Guided hunt as way to learn?

[PeterK]

May be a silly newbie question, but I've been saying I'm going to get into hunting for years now, and the wife is on board, but I never seem to get out in the woods.

So, as a way to make myself get out there, I'm thinking of trying to set up a guided hunt (for deer) this winter.

So, gut check, is it a good idea? Why or why not?

Thanks,

Peter

[RWBlue01]

If you had a good friend who hunted on private land, I would say that is the best way to learn.

Not having that available to you a guided hunt may be the best option.

BUT....
Having hunted in multiple states and multiple ways, you are only seeing how this guide hunts. We can talk stands. We can talk dogs. We can talk stalking.

Additionally, there are many guides have you shooting tame animals. They feed them every day. They treat them like a farmer treats his cows.

You should also be aware of high fence hunts. These are sometimes tame, caged animals which are released just before you get there.








BTW, if you are a country person with land and feed you deer and then decide which one to "harvest", I have no problem with this type of harvesting, but it is a totally different animal than hunting public land or land where they are not baited. Given the option, I might take up culling deer with a suppressed rifle, night vision and ....

[jdonovan]

So, gut check, is it a good idea? Why or why not?

It depends very strongly on what you are trying to learn, and how the guide runs their operation.

A guided operation is VERY focused on hunter success. Most guides will do everything they legally can to stack the odds in your favor. Less ethical guides will bend/break the rules to stack the deck.

As RWBlue said, some operations are basically Zoos that you hunt inside the fence of. Others they put you in a stand overlooking a field that they've been putting corn into every morning for the last month.

Also many guided hunts will collect your animal for you, field dress, butcher, and place into your cooler for you.

If the goal is venison in the freezer, then a guided hunt will do that. If your goal is developing woods skills, i.e tracking, finding signs, learning movement patterns... then a guided hunt is going to be less useful.

So what's your goal?
What area of the state are you in? There may be someone near by who can get you onto a farm/woodlot to hunt.

[PeterK]

Good points both of you.

I'm in the DC suburbs. That, and family obligations, are part of the problem. I'm not an archer (yet), so I have to get out a ways to be able to hunt, and being able to get out and scout, then get out to hunt isn't easy.

The goal is learning the skills, but the WAF is very important for increasing time and funds available. And meat in the freezer will help increase the WAF. So you can see my predicament.

I actually had a guy from another forum offer me a spot on a quota hunt last year, but I had to turn him down because it was too long a time away too close to the wife's due date.

Hmm. Quota hunts might be another idea. Fixed dates, commitment, clearly defined. Something else to think about.

Anyway, thanks for the ideas. I'm sure I'll be back with more questions soon enough.

[jdonovan]

so I have to get out a ways to be able to hunt, and being able to get out and scout, then get out to hunt isn't easy.

The goal is learning the skills, but the WAF is very important for increasing time and funds available. And meat in the freezer will help increase the WAF. So you can see my predicament.

The funds shouldn't be too bad. You can get into a new Ruger American for about $325, and a reasonable getting started scope can be had for $100 more. A used 30-30 with irons, could be had in the < $300 range.

Time is another issue. If she isn't going to let you get out to be in the woods, then the rest of the discussion is moot. If she has any interest in hiking, or just getting out to the woods, scouting trips can easily be turned into 'us' time.

I've got some property out in Fauquier, and there are enough folks that seem interested in getting a start in hunting, I might have to see about trying to set something up.

[Riana]

I've been on two deer hunting trips so far - a friend had access to private land, and takes me along, because he knows I want to learn. Before we went, I explained that I wanted to learn EVERYTHING - including the field dressing part.

Unfortunately, I haven't had a clean shot at one yet - maybe next season.

[PeterK]

so I have to get out a ways to be able to hunt, and being able to get out and scout, then get out to hunt isn't easy.

The goal is learning the skills, but the WAF is very important for increasing time and funds available. And meat in the freezer will help increase the WAF. So you can see my predicament.

The funds shouldn't be too bad. You can get into a new Ruger American for about $325, and a reasonable getting started scope can be had for $100 more. A used 30-30 with irons, could be had in the < $300 range.

Actually, I've got that covered, in dramatic and overly complicated style (AR-15 in 6.8 SPC. It's been a project gun for a while. The scope's in the mail, and should be here today for a trip out to the range before work tomorrow, I hope. Then I just need a 5 round magazine and I'm ready to go.)

Time is another issue. If she isn't going to let you get out to be in the woods, then the rest of the discussion is moot. If she has any interest in hiking, or just getting out to the woods, scouting trips can easily be turned into 'us' time.

Good thinking. She's into hiking, but with a 2 1/2 year old and a 4 month old, it's a little harder. Maybe we can talk her dad, also an avid hiker, into babysitting so we can have a "date hike". He might go for that.

The other concern is, I'm not really sure what I'm looking at/for. I'll discuss that a little further down.

I've got some property out in Fauquier, and there are enough folks that seem interested in getting a start in hunting, I might have to see about trying to set something up.

Well, I'm all over that. Even if you're not comfortable with folks actually pulling the trigger on your property, a scouting "nature walk" would be very useful. Just let me know when and where, and I'm there (barring other pre-commitments, of course).

[dmharvey]

I've got some property out in Fauquier, and there are enough folks that seem interested in getting a start in hunting, I might have to see about trying to set something up.

If you put something together next season I'd be willing to lend a hand...accompany somebody in the field, help with instruction, whatever. I'm not interested in actually hunting your property, I hunt 3 or 4 days a week near Manassas Battlefield, I'm just interested in sharing knowledge and promoting the sport.

[Machias]

I've got some property out in Fauquier, and there are enough folks that seem interested in getting a start in hunting, I might have to see about trying to set something up.

If you put something together next season I'd be willing to lend a hand...accompany somebody in the field, help with instruction, whatever. I'm not interested in actually hunting your property, I hunt 3 or 4 days a week near Manassas Battlefield, I'm just interested in sharing knowledge and promoting the sport.

Same here! Be more than happy to lend a hand.

[jdonovan]

I'm going to run this year as a small "pilot project". If it works out, I'll expand this a bit next year. I think I have enough mentors at this point, but I'll definitely put out a call mid-summer if I need more help.

Thanks very much for the offer.