New Hunter from Boston

[jquigley]

Welcome...I hear there is a Yeti roaming the streets of Bostonhttp://www.cbsnews.com/news/yeti-spotted-roaming-streets-of-boston/. Maybe you can hone your skills on him.

Just keep at it and ask lots of questions. Read lots of books, forums, and magazines to learn as much as you can and don't get discouraged if you don't kill anything. It is much more important that you enjoy yourself. Consider joining a conservation/hunting group like Rocky Mtn Elk, Pheasants Forever, Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, etc as they can have some really good info also.

This guy was two blocks from my house and I was too busy enjoying the seventy degree Denver weather to put a stalk on him!

Thanks or the advice! I've actually joined all three of those. The conservation part of the hunting lifestyle is very much a part of my ethics so I was more than happy to join.

 

[nmelktrout]

Takes one to know one, J.R.! You owe me a cold one for that!

 

[jquigley]

Welcome. If you do not have much gear then would consider a Western hunt where are likely to see plenty of "shooters" if looking for a representative animal plus you need minimal gear (WY or NM pronghorn hunt). If your dream is deer or elk right out of the chute then would consider a guided/outfitted hunt where the tag is either OTC (over the counter so can buy without worrying about draw odds...NM landowner elk tag or CO landowner elk or deer tag) or a virtual guarantee (MT surplus elk/deer tag).

There are folks that drive from the East Coast to the West each autumn and are successful in their first hunt out West for elk or deer. Not many, though, are successful and the learning curve can be brutal as figure out the species and the terrain. Locals may be friendly or they may not. Big country out West so hunting alone carries some risks since on many hunts you can not just hike briskly an hour or two and cross a roadway if need help.

I usually suggest a pronghorn hunt. The cost is generally less than other big game animal tags/hunts. Beautiful animal. An average pronghorn's horns are not that much smaller than a state record (well, compared to if you did the same thing with two elk or deer side by side).

Thanks for the insight Lope! I've got some basic gear but not a ton and nothing in the realm of what I will need for backcountry and camping, though it is on the list. Pronghorn are very much on my list, I am completely fascinated by those animals! For now I'm focused on getting the gear that maximizes my chances of taking someone up on an invite. So far, I've picked up a rifle, muzzleloader and a shotgun, just so I can spend as much time in the woods around New England as possible. Bow hunting is a real goal but a few years away, minimum.

Without much outdoors experience, hunting alone is unlikely for me, at least not for more than a day an in forgiving circumstances. I've got to build the confidence to pursue big game on my own. In the meantime, I'll dream of spring black bears and fall elk while I wander around my local WMA looking for rabbits

 

[jquigley]

Welcome. You came to the right site. Hunt Talk is a terrific forum with good info.

I'm just up the road from you in NH. Getting skunked deer hunting in NH is the norm, not the exception. A deer here can walk past in the woods at 50 yards and you won't be able to see them. Buggers walk around my yard just about every night.

PM me if you want to chat some time.

Bokeh,

Always looking to talk to local, or relatively local guys. PM Sent

 

[jquigley]

All thanks to you Cody. If I move to Denver, I may just wander that place to develop my eye for game.

 

[jryoung]

Takes one to know one, J.R.! You owe me a cold one for that!

Name me a time and a place.

 

[nmelktrout]

Next week. Vegas at the SCI Convention. I think I owe you a couple from the last BHA rendezvous and the picture you took of me and Ryan that went viral...

Told you there are some big deer out there, Jeff!

 

[Hem]

Best introduction to date. I like the honesty of starting with a clean slate(makes any gaffes understandable).Don't sweat a late start,I was in the same boat....born in Michigan but raised in Massachusetts.I had no immediate family members who hunted so it was trial and error.Moving to Montana close to 30 years ago helped fast forward my hunting,that and making friends with other hunters my age.I think there is lots more readily available information now for obvious reasons,and this site is a wealth in its own right.Be patient with snarky members Only advice I have is get the heck out of Mass,,still okay to be a sports fan,though,...Go Patriots,I hope they but a "wicked" hurting on the Seahawks.haha

 

[JohnCushman]

Are your balls properly inflated?




