun that you are proficient with and some tools to get your deer field processed and then to the butcher. Next, you go out one day and find some state/federal land where you are allowed to hunt. Scout around a little and look for deer sign, trails etc., spots where you can wait for deer to come thru. When deer season starts you can have a very enjoyable day in the woods moving slowly, perhaps carrying a small folding stool, looking for deer and setting up in a couple of spots for a sit. I would be glad to answer any questions you may have via PM. Good hunting!
Click to expand...
Couldn't have said it any better.
 
Discussion starter · #17 ·
Thank you again guys !!! now I am going to read your answers and take note !!

I hope I don't bother any of you if I pm with a couple of questions, I will try to be short and quick.

btw. I am thinking Black River WMA will be the place to start, thinking on Stokes Forest too .

[up]
 
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Discussion starter · #19 ·
Thanx man !!! I have been there a couple of years ago (Camping), I think is huge!

some advice and basics would be appreciated a lot !!! [up]
 
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#20 ·
smoking gun said:
Go to whitetail unlimited I'm sure they will guide you
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LOL, when I started out a few years ago, I considered going the AWLTD route but ultimately decided not to after reading the REAMS of bad press on NJH (not that I believe everything I read on NJH...). Since I didn't know ANYONE who hunted, I joined ultimately joined a club where I’ve met some great people and built knowledge, friendships and contacts. And funnily enough, just last weekend while I was scouting a new property with a fellow member, he mentioned that he was a member of AWLTD for two seasons and said the club was a total nightmare.
 
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