being prepared not only impoves your odds its doing things right. there is a thread i strated "being prepared"
i understand not everyone is raised hunting and some get into it late in life and thats great. going to sites like this and asking question is a great way to start being prepared but this should start well before the season not 2 days before. scouting can be done during the hunt and everyone does it and should do it, as things change in the woods. what is bothering me is guys that just run out the day before the season buy a gun and head into the woods or don't take the time to learn about deer or take the time to learn woodsmanship or even really what deer hunting is all about. there are ways to be prepared without having grown up hunting. ask the questions before the season, learning first hand from someone who as a few years under their belt. reading books. there is nothing wrong with not knowing. I don't know allot of things and its okay to say i don't know. to go out there unprepared and shoot something or shoot at something with out understanding why you are doing it, or what to do afterward, or what this is all about or that, is just not right. it gives hunters a bad reputation. if someone shoots something but doesn't have a clue as to how to track and recover or know someone that can show them and help them they have no reason to be out there shooting animals. as i said we owe it to the game the sport and to other hunters to be prepared for what comes next. and what comes next starts way before the season with hunters safety, why we are hunting, learning the anatomy of the animal, its habits, its habitat, the laws, ethics (there is a big one), what the weapon of choice is capable of, what the user is capable of with that weapon, most firearms can out shoot the shooter, what the animal's defences are, some idea of tracking or/and someone to help in the field that does know how to track, what is safe and what is not (should be taught in hunters safety) and then maybe we are ready to go hunting. there are mentoring programs out there and they are great. I have taught and am teaching my son. I have helped other kids, I teach by doing seminars. there a tons of people out there to help new hunters. even the first time hunter was introduced to it by someone else that has more experience. even those that have 40 years in the woods, like myself and others on this forum and others out there, learn something new every year or should strive to. we try not to make a mistake but we do make them and if we do we learn from them; and by we, i mean everyone. the problem is our mistakes are picked up by others that use them against hunters, or worse yet cause injury or death. hunting is not tidily winks and the name of the game is something is going to die and that should be held in the highest of regards. there is a responsibility that must be met or stay home. thats all i'm saying i'm not trying to bash anyone. It just seems to me that it must be said.
