Tag: Hunting - Page 7

#Hunting

Manuel Bright

Wish someone told me this before my first hunt 🦌

Grew up with zero hunters in the family, so I had to learn the hard way. If you’re just starting out, here’s what actually helped: 1️⃣ Start with Hunter Education - boring but essential. You'll learn safety basics and regulations that could save your life. 2️⃣ Pick ONE species first - I tried everything and sucked at all of it. Focus on deer if you're inland, ducks near water. Master one before moving on. 3️⃣ Gear that actually matters: .270 Winchester for deer (still my go-to), 12-gauge for birds. Skip the fancy stuff initially - a decent scope and solid practice beats expensive gear every time. 4️⃣ Finding spots is everything - OnX changed my game completely. Start with public land, respect private property signs religiously. 5️⃣ YouTube University is real - learned more about field dressing and cooking from MeatEater and similar channels than anywhere else. It’s a learning curve, but incredibly rewarding. Any other solo hunters out there? What was your biggest lesson early on? #hunting #newhunterguide ##huntingtips #firstgenhunter

Eric Ford

Anyone actually catch anything with traps?

Been reading up on trapping lately and got curious—any older hunters here still setting traps? Would love to hear what you’ve used, what worked, and any tips you’d pass down. #hunting #HuntingTips #WildlifeTrapping

bushjill

Trapping Feels More Real Than Hunting—Anyone Agree?

Honestly, there's something about trapping that just feels more involved than rifle hunting. It’s not about taking a clean shot from 200 yards—it's about studying animals, reading their signs, setting smart traps, and showing up every single day to check them, rain or shine. It’s a commitment, and it builds a deeper connection with nature. Hunting has its thrill, no doubt—but trapping feels like a strategic game of patience and respect. Anyone else feel the same way? Or are you all still team rifle? #hunting #TrappingLife #WildlifeSkills

bushjill

My first-time hunting buddy is pure luck

Last year I took a friend out on his very first hunt. First morning, he sets up in a random spot with a folding chair—and drops a solid 8-point with my Mosin. A week later, we stroll into the woods late, and he nails a doe with a $110 single shot. Meanwhile, our other buddy who spent months scouting walked away empty-handed. Sometimes hunting really is just about being in the right place at the right time. Ever had that kind of luck? #hunting #firsthunt #buckfever #deerhunting

tyler79

My Knife Is the MVP of My Hunting Bag

I’ll never forget my first successful hunt. Buck down, adrenaline pumping… and then came the real challenge: field dressing. My buddy pulled out this slick, razor-sharp fixed blade while I fumbled with an old folding knife that barely opened. I spent more time wrestling that deer than shooting it 😅 After that, I bought a decent knife—not expensive, just reliable. It changed everything. Clean, fast, respectful work. Now, I double-check my blade before every trip—just like my tags. Anyone else remember their first real hunting knife? #hunting #HuntingGear #HuntingKnife #Outdoors

Manuel Bright

Why Red Oaks Beat White Oaks in My Hunts? 🤔

When I first started squirrel hunting, I quickly learned that the “one-size-fits-all” advice online doesn’t always hold up. In my area, squirrels actually prefer red oaks over white oaks—probably because the wet winters break down the tannins faster. Over the years, I’ve picked up a few strategies that work for me: 🌳 Walk slowly and silently—silence matters more than depth in the woods ⏳ Move spots if you don’t see action within 20 minutes 🍂 Look for signs like cut nuts, nests, or well-used perches For me, diverse forage areas (red oaks, hickories, walnuts, pines) in wet bottomland have always been the most productive. Every season feels like solving a new puzzle, and that’s what keeps it interesting. What’s been your most surprising squirrel-hunting lesson? #Hunting #SquirrelHunting #PublicLandHunting #HuntingTips

Manuel Bright

My hunting buddy switched to crossbow to avoid practice...

This guy straight up told me he got a crossbow so he "wouldn't have to practice anymore." Then bragged about shooting a buck 20 minutes after legal light because his scope let him see fine. Bad shot, lucky recovery, used it as his work screensaver like some trophy. Look, I'm not anti-crossbow at all. But lazy hunters exist with every weapon—compound guys who can't hit at 20 yards, rifle hunters wounding deer at 100 with their fancy scopes. The crossbow didn't make him lazy, he was already lazy. Just gave him more range to be dangerous with. What bothers you more—the weapon choice or the ethics behind it? #Hunting #LazyHunters #CrossbowHunting #HuntingEthics #ArcheryHunting

mmoore

Started hunting at 35 because God told me to teach my kids

Dad never hunted but I felt called to learn this skill for my family. Spent months watching Hunting Public videos, took all the courses, then my brother took me out for my first whitetail. Now four years later, I've helped two of my kids get their first deer too. We've branched out—grouse, geese, pheasants, even some snaring. Still learning every season. Problem now is finding new spots since our go-to grouse roads keep getting developed. Need better rabbit and duck locations too, don't want to pressure our deer spots. Amazing how this journey started as teaching my kids but they're teaching me just as much. What got you started hunting—family tradition or something else calling you to it? #Hunting #TeachingKids #FamilyHunting #WhitetailHunting #GrouseHunting

paulcarol

That 10-gauge just humbled my rifled 20

I’ve been hunting with the same single-shot, rifled-barrel 20 gauge for over 25 years. It’s not flashy, but it’s precise—almost like carrying a small centerfire rifle. Years back, my buddy and I were setting up before dawn on a horse farm when another truck pulled in. One guy pulled out a massive 10 gauge, casually loading buckshot and swearing it was deadly to 100 yards. Sure enough, later that morning, we heard two booming shots and found out he’d dropped two deer at nearly that exact distance. I respect the effectiveness, but for me, it’s always been about precision over power. My 20 gauge may take more patience, but it’s never let me down. What’s been your longest, most memorable shot? #Hunting #ShotgunHunting #DeerHunting #Buckshot #Outdoors

tyler79

I stopped hunting with an old friend after one dangerous trip

Tough decision but couldn't ignore it anymore. This guy's been hunting 40 years and thinks experience makes him bulletproof. Last pig hunt, his muzzle awareness was so bad I spent more time dodging his barrel than watching for hogs. I told him to be careful; he blamed others. That was my last hunt with him. One careless moment can turn a great day into tragedy, and I’m not taking that risk. Have you ever cut ties with a hunting partner over safety? #hunting #HuntingSafety #GunSafety #Outdoors

Tag Page Hunting

Wish someone told me this before my first hunt 🦌

Anyone actually catch anything with traps?

Trapping Feels More Real Than Hunting—Anyone Agree?

My first-time hunting buddy is pure luck

My Knife Is the MVP of My Hunting Bag

Why Red Oaks Beat White Oaks in My Hunts? 🤔

My hunting buddy switched to crossbow to avoid practice...

Started hunting at 35 because God told me to teach my kids

That 10-gauge just humbled my rifled 20

I stopped hunting with an old friend after one dangerous trip