Newbie/Noob on Hunting

[Woody]

Long story short I've never hunted a day in my life.  I never had the opportunity growing up.  My son "Splinter" went hunting this year for pheasant and shot his first one, 1st shot 1st kill.  He was the only one that day to bag a pheasant.  Let's say the economy make a miraculous turn for the better and I can afford to go buy hunting equiptment for both my son and I.  Of course I'm thinking more of next year's hunting seasons.

You're asking yourself-Ok Woody what kind of hunting are you looking to do?
Answer: How about a list for both Deer Hunting (rifle) and Pheasant Hunting.  I do not own a gun, so that would be a good place to start.  I'm not made of money-not even close so think conservatively.  Thanks for your help/suggestions.

*PS I want to mention while neither Splinter or I are marksman, we have fired guns before so it's not like we're completely new to this, but dern near new!

[Outdoors Junkie]

Woody,

If you have not been invited to hunt anywhere yet, you are very welcom to come and join us in Waskish (Upper Red Lake area).  We have plenty of room.

For deer hunting.

You can find used rifles at a reasonable price around here or many other places.  I picked up a 30.30 from a friend of my dads for $125.

Keep an eye on CL and our classifieds for used hunting clothing.  You would need a blaze orange jacket and hat.  If you can afford blaze orange pants, that would be a good idea too.

Do you have a good set of boots for each of you?  Do you have long underware?  Also a good pair of gloves.

That would be the basics.

Scents, calls, portable stand would be extra's.

If you want to join us, we have extra of blaze orange clothing, scents, calls and stands.  We even have extra guns, but you would need to target practice before the season.

Let me know.

OJ

[JCAMERON]

I started off in a similiar boat. My father only deer hunts because I do and thats all he hunts. I started out by buying two used shotguns at a local pawn shop for $300. ( 10 + 12 GA). Then little by little i build up a good decoy spread for waterfowl... and picked up misc. here and there, used and new when the price was right. Now I have the means to hunt everything possible in MN, in this was just in the last 3 years.

For pheasants I would probably suggest planning to hunt next year at least a few times with somebody that has a good bird dog. Then i would read as much as i could about dog training and do my best to pick up and train a dog. For deer hunting you might get by with a basic rifle, some warm blaze orange and a portable stand or blind. Stevens has some relatively inexpensive rifles in just about any caliber.

[Woody]

OJ, Thanks for the offer and while it won't be this year I will definetely keep it in mind for next year if that's cool with you?  (I have bronchitis right now-not a good idea to sit out in the cold wet woods with that).  I did manage to score a heck of a price for the start of my deer hunting outfit however. (See attached Picture)

On a sidenote my wife's brother was shot while deer hunting once, so that's why I've respected her wishes up til now not to own guns.  But she's opened up to the idea since Splinter has taken an interest in hunting. 

I think I will just pick up things here and there throughout the year so hopefully by next year we'll both be ready.  Thanks for the advice.   Any more thoughts?

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[antlermass]

If you are looking for things through out the year, its a good time to keep an eye on those clearances after hunting this year...Gosh I think some of those chain stores mark there stuff down 75%.. and you would just need a layer of orange.. one of the thinner jackets in a larger size to through over any other kind of jacket you have... I did that for a few years.

These classifieds are nice too.. .heck rummage sales... second hand stores even at this times puts orange hunting clothes out that people have donated or what not...

Start a fund and don't dip out of it.. if you put away $6.00 a week until next season you would end up saving enough money for a couple guns!

Good Luck!