Maybe you’re thinking about how to start hunting, perhaps after completing your hunter education course. Learning about hunting or being around hunters is one thing; getting out into the field with a firearm or bow is another!
It can be intimidating to know what to do after getting your hunter education certification, but we’re here to help new hunters get out into the field (safely) for the first time — and every time thereafter.
Let’s get you out in the field! Today, we’ll cover:
These topics are an excellent overview of things hunters need to know for success. You’ll also want to take time at the end of this guide to get a free copy of our free resource “How to Hunt: The Comprehensive Guide.”
Part I: How to Start Hunting: Preparation
A successful hunt requires more than a bow or firearm (and an animal to aim for). While you can’t hunt without those items, there’s a lot more that goes into making sure you’re ready for a hunt.
You need a hunting plan!
Have You Taken Your Hunter Education Course?
Your plan starts with hunter education.
Hunters need to complete a hunter education course before they can legally hunt in most states.
Through these courses, state agencies help support safe and ethical practices for hunting, so that everyone who hunts understands the same essential safety principles and rules of the hunt.
Most states offer an online course (like ilearntohunt) to meet the requirements. However, some states also require an additional in-person classroom session to complete the certification.
So, be sure to confirm the requirements with your state’s wildlife agency. You can typically find those details on their website.
Then, after passing the course and final exam, you’ll receive a certification card (or hunter education card). Carry it with you when you hunt. You never know when a wildlife agency official will ask you for it while in the field.
How Do You Get a Hunting License?
After you get your hunter education card, you’re eligible to get a hunting license in most states. Your card is valid for life, so once you get it, you’ve passed that hurdle for all future hunting seasons in your area.
Then, to get your hunting license, determine which type of license fits you and what you plan to hunt. You’ll need a new license for every new season, meaning, last year’s license won’t work for the upcoming season.
Most states require specific licenses for each type of game and season, so be sure to read the rules carefully to get the right license for your hunt. You may also have license options for:
Resident vs. Non-resident
Apprentice
Youth
Seniors
Military or veteran
What Are Stamps, Permits, and Tags?
For some species, you may also need additional stamps or permits for waterfowl, big game, or other game animals. If your state requires these, you’ll also need to carry them with your hunting license when you hunt.
Tags are another state-required item for specific game animals. For example, deer and bears usually need to be “tagged” after a hunt to comply with harvest reporting.
When your state issues tags, you’ll receive the number of tags based on the number of animals you can legally take during the season. When you use all your game tags during the season, you’ve “tagged out!”
Make Sure You Have the Right Gear
A successful hunt requires the right gear.
First, double-check that the bow or firearm you plan to use meets your state’s regulations for legal hunting methods. Then, make sure it is the right weapon for the season.
For example, if it's elk archery season, you can’t hunt with a firearm.
You’ll also want to bring:
The right ammunition or arrows (to match your bow or firearm)
GPS (or a hunting app like HuntWise) and a compass
Headlamp or flashlight
A hunting knife
A first-aid kit
Binoculars or a rangefinder (or both)
Water and snacks
A field dressing kit and game bags
A whistle (for emergencies)
Rain gear
A good backpack to carry everything
New Hunter Tip: You have to buy every item on this list or start with high-end items as you learn how to start hunting.
Borrow what you can from other hunters, buy a few items to start your own gear kit, and start with basic, mid-range items that don’t blow your budget.
Even if you don’t have everything on the list above, don’t let that stop you from getting into the field!
As you hunt more and gain experience, add more equipment to your kit and replace lower-cost items with higher-end items.
How Should You Dress for a Hunt?
Depending on what you hunt and the time of year, your hunting clothes will vary. However, for your first time hunting, you don’t need to go overboard with expensive clothing.
Start with:
Lightweight layers and camo patterns that match a warm spring or early fall hunt.
For late-season hunts, you’ll need different layers and camo patterns to stay concealed and warm in cold temperatures with fewer leaves on the trees.
Don't forget to check your state’s regulations for wearing blaze orange. Blaze (or hunter) orange is required for safety during some seasons. However, the amount and type of orange required can vary based on your state’s rules.
Then you need a quality pair of boots! Your boots should be waterproof, comfortable, and keep you warm, depending on the time of year and terrain.
Pre-Hunt Scouting
Pre-season scouting is some of the best planning you can do for a hunt. This is when you learn about the area you plan to hunt, so you can note the terrain and how animals move through it.
The best way to start scouting is with a hunting map app. These apps come with various map layers and satellite imagery to help you find a good hunt area, then learn a lot about it before getting out on foot.
After some digital scouting, it’s time to strap on those boots and walk the area for more scouting. Make notes about potential bedding or feeding areas, travel corridors, ridges, water sources, and more. This helps you plan your entry, exit, and set-up locations for your hunt.
Look for Animal Sign and Use Trail Cameras
"Sign" is evidence that animals were in the area. Spotting these gives you more information about how animals move through the area and their behavior.
For example:
Turkey roosting areas and corridors tell you where the birds roost and find food or water sources.
Deer rubs and scrapes can indicate the size and maturity of bucks in the area.
