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99% Ignorant

DustOfMan

Junior Member
Here's the situation. I've stuck my pinky toe in the water, but I'm terrified to dive in. I've haven't been hunting aside from the one time I went as a kid, when I went squirrel hunting with my uncle (I shot a chipmunk and wasn't invited back). Fast forward 25 years, and I have a great interest in the world of hunting. I've tried reading up on what in the hell I need to do to prepare myself, but I guess the resources I've tried aren't spelled out enough for my pea brain. I attended the ODNR hunting safety class, now own several firearms (two of which I've shot), and picked up Steve Rinella's Complete Guide to Hunting, Butchering, and Cooking.

I'm pretty sure I understand the formalities (tagging, public vs private land, approved firearms, etc.), but some of the tacit knowledge is completely beyond me and rather daunting. I don't know anyone that hunts, so general conversations aren't had. Is it really as simple as venturing out into the woods and just learning by experience? Do I try getting in a tree stand right off the bat, do I get a blind, or do I woefully try to stalk? Do people stay out overnight in Ohio, or just hunt near where they park? Can I set up a stand in public land, or just get a climber? Am I getting snowed at Cabela's, or do I really need all of the good stuff for my bow (which I'm not even sure would work hunting even though I can hit a 3D target with it). Things like this baffle me, and it seems extremely inefficient (and possibly dangerous) to learn in the field when I'll probably have to go out solo.

Any help, jeers, and resources you could provide for this humbled, ignorant novice is greatly appreciated. Thanks, everyone.
 

Buckmaster

Senior Member
14,362
191
Portage
We all started somewhere.

Step 1: Keep your financial investment into this endeavor as low as possible until you see if you like it.

You will know when you get hooked.
 

Bigslam51

Dignitary Member
Supporting Member
25,778
127
Stark County
Do you have private land to hunt? You are allowed to have hang on stands on public land, no screw in steps or anything else that damages the trees though. I would not attempt stalking any deer, it's hard enough for someone that been hunting for years. Take your time this summer to get to know your equipment.
 

Dannmann801

Dignitary Member
Supporting Member
10,640
191
Springboro
I was in your shoes in 2008. Ask questions, read, read, read. Go to shows. Talk to guys.
I live near you. Ric lives near you. Dustin and Moonlab are near you. Maybe some scouting at Caesars Creek is in order.

Welcome to the site! And by all means, if you can come to the summer shoot, do so!
 

DustOfMan

Junior Member
Thanks for all of the quick replies! I just scoured all 30+ pages in the summer outing thread and just realized that me and my Subaru might be run off the property. :smiley_chinrub:
 

"J"

Git Off My Lawn
Supporting Member
56,741
274
North Carolina
Finding private land goes a long way as well... Not that you can't do well on public land but you contend with a lot more people on public land... If you have any connections to folks who own land (family/friend/ friends of friends) talk to them and see if they'd be open to you hunting it...
 

giles

Cull buck specialist
Supporting Member
Thanks for all of the quick replies! I just scoured all 30+ pages in the summer outing thread and just realized that me and my Subaru might be run off the property. :smiley_chinrub:

Hahaha! It takes all kinds man, no one will hold it against you.

I literally laughed out loud when I read that.
 

Jackalope

Dignitary Member
Staff member
38,841
260
Thanks for all of the quick replies! I just scoured all 30+ pages in the summer outing thread and just realized that me and my Subaru might be run off the property. :smiley_chinrub:

Do you like to eat good food, drink beer, sit around with the guys laughing and telling jokes and talking about pretty much everything? That's 95% of it right there. I guarantee you would learn more about hunting in two days than you would in a year reading online. Plus it would cut the learning curve tremendously shooting the 3D course and seeing other guys bows.

Besides, we didn't run off that fruitcake chad guy so I would say you're good.
 

Blan37

Member
1,800
64
SW Ohio
I hear you man. I'm only on my second year of hunting and still feel like I've only scratched the surface of what there is to know. And don't feel bad - I drive a ford focus and pull a trailer behind it when I haul my ATV / kayaks lol.
 

Jackalope

Dignitary Member
Staff member
38,841
260
As for hunting. Don't overthink it. It can be as hard or as easy as you make it. All you have to do is wait around in the woods a little and shoot them with a pointy stick. Honestly. 90% of the hype about it being difficult is marketing to sell stuff. Find an area frequented by deer and put up a stand, hunt a good wind, and make the shot. But above all don't put a bunch of pressure on yourself. Enjoy the time afield and soak it in. The harvest will happen.

Now if you're talking about hunting trophy bucks that's a whole other discussion and immensely increases the difficulty. Although anything can happen any day and people luck up on them all the time. I would even to go so far as to say the overwhelming majority of trophy bucks killed every year is due to luck over skill. But don't worry with that goal for now, that sickness will evolve on it's own in due time.
 

Bigslam51

Dignitary Member
Supporting Member
25,778
127
Stark County
Do you like to eat good food, drink beer, sit around with the guys laughing and telling jokes and talking about pretty much everything? That's 95% of it right there. I guarantee you would learn more about hunting in two days than you would in a year reading online. Plus it would cut the learning curve tremendously shooting the 3D course and seeing other guys bows.

Besides, we didn't run off that fruitcake chad guy so I would say you're good.
Who the hell you talking about, fugger?