Newcomer looking for a little advice!

[baileypup1107]

Hello! I'm not really sure If i'm posting this in the right place.. I apologize in advance If I am
I'm a 21 year old female currently living in central New Jersey. I have been practicing archery for about 2 years now, with both compound and traditional longbows and recurves (my favorite). I am do target shooting and 3D archery. For a while I have been thinking about getting involved in hunting. The problem is, I don't know where to start. Searching the internet just leaves me totally overwhelmed there is just so much information.. I'm guessing alot of people learn to hunt from their father, grandfather, or a friend (god forbid a young women would want to shoot an animal! ). No one I know hunts or knows anything about it, most would actually be appalled if I even mentioned wanting to shoot a deer or rabbit.. The only thing I am not willing to do is actually use a gun, I only want to use bows. I'm not sure if that is going to limit what I can do (or where I can hunt), although I do have 40 to 50 pound bows that I'm sure are capable of bringing down a deer..

Overall I'm just looking for some general advice for newcomers.. When you first started hunting what do you wish you would have known that would have made it easier, more fun, etc? Any advice, tips, or just a steer in the right direction to a good website will be greatly appreciated. Thanks for reading

-Bailey

[fesnthunner]

sent a pm, hope you got it.

[baileypup1107]

actually I haven't gotten any messages :\ Maybe it will take a while to show up? Regardless, thank you for your response I really appreciate it

[Csquared]

I would think that even in central NJ there would be plenty of 20 something year old guys that would jump at the chance to take you hunting.

I'm guessing alot of people learn to hunt from their father, grandfather, or a friend

That's true of my early years and upland game and duck hunting, but no one in my family ever deer hunted, so I picked it up in my 20's back in the 80's when they shortened duck seasons and limits, and for the most part I taught myself by simply going and paying attention. Read a lot, and don't be afraid to ask questions at those 3-D shoots. Smile and wink at anyone who owns good timber, and shoot your bow until it's second nature, because the one rule that always seems to apply in bowhunting is that if anything can go wrong when you have a deer inside 25 yards, it probably will!

And as far as making it more fun, as long as you prepare for the weather and don't go into the timber set on killing anything other than time, it will always be incredible! You will see nature in a whole new light. It's amazing what goes on around you when nothing knows you're there. I had the same wren land on me twice one morning. It was awesome!

Can I ask why you don't want to use a gun?

[KRAKMT]

Good for you.

I understand how overwhelming it can be.

The very first thing I would recommend is a hunters safety class. It will connect you with responsible ethical new sportsmen and give you some directions. Most (here anyway) are taught by good people who are rewarded by you asking questions and won't make you feel stupid.
Here we have a second required class specifically for archery taught by people who have often progressed from compounds back to recurves for the sport. Again, usually a good place to ask.

Another good start is the Game and Fish-http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/
Always good to know right and wrong but also gives you the basics without all the hyperbole.

"most would actually be appalled if I even mentioned wanting to shoot a deer or rabbit"

Hunting doesn't always mean "killing." It may be a part but for me it is only a part. I hunt for many reasons-
I believe in wildlife management by hunters, not tax money paid sharp shooters.
I believe that harvesting an animal is more humane than letting it starve under mother natures matrix
I believe that hunting and harvesting a wild animal reminds us that every time we eat meat an animal has died at our own hands.
I take comfort in knowing that what I eat is grass fed without any additives and extra parts.
It is a great excuse to walk through the woods or prairie and test your wits with wild animals.


My girlfried started hunting just a few years ago. She took the classes with her best friend and they along with a farm girl friend do an anual girls antelope hunt. They love it.

K