Question: I’m a new bow hunter who doesn’t have access to private land or a hunting mentor. Where should I start?
Answer:
Learning to hunt on your own can seem intimidating. From figuring out your effective archery range to picking a spot on opening day, there are a lot of moving pieces in between. But that doesn’t mean it needs to be complicated—even if you’re starting solo. Luckily, there are plenty of options to get new hunters started.
The National Deer Association (NDA) offers a Field to Fork Program that allows adults to learn about deer hunting basics through a hands-on approach. These multi-day events teach hunters how to do everything from the start to finish of a hunt, including the butchering process. This event isn’t meant to teach you everything, but it’s a solid foundation that provides a launchpad for new hunters.
Alternatively, if you prefer to work with a hunting mentor, there are a few different ways you can find one. A lot of states offer hunting introductory courses through their wildlife and fish departments. You typically expect to find at least one of these per year, while some states may offer multiple opportunities annually. These are great places to meet hunting mentors that might be able to work with you personally or connect you with others who can.
You can also do the legwork of finding your own mentor the old-fashioned way. Ask friends, relatives, coworkers, and church members if they or anyone they know might be a willing mentor. Growing up, I had friends who came from non-hunting families, but some of them tagged along with us or learned from others in our community. Sometimes, it’s as simple as asking for help. Remember, you don’t need a hunting mentor forever. Learn the basics from them to get started, and then get out there and figure it out.
If you decide to go it alone, there’s never been a better time. This internet is a massive resource right at your fingertips. Plenty of podcasts like Wired to Hunt offer thousands of hours of expert hunting advice, how-to articles, and video series like Whitetail EDU can help you learn the basics to get started deer hunting.
Of course, there’s no better teacher than time in the woods. So get out there, and get started. You’ll fail, a lot, but that’s what makes hunting so rewarding.
Hunting Access
When it comes to finding land that you can hunt, you might have plenty of options right in your backyard. Most states offer public hunting opportunities in the form of national forests, wildlife management areas, nature reserves, or refuges. These state- and federally-operated public areas can be found with a quick Google search or by using OnX Hunt to find them.
If you go the public route, just know you’ll have to compete with other hunters. This shouldn’t dissuade you from hunting public lands. In fact, some of the best hunts I’ve experienced occurred on highly pressured public land.
Your other option, if you don’t already own land, is to try and score some private permissions. This takes some time, but if you’re willing to do a little door knocking, you might just stumble on a honey hole. Again, use OnX to locate potential properties that interest you. Big properties that look like good hunting spots usually mean someone’s hunting them, though this isn’t always the case. On the other hand, make sure you don’t overlook small properties that might hold deer. In fact, you’ll probably have better luck asking to hunt 10 acres as opposed to 1000.
Some states even offer public walk-in hunting on private lands. You’ll have to research and see if your state offers similar opportunities. If it does, these can be dynamite spots that get overlooked. Just make sure you adhere to local rules and regulations.
Whether you go the private or public route, just know that both options can suck, and both can give you some of the best hunting experiences available.
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