Are you a 1st generation hunter?

[Bennies]

I guess I can say i am first gen. I Went Coyote hunting for the first time a couple months ago and just went again on new years. I loved it. We couldn't call them close enough both times but we heard them answer back so i guess i am still learning the art. A few friends of mine from church are now planning on going for hogs, and i eventually want to start hunting for deer as well. I'm hooked. I grew up and Florida and no one in my family are hunters. I have a lot to learn about the sport because i am so new so i enjoy going out with my friends that have been hunting for most their lives.

[Sewer_Ice]

I am a first generation hunter.
My mother is anti-gun, my father just doesn't hunt.
My Grandfather only had some guns around to fend off coyotes that got into his yard, never hunt. Didn't grow up around him, so never learned anything about firearms or hunting from any family. First time I shot I actually went to the range by myself!

[lawrnk]

Took my first animal, a buck this year. Parents never hunted, much less own a firearm.

[kalipsocs]

I feel like I am parroting lawrnk lately, but I also took my first buck without any guidance from my parents or grandparents this year. Guideance I had, but if i hadn't shown interest as of late I still wouldn't have known a thing about hunting or deer rifles. We always liked our fun guns (AKs, AR-15s, 22s) when I was younger. But my future sons and daughters will have that opportunity if they choose because I AM HOOKED!!

[lawrnk]

I feel like I am parroting lawrnk lately, but I also took my first buck without any guidance from my parents or grandparents this year. Guideance I had, but if i hadn't shown interest as of late I still wouldn't have known a thing about hunting or deer rifles. We always liked our fun guns (AKs, AR-15s, 22s) when I was younger. But my future sons and daughters will have that opportunity if they choose because I AM HOOKED!!

As addictive as I thought guns were, hunting might be better!!

[mikeintexas]

I feel like I am parroting lawrnk lately, but I also took my first buck without any guidance from my parents or grandparents this year. Guideance I had, but if i hadn't shown interest as of late I still wouldn't have known a thing about hunting or deer rifles. We always liked our fun guns (AKs, AR-15s, 22s) when I was younger. But my future sons and daughters will have that opportunity if they choose because I AM HOOKED!!

As addictive as I thought guns were, hunting might be better!!

My wife doesn't complain about me watching football all weekend in the fall, it's "where are your heading to this weekend to shoot dove (or quail, or pheasant, or turkey, whichever fits)?" I'm not a deer hunter, but love bird, hog and varmint hunting.

Fishing is an OK fill in when there are no hunting seasons open!

[SlowDave]

I'd like to hunt. Well, I'd like some venison in the freezer, and hunting is the only way to get it.

We didn't hunt growing up. I killed one rabbit with a .22 when I was about 10 or 11. We went deer hunting once or twice, but never saw a deer. I've killed a few squirrels, a couple of crows, and a possum, but only for pest removal.

Since there's almost no public hunting land in Texas and leases are expensive, it's tough to get started. If you're not already part of the hunting community, you don't know where to go, who to talk to, or what questions to ask. You don't know what you need to buy. You don't know what to do if you should get a deer. And what's more, despite all the talk about keeping hunting going for future generations, almost nobody wants to help you get started, because other adult hunters are seen as competition.

So, I guess I'll stay a non-hunter.

Chabouk and others,
I'd personally like to help you get started hunting anyway I can. My parents have a place in west Texas, but my dad is VERY tight about letting me bring anyone out there, so can't really offer a trial hunting experience, as much as I'd like to. But if you have any questions, feel free to shoot them out here or PM me and I'll do my best to answer them. My hunting experience is a little narrow, almost all whitetail deer and 80% of it with a rifle in west Texas or the Hill Country, but if that's what you want to know about, I'll be happy to help. Unfortunately, some of this needs to be face-to-face and the absolutely best way to learn to field dress is to do it with someone the first time, which I also can't really offer. (Though I am willing to meet in the San Antonio area and talk face-to-face.) But I can tell you about clothing, firearms, feeders, blinds, best "traditional" hunting times of the day, how to manage a lease split among friends/co-workers, and can talk on things like how to handle lodging. Have never had to find a lease for myself yet, but I can ask around here at work to some guys who have and pass on that knowledge. I've been deer hunting for about 30 years (2/3 of my life!), so hopefully have a little knowledge to pass around.

I had forgotten about this thread and didn't know it was still alive. Very interesting stories and I'd like to encourage those who'd like to try to ask questions and try to make it happen. Like I said, I'll do everything I can to help you. I hope the financial side will not be too high of a hurdle.