Looking at getting into hunting

acefalken

Button Buck
Hi, Trying to get into hunting and hopefully get my dad (has some experience) into it as well. I've read up on the legal how does and the getting started hunting PDF from the wildlife website. My problem is I don't know anyone who goes hunting nor have a hunting rifle for deer.


This leads to 2 questions really.

Anyone know of a group in Moore county or someone willing to help me getting into this hobby?

What's a good caliber to get? I'm fairly comfortable up to .308 (fired .45-70 before and wouldn't mind getting one but ammo is expensive). I'm a decent shot but a bit of rust has started forming thanks to the pandemic. I do have a Mossberg 590 but never fired slugs out of it (yet) and not sure if that's a good starting deer gun (not the lightest thing either)
 

Tipmoose

Administrator
Staff member
Contributor
A Mossberg 590 will kill a deer. You will have to read up on the regs and plug it to only hold three cartridges. That would probably be the fastest and easiest entry into the sport. You could shoot slugs or buck shot. Would have to let the deer get close enough. Pattern the gun and know how it shoots before taking it out.

If you want to get a rifle, I would get a 270 with open sights and learn how to shoot it. If you insist on mounting a scope on it, that will be an added expense and would require you to learn how to bore sight the gun unless you had someone else do it for you.

I'm not aware of any groups that would help get started, but where there's a will there's a way. Maybe some on this forum could help.

Have you taken the Hunter Safety course yet? You'll have to do that before you can get started. I'd talk to the instructor for advice too.
 

Moose

Administrator
Staff member
Contributor
Lots of deer get killed with 308.... shoot what ya have and what ya can constantly hit a target with....
Hunter Ed class is required and may give you opportunity to meet a mentor.

Learn all you can hopefully you'll find someone near ya to show you the ropes.
 

Tipmoose

Administrator
Staff member
Contributor
Hmm...having never used a shotgun for deer hunting and I don't feel like rummaging through old regs online....DO you have to plug a shotgun for deer hunting? You don't have to plug a rifle....so...maybe not.
 

JONOV

Old Mossy Horns
Hmm...having never used a shotgun for deer hunting and I don't feel like rummaging through old regs online....DO you have to plug a shotgun for deer hunting? You don't have to plug a rifle....so...maybe not.
Plug is only for migratory birds which are federally regulated. You can shoot quail or squirrels or deer with an unplugged gun since they belong to the state of North Carolina (or something.)
 

bwfarms

Old Mossy Horns
Hmm...having never used a shotgun for deer hunting and I don't feel like rummaging through old regs online....DO you have to plug a shotgun for deer hunting? You don't have to plug a rifle....so...maybe not.

Only regulations of plug is migratory bird hunting and local restrictions (if there are any). I am not aware of any game land in NC that requires it for other species but do know some states have plug rules on impoundments.
 

bwfarms

Old Mossy Horns
Don’t wait until hunting season. Learn to hunt them with a camera right now.

As far as a rifle… whatever you can comfortably shoot but be elevated and sure of what’s beyond your target. I feel it has to be said, also be sure of your target, don’t shoot at a moving bush. If you can’t make a clean shot, don’t rush your shot because deer have a way of popping up in a more opportune opening. Study shot placement scenarios from magazines/videos.

Deer hunting is not that hard.
 

Downeast

Twelve Pointer
The NCWRC used to have a mentoring program. Call them and ask to speak to their Hunting Program Coordinator or whatever their title is and ask about that program.

Get your hunter education certificate. Thanks to covid it was entirely online but not sure now but you can still take all but the firearm qualification online. There are Gamelands near your area so get certified, pick up a license, cover yourself from head to toe in blaze orange and join the great unwashed on Gamelands.
 

UpATree

Ten Pointer
Contributor
Hey, welcome to the forum. I didn't start hunting until I was 55 and had to learn it all myself. This forum, and these guys, were a big help to me then and continue to be. Hunting is a lot of fun and I look forward to it every year. It really never goes out of season, because there's always scouting, cameras, zeroing a rifle, and getting your equipment ready.

Tell us a little about yourself. How old are you and your dad? What piqued your interest? Have you spent time outdoors in other ways, like camping, hiking, fishing? Spent much time shooting?
 

