[HardDrive]

I am an avid deer hunter. Hunted all my life.

Here is my 2 cents.....

Rifle? Weatherby Vanguard .30-06. I have one and love it. Inexpensive, and accurate out of the box. A Remington BDL would be a comparable rifle. The reality is that there are many excellent rifles that can be had for less than $500. There are many used rifles available that can be had for less than $300 that will work just fine. Out West a good scope and mount are important. I use a Burris Fullfield II 3x-9x-40mm.

I say .30-06 because it is so versatile. Gun heads can argue about calibers all day, but I don't think anyone will deny that the .30-06 is one of the most versatile and long lived calibers of all time.

You could go with a guide, but they are quite expensive. If you are starting from scratch this might be a good option. But I suspect we can hook you up with someone. Frankly, I would love to organize a hunting trip somewhere in the PNW next year. I hunt in Michigan in November, but the Washington seasons are earlier.

Deer hunting is a very local activity. My experience in Michigan means nothing out west. I think Jeff Higgins will have much better knowledge than I about western hunting.

Some basic questions. In your state, are you allowed to:

-Hunt using bait (corn, sugar beats, apple, etc...)?
-Hunt from a tree stand?
-Hunt on public land?

These are all going to play into where and how you hunt.

The most obvious part of hunting is simply finding a deer and shooting it. Duh.

The less obvious parts:

-You have shot the deer. Do you know how to gut the deer OR have wisely brought along someone who does (a guide perhaps...)?

Gutting a deer can be a nasty business if you don't like blood and guts. Its a big animal, and I can't say I know anyone that enjoys it. But it IS NOT difficult, and is more straight forward than one might think. Because a deer is so large, its is easy to find your way around, and gravity tends to do some of the work for you. There are guides available online. The big 'no no' is cutting into the bowel or bladder, which can have some rather obvious negative effects.

-You have shot and gutted the deer. How are you going to get the deer out of the woods?

It may be pretty is that spot 3 miles from the nearest logging road, but you sure as hell better have an ATV if your going to shoot a deer there. Even on a sled, dragging a 150lbs deer .5 of a mile is a serious workout, even on flat ground. Once you get it out, you should have a truck, or a 'hitch hauler' to put the deer on.


-Where can you take it to have it processed into venison? Do they make sausage?

Google

-Who is going to eat 50lbs of venison?

Harddrive


I would love to help you get started. If there is anything I can do, please shoot me a PM.

Next year, perhaps we could have a deer camp out west here in WA/OR for a long weekend?

My last 2 cents: BE ETHICAL. If you are going to kill a deer, then kill it. Don't take wild shots, don't take shots at ranges that are questionable.