Texas Hunting Forum

New Hunter Seeking Help/Guidance

Posted By: SouthSaturnDelta

New Hunter Seeking Help/Guidance - 07/17/19 09:16 PM

Hello. I would like to ask for some help from everyone. This post might be long winded and multi-faceted, but I really do appreciate any advice you guys can give. Thanks for your help.

I live in Georgia. I have very limited hunting experience and very little understanding of hunting techniques, skills and principles. I harvested one eight point buck and a few rabbits about 13 years ago. I took a 100+/- pound wild boar with dogs and a knife about four years ago. I disliked the taste of the venison and intensely hated the taste of the boar. I only enjoyed the rabbit meat. I didn’t continue to develop as a hunter because I didn’t enjoy the taste of the meat. I now realize the taste was not helped by my failure to properly care for the game (i.e. not gutting and skinning, not ageing, not being selective in who processed the animals.) In the future, as part of learning about hunting, I also want to learn how to gut, skin, quarter, age and then process the meat myself.

Now, for numerous reasons, I am highly motivated to resume learning how to hunt. I have several young children (6 years of age and under) that I wish to feed high quality protein that is low in fat and free of hormones and various additives. Additionally, I would like to share the outdoors with my children.

But I didn’t grow up in the outdoors and I have never been a “do-it-yourself” person. Without land or money to purchase an expensive lease on quality hunting land, I don’t really feel like I am in a position to get in the woods and teach myself how to hunt. Also, Georgia is very limited in terms of having various types of big game roaming around.

The person who took me to the woods and helped me harvest that 8 point buck is an avid outdoorsman who hunts, traps and fishes. He does all this despite being paralyzed as a teenager. I am very proud of him. Plus, he is more than willing to take me back to his property to hunt consistently. And I do intend to hunt with him several times this year. However, he obviously can’t teach me the techniques associated with “spot and stalk” type hunting commonly associated with big game hunting. I want to eventually be able to do what Steve Rinella does. Have the skill set necessary to draw a moose or elk tag in a western or northern state and be able to drive their, walk onto public land and come out with a huge animal to feed my family. I simply am not in position to go pay 6 to 16 thousand dollars for a guided hunt.

For the past several weeks I have been researching numerous outfitters offering guided hunts all over the country. I have been unsuccessfully seeking a guide who will charge an affordable rate to teach me hunting skills while allowing me to harvest numerous does and/or hogs. I have zero interest in trophies. I don’t have the type of house where I can display them and the idea of paying $6 - $30K to “hunt” a large antlered buck that is practically farm raised and put in a pen just for a trophy seems off putting to me. But I have ran into a surprising lack of professionalism in the outfitter industry. I call, email and text businesses that don’t answer and leave messages to which I don’t always receive a reply. Furthermore, even businesses that actually advertise hunting opportunities for doe animals, commonly termed “meat hunts,” don’t actually have any intention of selling them. They might allow someone to add a “meat animal” doe or two and a hog as a package offering to someone willing to pay $10K for a trophy hunt, but they aren’t going to take someone into the woods to hunt a couple of their advertised $600 red deer hinds or $250+/- fallow, sika, blackbuck does. It is almost as if they see me as a waste of their time.

Add to that the nightmare stories attached to many outfitters involving bait and switch, exaggerated shot opportunities, and various other outright lies, and I become reticent to drive from Georgia to Texas, Oklahoma, Maine or wherever else for what might be an over priced “canned” hunt, a fruitless hunt with little opportunity for success, or an outright deceptive con job.

I am most interested in hunting a red deer hind, but I would be happy to hunt any does or hogs, rabbits, turkeys, doves etc. for meat for my family. I don’t want anything for free. I am willing to pay what I can afford. I’ve been gifted a crossbow that I am in the process of having reconditioned. I am planning on buying a bow and practicing archery so that I can be in the woods for an extra couple months every year. I am dedicated to working overtime so that I can buy whatever weapons and gear needed to become a true hunter. What I am lacking is an opportunity to go on a guided hunt with someone that will actually show me how to be a hunter, for animals that will fill the freezer for my family, that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg. If I am driving 15 hours each way and back, I would rather go on a combo hunt for several animals. Again, the red hind is what I am most excited about hunting because they are much larger than whitetail and I have read they taste far better as well.

I appreciate any guidance, advice or suggestions this community can offer. If someone can’t point me in the right direction of a few hunters offering quality, affordable guide services for meat animals, that would be awesome. Thank you all for reading this long-winded message.
Posted By: scalebuster

Re: New Hunter Seeking Help/Guidance - 07/17/19 09:28 PM

I’d buy a 22, learn how to shoot it and start squirrel/rabbit hunting in Georgia. It sounds like your paralyzed buddy can teach you something and probably needs you to help him hunt. That sounds like a good trade. Hunting with guides is expensive and not everyone can afford it. That’s just the way it is.
Posted By: SenkoSamurai

Re: New Hunter Seeking Help/Guidance - 07/17/19 09:34 PM

I'm in no position to help you with obtaining a place to hunt as I hunt public land only due to the prices. If you ever found yourself in NE Texas and wanted to tag along to learn some stuff youre always more than welcome, but the chances of harvesting are way lower on public. As far as getting knowledge and may an opportunity at a good affordable hunt, I don't think you could've stumbled into a better forum with this group of guys. Good luck and welcome! welcome
Posted By: SouthSaturnDelta

Re: New Hunter Seeking Help/Guidance - 07/17/19 09:48 PM

Originally Posted by scalebuster
I’d buy a 22, learn how to shoot it and start squirrel/rabbit hunting in Georgia. It sounds like your paralyzed buddy can teach you something and probably needs you to help him hunt. That sounds like a good trade. Hunting with guides is expensive and not everyone can afford it. That’s just the way it is.


Thanks for the helpful advice! I will definitely be hunting with my friend a whole bunch. He is my oldest friend. In fact, I was hoping whoever I find to take me to hunt some hinds might also give him a good deal on a management axis or fallow buck for him to take.

Seems like rabbit hunting requires access to a specific type of land, right? With briar patches and trails? Squirrel hunting seems like a great idea! Is the meat good tasting and safe to eat?
Posted By: SouthSaturnDelta

Re: New Hunter Seeking Help/Guidance - 07/17/19 09:52 PM

Originally Posted by SenkoSamurai
I'm in no position to help you with obtaining a place to hunt as I hunt public land only due to the prices. If you ever found yourself in NE Texas and wanted to tag along to learn some stuff youre always more than welcome, but the chances of harvesting are way lower on public. As far as getting knowledge and may an opportunity at a good affordable hunt, I don't think you could've stumbled into a better forum with this group of guys. Good luck and welcome! welcome


Thanks for the help friend. I'd love to hunt with you. If I can line up a hunt that brings me near your area can I DM you add maybe we can go hunt some public land together. I had to go on private land six times before I even saw a deer in Georgia. Our odds couldn't be any lower than that, lol.
Posted By: colt45-90

Re: New Hunter Seeking Help/Guidance - 07/17/19 10:03 PM

like above post, .22 small game, maybe upland bird hunting, check out neighboring states.
Posted By: Cleric

Re: New Hunter Seeking Help/Guidance - 07/17/19 11:45 PM

Meat hunts are never going to be worth traveling imo. By the time you factor gas, time, and getting back and forth it would be easier to hunt locally. Most outfitters are out in the field and are not the most responsive. So be patient. I would look around for some doe hunts in ga and see what you can do. Otherwise I would look for an elk cow hunt as that will give you some meet to be worth it.

