I am new to hunting. My first hunt was with a bow. Very successful and the gentleman that took me was very knowledgeable. Now with that being said. I have not learned about a whole lot between that hunt which was in Nov of 14. Sooo. When I book a another place on my own In Lampasas. I am super stoked. I get to spot and talk walk around stay in a blind what have you. Now this guy was very generous. I had at least a week and a half before he sold the ranch to harvest my doe. This is not so much a question but a opinionated theory from anyone of you fine people.

As I sit in the blind early in the morning to at least noon. No sign of any deer like at all. To make a long story short I txt my other friend who took me with the bow and he tells me to describe to him all that is going on. Where I am how far I am from the feeder. It dawns on him that I am 15-20 yards from a feeder using a rifle. He calls me immediately and tells me that I am not ever going to see a deer because they smelled me before they even got to the feeder. He also informed me that Depending on where I shot the deer there wouldn't be much if at all any meat left. Sad to say A whole nearly two weeks and nothing. I paid 200$ and it wasn't bad at all. In your all's opinion if a person is new to hunting you would help them out correct? I never got any tips from the guy other than park really far from the blind.. Okay, um.. Nothing. Never talked to me about smells or even to bring my own corn. I know for 200$ I shouldn't be complaining. I am just kinda skeptical now about paying more money for a decent hunt and getting the same result. I am going with a guy in Dripping Springs called
AnytimeOutdoors Guide Service Fishing and Hunting Adventures. If you all know of this guy that runs it named Eddie G. Let me know. I have talked to him real cool guy and sold me a good deal but I am just really worried about paying nearly 400$ and being told "well that's why they call it hunting". Also Is it inevitable you are not only going to pay a good amount of money for a hunt but you will be travelling quite a distance? Dripping Springs is 3 hrs away from me and I didn't include the gas on that trip plus food cost and I still gotta learn to gut the doe myself. Please share your stories with me or give me some insight please. Anything helps for a newbie like myself.

There is alot of good information you can google and go on Youtube to educate yourself on the basics of deer hunting. It' up to you to do this, not the person you pay to hunt with.

You can befriend people you work with or go to church with etc... who have a passion for hunting and they will usually pay it forward to someone new to hunting.

Post the question that you have in the guided hunts section as well. There will probably be hunters and outfitters that know the person you booked with.

Don't expect much for what you are paying. I know that sounds harsh, but it is what it is.

to the forum and the deer hunting addiction.

It's not harsh. I take things with a grain of salt so to say. You are absolutely right about me getting the knowledge but I was just think a tip or two wouldn't hurt after all he had a family to feed so I didn't ask for my money back. I just wish that he kept in mind that I have one to. Thanks for your feedback and I'll post that question right now sir, appreciate your honesty.

Have you taken the Hunters Education Safety Training class?

Yes I did sir! In Manor. In fact I was asking so many question the guy told me to talk to him after class. He told me about rut season and deer pee and all these awesome tips but he never talked about the Godly like vision, smell, and hearing they have for humans.

Man or woman welcome to what may be your new obsession. Im not going to sit here and talk about how to kill a deer, because there is a lot to learn. Look into some of roger raglins old hunting videos on the web and order one or two. My favorite is invading big buck bedding areas. If I had a teacher I would want it to be him. He was entered into the white tail hall of fame if that means anything to anybody. He is one bad mother. peace out.

On gutting and cleaning animals, the outfitter I went charges a fee as additional service.

I figure the sooner I can do it the better. I watched many videos on how to clean a hog yet the first I got to practice on was a deer.

For those of us who don't have always have that someone to show us, this Forum is a wonderful place. THF members always offer me great help and quickly as we'll.

YouTube is now what Encyclopedia's used to be for us, ahem, anyway go type in Texas whitetail, field dressing deer-hogs, tracking, ect. there are millions of hours of video to watch.

sounds like you need a mentor and to spend time on this board. And if you book hunts, I'd recommend guided, not semi guided so you can soak in knowledge for your $.

The biggest tip I could give you is stay downwind and be still, don't talk or cough. Good binoculars and obviously a gun that's on target. You'll definitely increase your chances by hunting high deer density areas. Remember, stay quiet, stay downwind, hunt in a blind if possible. Have a good solid rest for your gun. Know the game laws for the county you hunt and always have a couple of sharp knives with a sharpener handy.

Dkershen has the right Idea. You would probably do well by going on a guided hunt, with a guide as your mentor. You'll learn a lot, quickly. Probably have a really neat experience too.

Thank you all for the tips. I am actually glad I am going with the guide I'm paying. He has vowed to stay the entire night with me on this hunt I am paying for. That is the only reason I have not been scared to book with him. I have a list of question that He said he would be glad to answer. As you see I am still up and looking at youtube videos. You all are right though. This is very addicting..

Stickman, are you at Ft. Hood?

ta THF best wishes

Stickman, How old are you? Not meant to be demeaning, just curious. I bboked a hunt for just a little more than yu did last year that included lodging, feeders that were working, and the skinning/quartering of our game. I did it for my 10 year old son's first deer. There are lots of good people out there and especially on here that are willing to help. I think maybe you just don't know the right questions to ask yet. A lot of us have been there and sometimes the lessons are expensive. All part of the experience.

The best way to learn is to make a mistake. The quickest way to learn is to pay attention to those that have made the mistakes.

I wouldn't expect much from a $200 hunt and wouldn't expect the guide to do much for me. Hunting buddies, full guides and other hunters are a great asset to learn from.

Some on this forum make a living out of hunting and could make a list of things that you should do or not do while in the stand/field, but until you try most of them, you probably won't truly understand what they mean.

Pay attention, read, explore, and do some research. Listen and don't be afraid to ask questions.

Warning though...it gets addictive

I am 29 years old. I have learned a lot more on here actually then I have on both my hunts. Yes I am near FT. Hood. About an hour or so. I figured to learn how to hunt is like a growing process basically a "what works for you type of deal." I am going on my third hunt so hopefully everything I am taking from here and the two past hunts will help me on this next experience. When you say don't be afraid to ask questions. Not that I am not but I don't want to offend someone or get on there nerves and have them tell me forget it! that has actually happened to me before btw.

What kind of bow did you use on your very first hunt?

There are no "bad" questions.

Ask away bud. We all started somewhere. Won't say you won't get some sorry answers or SA comments, but many will help you when they can. Ask away bud

Appreciate the hospitality. To be honest with you dogdown23 I know it was a crossbow. If you were to ask me the make I'm sorry if I should know but I don't. I got her right through her vital organs so for my first time it was a really clean shot.

to the THF

Please don't be afraid to ask questions. There are so many knowledgeable hunters here on this forum that are more than willing to help answer your questions

#1 lesson.Deer leases are like real estate.Location,location,location.

You are right,senderman...100%... I am searching for a lease since a decade.
The right lease is always at wrong location ..(Logistically)
The wrong Lease..($$$wise)is always at right location.