Was it too soon for that?

 

[jryoung]

Next week. Vegas at the SCI Convention. I think I owe you a couple from the last BHA rendezvous and the picture you took of me and Ryan that went viral...

Told you there are some big deer out there, Jeff!

I gotta go to the Mouse House in Orlando next week, when I draw that Gila tag this year I have a cooler full of cold ones for you.

 

[jquigley]

Thanks for the kind words Hem, plenty of Gaffes to come! I love New England, though it is definitely a challenge when it comes to hunting. Though I'm originally from San Diego and from what I understand it would be even tougher to take up hunting there! Coincidentally, I am currently looking at relocating somewhere out west as I right this.

Where about in Montana did you end up? My girlfriend and I have some friends in Bozeman. We're hoping to visit in the spring, with an outside shot at a spring black bear hunt, should the gods take pity on me.

Go Pats.

And it is not a matter of inflation John. I just prefer my balls to have a particular texture.

 

[huntergirl_19]

Hi I was in your position recently, tho I had camped. Was able to pull the trigger on a pronghorn 2 seasons ago! It's a great site full of good people and good info. Welcome!

My 1 recommendation is, if you think you will ever want to bow hunt, start now. It's easier to learn it along with rifle, and you will have a much longer season to hone your skills.

 

[Hem]

Jeff,
I am located about 35 miles west of Bozoland.Plenty of bear hunting opportunity if you make it out.I prefer to hunt turkeys in the spring but can still offer some ideas for places to snoop around for a bruin.Feel free to pm me anytime with questions,glad to help a New Englander (even though you are a East-sider of Mass.) Nate

 

[jquigley]

Thanks for the advice huntergirl_19! I've been thinking about getting one lately. Need to do a lot more research to settle on a good rig. Never too soon to start practicing.

 

[JLS]

Welcome. If you have the opportunity to bow hunt, do it. I feel that the learning curve for archery is far steeper, but hones your hunting skills much faster.

Plus, it's addicting as all get out.

 

[VAspeedgoat]

Where in New Hampshire did you hunt? If you hit the white mts or further north, that was a tough hunt for an expert. Concentrate effort around farming country for higher deer numbers. However nothing can top the big woods for character.
Good luck, there is a lot of good info here and some of the most accomplished guys have already replied back to you. I'm not one of them but they take pity on me and answer my questions as I'm sure they will yours.

 

[live free or die]

Welcome Jeff
Always nice to welcome a newbie to the fraternity!
Advantage of a bow is the ability to practice in crowded environments, plus just plain fun.
As previous post stated, killing a deer here in Nh can be pretty tough but awful nice to country. Harvesting an animal is just icing on the cake
Oh and go PATS :hump:

Dan from NH

 

[jquigley]

VA,

I wasn't far from the White Mountains but to the south rather than north. Tough but a great learning experience and just fantastic to feel like I was in real wilderness, for maybe the first time in my life.

Live free,

Thank you. I wish every hunter were as excited by new hunters as you! I am very much looking to get a bow, if for no other reason than to pass away some time without the cost of ammunition. I have looked at several deals on "ready to hunt" bows, but not sure what poundage or draw length I need (I've had several surgeries on my shoulder). Can you recommend a show in southern NH?

 

[live free or die]

Jeff
My suggestion would be to get your draw length measured and buy a cheap bow with low draw weight your comfortable shooting with. Keep it fun! I would stick to a gun for hunting until you start learning more about the game. I'm sure you can find a pretty cheap outdated bow, something that was state of the art 20 years ago. My oldest son killed two deer this year with a Martin Sceptor I gave him ten years ago, and it was an antique then,lol just have someone make sure it's safe, limbs,string etc. and have fun learning
Plenty of time to upgrade when and if you get into it.
I live in the Lakes Region, if you make it back up again next year, give me a shout, I'll show you around.

 

[track1]

There is no such thing as a stupid question, just stupid people that ask questions.

Seriously though, welcome from another New England transplant. Came here from VT in 96. Best thing I ever did. Hunting in NH is tough. Find some good ethical people to help you out.