The best way to learn to hunt is to research whitetail deer online and learn literature on their habits, feedeing, mating, terminology, etc.. Then if I were you, go out to some land like public hunting land in your area or just somewhere that people you may know has land and sit and watch for deer. Watch how they react to birds, squirrels, etc. Practice hunting/scouting skills such as looking for rubs, scrapes, bedding areas, identify deer droppings, etc..

The best way to learn is hands on, but try to do it your first few times with an experienced hunter...

Aside from gun saftey - which is number one.

I agree with most say here. Not having grown up in a hunting family, where a father or mother would teach their kids. Ironically my mom was raised on a ranch but never hunted - dad was a doctor and for whatever reason it did not appeal to him.

My experiance came from friends, they taught me the ropes. But after that it took years of dedication to get better than just sitting in a blind and shooting. I hunted with different friends for over 10 years before getting my first lease. Different places in Texas and the country for that matter, offer/require different hunting techniques.

I always loved to watch/learn different ways from people to process a deer/hog.

I have passed hunting and the outdoors to my kids and hopefully they will do it for their kids. I also have helped my kids friends learn to hunt as well.

We still have a lot to learn about whitetail hunting but we have always enjoyed watching hunting shows even though most of the time they are on deer farms and not realistic to the conditions most people experiance.

Get with friends who hunt.

I'd say it depends on what you want to accomplish. Don't get discouraged thinking that it's harder than what it is.

If you want to just kill a deer:
Be able to hit a pie plate at 50 yards.
Pay to go on a day hunt where they'll clean your deer for you and let you watch.
There's not much else to it. Doesn't take much woodsmanship to get dropped off at a box blind and watch a deer feeder.

If you're wanting to go onto public land and DIY it'll take a lot more work.

I'd be glad to help your family learn to hunt and enjoy the outdoors. Please feel free to contact us via our website, e-mail, or PM's here.

Take a Hunters Safety Course..then..Shoot Shoot Shoot and SHOOT both of yall. If yall both cant shoot the rifle accurately then dont even think about running out and "Hunting" all youll do is wound animals. If you dont get use to shooting your to your rifle ie: managing recoil, manipulating the bolt, shooting constistant groups (im not talking submoa) learn how to use your rifles scope both of yall learn how to rezero it. By the time you get comfortable shooting the rifle and taking hunters safety classes i could almost promise yall would have made atleast one friend with HUNTING KNOWLEDGE. To USE your rifle doesnt mean you must only hunt with it. Im 32 and i got my "deer" rifle in 1992 for christmas one year, the only person i knew that hunted was my uncle and he never took me to the deer lease or range it was my dad who has never hunted that took me to shoot the gun and taught me to use it correctly. I ended up duck/goose hunting only from oh '95 till 2001, i finally started/got to deer hunt my wifes ranch when we got engaged/married. Ive always loved shooting guns but when your hunting and that doe/buck walks out it has to be almost automatic when shooting fumbling around in a blind or whereever and you just missed you opportunity to KILL something.. JUST LEARN TO CONTROL YOUR RIFLE maybe you can each get your own and challenge one another. anyhow good luck and have FUN if not then its work AND THAT AINT NO FUN!

Good grief. The lady's already said the .30-06 is too much for her.


Capt,

If you don't want to shoot a .30-06 then by all means don't. Ain't a thing in the world wrong with that. And there isn't a reason in the world you need to beat yourself up at the range with one so your husband can shoot it at a deer.

You don't need half witted advice from someone who wants this to be harder than what it is. Let your hubby shoot it then go on a day hunt for some hogs this spring. You'll have a blast and learn a lot about field dressing and what-not before deer season starts.

This stuff ain't hard.

If you want less recoil from that 30-06, try Remington Managed Recoil ammo in that caliber. It's very effective on whitetails at distances out to 200 yards, which is probably a lot farther than you'll be shooting anyway.

I use it in my .270 and haven't lost one yet. Besides, once you reach my age, you don't need to sling a lot of lead to satisfy your male ego.

Make sure morals and ethics of the person teaching you are in line with your own. I was not born into a hunting family. My neighbor was the one that showed me the ropes. He would take me hunting to his lease and to other peoples leases, even at night. Spotlighting was not uncommon for him. He would even shoot across golf courses at night and brag about it and still brags about it today. All through my teenage years, I did not know better. Took a lot of maturity and growing up to learn the rights and wrongs of hunting and new hunting buddies. Now 20 years later, I am still friends with the guy, but I will never hunt with him or people like him. His whole family is the same way he is, including his son. Its a shame. I've tried to talk some sense into him, but goes through one ear and comes out the other. This forum has helped my way of thinking also. Great group of guys on here with great ideas and management minds.
Keep on this forum, you will learn a lot of information about hunting. Out in the field is the best experience.