Virginia Gun Owners Forum - VGOF

My daughter and I just finished hunter safety today, so were ready to get our licences and go on our first hunt! Only, were first time hunters...

If there is anyone that can be a mentor for us in the Roanoke area I would appreciate some mentioning... We need someone to take us on our first hunt and show us the ropes.

I know its March ('14), but I figured this would give us some time to establish a relationship with someone close, build trust and have a good start to a hunting season.

Were interested in squirrel, rabbit and deer at the time, but thinking starting with small game and moving up would be a good approach.

We also have an SKS which should be fine for varmint hunting at close range so we would consider that but need more information on varmint hunting before we commit to that.

Many thanks in advance for your time,
JC

Summer squirrel season is coming up but might skip the daughter on the first trip round.

Bert, thanks for the advice, but it leads me to question please:

1) Aren't the worrels bad during hot/summer season? AFAIK (only from Google) the winter drives them out.

2) Why advise not bringing the daughter, specifically? Id hate for her not to have the beginner's exposure.

Thx,
JC

JustinCase wrote:Bert, thanks for the advice, but it leads me to question please:

1) Aren't the worrels bad during hot/summer season? AFAIK (only from Google) the winter drives them out.

2) Why advise not bringing the daughter, specifically? Id hate for her not to have the beginner's exposure.

Thx,
JC

I'm no master hunter by any means but first thing you need to do is find land; public, private, what have you; and scout it. You can look for animals but really you should prioritize on knowing the layout, safe shooting lanes, how to split up ground, and safe entry and exit. If some guy lets you take you and your daughter into a blind without any communication issues then your daughter should be fine. But if its hike in, hike out, limited communication and any splitting up occurs novices can become issues/hazards. No doubt you could drag her with you anywhere but you yourself being new should know this may limit how much you can learn/accomplish because you'll both be learning and meanwhile you got to make sure both of y'all are in the clear safety wise. At least figure out the ground work first and make sure she knows where and when to shoot, even if you plan on sticking together, as well as how to get out especially in limited light. Remember that best case scenario you have to get two rifles and that carcass back to the vehicle with some rapidity, not sure the age or strength of your daughter but prepare accordingly.

Also, not sure what a worrel is but in June the squirrels are thin and sometimes a bit more nasty but at least you can get moving through the woods together down while there aren't as many people around dug in before the sun comes up. Certainly not the most glorious hunt you'll ever experience but easy enough for entry level.

Bert, thanks again for your time...

I was using the wrong word, it is warble to what I was thinking about...

https://www.google.com/search?q=squirre ... rel+warble

From what I understand, again via Google, they are also a problem with rabbit and deer in summer (though they are out of season during this time anyway, just an observation).



Daughter is 16 and in good physical condition... We plan on scouting the Haven WMA which is actually about 10 minutes from us. After we get a lay of the land, we hope to glass and note what we find for notes.

We will have a GPS and FRS/GMRS radios also, Just In Case.

Ill be printing out a topo map (From NatGeo software) and laminating for each of us as a primary, GPS is a backup tool to map & compass.


JC

It only runs skin deep so you should be fine. Also more than fair preparation but expect to learn a lot from your mistakes.

I've never hunted but there is this place right in Salem:

http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/wmas/detail.asp?pid=26

Have fun!

Recommend finding some private land to hunt. No buddys or family in the area..?

Don't get me wrong, I frequent some WMA's & they have a lot to offer. Like Bert said, you need to know the land & scout it. I would add.... scout it a lot. Takes awhile to familiarize yourself with new land. Thing with the WMA's is..... other hunters, people, etc. Lots of people use the WMA's, & for all kinds of activities. Many times I've been deep in one & had urbanites on an afternoon drive come strolling through, unbeknownst to them it is actually hunting season or whatever.

I harvest most of my firewood in WMA's. Not uncommon to have college aged kids come hiking through just absorbing nature. Lots of the WMA's are magnificent, as well as resource rich. The biggest negative to hunting in these areas as a novice is.... the other hunters, & in some cases LOTS of em. Besides the obvious (safety), theres plenty of concerns from just being crowded. ie: encroaching on another active hunter, them encroaching on you, etc. Don't get me wrong, plenty of hunters pull some nice game from WMA all over the state, it's just not the best approach for beginners imo.

It's much more advantageous to you if, you can find some private land to learn on. Easier to get the lay of the land, familiar with the habitat, tendencies of the game, put up game cameras, blinds, stands, etc. My boys & I hunt both. Our own land, & public land. Fortunately we have enough property to do so, & live in a very rural area. The WMA's in our area are very active when seasons are in but, still manageable if you know them well. If WMA's are your only option, then THAT is the key. Familiarize yourself with them immensely. scout, scout, & scout some more. Find the evidence of the game. Find where the other hunters camp, & hunt. Play detective & study, scout, etc. until you know the area as well as your own back yard. 1. it'll be fun 2. it will leave you much more prepared to actively hunt in an area where you can easily run into other hunters, who aren't always thrilled to be sharing the area. If they know the area better than you, they can easily out flank your area & ruin your hunt.

Don't get me wrong, there's lots of awesome people that hunt public land. You'll probably meet some that are willing to help, & or share info to help you & your daughter. However, theres plenty that wont.

Best of luck! Hope you & your daughter have a blast.

Thanks KZ and Vipe, I appreciate everyone's time...


The Havens WMA is not far from me, in fact we went to scout the entrance to the area today, found it with little problem.. Gate and signboard easily mark the parking area.

