Okay, I want to learn to hunt. What do I do next?

[politicat]

I live in a region with a severe deer and elk over-population problem since we killed off the wolves. We also have an illegal immigrant Canadian geese problem (stupid things migrate half way, find a lake, and stick around for the next 20 years.) The foxes can't handle the geese, and no wolves. I feel like I should be doing my part, and boy, I miss venison.

My father hunted for most of my childhood (he'd get his elk in the years he went alone, but when he went with the drinking... hunting buddies, no "luck") but he utterly refused to take a daughter on a hunt. He insisted I learn to use a handgun, and I had one for a couple years before I decided I was better off without it and with some dirty fighting classes.

My husband hasn't hunted since he was a teenager and does not want to do so again. I have killed my own chickens and hogs (not the cows, though) so my levels of predatory ambivalence are well known.

I'm learning rifle with a friend who is a very good riflist; but she's a target shooter. The range is all well and good for practice, but eventually, I'd like to hit the woods.

Any advice for a tiny female with no hunters in my immediate circle? How do I go about this?

[Redneck Socialist]

1. Check out these folks

http://gobeyondbow.com/index.htm

I don't personally know anyone who has attended any of the workshops, but I have heard good thing about them.

I would suspect that there is some sort of hunting fishing club in your region. A little work with google or a visit to your local gun shop will probably steer you in the right direction.

Colorado Division of Wildlife http://wildlife.state.co.us/Hunting/ may have some programs that you could tap into as well.

Good luck. Let us know how it goes.

[TX-RAT]

2. You'll need a hunters safety certificate first.

You can apply through the state or possibly through a local gun-shop. You need to go to your local gun-shop any way. Most likely there are people there who are more than willing to help with any questions.

[RebelOne]

3. State Departments of Natural Resources have a workshop called

"Becoming An Outdoors Woman." Contact the DNR for your state and check it out.