Trail cameras can also help you track animal activity when you’re not able to get into the woods in person. Set them up in spots to catch animals coming and going year-round.
Plan Your Hunt
With your gear packed, your clothing ready to wear, and scouting complete, it’s time to plan for hunting day! This next section covers first time hunting tips to get you in the field (although these tips are good for seasoned hunters, too).
Check the Weather and Season Dates
Start by checking the weather. In fact, it’s a good idea to start monitoring the weather several days before you hunt so you can plan your gear and clothing accordingly.
Using a hunting app like HuntWise helps you see weather forecasts and probabilities for the best days and times to hunt. These insights help you plan a more targeted and efficient hunt.
Then, you’ll also want to check season dates — even if you’ve already checked them once. Dates can change, so make sure you’re in the field on the right days. Also, review the bag limits, legal shooting hours, and firearm or bow details for your hunt.
Hunt only during the open season that matches how you plan to hunt (bow or firearm) and the wild game you’re after.
It is illegal to hunt at any time other than the open season dates.
Your state’s wildlife agency website will have season and regulation information. Note also that season dates typically change every year. Don’t assume last year’s dates will be the same this year.
Know the Rules and Bag Limits
After choosing the location for your hunt, match the location to the rules for that area.
Then, strictly follow the bag limits. This is the number of a specific game animal you can harvest in a day or season. These limits are in place to keep the playing field fair (for the animals and other hunters) and ensure animal populations remain year after year.
Remember: you cannot take a different type of animal than the open game season. For example, if you find a turkey in your sights during deer season, do not shoot the turkey.
Let Someone Know Your Plans
Whether you hunt alone or with family or friends, leave your plans for the day behind with someone back at your hunting camp or at home. Leave notes about where you’ll be, who you’re with, when you’re heading out, and when you’ll be home.
With this information, someone can send help to where you are if you don’t return home on time.
How to Get Your Firearm Ready
Whether you’re hunting with a new firearm or picking up one you’ve shot with before, make sure it’s ready for this hunt.
Take time to make sure it’s clean, everything works, and it shoots straight!
How (and Why) to Pattern a Shotgun
Hunters typically use shotguns for turkey, waterfowl, and upland bird hunts. Before your hunt, it’s important to pattern your shotgun to improve your chances of hitting what you aim for.
Patterning helps improve consistency and accuracy when hunting. This makes it more likely you’ll hit the birds you aim for and less likely to hit something (or someone) you don’t want to hit.
To pattern a shotgun and dial-in the accuracy:
Shoot a still target from different distances while using different chokes
Test different shotgun shells to find the ideal shotgun-choke-shell combination that work best for you and the birds you’re after
Pay attention to the shot pattern on the target and adjust or choose a different choke to adjust the pattern (broader or narrower), depending on the birds you plan to hunt.
Patterning also helps you identify your ideal, accurate shooting distance for a clean, ethical shot. With this information, you’ll know where to set up and when to take a shot in the field.
How to Sight in a Rifle
As with patterning shotgun patterning, you’ll also need to sight in your rifle.
To do this, fire different cartridges at a target. Get a feel for the rifle’s accuracy and the best ammunition for the game you plan to hunt. You’ll also want to shoot from different distances to fine-tune your most accurate range.
Take note of where your shots hit the target, then adjust the sights or scope to dial in the accuracy. Test your aim and consistency in different scenarios, including windy vs. non-windy conditions and various shooting positions. You’ll be better prepared to shoot accurately in the field with this type of preparation.
Learn About Various Firearm Actions
Practicing, patterning, and sighting in your firearms should also help you get comfortable with the firearm’s action.
Different firearm actions are:
Pump Action Hunters slide a pump back and forth to cycle rounds to load and unload the firearm. Pump actions are commonly used for hunting birds and turkeys because they’re ideal for fast follow-up shots.
Bolt Action Known for reliability and precision, bolt actions are ideal for big game hunts. To operate, manually maneuver a bolt handle to load and eject the cartridges.
Semi-Automatic Ideal for waterfowl, predators (like coyotes), and some big game animals because of the fast follow-up shots and minimal recoil. This firearm automatically ejects spent rounds and loads new ones when pulling the trigger.
Break-Action Great for small game and turkey hunts, as well as training a new hunter. This firearm (typically a shotgun) opens a hinge to load and unload ammunition.
Lever Action Excellent for medium-sized game because of the easy handling and quick recycling. These firearms function with a lever near the trigger to manually load and reload rounds.
No matter which firearm you use when hunting, get familiar with it and practice shooting, loading, and unloading rounds.
How to Get Your Bow Ready
Some hunters prefer a bow! Just like with a firearm, take time to get it ready for your hunt.
Inspect the Equipment
Examine your bow and arrows closely before every hunt. Check the cams, limbs, and strings, looking for wear and tear, fraying, or cracks. Tighten any loose bolts or screws (for compound bows or crossbows), including the sights and rest attachments.
If the bowstring is more than a couple of years old (or newer but shows significant signs of wear), replace it. Then, gather and check any other gear you’ll bring with you, like arrows, broadheads, and a release aid (and a spare one).
Tune It, Sight It In, and Practice
After the inspection, there’s still more to do to get your bow ready for a hunt. It’s time to test it and practice.
