What to buy / where?

Jeremy · 03-11-2003, 01:26 PM

I am a pretty big outdoorsman, fishing, hiking, camping, photography, and want to get into hunting. Any tips on where to start,how to start??? should i buy a gun right away or try some out first??? etc...I have shot target and skeet before but never owned a gun or been hunting. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

bri24 · 03-11-2003, 01:40 PM

Start by checking into a hunter education class. Taking the class, then go get ya a gun.

Lured In · 03-11-2003, 02:48 PM

Jeremy congrats on making the plunge!

Bri24 has offered some excellent advice that I would follow to the letter.

It doesn't matter if you are 11 or 111 years old, the hunter education program will give you what you need to start 'acquiring' gear. The class focuses on ethics, firearms safety, and animal identification among other things.

As far as what you need to buy, that will depend on what you choose to hunt. Personally I would wait to ask your question until after you have passed hunter ed and are still interested in hunting. (not that you wouldn't be).

There is really very little you will need to get started and with what you learn in Hunter Ed, you will best be able to determine what you need now and what you can't wait for.

Here is the link to ODFW's website with Hunter Ed info:

http://www.dfw.state.or.us/outdoor_skills/

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

Degner · 03-11-2003, 03:22 PM

Read through the posts here, talk to other hunters, take the course mentioned above, before you buy a gun decide what you are going to use it for, what do you want to hunt? I agree the very first thing to learn is gun safety. After you learn safety, go hunting with experienced hunters then yourself. There is a lot of info out there.

Don Becker · 03-12-2003, 11:30 PM

Jeremy, the advice you've already received is right. But, don't be in too much of a hurry to buy the gun. As was pointed-out, that will depend on what you want to hunt. And, we all go into new interests with some sort of budget constraints . . . if, for example, you are interested in several species, it may be that you'll want to go with one weapon (at least initially) and with different loads for those different species. If you wish to hunt this year and want to "put-in" for any special hunts, the deadline if May 15 for applications.

After you've taken the hunter education course, e-mail me if you would like. I find, lately, that my hunting partners don't have as much time to spend "in the woods" as I do and it mught just work out that I could take you out with me a time or two . . . . Don