In terms of providing good meat, hunting is not the most economical way of doing so. There is a market to buy meat and such that have less processing in them
Posted By: Pitchfork Predator

Re: New Hunter Seeking Help/Guidance - 07/17/19 11:52 PM

Post in the outfitters forum on this site. Someone there will sell you a meat hunt without a problem..........be specific in your post of what animals you would like to kill. Understand though.......we have no income tax in Texas so therefore property taxes are high. Most landowners and outfitters have a very small profit margin to work with and they need to feed their families like everybody else. They are also very protective of letting people they don't know roam and hunt their property with weapons that can destroy livestock, people and property......it's very important that you address these concerns proactively when approaching them for hunting opportunities. We need all the new hunters we can get to keep our hunting heritage alive, so I wish you the best in your hunting endeavors and welcome to the forum. texas
Posted By: Ramsey

Re: New Hunter Seeking Help/Guidance - 07/18/19 03:13 AM

I was in your shoes 8 years ago, outfitters and guides are not there to teach you but some will. You need to hunt with your disabled buddy and also spend time in the woods hunting. Your vision of bringing home meat for the family is great, but needs to be paired with expectations. Big game hunting is expensive for elk and moose. Post what city in Georgia you live in and I will do some research for you.
Posted By: maximus_flavius

Re: New Hunter Seeking Help/Guidance - 07/18/19 03:33 AM

you have got to be kidding

for the time & trouble your talkin, you’d be farther ahead growing your own meat, like quail or rabbits, where you live.

but just out of curiosity, how much did you have figured $ for having someone teach you how to hunt, provide you with a place to hunt, have a red hind handy enough to be successful, but not a “canned hunt”, while you shoot up the country, & make you into Steve Rinella?

& why are you “driving 15 hours each way & back”? is that like a double negative? each way = 2, & back = 1 more

You should have spent less time complaining about the high cost of trophy hunting, & more time discussing what your willing to pay for what you want. That could have been 2 sentences, instead of the wall of text I just wasted time reading.
Posted By: SouthSaturnDelta

Re: New Hunter Seeking Help/Guidance - 07/18/19 04:22 AM

Originally Posted by maximus_flavius
you have got to be kidding

for the time & trouble your talkin, you’d be farther ahead growing your own meat, like quail or rabbits, where you live.

but just out of curiosity, how much did you have figured $ for having someone teach you how to hunt, provide you with a place to hunt, have a red hind handy enough to be successful, but not a “canned hunt”, while you shoot up the country, & make you into Steve Rinella?

& why are you “driving 15 hours each way & back”? is that like a double negative? each way = 2, & back = 1 more

You should have spent less time complaining about the high cost of trophy hunting, & more time discussing what your willing to pay for what you want. That could have been 2 sentences, instead of the wall of text I just wasted time reading.



I think you were a little quick to judge me there friend. I will gladly give you the benefit of the doubt though, provided you try to extend me the same courtesy. If you can't be helpful or at least civil then please don't respond.

(1) Perhaps you are right. Perhaps it would cost less to grow meat rabbits. Or, perhaps I am counting on learning how to hunt and then being able to go into the woods without aide and bring out large game animals (as I mentioned,) with the only accrued cost being gas money, a sleeping bag, a state license/permit/tag and a bullet or two. Or, perhaps when I saw people advertising fallow doe hunts for $350, red hind hunts for $550+/-, etc. I assumed they needed help thinning their herds, and they actually intended to sell those hunts at those prices. These are prices I see advertised. If you are an outfitter who charges far more, that doesn't change that fact. If I spent about $2,500 and came home with 3 red hinds, a fallow doe and a hog or two, I would say that would be a good value. Especially considering organic, grass fed and finished beef steaks are $20+ a pound in Georgia.

(2) After "wasting your time" reading my "wall of text," if you were only able to find one very small grammatical/syntax error, then it seems petty and churlish of you to point it out.

(3) I didn't necessarily "complain" about trophy hunting. When I have a nice place to mount a trophy, I fully intend to do so. That simply isn't where I am at right now.

(4) If it is a waste of your time then don't read it. In fact, you can even block me if you prefer. I am rather verbose and my posts will tend to be somewhat lengthy. But please don't respond to my posts if you can't be civil.
Posted By: SouthSaturnDelta

Re: New Hunter Seeking Help/Guidance - 07/18/19 04:26 AM

Originally Posted by Ramsey
I was in your shoes 8 years ago, outfitters and guides are not there to teach you but some will. You need to hunt with your disabled buddy and also spend time in the woods hunting. Your vision of bringing home meat for the family is great, but needs to be paired with expectations. Big game hunting is expensive for elk and moose. Post what city in Georgia you live in and I will do some research for you.



Thanks a bunch man. I appreciate your help. I will be hunting with my friend for as long as I am hunting, no doubt. He will be coming with me to hunt out of state as well. But it seems as though the challenge hunting in Georgia is that the only medium sized game in the state are whitetail deer and smaller hogs. I went into the woods on three different privately leased hunting properties, for a combined total of 6 or 7 times, before I even saw a deer. I don't know if that is typical of Georgia or other states.

Thanks again man.
Posted By: SouthSaturnDelta

Re: New Hunter Seeking Help/Guidance - 07/18/19 04:38 AM

Originally Posted by Pitchfork Predator
Post in the outfitters forum on this site. Someone there will sell you a meat hunt without a problem..........be specific in your post of what animals you would like to kill. Understand though.......we have no income tax in Texas so therefore property taxes are high. Most landowners and outfitters have a very small profit margin to work with and they need to feed their families like everybody else. They are also very protective of letting people they don't know roam and hunt their property with weapons that can destroy livestock, people and property......it's very important that you address these concerns proactively when approaching them for hunting opportunities. We need all the new hunters we can get to keep our hunting heritage alive, so I wish you the best in your hunting endeavors and welcome to the forum. texas



Thanks for the great advice and hospitality sir. I will definitely post there. And I will be specific. The only challenge there is that I am really open to hunting anything. I'd go hunt turtles in Mississippi if someone were willing to show me how, lol. But I will be detailed.

Question: The few outfitters that have been professional enough to interface with me are booked solid until next year....and many outfitters charge up to 25K for certain trophy class bucks. How can their businesses be struggling? More so, and this goes to effective herd management, is it not necessary to thin out the doe population every year? Do they charge the big bucks for the trophy bucks and hunt the does for their own families' tables?

Everything you said makes perfect sense. I understand they have to be profitable and they have to protect themselves and their operations. I am willing to pay their fees. I have seen people posting on this very forum opportunities to harvest several red hinds for as low as $495 per doe. I am willing to make the drive and take three or four at that price. But those hunts were onetime opportunities that expired last year.
Posted By: SouthSaturnDelta

Re: New Hunter Seeking Help/Guidance - 07/18/19 04:43 AM

Originally Posted by Cleric
Meat hunts are never going to be worth traveling imo. By the time you factor gas, time, and getting back and forth it would be easier to hunt locally. Most outfitters are out in the field and are not the most responsive. So be patient. I would look around for some doe hunts in ga and see what you can do. Otherwise I would look for an elk cow hunt as that will give you some meet to be worth it.

In terms of providing good meat, hunting is not the most economical way of doing so. There is a market to buy meat and such that have less processing in them



That is true. I discovered this year that I could buy whole hogs or sides of beef directly from processors for very fair prices. And the meat is healthier and more flavorful as well.