Test some shots, then tune your bow to boost the accuracy. If you’re not sure how to do this, a bow shop or a seasoned bowhunter can help. They can also help you adjust the nocking point, the rest, and cam timing.
Then, as with a rifle, sight in your bow so your arrows go where you want them to go in the field. At different distances, test that your bow sight is zeroed in. This helps you be accurate at those distances in the field.
When testing and taking practice shots, use the broadheads you’ll use in the field to prepare for the real hunting action.
Part II: In the Field
Before you know it, hunting day is here!
How do I get into hunting? It's time to put your preparation to work with field strategies and skills for a safe and successful hunt.
What to Know About Ethical Shot Placement
In the field, your goal is to shoot accurately and take fewer shots. You’re no longer at the practice range, and every shot matters.
As a responsible and ethical hunter, your goal is to “shoot to kill.”
Broadside shot
Firing off shot after shot is dangerous and expensive because it wastes ammo.
Responsible hunters work to take an animal down with minimal-to-no suffering to the animal. Understanding that wounded animals are in pain and can suffer needlessly helps underscore the importance of taking clean, well-placed shots to kill.
Plus, a wounded animal can wander for a long time, sometimes hours, before it falls. You’ll spend more time tracking it until it gives out.
So, shot placement is crucial to understand, starting with your first time hunting. Knowing precisely where to aim and hit wild game helps you take it down quickly to minimize its suffering. This approach also helps preserve the healthiest and most delicious meat for your harvest.
Where to Aim (and What to Avoid)
Knowing where to aim is safer, more fun, and efficient.
Quartering away shot
Always aim for the heart-lung area of a game animal. This isthe largest vital zone and will deliver a quick, humane kill. With most animals, the broadside or quartering-away shots are ideal.
One specific shot to avoid is a headshot. While it might be exciting to aim for the head, the head and neck are small and can be hard to hit, especially if an animal is moving or small.
Also, avoid taking a shot if you aren’t sure of your target and have an excellent chance of hitting that vital zone
Only pull the trigger or release an arrow when an animal is within your comfortable shooting distance and at an angle you can hit cleanly.
Waiting for the right moment takes patience and practice. But if the shot’s not there, don’t pull the trigger. Wait until the animal gets closer or adjust your position for a better angle.
Scouting and Tracking When Hunting
You’ll save yourself a lot of time and work by pre-hunt scouting, but you’ll still need your notes, hunting app, and vigilance when in the field to find the wild game you’re after.
Learn How to Read Animal Tracks
Depending on the animal you’re hunting, learn how to identify their tracks. You’ll also need to understand what they mean based on direction, size, distance, and how fresh they are.
These insights can tell you how recently a turkey or deer has been in the area, which direction it went, how fast it was going, and if it was alone or with other turkeys or deer.
Tracks can also tell you what was going on when the animal was there for behavioral context clues. However, don’t worry if tracks don’t tell you all of these things when you learn how to start hunting. Over time and with more experience, you’ll learn what tracks are telling you to help you track down an animal when you’re in the field.
Learn How to Track an Animal After the Shot
Any animal you hit can take off running and spooked, even if you hit it in the perfect spot. Additionally, if you wound an animal with a bad shot, it could wander for hours before it stops.
Experienced hunters will tell you to wait 20-30 minutes after you hit an animal before going after it. If you run after it too quickly, you could spook it, cause it to run further, and lose it.
When it’s time to track the animal you hit, find its trail. Look for blood drops, animal hair, disturbed vegetation or broken branches, and other signs of a wounded animal’s path. As you track, move slowly and stay quiet and alert.
How to Set Up a Hunting Camp for Overnight Hunts
Your first hunts are likely to be a morning, evening, or even a full day in the field. However, many hunters go out for days in the field, especially when traveling for a backcountry Western hunt.
Whether your hunt plans call for a full weekend outdoors or you simply like to camp and make it part of your hunting adventures, learning how to set up an overnight hunting camp is a valuable skill for hunters.
Pick the Right Spot
Start by finding a spot that’s a distance away from your hunting area (but don’t go too far). Sleep where you’ve scouted to hunt can ruin that spot for you by inserting your human scent and activity into the animal’s routine. However, you also want to avoid camping too far away to avoid a long hike at the end of your day or the start of your next hunting day.
Additionally, make sure you’re far enough away from bedding and feeding areas so you don’t spook animals in their safe areas.
Then, be mindful of wind direction and choose a flat but elevated spot. Make sure the wind doesn’t carry your scent to where animals bed for the night to keep from ruining your hunt for the next day.
Bring the Right Camping Gear
You’ll be carrying overnight gear in addition to your hunting gear, so we highly recommend keeping it light!
Bring only what you need for a warm, safe night under the stars. You’ll also need plenty of food and water to keep your energy up and stay hydrated. Make sure you can carry everything you need on your back.
Camping essentials can include:
Fire-starting kit or camp stove
Tent and ground tarp (something lightweight with easy set-up and take-down)
Cold-rated sleeping bag and sleeping pad
Backup power (battery bank for GPS or phone)
Trash bags
Dry bags or totes for gear organization
When it’s time to break camp and move on for the day, pack everything out with you (leave no trace)!
