What Do I Need to Start Hunting

[J_T_R]

Hey guys. I've recently started to become interested in hunting in Massachusetts. I'd like to start out with small game, but eventually in the next few years work my way up to turkeys and deer. I've shot guns before, so I am familiar with them, but I don't own a gun at this time, besides my Gamo air rifle. I'm basically starting from scratch here, so here are a few questions. Feel free to add whatever you would like. Thanks a lot.

1) What kind of licenses am I going to need to need to start hunting small game?

2) I'm thinking about looking into a .22 for small game, but I believe that you need an FID card to purchase one. What do I need to do to get an FID card?

3) I'd also like to take a basic hunting and shooting safety class. Where can I take one of these classes and how much do they usually run?

4) If I do end up getting a .22, which gun would you guys suggest?

5) I'd also appreciate any recommendations that you guys have, so let me know if you have any.

Thanks again,

Jeff

[The Dad Fisherman]

Look into a Rod and Gun club. Some offer Gun Safety Courses.

I would also look to see if you can go out with somebody experienced your 1st time.

Plenty of info on the masswildlife site as far as hunting regs.

http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/recre...nting_home.htm

Here is a link to some FAQ's about an FID card.

http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=eopsterm...aqs&csid=Eeops

[Raven]

get some good boots, binoculars, and a compass too...
because gps units are only as good as the batteries last

so you'll need to be able to read a compass and a map.

get your Federal id card at your local police station...

go to a shooting place and start shooting there
without first owning a gun....

you'll want to buy a 12 gauge shotgun, which can be used to hunt deer,
ducks, rabbit, turkey, and pheasant ect.

learn about "how" ..... to prepare wild game.....

[Rob Rockcrawler]

Go to your police department to get the paperwork for the FID card, which is total crap. Its pretty self explanatory. If you have a clear record get your class A. You will need to take a hunters safety course. Its really easy stuff. 22's are more for plinking in my opinion. Fun for squirrel hunting but not good for much else. Id get a Remington 870 12 ga. Very versatile gun that is indestructible. I haven't done any small game hunting in MA, but in michigan i did it all the time. Occasionally i would bring the 22 for squirrels but it is frustrating when a grouse or pheasant flushes and your holding the 22.

[freebie]

if you are planning on hunting in MA then I would buy a shotgun or black powder, they do not allow rifles in MA as far as I know

[mikecc]

Originally Posted by freebie

if you are planning on hunting in MA then I would buy a shotgun or black powder, they do not allow rifles in MA as far as I know

Rifles in MA any cal. for Coyote during daylight. Sunset to midnight 22 only for coyote.

Get a 12Ga it will cover most of the hunting from Upland bird, ducks and deer. It is a little over kill for rabbits but it will do.

[wheresmy50]

Move. Just kidding, but you guys really need some kind of government issued card to buy a .22?

The NRA offers many hunting/shooting safety classes. To be frank, learning to hunt will be much harder than learning to fish. I was just reading the article about the chance of someone starting to hunt who hasn't hunted when they were growing up, and it's not very high (I guess I just assumed that part from your question).

The best way would be if you had a friend who hunts who can teach you, like someone else said. There are different types of hunting like there are different types of striped bass fishing. My recommendation for the first year would be learning how to find promising areas and mastering sitting still. By still, I mean still. No movement, no noise, no nothing. Learning to sit still is one of the fundamental skills of hunting, and you can do pretty well by it - especially once you learn where to sit still.

The Remington 870 is the standard by which other multi-purpose devices are judged.

All you really need is a license, the necessary blaze orange clothing, an insulated seat, and a gun.

[Gunpowder]

Mossberg 500 combo in 12 GA is one of the bests buys out there...

[The Dad Fisherman]

Originally Posted by wheresmy50

the necessary blaze orange clothing,

This something my son asked.....Why do hunters buy all this camoflaged clothing to try and blend in...and then throw an orange vest and hat on?

I thought that was a pretty good question.....

[InTheHole]

Originally Posted by The Dad Fisherman

This something my son asked.....Why do hunters buy all this camoflaged clothing to try and blend in...and then throw an orange vest and hat on?

I thought that was a pretty good question.....

Most of the good hunting clothing comes in some type of camo and if you buy the good stuff you can spend $300.00 plus for a jacket. So if you spend the dough on camo clothing you can use it for duck hunting and bow hunting where you don't want/have to have blaze orange, then for $10.00 you buy a blaze vest and hat, put it on over the camo and you are legal for everything else.