BigBow

Ten Pointer
Contributor
For any age beginning hunter, I would suggest you try squirrel hunting 1st on gamelands or permission granted private property. Pee Dee, Uwharrie & Sandhills GMA or Pee Dee NWR are all near Moore Co. & have lots of squirrels to hunt. Use your Mossberg or preferably purchase an inexpensive single shot .22 rifle. Sit still & quietly @ the base of a tree & listen & watch. Try head shots w/ your .22 for sport after you shot a few & gained some experience. Learn how to process, cook & eat them. Squirrels are pretty wary creatures & this is very similiar to the deer hunting experience from a treestand. Then graduate to deer. Just my humble opinion.
 

woodmoose

Administrator
Staff member
Contributor
For any age beginning hunter, I would suggest you try squirrel hunting 1st on gamelands or permission granted private property. Pee Dee, Uwharrie & Sandhills GMA or Pee Dee NWR are all near Moore Co. & have lots of squirrels to hunt. Use your Mossberg or preferably purchase an inexpensive single shot .22 rifle. Sit still & quietly @ the base of a tree & listen & watch. Try head shots w/ your .22 for sport after you shot a few & gained some experience. Learn how to process, cook & eat them. Squirrels are pretty wary creatures & this is very similiar to the deer hunting experience from a treestand. Then graduate to deer. Just my humble opinion.


100% concur,,,, some don't like it when I tell them that,, others appreciate it,,,

when you start hunting, I am a firm believer in starting with small game,,, squirrel is a perfect "starter" for a future deer hunter,,,

  • you learn the woods
  • you learn the hunt
  • you learn safe firearms handling in the field
  • you learn what KILLING means, on something small
  • you learn to deal with after,,, field dressing, cleaning, butchering, cooking, and eating on something that is more manageable than a deer,,,

when you have mastered that, THEN go deer hunting,,,

so @acefalken ,,, if you don't like that type of talk, you may not want to use me as a fellow to show you the ropes,,
 

Deep River

Ten Pointer
Contributor
I would guess that there are a LOT of deer hunters out there that have never hunted small game. Some of them have never hunted anything other than deer. I absolutely agree that starting on small game will make you a better hunter and sportsman. Some of that is more about a person's inclination to simply enjoy and appreciate nature's than it is about what species you start hunting on.

Start hunting what species you want to start hunting, but if you want to be a GOOD hunter in every facet of the word GOOD, enjoy hunting a wide variety of species including small game.
 

Wv67

Ten Pointer
I started with a 760 cross man , had to be safe and responsible with it first , then the tree rats , rabbits , then he showed me how to shoot a bow , bow hunting taught me how to read sign , how to get close , PATIENCE , and how to study and learn the critter bow hunting is more of a challenge , hunt the tree rats and learn the land , watch for deer and the sign learn their ways while your learning what trees the tree rats like , study the trees learn what they are white oak red oak hickory etc hunting is more than chasing game , good luck with your hunts , it’s an awesome addiction
 

KrisB

Ten Pointer
I would highly recommend taking the Get Started Outdoors (GSO) workshops the WRC offers for new hunters after you take the hunter safety course, @acefalken . I took the GSO: Turkey Hunting and the GSO: Deer Hunting workshops. I tell all new hunters I meet about them because they are absolutely top notch in my opinion. The instructors are great and you get to meet other new hunters like you. They also have a drawing at the end of each workshop and, if your name is selected, you get to go on a hunt with one of the instructors who has volunteered to take a new hunter along on a hunt.

I'm not sure if they are offering the GSO workshops again yet, but you can contact Walter "Deet" James at the WRC. He is the R3 hunting specialist for the WRC. R3 stands for recruit, retain, reactivate and is the hunting world's mission to try to stem the flow of declining hunter numbers by recruiting new hunters to the sport, retaining those who already hunt, and getting old hunters back into the sport. Deet's email and phone number can be found here on the WRC website: https://www.ncpaws.org/employeesearch/search.aspx

I would also highly recommend starting with squirrel hunting and then slowly graduating to deer hunting.
 

acefalken

Button Buck
as recommended,,, take the hunter safety course (do it on Bragg and then you can hunt there as well),,,(edited to add that is IF you can get on Bragg,,, their rules have changed since covid started)

then get ahold of me,,,, I enjoy helping new folks,,,,
I haven't been on bragg in a while and my sponsor card is expired and I'm not sure I can. I'll google around later and see.
 

dubbeltap69

Eight Pointer
Contributor
Thank you everyone. I do plan on taking the hunter safety course when I can.

I'll probably pick up a tikka in .308 (or 6.5 creedmoor) to scratch my bolt itch.

Thank you all for the help
A tikka in .308 is IMHO an excellent choice. I'd bet it'll outshoot you. Mine does me. The great thing about it is, more than likely it'll print good enough groups with whatever ammo you can feed it (which in this age is important). 150 grain soft points will take down a deer very effectively. And if you ever need to sell it, you won't have any problem doing so.
 

acefalken

Button Buck
Hey, welcome to the forum. I didn't start hunting until I was 55 and had to learn it all myself. This forum, and these guys, were a big help to me then and continue to be. Hunting is a lot of fun and I look forward to it every year. It really never goes out of season, because there's always scouting, cameras, zeroing a rifle, and getting your equipment ready.