But this isn't just about saving money on healthy food for me. I grew up watching television. I want my children to grow up exploring the great outdoors. I have to be that example and model that behavior, in order for them to have these better experiences.
Posted By: Txduckman

Re: New Hunter Seeking Help/Guidance - 07/18/19 06:24 AM

I admire your determination and you will find something that meets your needs. Just keep at it. And remember we have all walks of life here so responses may vary tremendously! up
Posted By: SouthSaturnDelta

Re: New Hunter Seeking Help/Guidance - 07/18/19 07:58 AM

Originally Posted by Txduckman
I admire your determination and you will find something that meets your needs. Just keep at it. And remember we have all walks of life here so responses may vary tremendously! up



Thank you for the encouragement. I'll keep that in mind.
Posted By: SouthSaturnDelta

Re: New Hunter Seeking Help/Guidance - 07/18/19 09:27 AM

Originally Posted by Pitchfork Predator
Post in the outfitters forum on this site. Someone there will sell you a meat hunt without a problem..........be specific in your post of what animals you would like to kill. Understand though.......we have no income tax in Texas so therefore property taxes are high. Most landowners and outfitters have a very small profit margin to work with and they need to feed their families like everybody else. They are also very protective of letting people they don't know roam and hunt their property with weapons that can destroy livestock, people and property......it's very important that you address these concerns proactively when approaching them for hunting opportunities. We need all the new hunters we can get to keep our hunting heritage alive, so I wish you the best in your hunting endeavors and welcome to the forum. texas


From what I am reading, the Outfitters Forum is for Guides to advertise their hunts only, and no one is allowed to post a hunt they are looking for. Is that right?
Posted By: maximus_flavius

Re: New Hunter Seeking Help/Guidance - 07/18/19 11:07 AM


Originally Posted by SouthSaturnDelta
I think you were a little quick to judge me there friend. I will gladly give you the benefit of the doubt though, provided you try to extend me the same courtesy. If you can't be helpful or at least civil then please don't respond.

(1) Perhaps you are right. Perhaps it would cost less to grow meat rabbits. Or, perhaps I am counting on learning how to hunt and then being able to go into the woods without aide and bring out large game animals (as I mentioned,) with the only accrued cost being gas money, a sleeping bag, a state license/permit/tag and a bullet or two. Or, perhaps when I saw people advertising fallow doe hunts for $350, red hind hunts for $550+/-, etc. I assumed they needed help thinning their herds, and they actually intended to sell those hunts at those prices. These are prices I see advertised. If you are an outfitter who charges far more, that doesn't change that fact. If I spent about $2,500 and came home with 3 red hinds, a fallow doe and a hog or two, I would say that would be a good value. Especially considering organic, grass fed and finished beef steaks are $20+ a pound in Georgia.

(2) After "wasting your time" reading my "wall of text," if you were only able to find one very small grammatical/syntax error, then it seems petty and churlish of you to point it out.

(3) I didn't necessarily "complain" about trophy hunting. When I have a nice place to mount a trophy, I fully intend to do so. That simply isn't where I am at right now.

(4) If it is a waste of your time then don't read it. In fact, you can even block me if you prefer. I am rather verbose and my posts will tend to be somewhat lengthy. But please don't respond to my posts if you can't be civil.


I’m quite civil, even to those with hopelessly unrealistic expectations. I’m tryin to be helpful by being direct. What you are looking for is very specific, not really normal around here, very time consuming for an outfitter, & not at all likely to occur.

You’ve been watching too much TV.
Posted By: SouthSaturnDelta

Re: New Hunter Seeking Help/Guidance - 07/18/19 12:02 PM

Originally Posted by maximus_flavius

Originally Posted by SouthSaturnDelta
I think you were a little quick to judge me there friend. I will gladly give you the benefit of the doubt though, provided you try to extend me the same courtesy. If you can't be helpful or at least civil then please don't respond.

(1) Perhaps you are right. Perhaps it would cost less to grow meat rabbits. Or, perhaps I am counting on learning how to hunt and then being able to go into the woods without aide and bring out large game animals (as I mentioned,) with the only accrued cost being gas money, a sleeping bag, a state license/permit/tag and a bullet or two. Or, perhaps when I saw people advertising fallow doe hunts for $350, red hind hunts for $550+/-, etc. I assumed they needed help thinning their herds, and they actually intended to sell those hunts at those prices. These are prices I see advertised. If you are an outfitter who charges far more, that doesn't change that fact. If I spent about $2,500 and came home with 3 red hinds, a fallow doe and a hog or two, I would say that would be a good value. Especially considering organic, grass fed and finished beef steaks are $20+ a pound in Georgia.

(2) After "wasting your time" reading my "wall of text," if you were only able to find one very small grammatical/syntax error, then it seems petty and churlish of you to point it out.

(3) I didn't necessarily "complain" about trophy hunting. When I have a nice place to mount a trophy, I fully intend to do so. That simply isn't where I am at right now.

(4) If it is a waste of your time then don't read it. In fact, you can even block me if you prefer. I am rather verbose and my posts will tend to be somewhat lengthy. But please don't respond to my posts if you can't be civil.


I’m quite civil, even to those with hopelessly unrealistic expectations. I’m tryin to be helpful by being direct. What you are looking for is very specific, not really normal around here, very time consuming for an outfitter, & not at all likely to occur.

You’ve been watching too much TV.







Sure I have. Is that why an outfitter posted last night on this very forum a semi to fully guided red hind hunt opportunity for $550 per doe? With Axis does for $350 smart guy?
Posted By: Pitchfork Predator

Re: New Hunter Seeking Help/Guidance - 07/18/19 12:10 PM

Originally Posted by SouthSaturnDelta
Originally Posted by Pitchfork Predator
Post in the outfitters forum on this site. Someone there will sell you a meat hunt without a problem..........be specific in your post of what animals you would like to kill. Understand though.......we have no income tax in Texas so therefore property taxes are high. Most landowners and outfitters have a very small profit margin to work with and they need to feed their families like everybody else. They are also very protective of letting people they don't know roam and hunt their property with weapons that can destroy livestock, people and property......it's very important that you address these concerns proactively when approaching them for hunting opportunities. We need all the new hunters we can get to keep our hunting heritage alive, so I wish you the best in your hunting endeavors and welcome to the forum. texas



Thanks for the great advice and hospitality sir. I will definitely post there. And I will be specific. The only challenge there is that I am really open to hunting anything. I'd go hunt turtles in Mississippi if someone were willing to show me how, lol. But I will be detailed.

Question: The few outfitters that have been professional enough to interface with me are booked solid until next year....and many outfitters charge up to 25K for certain trophy class bucks. How can their businesses be struggling? More so, and this goes to effective herd management, is it not necessary to thin out the doe population every year? Do they charge the big bucks for the trophy bucks and hunt the does for their own families' tables?

Everything you said makes perfect sense. I understand they have to be profitable and they have to protect themselves and their operations. I am willing to pay their fees. I have seen people posting on this very forum opportunities to harvest several red hinds for as low as $495 per doe. I am willing to make the drive and take three or four at that price. But those hunts were onetime opportunities that expired last year.


You just learned more about leasing and booking hunts..........the good opportunities don't last long. You have to be vigilant and quickly contact and be ready to put money down to secure the hunt or you will have to wait until the next season. It takes thousands of dollars to manage wildlife for trophy hunting......just like farming....lots of variables like drought, disease, predation and the costs reflect this. Most ranches have doe harvests and some will offer to the public, some won't because the cost for the hunt isn't worth the risk of bringing in unknown hunters that will "accidentally" shoot a buck and not have the money to pay for it.
Posted By: maximus_flavius

Re: New Hunter Seeking Help/Guidance - 07/18/19 01:34 PM

“Sure I have. Is that why an outfitter posted last night on this very forum a semi to fully guided red hind hunt opportunity for $550 per doe? With Axis does for $350 smart guy? “



How much for making you into Steve Rinella?

PS, Axis doe meat was always the answer you’ve been looking for. Your gonna wanna shoot a few of those I bet. The meat is exquisite, I think you’ll be very happy with it.

Keep us updated.
Posted By: QuitShootinYoungBucks

Re: New Hunter Seeking Help/Guidance - 07/18/19 01:48 PM

Am I wrong in thinking Alabama, one state over from you, has very liberal bag limits for WT deer - like one per day? Have you checked the availability of hunts in Alabama? From some of the TV shows and the bag limits, it sure seems like they have an abundance and you could find some cheap doe hunts there.
Posted By: SouthSaturnDelta

Re: New Hunter Seeking Help/Guidance - 07/18/19 01:54 PM

Originally Posted by maximus_flavius
“Sure I have. Is that why an outfitter posted last night on this very forum a semi to fully guided red hind hunt opportunity for $550 per doe? With Axis does for $350 smart guy? “



How much for making you into Steve Rinella?

