Planning on starting out on small game seeing how I have a WMR rifle, newly acquired permit and will buy a license soon, plenty of jacks in the yard, and a drawer full of old knives. even though the season only starts next month, planning for the colder weather to cut back on the warbles. I decided to get permit test online and passed in the wee hours of my BD on the 16th; So now I just need to get out there. Clothing will be the next items on list. What are some suggestions on what else would be nice to take with me into the woods around my house?
Nothing is set in stone yet; however, I may keep posting progress on here...
1st, check local laws. They can determine things like what you wear for what you hunt. A WMR is, I think, a .22, which means small game. Only knife I needed for small game was a pocket knife.
2nd, go to a range and practice. This will both familiarize yourself with the weapon and make sure your marksmanship is up to snuff. This isn't only so that you can hit the game but that you can make a clean kill. The latter prevents the animal from suffering and also eliminated the need for tracking.
3rd, it may be part of the test but exercise hunter safety, such as making sure what is behind the target and making clean shots. Have passed up on shots because they couldn't be made safely or reliably.
4th, get written permission for where you intend to hunt. Know the terrain.
There have been comments on a map and compass. That's good, but you have to know how to use them. One of the handiest to me was what's called an orienteering compass and a 7.5 minute series topographic map, but knew the terrain where I was hunting well enough that I didn't need them. That said, even my father had gotten turned around in the swamp and under certain conditions the water in the oxbows would appear to flow backwards (it wasn't).
Note: if you use USGS 7.5 minute series maps, know that the projection reference in the 1970s was different than the reference used in GPS. Not enough to put you way off course, but it still exists.
Know how you're going to dispose of the hide and offal. Follow all laws. For small game it's not all that problematic. For large, have seen where yahoos have dumped the remains beside the road. That's illegal. In places where there is CWD in deer herds, there are specific rules for disposing of the remains.
While we're on the subject, know how to care and process game. It can spoil quickly in hot weather. Improper processing is what usually leads to bad taste in game.
