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Hunting Questions Answered

Hunting is an avid pastime enjoyed all over the world. Once it was used as a means of providing the family with fresh meat but has since become more of a sport than anything else. There are some groups that are vehemently opposed to hunting, stating cruelty to animals. In some parts of the world, overcrowding and a lack of food causes greater cruelty by starvation. Man has hunted since the beginnings of time and will continue to do so. Whether or not you are opposed to hunting, it remains an avid sport for many people that enjoy nature and the predatory skills honed by hunting. If you are a beginning hunter, or are interested in learning some of the general basics of the sport, this article will cover some of the particular when it comes to hunting.

I want to learn how to hunt. How do I begin?

The first step in learning how to hunt is education. It is an absolute necessity to know proper fire-arm safety, hunting rules and regulations as well as hunting seasons. Hunting is more than simply walking out into a field, copse of trees or a duck lack and shooting wildly. There are techniques needed in order to catch your prey. Think of it as going back to nature. You are the predator stalking your prey. You must use your cunning, strength and agility in order to conquer and be the victor. By learning the proper techniques you will also save yourself some embarrassment from other hunters. You cannot play point and shoot video games and expect to be an expert marksman. The same thing goes for video games that are based on hunting. It is not the same thing.

Do I have to have a license?

In most cases, yes you must have a hunting license. Each hunting license is specific to the type of game you are going after. You cannot go duck hunting if you only have a deer hunting permit. The end result will be a very heavy fine. There are some exceptions to having a license. Some states have annual days that are allotted for people to be able to hunt without having a license. Please make sure and check to find out when these "free" days are. Also, most states require a hunter's education course in order to buy a license. The courses not only teach you gun safety but also give you some education on how to hunt. These courses can make the difference between life and death.

The Department of the Interior is the one that is responsible for the overall regulation of all individual states Department of Natural Resource or U.S. Game and Fish Department both of which regulate hunting seasons and hunting licenses. There are some sports that have a limit on the number of license that can be purchased in a particular season. The reason for this is to protect the numbers of animal bagged and also apply to fishing as well.

What is the minimum age required to hunt?

The minimum age required in order to obtain a hunting permit varies according to state and what type of license is required. Many states allow juveniles the ability to hunt a few days out of a particular season if they are with a licensed adult. There are also states that allow juveniles beneath a certain age to fish without a license if they are with a licensed adult. But each state differs on their requirements and regulations. You must check with your individual state to determine what their age limits are and whether or not a hunter's education class must be passed before obtaining a license.

What material is covered during hunter education classes?

Hunter education classes cover topics ranging from the different hunting seasons on to first-aid. They also teach rudimentary gun safety and what type of clothing is needed for each season. Some classes can instruct students on how to field dress or track an injured animal. Typically hunter education classes are offered to middle school children before they reach the age of being able to hunt by themselves or with an adult. Safety is the most important aspect of these classes.

Is there any type of clothing I need?

There are different types of clothing needed. It varies upon what type of game you are hunting. Take for example deer hunting. Deer hunting requires camouflage and an orange vest for protection. Why an orange vest? It is an alert color that lets other hunters know where you are at and lets you know where they are at, should you come into another hunter's range. There are also colors that you should not wear during a certain season. In the aforementioned example of deer hunting it was stated that it is imperative to wear orange for safety purposes. Do not wear white when deer hunting. This is especially true of White Tail Deer. A hunter works with his eyesight as well as his hearing. If he or she spots white, it could cause them to fire in that direction. The result is injury to you should you be the white spot that has caught their eye.

Knowing what type of protective clothing to wear is just as important as knowing what not to wear. You must be familiar with your sport, no matter what sport it is. Safety is your first concern for yourself and anyone else that is around you. Accidents happen every hunting season due to negligence and someone not knowing what they are doing. Do not let this happen to you.

What type of weapon do I need?

That depends on what type of hunting you intend on doing. There are hunting seasons that require a certain type of weapon in order to hunt. There are bows, muzzle loaders, hunting rifles and even shotguns. There are some hunters who hunt with semi-automatic weapons but these are continuously under debate as some anti-gun activists do not believe these are truly needed while hunting. Regardless what type of gun you use, there are also some other weapons you need to keep with you. The first is a sharp hunting knife. The knife can be used to field dress an animal or even protect yourself should you become endangered by a wild animal. Some hunters elect to carry a .22 caliber pistol in case they are endangered by poisonous snakes and a rifle would be too bulky to fire in close range.

What are game seasons?

Game seasons are the weeks of a year that a certain animal is allowed to be hunted. Most game seasons have a limited number of kills that are allowed and this limit can also vary by type. Duck hunting is a sport in which you not only have to have the prowess to shoot and kill a duck, but you must also identify the duck before shooting. Game seasons have strict rules on bagging and tagging the animal so it is imperative to know your prey before you journey out into the field, marshland or woods.

What laws are associated with hunting?

There are numerous laws associated with hunting. The first is the requirement is a hunting license. Other laws include what time of year the season begins, when it ends and what the limitations on killing game are. Remember: it is important to know your state's laws or the state laws in which you will be hunting. Failure to read the rules will not help you if you are caught by a Fish and Game officer.

Who sets these laws?

The Department of the Interior is the overall governing body in Washington that regulates all hunting, fishing and wild life conservation. The next level falls to each state. There is the U.S. Forestry Division, The U.S. Fish and Wildlife and the U.S. Game and Fish Commission.

What is virtual hunting?

Virtual hunting has come about in recent years as more and more people become interested in bagging a "trophy" but are unable to go out into the woods to do so. It is also controversial as many people think it is nothing more than a game to these virtual hunters. Further controversy involves killing endangered animals through illegal gaming sites that operate overseas. There seems to be less of a sport involved and this has many people upset over what they consider to be lazy behavior.

Should I mount my trophy?

Most hunters elect to mount trophies from their kills that they are proud of. Most often you will see bucks (male deer) that sport many points on their racks. Points on a buck are the little horns that branch off from the main set of horns rising from their skull. Whether or not you elect to mount a trophy kill is completely up to you. You do have to decide rather quickly and the expense can be quite a lot not to mention the amount of time you will have to wait to have the trophy returned to you.

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