I am a man, a husband, a father of 4. My oldest boy just finished an 18 month tour in the Navy as a CB. He is now in the reserves and may be moving home with us soon. I am 41 years old and am somewhat disabled. I have asthma, and have trouble walking for long distances in a hurry. I can walk a mile on a sidewalk as long as I take it slow and have even gone on hikes that far, but those were on maintained trails in the woods. I recently had knee surgery, but it is healed up, but this too limits my walking very fast paced. I am about 100 lbs overweight (this don't help much either), due to me not being able to move the way I used to. I have lost some weight and will continue to try until I lose all of it, but I don't think I will have it all gone by hunting season.

I recently moved to the Pacific Coastal community of Coos Bay OR. I would like to try hunting for deer, elk, and whatever else is available here. IE, turkey, coyote, cougar, and maybe even black bear.

Here is my problem; I don't know the first thing about hunting! I have a single shot Rossi .243 Win, 20Ga., .22lr, and a M1917 30.06 with a 20" barrel. I recently have taken up reloading for these 2 rifles. I also have a Ruger P95 9mm pistol. I am a pretty darn good shot with the 30.06 from a bench anyway. The .243 has some issues but I think they will be worked out by deer season. I may sell it and get another one from a different manufacturer in a bolt action. I am not sure what I am going to do with that one, but either way I could use the 30.06 for anything I listed except maybe the turkey. As good as it is shooting maybe even a head shot from 100 yds would work on the turkey! LOL

Where do I start? I bought a sports pack which includes all of the animals listed and maybe even a few more plus a fishing license and salmon tag and I also added the shellfish tag to that. I chose to put in for a special hunt for elk, I do not expect to get that hunt but I expect to get my first alternate hunt for the special season which is right near me. I also bought a deer doe ticket to see if I could get one of them as well. That just gives me twice the possibilities during regular season. At least that is the way I think it works.

How do I go about knowing where to look for the deer and or elk? Is there some kind of service where I can ask someone where to look?

Right now I am so ignorant on this subject, that I do not even know what questions I should be asking.

I will tell you, I am not in it for the trophy, I am looking to stock up the freezer. I figure I have until October to gather as much info as possible, so if you could help me I would be greatly appreciative of that!

Thanks in advance,

First thing I would suggest is, if you have cable or satelite tv that is, find and start watching the outdoor channel. They have lots of good tips for the beginer. Aside from that, just ask as many questions on here and we'll be more than happy to give you our best advice. Remember the only stupid question is the one you don't ask. Good luck with your hunting and the learning proccess. It can really be exciting.


Almost forgot, welcome to the site. Pull up a beer and and grab a stump... or is that the other way around

Hoffy!!! Beer and greeting first!!!

My advice would be to seek out any local hunt clubs, shooting facilities, and gun shops.
More than likely someone at one of those places will take you in and show you the ropes. Or hopefully lead you somewhere that will.

Also check with local wildlife officials about qualifying for handicap type hunts. Special privileges are usually invoked to help and encourage disabled hunters.

I grew up in Coos Bay (Libby). I pulled a lot of deer out of the Libby area, but that was back in the late '50s and early '60s. Best bet is to find someone to take you to hunting camp. If you can walk a mile you can walk 1/2 mile out and 1/2 mile back. You might be supprised as to what will show up in that distance. I would also recommend that you do a lot of walking now before the season.

What Chambered said is excellent advice too.

have you considered a guided hunt option to get started and pick up some tips. here in kiwiland we have venison hunts for a few hundred $ maybe worth a look??? great advise from Bushy . find a place sit and watch for game and let the 06 do the rest.

Welcome to this fine forum.
A good way to get into hunting is to find a friend who will show you the ropes. Buy some books or magazines on the subject .All you need is to be able to walk a mile or two to hunt.

Thanks guys for the warm welcome. I'll gladly pull up a stump, but you'll have to make mine a nice hot cup of coffee. I had to give up the alcohol about 5 years ago. I attribute some of my health issues to that as well.