Cooking and Food Storage
Meals should be quick and simple. Instant oats, dehydrated meal packs, and pre-cooked vacuum-sealed food are ideal for low-mess meals.
Remember to cook at a distance away from your tent or sleeping area to avoid attracting animals to your camp. Hang food and scented items (like toiletries) in bear-proof containers in a tree, also away from where you sleep.
Field Dressing and Processing Meat
Every hunter (new or seasoned) needs to know how to field dress game animals. Your time, effort, and harvest will go to waste if you can’t bring it home safely!
Field Dressing Basics
After the kill shot, it’s time to act quickly.
Begin the field dressing process as soon as possible. It’s crucial to cool the meat quickly to prevent spoilage.
First, tag the animal according to your state’s regulations so you don’t forget to do it later.
Then, pack your meat using your field dressing kit, including sharp, clean knives, gloves, and game bags. Carefully open the abdominal cavity. Avoid puncturing the intestines or stomach.
Remove the organs to allow the heat to escape, and use the game bags to protect the meat for the next steps.
Next, you’ll hang or prop up the carcass to allow air to circulate. If you have ice, pack the carcass. If you don’t have ice, just move the carcass to the shade to cool the meat and prevent it from spoiling.
Quartering the animal can make it easier to carry it out or over a long distance back to your truck. Split it into shoulder, hindquarter, and backstrap sections.
Processing the Meat
If you’re up for it or working with an experienced hunter, you can process the meat yourself when you get it back home. Or, as you learn how to start hunting, a professional butcher is a good option. Either way, use every part of the animal you can to harvest the animal ethically.
When processing, trim carefully to remove the skin, fat, and damaged or bruised meat so you’re left with the best quality and tastiest meat. Then, package the meat by wrapping it tightly in butcher paper or vacuum sealing it.
Label the cuts with the date and type of cut, then store them in your freezer.
Part III: How to Start Hunting: Skills and Concepts
Before you can enjoy the meat from the game you’ve hunted, you need the skills to hunt it! Next, we’ll cover some of the most important hunting skills to master for success.
Stalk Hunting
Not every hunt is ideal for sitting in a tree stand or hunting blind. Hunters must also understand how to stalk hunt and when to use this technique.
How to Stalk Hunt (and When)
You may have heard this strategy called “spot and stalk” hunting. It’s a method of spotting game in the distance, then closing the gap on foot to get into shooting range for a clean shot at an ideal angle.
Stalk hunting requires patience, stealth, and sharp eyes to observe even the smallest movements. As you follow after an animal, you may need to adjust your pace and path based on wind direction, so the animal won’t smell you coming. The terrain and how the animal moves or behaves can also force you to change your stalking path.
Stalking often begins by using a spotting scope or glassing to find animals at a distance. When you see the animal you want to hunt on a hillside or in an open field, it’s time to start your approach.
In many cases, stalking is most effective early in the day or in the evening when animals are moving toward feeding or bedding areas. The weather can also encourage animals to move, so plan your stalking time around the weather.
How to Stalk Successfully
To successfully stalk your prey and get into range:
Use the Wind to Your Advantage: Pay attention to the wind direction. Adjust your approach to remain downwind based on the animal’s position.
Move Steadily and Slowly: Use trees, rocks, and dips in the terrain to stay concealed. Take your time.
Blend In: Suit up in the right camo blend for the time of year and terrain, use face paint, and stay quiet to avoid spooking the animal.
Know When to Wait: Just because the elk you have your eye on moves doesn’t mean you also have to move right away. Wait and watch to get a feel for where it’s going and patiently plan your next move.
And of course, take quiet, deep breaths and be patient!
How to Hunt from Hunting Blinds
For your first time hunting, it wouldn’t be uncommon to hunt from a blind.
Hunting blinds are structures hunters use to conceal themselves from game animals. From a blind, you can observe the hunting area and shoot without being detected.
Blinds come in a wide range of options, from high-end, elevated structures that sit a few feet off the ground to lower-end portable blinds you can purchase in a store or online. As with your hunting gear, you don’t need to spend a lot on a blind to get started.
Many hunters also make their own blinds using metal or wood, then conceal them with native brush found in the hunting area.
Regardless of the type of blind you use, make sure it matches the terrain, keeps you concealed, and is allowed on the land you hunt. When hunting private land, check with the landowner and follow their rules for bringing in structures or building blinds on their land.
Make sure it’s also legal to put a blind on public hunting land. Always follow the rules and use good etiquette when hunting from a blind with other hunters in the area.
When is Hunting from a Blind Ideal?
Many hunters use blinds for hunting turkeys, especially when using decoys. Being concealed in a blind lets you move to use your calls and raise your shotgun or draw your bow undetected.
Blinds are also excellent for deer hunts when hunting near food plots, field edges, and waterholes. Hunting waterfowl from a blind is a tried-and-true way to make sure ducks and geese don't spot you from overhead.
How to Choose the Best Spot for a Hunting Blind
The right location can make all the difference in coming home with a gobbler or buck vs. sitting in your blind all day and coming home empty-handed.