Didnt have time today, but as it warms up were going to hike the area and investigate... Maybe a few waypoints (if I can find my GPS..) and such..

I also found a site to buy a laminated 2'X3' topo of the entire WMA for $35...

The terrain is pretty much straight up and down, so its going to be really good exercise too! By the time a season comes in were going to be in better shape for the hump into the stand...

Ill be looking for squirrels and rabbits too... Deer will come a little later, maybe season after next...

I dont have any friends or family close by, so door knocking is going to be the only way to find private property.... which is a bit of a problem, since I dont know what areas are private, NatFor, etc.. and I dont know where the game is (though Im sure game is everywhere around here!)

I think for me, the best area for now is the WMA...

I did talk with the daughter, we agree most hunters will be too lazy to go far in, and will typically avoid rough terrain... so if we push in further, the game may be better and chances of running into another hunter is diminished (but not eliminated)

At first, were going to run a Rossi youth 20ga smooth bore... The range will be limited since its not choked, but given the terrain 20 yards is going to be typical, #4 should if Im guessing right, work a treat. Initial plan is to buddy up, stay together and share the shotgun... If nothing else, we hunted and had a good day afield!!

JC

My boys & I have taken plenty of squirrels with a very similar set up A Winchester model 37A 20 ga. that I bought 30 yrs ago. It was my first gun & the first one my sons ever shot.

Just put a Mavrick 88 on law a way, it should be a better hunting shotgun than what I have now.

20ga pump, 26" field barrel with modified choke.

JC

Let me know what Havens is like on the ground, I'm always looking for a close hiking spot.

I've driven past the entrance on Wildwood Rd but never went in.

Ill post an update, but from looking at the topo... the terrain is pretty rough. Were going to recon the entrance at the Wildwood section too...

We just got our hunting licences today! Picked up some #6 shot 2 3/4 while we were there (Sportsmans Warehouse). We might go in the woods tomorrow off Bradshaw and hunt nuisance. We likely wont see anything... but it will still be a good day afield! Its like the saying goes, "A bad day hunting/fishing (you pick) is better than a good day at work".

Were going to take the Rossi youth, its 20ga with fixed modified choke. This should give her an introduction to safe handling a weapon in the woods. I carried an M16 in the woods for over 16 years, so Im already vested.

JC

I just saw this and hope I can help. My son (age 10) and I just started hunting in the last deer season. We've been out several times for small game and plan on hunting turkey this spring as well.

My advice is to just go hunting. Don't worry that you haven't scouted out the terrain, you'll scout it while you are there. A day spent in the woods with your child is going to be great and if you actually bag something, better. So scout a few seasons ahead while you're out there. If you're like me, you'll be able to make it out once or twice for each season so the learning curve will go one for a while.

Thanks 38... We actually went pigeon hunting this past Sat on the Wildwood side and hiking Sun on the Bradshaw side of Havens WMA. Had a great time!

Didnt shoot anything, but had a great time!

JC

I am getting started hunting also. I am looking at this place for hunting Coyotes:

http://www.usatrophyhunts.com/1-day-gui ... ia-details

A 1 day trip is 250 per hunter. The good thing about Coyotes is its open season year round.

If I go I will let you know, but it wont be for a while.

Some folks around my area see. To have serious coytete issues. They thrill kill goats and chickens in addition to anything else they can. I offered to take up and "overnight watch" for a friend that had them killing his goats but seems like they've left him a lone for a while.

Good luck with you new hunting! Im a pretty experienced shooter and have been hunting but never taken wild game before. It's on my list of things to do

Shotguns are the way to go for squirrelly I think. I have to past on more than one squirrel because it was to high in the tree for a safe shot(bullets come down).

[ Post made via Mobile Device ]

Jakeiscrazy wrote: -snip -

Shotguns are the way to go for squirrelly I think. I have to past on more than one squirrel because it was to high in the tree for a safe shot(bullets come down).

Get down and dirty and go after them with a quality scoped air rifle, something that can group 1" at 30yds consistently, moving 10gr @ 950 -1000fps

Palladin wrote:

Jakeiscrazy wrote: -snip -

Shotguns are the way to go for squirrelly I think. I have to past on more than one squirrel because it was to high in the tree for a safe shot(bullets come down).

Get down and dirty and go after them with a quality scoped air rifle, something that can group 1" at 30yds consistently, moving 10gr @ 950 -1000fps

Squirrels can be quite hardy though. Body shots, I've seen with both game load and pointed .177 pellets, ain't enough to drop them immediately often. Lost one in a tree, ate the load climbed up and died in a branch, and another I hit with 2 .177 pellets climbed about 15ft before getting faint and falling to the ground. May want to get a decent "hunting" pellets, though I can't speak to their effectiveness, hollow points or those one's with a bb in the head of it. If not a head shot is somewhat preferable in preventing them from escaping from retrieval.

BertMacklin wrote: Squirrels can be quite hardy though. Body shots, I've seen with both game load and pointed .177 pellets, ain't enough to drop them immediately often. Lost one in a tree, ate the load climbed up and died in a branch, and another I hit with 2 .177 pellets climbed about 15ft before getting faint and falling to the ground. May want to get a decent "hunting" pellets, though I can't speak to their effectiveness, hollow points or those one's with a bb in the head of it. If not a head shot is somewhat preferable in preventing them from escaping from retrieval.

You're right - I should have been clearer. Headshots. When I was I kid I learned the rascals would run with a 22lr in the body, too. Had to tighten my game up.


These are hard hitting - http://www.crosman.com/gear/ammo/177HB