A Beginner’s Guide to Hunting - The Basics
written by staff writer
Vegans and animal rights activists have attacked the hunting community with a predatory ferocity for several decades now, portraying us as heartless killers participating in an archaic blood sport. But with hunting gaining traction in popular culture and beginning to be portrayed in a more positive light, we are seeing the tides begin to turn and there has been an increase in what many refer to as “adult onset hunters”, individuals who did not grow up in a hunting community/family but realize their desire to hunt later in life. But, as many of these new converts are discovering, going from city-slicker to backcountry hero is not an easy task.
“Traditional hunting is not something that most people can just jump right into,” writes Ryan Lampers, co-host of the Hunt Harvest Health podcast, “With the vast majority of the hunting culture being lost with urban civilization, knowing where to start in your quest to learn more about this lifestyle can be difficult.”
Lampers has made a name for himself as a formidable backcountry hunter as well as a teacher, hosting the annual Western Hunting Summit to guide new and experienced hunters alike into success. He’s seen it all and recognizes the challenges facing new hunters who don’t have a mentor or anyone who can introduce them to the sport, which led him to write this article on huntharvesthealth.com as a way to help new hunters through those first couple hurdles and send them on their way to success.
“Your desire to learn about hunting isn’t a new thing, it’s old and ingrained in your DNA. This is what we call the Adult Onset Hunting (AOH) Movement and it starts with the basics. ”
Image from huntharvesthealth.com
Lampers covers the basics in this article, including:
UNDERSTANDING YOUR “WHY”
FINDING A MENTOR OR COMMUNITY
GETTING A HUNTING LICENSE
DECIDING WHAT ANIMALS TO HUNT
CHOOSING YOUR TOOLS (GUN OR BOW?)
APPLYING FOR TAGS
GEAR LIST
SCOUTING
“The process is one of time, patience, education, and if possible, mentorship. There are so many aspects to preparing for a hunt, so let’s start with the basics.”
“With AOH you can’t just grab a bow, walk out in the woods, and come home with an animal,” explains Lampers, “You must know your why, what, when, where and how. (especially if you don’t want to end up in jail, injured, or bear food) The process is one of time, patience, education, and if possible, mentorship. There are so many aspects to preparing for a hunt, so let’s start with the basics.”
The western hunting community is full of some of the most giving, like-minded people, We want to see you succeed, and so do Ryan and Hillary Lampers of The Hunt Harvest Health Podcast. Read the full article here and begin your journey to becoming a hunter: ADULT ONSET HUNTING - WHERE TO START
ADULT ONSET HUNTING: WHERE TO START
huntharvesthealth.com
more hunting content
Gear up for when your season starts with some great hunting content.
watch LUKE BRYAN on buck commander.
Stream S8:E10 “Fluke Bryan” where the gang reflects on Luke’s journey learning to hunt while on camera…As Tombo says, ”He looked like a baby giraffe taking his first steps.”
watch the hunting public
The Hunting Public is an online video series showcasing tips and strategies for hunters.