The Road to Hunting Season
Whitetail season in Missouri starts in November, and I’m looking at preparing for this year’s trip, which I dub “Operation INFINITE VENISON.” The Noob has asked me to do a write-up on what a new hunter needs for hunting season. So I’ve decided to do a few articles on the basics of what you need. The BASICS. I’m not going to tell you to run out and buy bottles of deer piss for your boots. I’m going to tell you about the stuff that I’d wished I had sitting out under some tree freezing my ass off waiting for a deer to walk by.
Really, it’s not all that complicated. But it helps if you have some idea of what you need to have out there. Now, I hunt in Missouri, so I’m going to tell you about Missouri. The state you hunt in is probably different with different rules, so be sure to do your research and get your facts straight prior to going out there. So, let’s start with the very first thing you should get.
A hunter’s safety class certificate.
Like most states, Missouri requires a hunter’s education certificate in order to buy a tag. It might seem like a waste of time, but they really do have good information in them. It’s especially good for learning about your specific area’s restrictions. I took my class when I was living in Newport News, Va., and found out you can’t hunt with a rifle in Virginia east of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Since I was hunting in Missouri, I didn’t care, but it was definitely good-to-know info if I ever wanted to hunt locally. Another thingI learned,camouflaged-patterned orange doesn’t count toward your orange. So if you’re required to wear an orange vest and you bust out the cool-looking orange camo, you’re out of regs.
One thing to ask when you take your class is where your certificate is good. Virginia’s cert, for example, is good in all 50 states and doesn’t expire. So one class and you’re gold. Some classes make you shoot. Mine didn’t. A short test later, and I was good to hunt.
That’s the absolute first thing to get. Next time we’ll talk about something a bit more fun.
TJ
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