PS, Axis doe meat was always the answer you’ve been looking for. Your gonna wanna shoot a few of those I bet. The meat is exquisite, I think you’ll be very happy with it.

Keep us updated.


Steve Rinella is a tall order man. Probably many tens of thousands, lol. I don't know if I'll be able to book this one on such short notice. The hunt starts Saturday morning and I work overnight into Saturday morning. Driving from Georgia is a tall order. So I'm trying to get someone to come with me. I am trying to make some arrangements. He has axis doe for $350. Now that you have recommended it I will definitely look for an axis doe. Is it better than red deer? I think I wanted the hinds because of their size.
Posted By: freerange

Re: New Hunter Seeking Help/Guidance - 07/18/19 02:32 PM

VERBOSE. Wow, I love this forum cause I learn so much. Seriously. Evidently I am "verbose" and never even knew it. I actually asked moderators if there was a max limit on length of posts cause I was afraid I might go over some day.
OP- I have been wondering if you are serious about this whole endeavor or if this is just some type of joke. Its just so hard for me to fathom that you would have to drive that far to get what you want. Others have said the same. I guess you are serious and I really am glad there are folks out there like yourself that want to hunt for the reasons you stated. IM GLAD YOU WANT TO HUNT AND GLAD YOU WANNA DO IT IN TEXAS. It doesn't seem you are going away so I will probably follow this thread and reply more when I get time.
For now ill say Axis doe are great. Also, there are tons of ranches in Texas that need to kill so many does it becomes a lot of work. They would possibly except help but im unsure how you could develop a friendship and trust that would allow you to do what you want. I promise to follow your thread and find time for a verbose response that will help you IF you promise to quit calling someone "smart guy" even if you perceive he is being uncivil.
I just realized I have become the THF self appointed "cant we all just get along" moderator. Don't know anything about red hind and never heard on Steve Rinelli so maybe I should just shut up. Good luck OP.
Posted By: freerange

Re: New Hunter Seeking Help/Guidance - 07/18/19 02:51 PM

South Sat-- Regularguy will most likely chime in real soon on your thread. You and he are very likeminded it appears to me. Depending on what he has to say I would suggest yall PM and he can/will probably help you. None of my business of course but it seems getting into others business, for good or bad, is what this forum is all about. smile
Posted By: SenkoSamurai

Re: New Hunter Seeking Help/Guidance - 07/18/19 03:44 PM

Originally Posted by freerange
South Sat-- Regularguy will most likely chime in real soon on your thread. You and he are very likeminded it appears to me. Depending on what he has to say I would suggest yall PM and he can/will probably help you. None of my business of course but it seems getting into others business, for good or bad, is what this forum is all about. smile


Speaking of regularguy I'm surprised he hasn't chimed in on this thread yet lol!
Posted By: Choctaw

Re: New Hunter Seeking Help/Guidance - 07/18/19 04:02 PM

I would check with a Georgia hunting forum.

Forum
Posted By: Sniper John

Re: New Hunter Seeking Help/Guidance - 07/18/19 05:15 PM

If your hunting only to harvest meat and learn hunting skills, traveling several states away for guided game ranch cull hunts are not going to be your best way to achieve those goals. Just spend time in the woods and hunting what you have available to you. Your own state of Georgia has a public drawn hunt program just like Texas. Each year you apply and don't get drawn you gain a priority point for the next year to increase your chances. Not just for Deer hunts, but hunts from Alligator, to Quail, and rabbit. And it costs nothing to apply for those hunts. The youth hunt offerings and "hunt and learn" program would be a great resource to use with for your kids.
https://georgiawildlife.com/hunting/quota
https://georgiawildlife.com/LearntoHuntFish
If you or your family has an issue with the taste of game meat, you might consider finding a place that will make your meat into sausage like smoked sausage, breakfast sausage, jalapeno cheese sausage, etc. Paying to have a field dressed animal fully processed can be expensive. An alternative is to debone your game and taking only the meat to the processor to be made into sausage. I have both Venison smoked sausage made and an all game sausage of mostly waterfowl and wild hog, but could have any kind of game animal in it. Every member of my extended family will eat it including those that claim they do not like game meat.
Posted By: maximus_flavius

Re: New Hunter Seeking Help/Guidance - 07/18/19 06:04 PM

Another main point; you seem to want an almost “guarantee” to kill several animals, but don’t want a canned hunt. That’s a very fine line. & it could take awhile.
Posted By: ducknbass

Re: New Hunter Seeking Help/Guidance - 07/18/19 06:31 PM

Originally Posted by SouthSaturnDelta
Originally Posted by maximus_flavius

Originally Posted by SouthSaturnDelta
I think you were a little quick to judge me there friend. I will gladly give you the benefit of the doubt though, provided you try to extend me the same courtesy. If you can't be helpful or at least civil then please don't respond.

(1) Perhaps you are right. Perhaps it would cost less to grow meat rabbits. Or, perhaps I am counting on learning how to hunt and then being able to go into the woods without aide and bring out large game animals (as I mentioned,) with the only accrued cost being gas money, a sleeping bag, a state license/permit/tag and a bullet or two. Or, perhaps when I saw people advertising fallow doe hunts for $350, red hind hunts for $550+/-, etc. I assumed they needed help thinning their herds, and they actually intended to sell those hunts at those prices. These are prices I see advertised. If you are an outfitter who charges far more, that doesn't change that fact. If I spent about $2,500 and came home with 3 red hinds, a fallow doe and a hog or two, I would say that would be a good value. Especially considering organic, grass fed and finished beef steaks are $20+ a pound in Georgia.

(2) After "wasting your time" reading my "wall of text," if you were only able to find one very small grammatical/syntax error, then it seems petty and churlish of you to point it out.

(3) I didn't necessarily "complain" about trophy hunting. When I have a nice place to mount a trophy, I fully intend to do so. That simply isn't where I am at right now.

(4) If it is a waste of your time then don't read it. In fact, you can even block me if you prefer. I am rather verbose and my posts will tend to be somewhat lengthy. But please don't respond to my posts if you can't be civil.


I’m quite civil, even to those with hopelessly unrealistic expectations. I’m tryin to be helpful by being direct. What you are looking for is very specific, not really normal around here, very time consuming for an outfitter, & not at all likely to occur.

You’ve been watching too much TV.







Sure I have. Is that why an outfitter posted last night on this very forum a semi to fully guided red hind hunt opportunity for $550 per doe? With Axis does for $350 smart guy?



That fee is for you to sit in a box blind and shoot an axis doe that he points out. Likely under a feeder. This will not reach your expectations of teaching you how to hunt. Also if you want to learn to hunt for meat hunting exotics on a game ranch in Texas will not do you any good. Be like saying I want to learn how to bass fish so booking a fly fishing trip in Wyoming.

Maximus is trying to help you. Swallow your pride and listen
Posted By: SouthSaturnDelta

Re: New Hunter Seeking Help/Guidance - 07/18/19 07:40 PM

Originally Posted by maximus_flavius
Another main point; you seem to want an almost “guarantee” to kill several animals, but don’t want a canned hunt. That’s a very fine line. & it could take awhile.



