Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!uakari.primate.wisc.edu!doug.cae.wisc.edu!osnome.che.wisc.edu!hunting
From: marko@hutch (Mark O'Shea)
Newsgroups: rec.hunting
Subject: Re: Novice would like help
Message-ID: <1991May15.055804.10588@doug.cae.wisc.edu>
Date: 15 May 91 10:58:03 GMT
Organization: Intel Corp., Hillsboro, Oregon
Lines: 45
Approved: hunting@osnome.che.wisc.edu
Originator: hunting@osnome.che.wisc.edu

In article<1991May14.062649.4932@doug.cae.wisc.edu>wbp@gnv.ifas.ufl.edu writes:
.     I've been reading this newsgroup with some interest since its
.inception.  I would like to ask all who would reply (either by e-mail
.or postings) to share with me experiences regarding getting started in
.hunting, safety in hunting and anything else you might want to relate.

Take a hunter safety course even if it is not required in your state.
Talk to people who hunt, about safety.  Read some books-the libraries
are full of them-on hunting techniques.  Jim Zumbo and Byron Dalrymple 
are two authors who come to mind. 

.For example, I am a devout handgunner and am therefore (naturally)
.interested in handgun hunting.  I haven't done any to date, mainly out
.of pure, unadultered fear.  I have spoken with many people who share my
.fear -- which is fear for my safety while in the woods.  The increasing
.reports of hunters that have been injured (shot) by other hunters is
.appalling and rather discouraging, especially when one has been regaled
.with books and tales about hunting.  Are today's hunters really that
.irresponsible?

No!  One thing that happens when we gather around the fire or at the
range is to tell hair-raising stories.  Can you imagine how boring it
would be to tell about my elk hunt last fall.  For six days I got up
at 4:30am ate breakfast, drove down to the bottom of the canyon and 
walked back up to camp.  I saw lots of other hunters, some cows and
calves, but no bulls.  No one shot at me and...well you get the idea.
On the other hand the story about the time my cousin got shot at by
a poacher, with all the proper embellishment, is a great campfire tale.
It happened 35 years ago and the guy was a lousy shot who got arrested.

.I am especially interested in Florida hunting, specifically whitetail,
.although the rather smallish deer here are a little disappointing when
.compared to my memories of Michigan whitetails.  I know next to nothing
.about this subject, let alone how to field dress anything that I may be
.fortunate enough to bag.  Anyone care to start up a correspondence, give
.hints, suggestions, stories or even flames?

Most books on the subject of hunting will tell you how to dress and preserve
game.  It isn't hard and on deer it isn't even messy.  BTW a tip-carry 
premoistened towels (aka Baby Wipes, Wet Ones, etc) to cleanup after you 
field dress game.

May The Wind Always Be In Your Face 
Mark O'Shea
marko@ijf1.intel.com