Tell us a little about yourself. How old are you and your dad? What piqued your interest? Have you spent time outdoors in other ways, like camping, hiking, fishing? Spent much time shooting?
I'm 23, I've always enjoyed fishing and hiking since I was little and spent a decent amount of time exploring the everglades in high school and always wanted to learn hunting but never had the opportunity to and finally decided to get the wheels spinning. I'm not an expert at shooting I'm comfortable with it but most of the time was at a skeet club in St. Petersburg, FL and only 3-4 times with a .308 rifle. Mostly .22's and AR15s besides that.
 

acefalken

Button Buck
I would highly recommend taking the Get Started Outdoors (GSO) workshops the WRC offers for new hunters after you take the hunter safety course, @acefalken . I took the GSO: Turkey Hunting and the GSO: Deer Hunting workshops. I tell all new hunters I meet about them because they are absolutely top notch in my opinion. The instructors are great and you get to meet other new hunters like you. They also have a drawing at the end of each workshop and, if your name is selected, you get to go on a hunt with one of the instructors who has volunteered to take a new hunter along on a hunt.

I'm not sure if they are offering the GSO workshops again yet, but you can contact Walter "Deet" James at the WRC. He is the R3 hunting specialist for the WRC. R3 stands for recruit, retain, reactivate and is the hunting world's mission to try to stem the flow of declining hunter numbers by recruiting new hunters to the sport, retaining those who already hunt, and getting old hunters back into the sport. Deet's email and phone number can be found here on the WRC website: https://www.ncpaws.org/employeesearch/search.aspx

I would also highly recommend starting with squirrel hunting and then slowly graduating to deer hunting.
I didn't know this existed. Thank you so much. I'll look into it when after I take the hunter safety course.
 

UpATree

Ten Pointer
Contributor
Maybe someone can recommend @acefalken a good deer processor around Moore County. I take mine to Norm’s, west of Carboro, but that might be a haul for him.
 

dubbeltap69

Eight Pointer
Contributor
Not sure if anyone has warned ya or not, but this deer hunting hobby can be quite addictive and expensive. Slightly less so than turkey hunting from what I hear and saltwater fishing....

Either way I congratulate you !
 

acefalken

Button Buck
A tikka in .308 is IMHO an excellent choice. I'd bet it'll outshoot you. Mine does me. The great thing about it is, more than likely it'll print good enough groups with whatever ammo you can feed it (which in this age is important). 150 grain soft points will take down a deer very effectively. And if you ever need to sell it, you won't have any problem doing so.
My old high school buddy got one and he raves about it all the time and the reviews seem like its top notch and
For any age beginning hunter, I would suggest you try squirrel hunting 1st on gamelands or permission granted private property. Pee Dee, Uwharrie & Sandhills GMA or Pee Dee NWR are all near Moore Co. & have lots of squirrels to hunt. Use your Mossberg or preferably purchase an inexpensive single shot .22 rifle. Sit still & quietly @ the base of a tree & listen & watch. Try head shots w/ your .22 for sport after you shot a few & gained some experience. Learn how to process, cook & eat them. Squirrels are pretty wary creatures & this is very similiar to the deer hunting experience from a treestand. Then graduate to deer. Just my humble opinion.
I'll look into doing this. I'll either fix the extractor on my old marlin or see about buying another good bolt .22 since that one is more of a pass down heirloom.
 

acefalken

Button Buck
Not sure if anyone has warned ya or not, but this deer hunting hobby can be quite addictive and expensive. Slightly less so than turkey hunting from what I hear and saltwater fishing....

Either way I congratulate you !
My Little brother and step dad in Florida are fully aware of the cost of Saltwater fishing (I prefer being on land after a couple times of getting Land sick but only boats cause it).

Thank you. I'm surprised so many people are chiming in. I thank you all for pointing me in good directions.
 

Papa_Smurf

Twelve Pointer
Contributor
A tikka in 6.5 or .308 or any caliber in between is a good choice - savages and ruger americans are good too, but the tikkas are more polished. Any of those guns should be capable of a 1 - 1.5" group at 100 yards once you've found ammo they like, plenty good enough for deer hunting. Some counties require 8ft above grade (treestand) if using a centerfire rifle. Not sure if Moore does, but keep that in mind if you plan to travel and hunt gamelands - Some do, some don't. Course, you can always tote that 590 with buckshot or slugs on gamelands if you need to hunt from the ground.
 
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