I can see how you are definitely right there. I guess it wouldn't be fair to place those expectations on a guide simultaneously. I guess what I mean is my ultimate goal is to learn enough through a few of these hunts to become self sufficient as a hunter. But I would feel very bad about driving to Texas, Oklahoma or even further west and spending several thousand dollars to come home with nothing to show for it. I am going to attack this goal at all angles. I got some info on hunting squirrels with my hunting buddy this morning. A couple of earlier posters were kind enough to suggest that I look at hunting rabbits and squirrels locally. I know it is a far cry from stalking a caribou in Alaska, but I am guessing every little bit of experience will help.
Posted By: SouthSaturnDelta

Re: New Hunter Seeking Help/Guidance - 07/18/19 07:49 PM

Originally Posted by Sniper John
If your hunting only to harvest meat and learn hunting skills, traveling several states away for guided game ranch cull hunts are not going to be your best way to achieve those goals. Just spend time in the woods and hunting what you have available to you. Your own state of Georgia has a public drawn hunt program just like Texas. Each year you apply and don't get drawn you gain a priority point for the next year to increase your chances. Not just for Deer hunts, but hunts from Alligator, to Quail, and rabbit. And it costs nothing to apply for those hunts. The youth hunt offerings and "hunt and learn" program would be a great resource to use with for your kids.
https://georgiawildlife.com/hunting/quota
https://georgiawildlife.com/LearntoHuntFish
If you or your family has an issue with the taste of game meat, you might consider finding a place that will make your meat into sausage like smoked sausage, breakfast sausage, jalapeno cheese sausage, etc. Paying to have a field dressed animal fully processed can be expensive. An alternative is to debone your game and taking only the meat to the processor to be made into sausage. I have both Venison smoked sausage made and an all game sausage of mostly waterfowl and wild hog, but could have any kind of game animal in it. Every member of my extended family will eat it including those that claim they do not like game meat.


Great advise here sir, and thanks for it. I followed your advice and looked up how to get a gator tag in Georgia and saw that I still have a couple weeks left to do so for this year. I read a suggestion that I have my wife and loved ones, even my hunting friend, also apply. Question: If my wife or friend draws a tag, can it be transferred to me? Could I legally buy a tag from someone else unrelated to me?

I am seeing guide fees from $500 to $800 a day to get on a boat and hunt for one. Seems very reasonable for this type of experience, even if the quantity of harvested meat is small. I really appreciate this suggestion.

I will certainly be asking for a large amount of sausage. But my goal is to acquire a taste for venison and other game kind of like one does for beer, lol. Eventually, I would like to be able to buy a grinder and vacuum sealer and fully process my own animals. Doesn't seem like it would be too hard to learn. I imagine once I learn how to gut, skin and age the meat properly, further processing should be doable at home. Seems like once I begin harvesting multiple does every season that I could save money buy doing this.

Thanks again John.
Originally Posted by Choctaw
I would check with a Georgia hunting forum.

Forum


I registered there as well. Thank you.
Posted By: SouthSaturnDelta

Re: New Hunter Seeking Help/Guidance - 07/18/19 07:50 PM

Originally Posted by SenkoSamurai
Originally Posted by freerange
South Sat-- Regularguy will most likely chime in real soon on your thread. You and he are very likeminded it appears to me. Depending on what he has to say I would suggest yall PM and he can/will probably help you. None of my business of course but it seems getting into others business, for good or bad, is what this forum is all about. smile


Speaking of regularguy I'm surprised he hasn't chimed in on this thread yet lol!



i am hoping he does. Seems to be well respected here.
Posted By: SouthSaturnDelta

Re: New Hunter Seeking Help/Guidance - 07/18/19 08:03 PM

Originally Posted by freerange
South Sat-- Regularguy will most likely chime in real soon on your thread. You and he are very likeminded it appears to me. Depending on what he has to say I would suggest yall PM and he can/will probably help you. None of my business of course but it seems getting into others business, for good or bad, is what this forum is all about. smile



You are most welcome in my bhunting business sir, lol. I am here for all the help I can get! I look forward to speaking with him.
Posted By: SouthSaturnDelta

Re: New Hunter Seeking Help/Guidance - 07/18/19 08:20 PM

Originally Posted by freerange
VERBOSE. Wow, I love this forum cause I learn so much. Seriously. Evidently I am "verbose" and never even knew it. I actually asked moderators if there was a max limit on length of posts cause I was afraid I might go over some day.
OP- I have been wondering if you are serious about this whole endeavor or if this is just some type of joke. Its just so hard for me to fathom that you would have to drive that far to get what you want. Others have said the same. I guess you are serious and I really am glad there are folks out there like yourself that want to hunt for the reasons you stated. IM GLAD YOU WANT TO HUNT AND GLAD YOU WANNA DO IT IN TEXAS. It doesn't seem you are going away so I will probably follow this thread and reply more when I get time.
For now ill say Axis doe are great. Also, there are tons of ranches in Texas that need to kill so many does it becomes a lot of work. They would possibly except help but im unsure how you could develop a friendship and trust that would allow you to do what you want. I promise to follow your thread and find time for a verbose response that will help you IF you promise to quit calling someone "smart guy" even if you perceive he is being uncivil.
I just realized I have become the THF self appointed "cant we all just get along" moderator. Don't know anything about red hind and never heard on Steve Rinelli so maybe I should just shut up. Good luck OP.



Thanks for your help. I am most definitely quite serious. I am really excited about getting started and deer season is a couple months away in Georgia. Also, there are no elk, moose, caribou, red deer, javelinas, axis/fallow/sika deer or any type of ram or sheep in Georgia. There are hogs, one type of smaller deer, and some small birds that are expensive to hunt and don't seem likely to feed my family of 6 for more than a meal or to. Little to get excited about. But I am starting to realize that plain doe hunts for venison is the most practical way to get started.
Posted By: HandgunHTR

Re: New Hunter Seeking Help/Guidance - 07/18/19 09:29 PM

Here is my take.

I grew up hunting in the Midwest, but lived in SC and GA for 13 years. For the money that you would spend going out to TX for a "meat hunt", you can get on a decent lease in middle/southeast GA and kill 5 does and a buck every year. I know you haven't had the best experience with leased land in GA, but there is a huge difference in going to a lease as guest and going as a member. As a guest, unless you have a really good friend, you are going to get put in the "left over" stand, where you will see a deer if you are lucky. If you do happen to have that really good friend, you will get put in a solid location. That being said, on a standard lease where you are hunting local food sources (not food plots or feeders) and the hunting pressure is pretty high, you may only see one deer every 5 outings. The trick is to get into the woods more. When I was living in GA, I only saw deer about 20% of the time I was in the woods. Not for lack of trying, but deer don't move on my schedule and I can only hunt out of 1 stand at a time. There were many times when I hunted one stand and had deer under 2-3 other places on the lease (verified by trail cameras). That is the other thing. Once you get on a lease, you should have at least 3 places that are "yours" with trail cameras out at each of them. If you are not seeing deer on those cameras, find a different location. YouTube is a good resource for figuring out where to place stands and cameras. Also, if your lease doesn't have food plots, look into get the members together to plant them. If they do, you may not get to hunt the food plots as a new member, but look for places that the deer use to travel to and from the food plots and set up there.

When I lived in TX, I took advantage of going to some ranches and doing meat hunts, because a 2-5 hour drive wasn't that difficult and the price was right. Now that I live in Missouri, the only reason I am going to TX is to trophy hunt exotics and that is only when I don't get drawn for a hunt out west.

The GON and Outdoors Trader forums are good resources where you have a good chance of meeting up with people in your area to show you how to do things. I am a member on both of those forums as well. I was a Moderator on the GON forum when I lived there. There are some great folks in GA who would be more than willing to help show you the ropes, but rest assured, they won't just give up all the secrets until you build a relationship with them.

As for how to process your own game, there are plenty of really good YouTube videos on how it is done. As well as how to prepare game meat for consumption. The most important thing is how the meat is cared for after the shot. The trick is to get it cooled down as quickly as possible. At all my leases we had either a skinning shed or at least a grambel in a tree. My goal was to get the deer from shot to cooler in less than 2 hours unless the temps were really high in the early season, then the goal was <1 hour.

