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New to everything hunting would love advice

Posted on 11/19/23 at 10:42 am
Posted by acaulking
Member since Nov 2023
3 posts
Posted on 11/19/23 at 10:42 am
Hello,

I am new to everything hunting. I've been taken by family when I was younger a couple of times. I went for my first solo deer hunt opening rifle day for Louisiana this year. I've learned I know nothing, and looking for help/advice anyone is willing to give.

What are some good areas for me to learn? My first solo hunt was at Sandy Hollows. As you probably know after my first day I've learned this was a bad location for me to choose. I chose this area because it seemed dry. ( I don't have a boat of any kind to use for bayou hunting). It was also somewhat close, I live in the Metairie area. After reading some forums Ive seen a lot of WMA's to go to but some of these are Bow only or require a small boat. Which I don't own or have the funds this season to buy or the time to learn to usr correctly in the season.

What are some great ways to learn where to hunt once I find a good area? I've purchased a subscription to onX to learn land layout. It is massively overwhelming. So I started looking into how to learn about deer characteristics and how to use the maps correctly. Which leads into my next question.

I've been reading and watching anything and everything. Is there any platforms or educators on YouTube or sites any of y'all recommend? It seems so many people have thoughts. However, I need some basic info. Sometimes these sources skip things that I feel everyone knows, but I don't.

Thank you in advance. I appreciate all advice.
Posted by Outdoorreb
Member since Oct 2019
2572 posts
Posted on 11/19/23 at 10:45 am to
Find someone that is willing to show you in person.
Posted by 257WBY
Member since Feb 2014
5712 posts
Posted on 11/19/23 at 11:34 am to
Do you bass fish?

Deer relate to cover similar to bass. Deer are edge animals. An edge is where two types of habitat meet. When you find where three types of habitat meet, you’ve found a gold mine.

Many deer hunters in your area drive two hours or more to hunt. There’s a reason for that.
Posted by bobdylan
Cankton
Member since Aug 2018
1530 posts
Posted on 11/19/23 at 11:44 am to
I suggest taking up squirrel hunting. Can learn how to hunt and scout places you’re interested in deer hunting.

And it’s fun and they’re good eating.
Posted by Ol boy
Member since Oct 2018
2966 posts
Posted on 11/19/23 at 2:49 pm to
It’s really very easy, just google whitetail deer preserve and go “hunt” there and shoot a cull deer that’s 150in. Jk
You’re starting off rifle hunting deer in louisiana which is probably the hardest thing to kill in North America other than turkeys in louisiana.
As others have said if you do not have someone to help you that you know (coworkers,friends , fantasie football team members )
Then it’s gonna be a long learning curve .
If you have the means look at trying to get into a deer lease there are FB groups dedicated to hunting in louisiana and they post they are looking for members every year 1k-1500k can get you into a club that while it may not be a prime place you can kill a deer in.
If you’re dead set and can’t then look at the wmas you can or will hunt , look for pockets of the thickets nastiest places on it. Places you can’t see farther than 50yd get there and jack up in a tree with a climber focus on pinch points or areas where a small creek of thick stuff is wedged between some big uncut timber make sure you know that the wind is not blowing your scent to the area you Expext a deer to be. Public land areas are very productive mid day because deer get bumped by people leaving and coming in.
Develop a routine everything from when and how you pack your bag or stand to how you set up and place your gun and then load it and always make sure your scope is on the lowest power. If you see a deer plan on shooting it don’t check it with binos I’m not saying to use you scope for observation but when it’s a deer point your gun at the first clearing you have in front of it and be ready to either bleat or shoot it walking . You probably will only get one or two spots to shoot a deer in the thick stuff don’t waste them.
Posted by RickAstley
Reno, Nevada
Member since May 2011
2010 posts
Posted on 11/19/23 at 9:13 pm to
I don't have much to add, but don't get too up on size and trophies. You can find a wealth of content on YouTube to learn about hunting, but be prepared to see countless videos of people taking large trophies. At the end of the day, figure out why you're hunting first. Set out to get some meat on the ground and then work your way up from there.
Posted by acaulking
Member since Nov 2023
3 posts
Posted on 5/23/24 at 11:41 am to
Just wanted to say thank you all who posted. This past season I went hunting 7 times, and saw 3 bucks while out. I was able to tag 2 mature bucks both over 200lbs on public land. I took the advice yall shared and information I could find online.
Posted by The Torch
DFW The Dub
Member since Aug 2014
19515 posts
Posted on 5/23/24 at 1:31 pm to
Watch this helpful video for beginners :

LINK

Pretty Bad at Huntin' Deer- Official Music Video
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