Scouting the area to determine good potential locations for your blind. Depending on where you’ve found scrapes, rubs, travel corridors, bedding or feeding areas, or water, set up your blind near fresh sign.
However, avoid setting up in bedding or feeding areas. Those spots should remain “safe” areas for game animals to encourage them to keep coming back. Set up nearby to catch the animals coming and going.
Position your blind so your scent blows away from animal paths. Then, make sure it blends in. Set it up early in the day (or even days or weeks ahead of time) so animals get used to it.
How to Hunt from Tree Stands or Saddles
Hunting using a saddle or tree stand or saddle can offer an advantage over a ground-level view. It’s also an excellent way to keep your scent above an animal’s nose when hunting.
Tree stands and saddles offer a higher level of concealment above ground while hidden among branches and leaves. Hunters can observe animals from above, then take a shot before an animal realizes you’ve been there all along.
Understanding the Types of Tree Stands
As with hunting blinds, there are different types of tree stands. Experiment with different stands to find the setup that works best for you as you learn how to get into hunting from an elevated position.
Types of tree stands include:
Hang-On Tree Stands: Ideal for staying mobile and moving to different trees during a hunt. These stands are lightweight platforms secured to the tree with chains or belts.
Climbing Stands: These stands are ideal for straight trees with no lower limbs. Climbing stands let you climb the tree while carrying the stand up to where you’ll attach it to the tree.
Ladder Stands: Ideal for long-term setups on private land where the stand can stay in place year-round. These stands are larger with stable platforms and typically have a built-in ladder.
Tree Saddles: Saddles are excellent for mobile bowhunters and deep public land hunts where you'll move to different trees in pursuit of your game. They are a lightweight harness-style system that lets you hang from the tree like a rock climber.
Many new hunters start with a ladder stand to get the feel of hunting above ground from a stable platform before moving on to hang-on stands or saddles.
Tree Stand Hunting Tips for Safety and Success
Any time you hunt from a stand, safety must be a priority. Be smart about where and how you set up your stand.
Always use a safety harness. As soon as your feet leave the ground, make sure you’re strapped in and attached to the tree until your feet touch the ground again.
Inspect the gear. Before every hunt, make sure straps, buckles, ropes, and platforms are in good condition to keep you safe while in a tree.
Choose a strong, healthy tree. Don’t rush the process. Even if it takes some time to find a good tree, choosing a strong tree will help you avoid one that may not hold your weight or could cause a fall.
Scout to find the best location. Then, be mindful of the wind direction.Place your stand where game animals travel and where you’re downwind.
Lastly, practice! Before your hunt, find a tree and practice putting up your stand and climbing in and out. Make sure you also practice shooting from different angles while in the stand so you’re ready when animals get closer to your hideout in the tree.
How to Hunt with Dogs
Dogs are great hunting companions for a variety of wild game, including waterfowl, doves, pheasants, and other upland birds.
However, before grabbing your family pet, keep reading for a few important things to know about hunting with dogs.
They Need Thorough Training
Even if you have a beagle or retriever (excellent breeds for hunting), it’s not ready to go from the couch to the field for a hunt. Getting a dog ready for hunting safely and successfully requires significant training.
First, make sure they know and respond to basic obedience commands. Your dog should readily know how to sit, stay, and come on command.
Then, introduce “wild game” gradually to begin the foundations of flushing and retrieving. Use training dummies and scents to simulate a real hunt.
Next, take them out in a field to get them familiar with responding to you in unfamiliar hunting terrain. Work on consistency with commands. Then, get them used to gunfire. Hunting dogs must respond appropriately and stay calm during a hunt with other hunters, dogs, and gunfire around.
Keep Your Dog Safe When Hunting
Safety is one of the primary reasons dogs must be well-trained and an ideal breed for hunting. Not every dog breed makes a good hunting dog. If your dog reacts poorly to gunfire or fails to respond to your commands, they can get hurt or cause other hunters to get hurt.
After training, make sure your hunting dog also has the right gear for hunts.
Dogs need a blaze-orange vest
Your first-aid kit should include dog-specific items to take care of cuts or scrapes from the brush
Outfit your dog with a GPS tracker or collar
Keep your hardworking dog hydrated with plenty of water throughout the hunt.
What Can You Hunt with Dogs?
Check your state’s regulations. However, generally, you can hunt several types of wild game with your dog, including:
Rabbits and Hares: Hounds are a great fit for chasing and tracking rabbits and hares.
Upland Birds: Hunt pheasant, quail, or grouse with flushing or pointing breeds.
Waterfowl: Retriever breeds are excellent for hunting geese and ducks.
Some states also allow hound-assisted wild hog hunts and deer hunts to track and keep them at bay.
How to Hunt from a Boat
Hunting doesn’t have to take place only on land or from a tree. Hunting waterfowl from a boat is another way to gain an advantage over other hunters and birds.
Why Hunt from a Boat?
Sometimes hunting areas can be hard to get to by hiking in. Or, a different approach can give you an advantage over hunters accessing the spot by land, especially during waterfowl season.
Otherwise, some hunters just enjoy getting out on a boat to hunt waterfowl. When you’re mobile in a boat, it’s easy to change your location or put yourself in the middle of the action on the water.