What I am most worried about is my ability to walk in the terrain that we have here. Like I said, when I walk those distances, it is on a maintained trail or a sidewalk. When it comes to climbing hills and making my way through thick brush, I am worried that distance will get way shorter than that mile. even 1/2 mile in 1/2 mile out may be a stretch. Do you still think it can be done? What if it is only 100 yards? I know this is hypothetical and there are no guarantees but I truly dream of being able to provide my family with some of natures finest meat!

The suggestion about finding a friend to go with me is going to be sort of tough. I have only lived here for 1 year as of tomorrow to be exact. I work from home on the PC so I don't get a chance to get out to meet too many folks. My neighbor from across the street said he will go with me and he has hunted since he was a kid so that will be good "IF" he still lives here when hunting season gets here. Notice that was a big if? He is in Missouri right now looking for a place to move to. His place here is for sale and they have had a lot of interest in it lately. He is really my only friend here.

I have looked in the shopper and the phone book and the internet for a guide service but have not seen one around here yet. I will keep looking. You all had some great advice, keep it coming! If there is anything specific I should ask a guide, what is it? What is a normal fee for a guide service for a hunt? Deer Elk?? Those are my most sought after species.

I will check into the F & G and see if they have anything for the disabled hunter as well. That was a great tip. I didn't even think of that.

Happy hunting!

Welcome!

I would say you would be able to get deer without going back into the deepest parts of the woods. I have managed to take some less than 100 yards from the truck several times. My concern for you is dragging it back out and cleaning it properly once you have taken one. Make sure you have someone around to help you out. I am still in pretty good shape and cleaning and dragging a deer out of the woods about kicks my butt. I would not want to do it by myself with a bum knee and asthma...

Most deer hunting in Southern Ontario seems to happen within 300 yards from the nearest road. Or atleast that is where everyone seems to put their tree stands.

Dimitri

I once had a public hunting area that I would bow hunt 60 yards from my truck. I was never able to harvest a deer out of that tree but they were there most evenings I hunted it.

Public hunting areas usually have road ways through them. Get a map from the DNR if possible and go for a ride looking for such spots. (pre-season scouting)

If you should luck into some private land ATV’s maybe a option to get around on. Use caution with this one though. Land owners often have visions of ATV’s tearing up their lands by unethical idiots who have a habit of ruining things for others.

I will have 2 of my sons with me to haul out the deer or elk. My boys are 14 and 19, so they should be able to get the thing out for me with my help. I am trying to do it in such a way that while I am learning, I can teach them as well, so that I can pass along a good working knowledge to them of providing food for their family as well as living off the land as much as possible too! I was taught farming by my dad and I think hunting is just as important, so I really appreciate all of your help!

That brings up another thought. How much of this will need to be butchered in the field and how much in my garage? We could quarter it in the field and finish it at home can't we?

How soon before it needs to be on ice? I would sure hate like heck to waste anything because I didn't follow protocol!

If you 3 can pack out the whole deer as is that works as well. Just clean it out (Field Dress) in the bush. Let the deer hang to bleed out (feet up, neck cut) then butcher the next day or 2. That is what we do.

Dimitri

But it's a lot colder up there in your neck of the woods Dimitri. You live in an ice box don't cha? LOL just kidding but it is a lot colder there isn't it in mid Oct and Nov?

Field dress, does that mean the innerds? The stomach, and organs etc? or just bled out?

Big D...I have never "bled out" a deer. Why? When I come upon my deer they are dead. That means the heart has stopped. Without the pump the blood will not move no matter how long you hang it from a tree. That also means I never cut it's throat either. The blood you can get out with a good shot is about all you will get other then a few surface drops.

Learn how to "field dress" and try to get the skin off before the deer gets cold and most of all...Keep the hair of the bare meat and keep the meat clean from dirt and other foriegn material. Completely wash the meat down as soon as you can. It's essentual to cool (not freeze) the carcass as soon as possible too.

Better yet. There is a special thread on here that you should read. Just can't remember where it's at. CRS you know...