Posted By: Legg86
Brand Spankin New! - 10/15/18 02:16 PM
Hello all I have arrived! You may now bask in my glory!
My family is big time duck hunters in Louisiana, and I have a uncle who hunts deer there. I’ve gone white tail hunting with him once, but sitting in a blind all day with a 30y sight line didn’t really do it for me, so I never went back. Now that I’m in my 30’s and in Texas, I want to make another attempt. Unfortunately, I don’t know any hunters here so I’ll be figuring it out as I go.
I need some advice/help, and would love to receive your opinions on the below:
1- where to go:
I’m based in the Houston area, but am willing to travel anywhere in the state. I prefer longer sight lines instead of hunting swamp donkeys in the bushes. I sold my truck last year when I got my city job, and my Jeep Compass is not an OHV. I would be packing in/out.
2- what to bring:
There’s a million articles on hunting but very little that I’ve found on a hunting campsite. I have plenty of backpacking / car camping experience but was curious if there’s anything “hunting specific” that wouldn’t stick out and would ruin the trip if left behind out of ignorance.
3- who to go with:
I see that fish and game has a mentorship program for adults (awesome!) but it’s apparently drawing based. Is there a mentor type program that is private/ paid, but NOT a game ranch where you just pick out your deer and shoot it? Nothing against the guys who partake, but I don’t feel like paying 5 grand plus to shoot a tame deer with a tag in his ear. I want to learn how to hunt on WMA’s or something relatively economical.
4- ethical hunting:
Since I don’t have any experience, I may be going a bit overboard on this topic, but while I can reliably ring steel at 400y with my .308, I figure my max effective range no more than 300y. I’ll be practicing every weekend until I can my groups under 6”@ 400. Since I don’t really know any other hunters, what’s your opinions on accuracy vs your effective range, and do you recommend a range finder for a new hunter. I’m happy to pass one up at 350y, but I’m not confident I can accurately gauge the distance by eye and may Think he’s in range when maybe he’s not.
Any help would be appreciated!
My family is big time duck hunters in Louisiana, and I have a uncle who hunts deer there. I’ve gone white tail hunting with him once, but sitting in a blind all day with a 30y sight line didn’t really do it for me, so I never went back. Now that I’m in my 30’s and in Texas, I want to make another attempt. Unfortunately, I don’t know any hunters here so I’ll be figuring it out as I go.
I need some advice/help, and would love to receive your opinions on the below:
1- where to go:
I’m based in the Houston area, but am willing to travel anywhere in the state. I prefer longer sight lines instead of hunting swamp donkeys in the bushes. I sold my truck last year when I got my city job, and my Jeep Compass is not an OHV. I would be packing in/out.
2- what to bring:
There’s a million articles on hunting but very little that I’ve found on a hunting campsite. I have plenty of backpacking / car camping experience but was curious if there’s anything “hunting specific” that wouldn’t stick out and would ruin the trip if left behind out of ignorance.
3- who to go with:
I see that fish and game has a mentorship program for adults (awesome!) but it’s apparently drawing based. Is there a mentor type program that is private/ paid, but NOT a game ranch where you just pick out your deer and shoot it? Nothing against the guys who partake, but I don’t feel like paying 5 grand plus to shoot a tame deer with a tag in his ear. I want to learn how to hunt on WMA’s or something relatively economical.
4- ethical hunting:
Since I don’t have any experience, I may be going a bit overboard on this topic, but while I can reliably ring steel at 400y with my .308, I figure my max effective range no more than 300y. I’ll be practicing every weekend until I can my groups under 6”@ 400. Since I don’t really know any other hunters, what’s your opinions on accuracy vs your effective range, and do you recommend a range finder for a new hunter. I’m happy to pass one up at 350y, but I’m not confident I can accurately gauge the distance by eye and may Think he’s in range when maybe he’s not.
Any help would be appreciated!