Boat Safety Must Be a Priority
Before hunting from a boat, make sure you know proper boating safety essentials (in addition to the hunter safety essentials you need for safe hunts).
Always wear a life jacket.
Avoid overloading the boat with too many decoys, hunting buddies, boxes of ammo, or birds after a successful hunt.
Any time the boat is in motion, unload the firearms on board.
Check with your state to learn if boat operators need to pass a boater education course like Boat-Ed (in addition to your hunter education course). If you’re the boat operator, bring your boater education card with you (as well as your hunter education card).
Then, check the rules and regulations for your state for using a boat when hunting. Make sure you know the species you're allowed to hunt from the water.
Choose the Right Boat for Your Hunt
Not just any boat is ideal for a hunt. Jon boats, layout boats, canoes, or kayaks are good options, based on what you plan to hunt and how many people are hunting with you.
You’ll also need to conceal the boat (just like you would with a hunting blind) using native vegetation, so you blend into the surroundings.
Trapping vs. Hunting
If you’re going after furbearers, you might consider trapping instead of hunting those game animals.
Hunting is the pursuit and harvest of wild game with a bow, firearm, or other legal method.
Trapping involves setting up devices (either traps or snares) to capture small game or furbearers passively over time.
While these two techniques to harvest animals can go hand in hand, the rules and strategies are different.
What Can You Trap in Your Area?
Depending on your state’s regulations, trapping is typically reserved for furbearers and smaller animals. States typically don’t allow trapping for larger animals, like deer or bears.
Animals you can trap generally include:
Raccoon
Bobcat
Otter
Coyote
Muskrat
Beaver
Fox
Skunk
Mink
Opossum
Some animals that can be trapped and hunted (like coyotes). Just make sure you confirm the rules and season dates for trapping vs. hunting. States typically have different regulations and season dates for each.
You may also need a different license to hunt vs. trap animals.
What Are the Types of Traps?
Much like hunting, becoming a successful trapper takes time. Over time, you'll learn the skills needed to lure animals into traps.
You also need the right kinds of traps depending on what’s legal for the type of animal you plan to trap your area.
Different types of traps include:
Body-grip traps (Conibear)
Snares (where legal)
Cage or live traps
Foothold traps
Colony traps for aquatic furbearers
Make sure you also follow ethical trapping practices, like using the right size trap for the game you’re after, getting permission when trapping on private land, and releasing animals you didn’t intend to trap. Also, check your traps daily or as often as required by your state.
What Should Hunters Know About Land Management?
How is land management related to hunting?
Your state’s wildlife agency is primarily responsible for protecting wildlife and the land for them to live and thrive. However, landowners and hunters help support animal populations through land management on private properties. This includes providing and maintaining habitats for shelter, food, water, and spaces for wildlife.
How and Why Hunters Create Habitats
Habitats support ethical hunting practices and respect for animals. They also help balance ecosystems. Feeding and protecting the game in your area means there are healthy game animals to hunt every season.
When you’re learning how to start hunting, owning hunting land or enough acreage for a wild game habitat may not be in your plans just yet. However, many hunters enjoy owning property that they cultivate into habitats and hunting areas long-term.
This is where good land management practices come in. It involves creating and maintaining food plots, cover for bedding, water sources, and timber stand improvement — all things that encourage wildlife to keep coming around.
However, depending on the types of wild game in your area, habitat land management will look different. For example, building a waterfowl habitat will involve a different process and food elements than building a habitat for deer.
Hunting, Conservation, and Ethics
From your first time hunting, it's important to understand how your role as a hunter connects with conservation. It’s also crucial to understand responsible and ethical hunting practices.
A desire to kill animals is not an ethical rationale for hunting. Most seasoned hunters hunt for food and to help control animal populations for a healthy ecosystem. Hunting plays a crucial role in conservation efforts, and you become part of that as a hunter.
The Core Ethics of Being a Hunter
Knowing why you hunt and how to do it responsibly makes you a better hunter! A good place to start is learning the five core ethics of being a hunter.
These are:
1. The Rules of Fair Chase
This rule emphasizes sportsmanlike conduct for hunters. Following the Rules of Fair Chase means not taking advantage of animals in ways that take away their ability to escape. For example, chasing an animal with your truck or using anything that gives you an unfair advantage would violate this principle. Hunters must also avoid using spotlights at night, illegal baiting, or over-reliance on technology that removes the natural challenge.
2. Maintain Respect for Wildlife
Responsible hunters only take game legally. Hunters must also make clean, humane shots and recover every animal they shoot. Additionally, never waste meat.
In other words, never shoot an animal just because you can. Appreciate the life taken and use everything you harvest when possible.
3. Have Respect for People and Land
Always get permission to hunt on private land. Then, leave it better than you found it (that goes for public land, too).
Follow all posted regulations and boundaries. Pick up your brass, pack out your trash, and don’t damage gates, fences, or trails.
4. Always Obey the Law
Hunting is better when everyone follows all local, state, and federal regulations. This includes weapon types, season dates, bag limits, and required tags or permits. Hunters must understand the purpose of these laws. They are there to help protect wildlife and the hunting opportunity.