I hope this helps.
Posted By: SenkoSamurai

Re: New Hunter Seeking Help/Guidance - 07/18/19 09:55 PM

Originally Posted by SouthSaturnDelta
Originally Posted by SenkoSamurai
Originally Posted by freerange
South Sat-- Regularguy will most likely chime in real soon on your thread. You and he are very likeminded it appears to me. Depending on what he has to say I would suggest yall PM and he can/will probably help you. None of my business of course but it seems getting into others business, for good or bad, is what this forum is all about. smile


Speaking of regularguy I'm surprised he hasn't chimed in on this thread yet lol!



i am hoping he does. Seems to be well respected here.



Depends on the day! HAHAH bolt
Posted By: 10 Gauge

Re: New Hunter Seeking Help/Guidance - 07/18/19 11:02 PM

Also beware of the snobs on the forum. Don't take it too seriously. I should take my own advice I guess, oh freaking well.

Some people think shooting deer from a stand in front of a feeder all their life makes them an expert. Take it with a grain of salt.
Posted By: 10 Gauge

Re: New Hunter Seeking Help/Guidance - 07/18/19 11:04 PM

You guys keep going on like you'll never meet me. You'll be sorry when you do.
Posted By: 10 Gauge

Re: New Hunter Seeking Help/Guidance - 07/18/19 11:11 PM

Ya'll had an opportunity to take a new hunter under your wing and trach him something and you just heckled the poor guy and dragged me into it.

As long as ya'll keep heading the direction you are going, you are gonna take hunting down with you. Good luck.

Edit- and yes I blocked you.
Posted By: 10 Gauge

Re: New Hunter Seeking Help/Guidance - 07/18/19 11:21 PM

Let me try this again now that I blocked those dudes.

Have you tried Fort Benning? The Post commander has put a bounty on pigs at fort benning. It's not much but better than a poke in the eye. Loaded with pigs.

Georgia is a good state to get started in.

Nothing wrong with a trophy. I don't think you have a problem with it and I bet you'd be excited to have the opportunity. Just not your goal right now. Am i right?
Posted By: 10 Gauge

Re: New Hunter Seeking Help/Guidance - 07/18/19 11:26 PM

Oh and finally, be realistic. You are not gonna feed your family a diet of game unless you live in the woods and live off the land. Supplement their diet- maybe, if they like it. And hormones in meat are honestly no big deal. Don't worry about that stuff. A lot of communities in 3rd world countries where people eat nothing but lean organic free range meat and home grown grains and vegetables, where the avergae adult male doesn't live to be 40.

Be thankful for that hormone raised meat in the store that you can afford to buy.
Posted By: SenkoSamurai

Re: New Hunter Seeking Help/Guidance - 07/19/19 12:45 AM

Regularly it’s just a little rib rocking. Based on your username, and having served in our military as well, surely you’ve become familiar with healthy back and forth banter. Also, I offered home to tag along with me. Blocking seems a bit of a safe space method, how about you stick around. I enjoy reading what you write, but take everything I say with a grain of salt. Geez
Posted By: 10 Gauge

Re: New Hunter Seeking Help/Guidance - 07/19/19 01:35 AM

Originally Posted by SenkoSamurai
Regularly it’s just a little rib rocking. Based on your username, and having served in our military as well, surely you’ve become familiar with healthy back and forth banter. Also, I offered home to tag along with me. Blocking seems a bit of a safe space method, how about you stick around. I enjoy reading what you write, but take everything I say with a grain of salt. Geez


Well i can still toggle your posts when i get curious
Posted By: 10 Gauge

Re: New Hunter Seeking Help/Guidance - 07/19/19 01:46 AM

By the way that safe space jab was the worst one of all!

Seriously though its alot different with dudes you know and have done something with

That and you gotta admit it is a little more than a little friendly ribbing. I ain't one of yall
Posted By: 10 Gauge

Re: New Hunter Seeking Help/Guidance - 07/19/19 01:53 AM

But seriously why cant yall just help this dude and leave me out of it
Posted By: Sniper John

Re: New Hunter Seeking Help/Guidance - 07/19/19 04:30 AM

SouthSaturnDelta,

You don't need a guide to take an alligator on public land. If you draw a tag, contact me through the forum and I can explain to you everything you need to bag one on your own.

When you apply for those quota hunts, you apply as a party with your family and friends. Any permit would not be transferable.

You do have some public Elk and Exotic quota hunts that are not very far from Georgia. Tennessee, Kentucky, and Pennsylvania have draws for Public Elk hunts. I know because I have double digit preference points for the Tennessee Elk hunt and put in for the Pennsylvania one every year as well. Florida has a public drawn Sambar hunt. Virginia has a drawn Sika Deer hunt. Visit the fish and game websites for those states around you to see about those and what else they have to offer.
Posted By: SherpaPhil

Re: New Hunter Seeking Help/Guidance - 07/19/19 04:36 AM

My advice, which is probably worth about what you are paying for it, would be spend a ton of time hunting squirrels near home. Squirrel hunting teaches you the same skills you need to be a successful big game hunter, but with a much faster learning curve. You need to learn how to move through the woods quietly, spot game quickly before it spots you, identify food sources, learn animal habits in your local area, sit still, move when the game isn't looking, use the terrain to your advantage, and I'm sure a ton of other skills I am forgetting. The benefit to squirrels is, if you blow a "stalk" on one, its not like your trip is ruined. You simply walk another 50 yards and start again. You can have as many encounters with your target animal in a weekend as most casual deer hunters get in several years.

If you want to do the Steve Rinella, western public land DIY thing, you are going to need those skills, or variations of them. I completely understand the desire to fast track your learning experience, and guides, especially on spot and stalk hunts, can be an excellent way of doing that. However, without that foundation of skills, you will have a very hard time putting the lessons the even the best guide teaches you to good use.

It isn't nearly as sexy as bringing a 200 lb beast home to the family, but squirrel hunting is legitimately a ton of fun, and a great way to learn the skills you need to move on. Think of it as all the girls you dated before you met you wife. Sure, they weren't what you were ultimately looking for, but without those experiences, you wouldn't have had been able to close the deal when it counted. Plus, even the learning can be a whole lot of fun.

Additionally, to address your concerns earlier, squirrel meat is legitimately delicious and as far as bacteria, parasites, etc., its safer than supermarket chicken.

At the same time you are building these skills, start building preference points for western states. Wyoming antelope is probably the ideal into animal for big game hunting as there is plenty of opportunity, but you can build points to have the opportunity to hunt in some high success rate areas for many animals in many states in a few years, when you are ready. Feel free to PM me if you'd like some pointers on how to get started.

Finally, keep in mind as you are learning, especially when you move up to public land big game, that your odds of success will be very low for a while, but they do increase as you learn. The TV shows give the impression that with enough hard work and determination, anybody can walk up a mountain in Colorado and come down with a 6x6 elk. It ain't the case. I grew up hunting squirrels and then whitetails in Illinois and after many years, got to the point that today, if I were to go back to my parents property, I would bet dollars to donuts that in any given weekend I could put meat in the freezer. I've successfully hunted hogs and deer in Florida, moose and sheep in Alaska, gemsbok and hartebeest in Namibia, and a ton of critters in between. I tell you that to tell you that I have spent a full week in Colorado hunting elk the last two years and have yet to get within 1,000 yards of one. I lived in Alaska for over a year before I got my first opportunity at a big game animal. Its hard, especially when you are moving to a new species, area, method, etc. Without a strong foundation, like you can get squirrel hunting, I can't imagine how difficult it would be.

