Here's the situation. I've stuck my pinky toe in the water, but I'm terrified to dive in. I've haven't been hunting aside from the one time I went as a kid, when I went squirrel hunting with my uncle (I shot a chipmunk and wasn't invited back). Fast forward 25 years, and I have a great interest in the world of hunting. I've tried reading up on what in the hell I need to do to prepare myself, but I guess the resources I've tried aren't spelled out enough for my pea brain. I attended the ODNR hunting safety class, now own several firearms (two of which I've shot), and picked up Steve Rinella's Complete Guide to Hunting, Butchering, and Cooking.
I'm pretty sure I understand the formalities (tagging, public vs private land, approved firearms, etc.), but some of the tacit knowledge is completely beyond me and rather daunting. I don't know anyone that hunts, so general conversations aren't had. Is it really as simple as venturing out into the woods and just learning by experience? Do I try getting in a tree stand right off the bat, do I get a blind, or do I woefully try to stalk? Do people stay out overnight in Ohio, or just hunt near where they park? Can I set up a stand in public land, or just get a climber? Am I getting snowed at Cabela's, or do I really need all of the good stuff for my bow (which I'm not even sure would work hunting even though I can hit a 3D target with it). Things like this baffle me, and it seems extremely inefficient (and possibly dangerous) to learn in the field when I'll probably have to go out solo.
Any help, jeers, and resources you could provide for this humbled, ignorant novice is greatly appreciated. Thanks, everyone.
I'm pretty sure I understand the formalities (tagging, public vs private land, approved firearms, etc.), but some of the tacit knowledge is completely beyond me and rather daunting. I don't know anyone that hunts, so general conversations aren't had. Is it really as simple as venturing out into the woods and just learning by experience? Do I try getting in a tree stand right off the bat, do I get a blind, or do I woefully try to stalk? Do people stay out overnight in Ohio, or just hunt near where they park? Can I set up a stand in public land, or just get a climber? Am I getting snowed at Cabela's, or do I really need all of the good stuff for my bow (which I'm not even sure would work hunting even though I can hit a 3D target with it). Things like this baffle me, and it seems extremely inefficient (and possibly dangerous) to learn in the field when I'll probably have to go out solo.
Any help, jeers, and resources you could provide for this humbled, ignorant novice is greatly appreciated. Thanks, everyone.