5. Be a Positive Example
Represent the hunting community well (even as a new hunter). Teach others, especially young hunters, to value conservation and ethical behavior. Additionally, treat other outdoor users (anglers, hikers, birdwatchers, etc.) with courtesy. We’re all sharing the outdoor space, so treat everyone with respect.
How Does Hunting Help Conservation Efforts?
You may not realize there’s a connection between hunting and conservation, but there is a strong one.
Hunting regulations help manage populations of game species to prevent habitat destruction, overpopulation, and disease. These regulations also prevent conflicts between wildlife and humans, like predators harming livestock populations, crop damage, and vehicle collisions.
Plus, the fees collected when you buy a hunting license or tags, the taxes on firearms and ammunition, and the fees for habitat stamps (like waterfowl stamps) also help fund conservation efforts.
Part IV: Tips for Hunting Common Game Species
Do you know how to start hunting deer vs. turkey? One of the best aspects of hunting is the different strategies required for one species vs. another. Learning specific tactics for hunting different animals can help make it a year-round pursuit and lifetime challenge.
There are always new things to learn!
To help you get started, we’ve pulled together some essential hunting tips for hunting a few of the most common animals you're likely to find in your area. We hope you’ll put these insights into practice this season!
Here are a few tips to help you enjoy a successful hunt.
Scouting is Key: Scout as much as you can before your hunt to learn the terrain and how animals move through the area. Look for rubs, scrapes, travel corridors, bedding, and feeding areas.
Target Peak Times: The ideal times to catch deer moving through a specific area are early morning and late evening, especially during the rut (breeding season). Prioritize mornings and evenings for your time in the field.
Hunt the Wind: Deer have an excellent sense of smell. They can smell you coming before you see them. To avoid being scented, keep the wind in your face.
Use Calls and Scents: Rattling antlers, grunt tubes, and doe-in-estrus scent help you draw bucks in closer during the rut. Practice using calls before you go out into the field and avoid calling too much (or it won’t sound natural).
Conceal Yourself in Tree Stands and Blinds: Stay hidden! Set up your blind or stand near travel corridors or food sources, then stay quiet and still.
Whether your first hunt yields a buck for your hard work, enjoy the hunt as much as the harvest, and it’s still a success.
Turkey
Hunting gobblers takes your hunting skills to the next level. Turkeys are smart and smaller than deer, making them a fun species to hunt. Plus, fresh turkey meat for dinner is delicious.
Find Roosting Areas: Scout where turkeys roost at night and where they fly down in the morning. Then, set your blind nearby (early in the morning) to catch turkeys moving from where they roost to where they eat in the mornings.
Master Turkey Calling: Practice clucks, yelps, and purrs with a box or diaphragm call before your hunt. Then, as with deer calls, avoid over-calling when in the field.
Use Decoys: Using decoys to hunt turkeys (successfully) takes skill and patience. Try different setups to fool toms (male turkeys) into thinking they see real turkeys. Placing hen or jake decoys in open areas helps attract toms.
Camouflage is Important: Turkeys have excellent eyesight! It’s crucial to blend into the surroundings and stay still. You’ll need full-body camo (even a face mask and gloves), especially if you don’t use a blind for your hunt.
Sit Still: Even the smallest movements can spook turkeys. So, set up, be still and quiet, and let them come to you. Move slowly when raising your shotgun to take a shot and using turkey calls.
Elk
Most hunters plan elk hunts with a guide who knows the area. As a new hunter, you can also experience your first elk hunt with an experienced elk hunter, especially if you’re traveling out of state for the hunt.
Apply these tips for a successful elk hunt:
Don’t Skip the Pre-Hunt Scouting: Use optics and glass from a distance to locate herds and learn their daily movements.
Bugle Strategically: Practice calling before your hunt, then use bugle calls to challenge bulls during the rut. As with other game calls, your goal is to sound like a real elk and don’t overcall.
Get in Shape: Elk hunting typically involves high elevation, rugged terrain, and long stalks. In the weeks prior to your hunt, build your strength and cardio so you’re ready for the trek. Rucking with a weighted pack is a good way to get in shape for the hunt.
Hunt the Wind and Thermals: In the mountains, wind moves uphill in the morning and downhill in the evening. Plan your hunt based on elk behavior influenced by the wind.
Glass Often: Use spotting scopes and binoculars to locate elk before moving in for your shot (stalking). Stay quiet as you go after them.
An elk hunt requires a lot of planning, but it’s well worth it when you bring home that trophy elk rack and some elk meat.
Bear
Whether you're hunting a black bear or a grizzly, make sure you know the rules for bear hunts in the state where you plan to hunt.
Here are a few bear hunting insights to get you started:
Baiting or Spot-and-Stalk: Baiting may be allowed but check the state’s regulations first. Otherwise, glassing and stalk hunting will be your best bet.
Hunt in the Early Morning or Late Evening: Bears are most active when temperatures are cooler, so plan to hunt early or late in the day.
Be Bear-Aware: Know how to identify the bear you can legally hunt (grizzly vs. black bear), and carry bear spray when in bear country. Study bear behavior for that area so you know what to expect when a bear comes into range.