To summarize:
Step 1: Learn to hunt
Step 2: Bring home lots of meat
Posted By: SouthSaturnDelta

Re: New Hunter Seeking Help/Guidance - 07/19/19 12:18 PM

Originally Posted by SherpaPhil
My advice, which is probably worth about what you are paying for it, would be spend a ton of time hunting squirrels near home. Squirrel hunting teaches you the same skills you need to be a successful big game hunter, but with a much faster learning curve. You need to learn how to move through the woods quietly, spot game quickly before it spots you, identify food sources, learn animal habits in your local area, sit still, move when the game isn't looking, use the terrain to your advantage, and I'm sure a ton of other skills I am forgetting. The benefit to squirrels is, if you blow a "stalk" on one, its not like your trip is ruined. You simply walk another 50 yards and start again. You can have as many encounters with your target animal in a weekend as most casual deer hunters get in several years.

If you want to do the Steve Rinella, western public land DIY thing, you are going to need those skills, or variations of them. I completely understand the desire to fast track your learning experience, and guides, especially on spot and stalk hunts, can be an excellent way of doing that. However, without that foundation of skills, you will have a very hard time putting the lessons the even the best guide teaches you to good use.

It isn't nearly as sexy as bringing a 200 lb beast home to the family, but squirrel hunting is legitimately a ton of fun, and a great way to learn the skills you need to move on. Think of it as all the girls you dated before you met you wife. Sure, they weren't what you were ultimately looking for, but without those experiences, you wouldn't have had been able to close the deal when it counted. Plus, even the learning can be a whole lot of fun.

Additionally, to address your concerns earlier, squirrel meat is legitimately delicious and as far as bacteria, parasites, etc., its safer than supermarket chicken.

At the same time you are building these skills, start building preference points for western states. Wyoming antelope is probably the ideal into animal for big game hunting as there is plenty of opportunity, but you can build points to have the opportunity to hunt in some high success rate areas for many animals in many states in a few years, when you are ready. Feel free to PM me if you'd like some pointers on how to get started.

Finally, keep in mind as you are learning, especially when you move up to public land big game, that your odds of success will be very low for a while, but they do increase as you learn. The TV shows give the impression that with enough hard work and determination, anybody can walk up a mountain in Colorado and come down with a 6x6 elk. It ain't the case. I grew up hunting squirrels and then whitetails in Illinois and after many years, got to the point that today, if I were to go back to my parents property, I would bet dollars to donuts that in any given weekend I could put meat in the freezer. I've successfully hunted hogs and deer in Florida, moose and sheep in Alaska, gemsbok and hartebeest in Namibia, and a ton of critters in between. I tell you that to tell you that I have spent a full week in Colorado hunting elk the last two years and have yet to get within 1,000 yards of one. I lived in Alaska for over a year before I got my first opportunity at a big game animal. Its hard, especially when you are moving to a new species, area, method, etc. Without a strong foundation, like you can get squirrel hunting, I can't imagine how difficult it would be.

To summarize:
Step 1: Learn to hunt
Step 2: Bring home lots of meat



Man this is phenomenal advice and it is worth a great deal to me. I spoke with my hunting buddy yesterday and he said from his elevated deer stand he can bag several squirrels on any given day. He won't be able to walk with me through the woods because he is paralyzed, but he did tell me he could put me on plenty of squirrels, even large fox squirrels. And he did confirm they are quite tasty. He said the only concern for parasites are the same wolves associated with rabbits, and those can be avoided by not going in the hot opening month of the season. I will follow your advice sir, and I thank you for it.
Posted By: SouthSaturnDelta

Re: New Hunter Seeking Help/Guidance - 07/19/19 12:27 PM

Originally Posted by Sniper John
SouthSaturnDelta,

You don't need a guide to take an alligator on public land. If you draw a tag, contact me through the forum and I can explain to you everything you need to bag one on your own.

When you apply for those quota hunts, you apply as a party with your family and friends. Any permit would not be transferable.

You do have some public Elk and Exotic quota hunts that are not very far from Georgia. Tennessee, Kentucky, and Pennsylvania have draws for Public Elk hunts. I know because I have double digit preference points for the Tennessee Elk hunt and put in for the Pennsylvania one every year as well. Florida has a public drawn Sambar hunt. Virginia has a drawn Sika Deer hunt. Visit the fish and game websites for those states around you to see about those and what else they have to offer.



Great advice and I will do all you've suggested......On the transferability of tags, I have seen some elk tags for sell, mostly out west. I believe I came across a couple advertised for sale in New Mexico. Perhaps every state is different or there is something else I am missing. But I was hoping they were transferable and I could get my wife and non hunting friends to apply so they could give them to me. But I guess if that were allowed then everyone would get tags and 3/4 of them would go unused and the gator population would swell to less than ideal levels. How much meat do you get off of an average Georgia Gator? Thanks for the offer to help me. Would I need a boat to be effective hunting them.
Posted By: SouthSaturnDelta

Re: New Hunter Seeking Help/Guidance - 07/19/19 12:31 PM

Originally Posted by regularguy11B
Let me try this again now that I blocked those dudes.

Have you tried Fort Benning? The Post commander has put a bounty on pigs at fort benning. It's not much but better than a poke in the eye. Loaded with pigs.

Georgia is a good state to get started in.

Nothing wrong with a trophy. I don't think you have a problem with it and I bet you'd be excited to have the opportunity. Just not your goal right now. Am i right?



Exactly right sir. I would love a trophy.....a giant red stag would be my choice. But I would love to have a very nice home in which to display it even more, lol. I have nothing against trophies. Especially a trophy someone really fought for and put in serious work to earn. Thank you for all of your help sir.
Posted By: SouthSaturnDelta

Re: New Hunter Seeking Help/Guidance - 07/19/19 12:51 PM

Originally Posted by HandgunHTR
Here is my take.

I grew up hunting in the Midwest, but lived in SC and GA for 13 years. For the money that you would spend going out to TX for a "meat hunt", you can get on a decent lease in middle/southeast GA and kill 5 does and a buck every year. I know you haven't had the best experience with leased land in GA, but there is a huge difference in going to a lease as guest and going as a member. As a guest, unless you have a really good friend, you are going to get put in the "left over" stand, where you will see a deer if you are lucky. If you do happen to have that really good friend, you will get put in a solid location. That being said, on a standard lease where you are hunting local food sources (not food plots or feeders) and the hunting pressure is pretty high, you may only see one deer every 5 outings. The trick is to get into the woods more. When I was living in GA, I only saw deer about 20% of the time I was in the woods. Not for lack of trying, but deer don't move on my schedule and I can only hunt out of 1 stand at a time. There were many times when I hunted one stand and had deer under 2-3 other places on the lease (verified by trail cameras). That is the other thing. Once you get on a lease, you should have at least 3 places that are "yours" with trail cameras out at each of them. If you are not seeing deer on those cameras, find a different location. YouTube is a good resource for figuring out where to place stands and cameras. Also, if your lease doesn't have food plots, look into get the members together to plant them. If they do, you may not get to hunt the food plots as a new member, but look for places that the deer use to travel to and from the food plots and set up there.

When I lived in TX, I took advantage of going to some ranches and doing meat hunts, because a 2-5 hour drive wasn't that difficult and the price was right. Now that I live in Missouri, the only reason I am going to TX is to trophy hunt exotics and that is only when I don't get drawn for a hunt out west.

The GON and Outdoors Trader forums are good resources where you have a good chance of meeting up with people in your area to show you how to do things. I am a member on both of those forums as well. I was a Moderator on the GON forum when I lived there. There are some great folks in GA who would be more than willing to help show you the ropes, but rest assured, they won't just give up all the secrets until you build a relationship with them.

As for how to process your own game, there are plenty of really good YouTube videos on how it is done. As well as how to prepare game meat for consumption. The most important thing is how the meat is cared for after the shot. The trick is to get it cooled down as quickly as possible. At all my leases we had either a skinning shed or at least a grambel in a tree. My goal was to get the deer from shot to cooler in less than 2 hours unless the temps were really high in the early season, then the goal was <1 hour.

