A Beginners Guide To Hunting

Spring is the perfect time to prepare for the coming fall hunting season. And adults have been coming to hunting in droves during the past few years, with women coming to hunting as adults in higher numbers than ever before.

I marked my sixth year hunting in 2020, and it’s been a life-changing decision that puts great food on the table and widens my experience with the outdoors each year. I’ve hunted everything from geese to elk to mule deer. And I’m now in the process of raising and DIY training my first bird dog!

Warning: Once you put your own meat on the table, you might not want to quit. And, with that in mind, I’ve collected these tips to start hunting as well as resources that can help you guide your hunting education.

Hunters’ Education

Mentored, Guided Opportunities to Hunt

Hunt to Eat’s Hunt Camps

The brand Hunt to Eat offers a series of Learn to Hunt and Learn to Fish camps that encompass a variety of hunting methods, wild game and fishing options, and built-in mentorship in addition to opportunity.

These are guided camps that offer educational opportunities that include guest speakers, borrowed gear, conservation education, in-person how-to clinics, and, of course, the opportunity to bring meat home to your own freezer.

Finding a Quality Guide

A lot of folks start out hunting (and some only hunt) with professional, licensed guides. Although it’s often an expensive way to hunt, guides can help impart valuable skills for hunting different animals in different parts of the country.

If you’re looking for a guide who will be more accommodating as a teacher, it’s a good idea to have a conversation with your guide before the trip. Will they help you shoot or sight in your gun when you arrive? Are they open to helping you understand why animals are where they are? Do they offer meat hunts, as in non-trophy animal opportunities?

The brand GoHunt has a great searchable feature for Western hunting guides. But a bit of research on your part can help you hone in on the right guide for you.