Shot Placement Is Crucial: Bears have long hair and a thick fat layer under thick skin. Aim for the vital zone behind the front shoulder.
Check for Tracks and Scat: Active areas often have lots of fresh bear sign. You’ll know a bear is close when you see bear tracks and scat.
Make sure you know the rules for tagging a bear you take down. You’ll also want to plan ahead for hauling it out of the hunting area and harvesting the meat and fur.
Waterfowl
Hunting ducks and geese is a challenge unlike deer or turkey. These are fast, fun hunts best done in a group of other hunters.
For a successful duck hunt:
Scout Feeding and Flight Patterns: Observe where birds feed and land, then set up where they want to be. Get out early to set up and get settled in your blind before they start moving around.
Choose the Right Decoy Spread: Different decoy placements work better for different locations and types of waterfowl. Experiment with various setups until you find the configuration that works best for the birds in your area. Use realistic decoys, then set them up in a natural formation while leaving a landing zone.
Stay Hidden: Waterfowl have excellent eyesight, so it’s crucial that ducks and geese don’t see you. A well-camouflaged blind or layout setup helps keep them from spotting you as they approach your decoy spread.
Calling is Crucial: Practice calling to simulate natural flock behavior. And again, calling less is often more effective.
Watch the Weather: Windy days and cold fronts bring new birds and better flight patterns. Use a hunting app like HuntWise to track the weather in real-time so you can adjust your setup on the fly.
Upland Game
What is upland game? These species include birds like grouse, quail, and pheasants. These hunts are challenging and fun. They’re also a great way to stay sharp when you’re waiting for deer season to arrive again.
For successful upland bird hunts:
Use a Dog: Well-trained pointers or flushers are ideal for locating birds. Remember to keep your dog safe with a blaze orange vest and GPS collar.
Walk Steadily and Quietly: Birds tend to sit tight until flushed, but you don’t want to spook them too soon. When walking in a field, keep your pace steady and your eyes up.
Focus on Edge Cover: Birds like cover transitions. Look for them to hang out where the woods meet a field or grass meets a thicket.
Wear Blaze Orange: Visibility is essential in the thick brush or with groups of hunters, so don’t forget your blaze orange clothing.
Be Ready to Shoot Fast: Practice good safety when carrying your firearm through the brush, but be ready to lift it and shoot quickly when birds start moving.
Remember to check your state’s regulations and avoid exceeding the bag limits for each species of upland game.
Predators and Nuisance Animals
Hunting predators and nuisance animals (like coyotes or wild hogs) is something you can do year-round in many states. These hunts are an excellent way to stay sharp before turkey or deer season returns.
These predators and nuisance animals destroy agricultural fields, game animal populations, and farmers’ livestock and lands.
Scout with Sounds: Before your hunt, get out and howl like a coyote at night. When coyotes respond, you can locate territories.
Use E-Callers (When Legal): Electronic callers mimic coyote vocals and prey sounds effectively. Just be sure to check your state’s regulations about the use of electronic callers.
Hunt the Wind: Coyotes will circle downwind to sniff danger, so plan your setup based on this activity.
Wear the Right Camo: Choose camouflage based on the season, whether hunting during the summer to get ready for fall or in the winter after deer season, when there may be snow on the ground.
Use the High Ground Advantage: Setting up on higher ground gives you better visibility and reduces scent detection.
Use decoys (for example, something that mimics a wounded animal a coyote would eat) to help you lure coyotes into where you’re set up.
Hunting Wild Hogs
Not only are wild hogs destructive, but they can also be dangerous when hunted. Stay alert when chasing these animals and be ready to get out of the way.
For success when hunting hogs:
Take Advantage of Their Nocturnal Behavior: Hogs are often most active at night. Hunting early or late is often your best bet. Before using night optics or hunting at night, check your state’s regulations to make sure it’s legal.
Use Baiting (Where Legal): Attractants like sour mash or corn can help you concentrate hog activity in one area. Before you use bait, make sure it’s legal in your area.
They’re Tough, Fast Targets: You may not realize how fast hogs can move until you. See them in action! They’re also extremely tough to take down. Use the right caliber of firearms and be ready for follow-up shots.
Aim Low and Forward: Hogs have thick shoulder plates. For the most ethical kill shot, aim low behind the front leg.
Hunt Where You See Sign: You’ll know where hogs are based on the signs of their destructive behavior. When you see wallows, rooted ground, and fresh droppings, these are signs of recent hog activity and a great place to hunt.
Head out for a hog hunt with friends to help you track and corner wild hogs.
Don't Miss Your Free Copy of "How to Hunt: The Comprehensive Guide"
We hope the insights we’ve shared today help you for your first time hunting! Remember that becoming an excellent hunter takes time, patience, and hunting as often as you can — and there’s no better season to get started than the next open season in your state!
Before you head out, we have more insights into how to hunt. Don’t forget to download our free guide, “How to Hunt: The Comprehensive Guide.” In it, we go deeper into the topics we covered today to help you feel confident in the field. Plus, it’s a resource you can take with you and share with friends and family!
We hope your first hunt (and every hunt) is safe and successful.