I hope this helps.



I believe that is why my buck didn't taste too good. We didn't gut it.....just into the truck and an hour plus over to a processor. Maybe even longer. W ho knows when they got around to cleaning it after we left. Maybe was left until following day.
Posted By: SouthSaturnDelta

Re: New Hunter Seeking Help/Guidance - 07/19/19 01:45 PM

I didn't know in Georgia we have to apply for permission to hunt quail, rabbits and even hogs? I thought one simply paid for a permit and only rarer game such as alligator required a lucky lotto draw. I thought the State Government desperately wanted people to harvest as many hogs as possible. They want quota draws for everything.
Posted By: 10 Gauge

Re: New Hunter Seeking Help/Guidance - 07/19/19 07:32 PM

Probably a state combo hunt and fish license, plus a fort benning permit to hunt and fish, and you are good. A trotline and a couple trips after rabbit and squirrel and it's probably paid for itself a couple times over, if you are looking at economics.

And get a shotgun. You are gonna set yourself up for a lot of dissappointment using just a crossbow.

Remingtons game loads, #6 shot. About $5- $6 per box of 25 and good on small game to around 30 yards, so your rabbit and squirrel are about 25 cents apiece. Use high brass federal #4's for fox squirrels and shooting high up in the pines. Cost more like $8 a box but worth it for the extra ten yards range and knockdown power.

I know it feels like asking his royal majesty for permission to take game. But without the revenue this stuff generates there would be no good hunting or fishing.
Posted By: SouthSaturnDelta

Re: New Hunter Seeking Help/Guidance - 07/20/19 07:33 AM

Originally Posted by regularguy11B
Probably a state combo hunt and fish license, plus a fort benning permit to hunt and fish, and you are good. A trotline and a couple trips after rabbit and squirrel and it's probably paid for itself a couple times over, if you are looking at economics.

And get a shotgun. You are gonna set yourself up for a lot of dissappointment using just a crossbow.

Remingtons game loads, #6 shot. About $5- $6 per box of 25 and good on small game to around 30 yards, so your rabbit and squirrel are about 25 cents apiece. Use high brass federal #4's for fox squirrels and shooting high up in the pines. Cost more like $8 a box but worth it for the extra ten yards range and knockdown power.

I know it feels like asking his royal majesty for permission to take game. But without the revenue this stuff generates there would be no good hunting or fishing.


I have the 30-06 Savage brand rifle I bought too hunt deer about 14 years ago. I am glad you suggested the shotgun. In keeping with the advice earlier in this thread (learning to hunt squirrel to become ready to hunt bigger game) I was already pricing a scope and .22 Rifle for me and a Pellet Gun for my sun to hunt squirrels. Are you saying the shotgun would be better than scoped .22 rifle?

I have always wanted to run a trotline. When my dad would taking me fishing as I kid, he explained what they were but also said they were illegal to use in Georgia. Maybe I misheard him.

Thanks again sir.
Posted By: freerange

Re: New Hunter Seeking Help/Guidance - 07/20/19 02:35 PM

I would suggest the scoped 22 and for your purpose you can go real low end on both and be fine. Others may disagree but that's whats great about this forum-a wide spectrum of advice. Theres not always a black and white answer to lots of stuff in life, ESPECIALLY when you factor in that everyone is different and has different goals and expectations (insert reading of my signature line here). Just keep soaking up the scatter shot of advice and eventually make up your own mind and all will be good.
Posted By: 10 Gauge

Re: New Hunter Seeking Help/Guidance - 07/20/19 11:23 PM

A .22 is great too. Definitely get better range with a good .22 over a shotgun, ammo is cheaper still.

I like a shotgun because a lot of times you'll only get a quick shot. Plus they are so versatile.

I like the air rifle too, it's a great tool and pays for itself quickly in the cost of ammo. Nevermind the price to use range.

Hunting with an air rifle is a bit more of a challenge though. A good day with a breakbarrel for me is 3 or more kills over the span of most of the day. I think the boy would do better with a .22 or a shotgun. Then again a cheap multipump pellet gun is all I had when I was a boy and killed a lot with it.
Posted By: 10 Gauge

Re: New Hunter Seeking Help/Guidance - 07/21/19 04:08 AM

http://www.eregulations.com/georgia/fishing/fishing-methods/

Georgia regs similar to texas regs. Max 50 hooks, labeled name date address. Keep it simple, find a topo map and weigh the center down to the bottom around a channel to cover the entire water column. Or just use a pole.
Posted By: Dakota79

Re: New Hunter Seeking Help/Guidance - 07/22/19 04:38 PM

If you ever make it to South Dakota I can help you get several deer and show you the ropes along the way.
Posted By: freerange

Re: New Hunter Seeking Help/Guidance - 07/22/19 05:45 PM

Originally Posted by Dakota79
If you ever make it to South Dakota I can help you get several deer and show you the ropes along the way.


Pretty wonderful how some guys have offered to help a stranger. Love it!!!
Posted By: Cochise

Re: New Hunter Seeking Help/Guidance - 07/22/19 05:54 PM

Got bad news for you. Venison, wild pork, wild fish...any living animal whether it lived free or was finished on a feedlot will have hormones. There is no such thing as hormone free meat. Hormones occur naturally.

Also - the effects of implants (growth hormones in small doses) is negligible on the levels of "hormones" in the finished product vs a non-implanted animal. Also - all meat sold in the US is antibiotic free. Lots of myths that constantly race around to hurt the Ag industry.

With that said - I commend you for wanting to put healthier options on the table as venison and wild pork are much healthier (less fat and a lot less saturated fats) than grain finished animals. You have had some great offers and great advice.

I didn't see you mention anything about fishing. I know there is great fishing in Georgia. Fishing is also A LOT cheaper way to put some other healthy meat options on the table (just don't fry everything!).
Posted By: SouthSaturnDelta

Re: New Hunter Seeking Help/Guidance - 07/26/19 07:11 AM

Originally Posted by Dakota79
If you ever make it to South Dakota I can help you get several deer and show you the ropes along the way.



Just now seeing this! Thanks so much for this generous offer to help. I can make it to South Dakota just to hunt with you. I will send direct message. Thanks again.
Posted By: SouthSaturnDelta

Re: New Hunter Seeking Help/Guidance - 07/26/19 07:13 AM

Originally Posted by Cochise
Got bad news for you. Venison, wild pork, wild fish...any living animal whether it lived free or was finished on a feedlot will have hormones. There is no such thing as hormone free meat. Hormones occur naturally.

Also - the effects of implants (growth hormones in small doses) is negligible on the levels of "hormones" in the finished product vs a non-implanted animal. Also - all meat sold in the US is antibiotic free. Lots of myths that constantly race around to hurt the Ag industry.

With that said - I commend you for wanting to put healthier options on the table as venison and wild pork are much healthier (less fat and a lot less saturated fats) than grain finished animals. You have had some great offers and great advice.

I didn't see you mention anything about fishing. I know there is great fishing in Georgia. Fishing is also A LOT cheaper way to put some other healthy meat options on the table (just don't fry everything!).



I have been thinking about fishing lately too. I kind of got soured on fishing because when I would go with my dad growing up to pay lakes or a river by the house, we would rarely get more than three small fish, and often times none. A few years back I went with a co-worker to North Georgia and East Tennessee lakes several times to fish for trout and we seldom caught much of anything. In seven trips I caught one and he caught a handful.
Posted By: stxranchman

Re: New Hunter Seeking Help/Guidance - 07/27/19 01:12 AM

shocked Jimi Hendrix is back and now posting on the THF hammer
Posted By: 10 Gauge

Re: New Hunter Seeking Help/Guidance - 07/29/19 03:30 AM

If you ever make t out to Texas I'd be glad to show you the ropes bank fishing. Here's a few good pictures...

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