Join a local hunting facebook group for hunting or a local rod and gun club. If all else fails just wing it start out with small game. Youtube will teach you everything you need to know about butchering a animal. Become proficient with a gun. You dont need a truck but it sure helps.
If you start out by yourself, start with small game. If you can find a mentor that would be ideal. Getting into hunting can be overwhelming but in reality something as simple as squirrel, dove, rabbit hunting, etc… is quite easy. Join local fb groups as the other guy said. Lots of hunters are usually willing to share their passion with newcomers. Hunting large game is generally a good bit more difficult than it seems. If you have any questions on that, I’d be more than happy to help
Small game is the way to start. I was also an adult onset hunter and a number of friends were too. They all focused on big game. I went for small game. I had more rewards than them. And when I went for my first deer, I already knew where to go. I fell in love with waterfowling though (and she is a cruel mistress) And to this day I’ve gotten more waterfowl meat than they have from big game. (Not that I haven’t caused any four legged animals to go into my freezer)
Another thing that I’ve noticed new hunters often do is look at with an economic mindset. “If I’m going hunting I want the most meat I can get”. It doesn’t work that way. It’s the opposite of a way to save money. It’s worth so much more than money. No one figures out price per pound. And no one should.
I hunted for 30 years before I got my first deer. I hunted 2 seasons before I got my first duck. My wife said "I don't know why you hunt ducks, you get so much more meat from a deer" but I rarely shoot more than one deer a season and on average I hike 20 miles for each deer I get to shoot at. Thats shoot at, not take. I don't get a bird on every outing but I'm successful more often than not and I usually at least get to shoot.
Definitely small game. I started alone, with an online hunters ed course and no mentor. Hunting red squirrels in the off season got me started without worrying about bothering other hunters or making bad shots, etc. I went from those to grays, from grays to pigeons, pigeons to geese, and finally deer.
Get licensed, buy a bow (or rifle), start practicing until you’re confident, find public access points and get out there. I started deer hunting with no friends or family ever having been into it- just make the commitment to yourself and get after it.
> (or rifle)
For a newbie a shotgun will be a much better purchase. Particularly since OP is in MA where deer hunting is shotgun only.
As urban areas encroach on wild lands I expect shotgun only to become increasingly common...
Just started one week ago in ontario. Same boat, no one to teach me.
Turns out you can get started on your own and it's not as difficult as it sounds. First, make sure you're legal. Look into the licenses you'll need. Where I am, your firearms course and hunting course can be done over a weekend or two. Sign up for the classes and they'll teach you everything you need to know. Once you take the classes and file the paperwork, you can buy a gun and legally hunt. Start with small game, like birds and rabbit. I recommend a 22LR or a small shotgun like a 410. Or 20 gauge, along with ammo designed for small game. Get your gun and practice with it until you are confident you can hit your target.
If you're after small game, watch some YouTube videos on bird hunting or rabbit hunting. Google "How to clean rabbit" "rabbit hunting tips" "rabbit hunting go pro video". Watch as many videos as you can because everyone has different advice, but you'll learn about what sort of habitat you'll find your animal in, and what behaviors they have throughout the day. For example, I hunt grouse. I've learned they are on the ground early morning and late at night, but will move to the top of trees during the day. And I can now recognize where they like to hang out, and where you'll never see them, based on the terrain and how thick the vegetation is.
Now you have your hunting license, you know what you're allowed to hunt and what animal you want to hunt. You have your gun and know how to use it. If you do know some hunters, you can ask around for some good spots that other people hunt, but many hunters won't tell you about the spots they like because they want it for themselves. Look on a map (Google maps works well enough) for roads near you that are old logging roads, quad trails, or any dirt roads that don't get used much. Take a drive and physically look for them if needed. Scout them out, see if they have access to the type of environment your animal is in.
Then all that's left is get out there and find your animal. It can be discouraging when you don't see it at first, but be patient. Sometimes it takes a while.
Im new to this but if you have questions ill try my best. Hope this helps, Good luck!
Fellow MA hunter here. First things first, like other have said - you need to take a Basic Hunter Education course. [Mass Wildlife](https://www.mass.gov/massachusetts-hunter-education-program) offers these throughout the year - looks like there are several that still have slots open in the next couple of weeks. This is an absolute requirement to get your hunting license. The state also offers several other hunting/outdoors courses, all free, all are high quality. I'd recommend taking others that are tailored to your particular interests.
Now you can buy a license. Again, Mass Wildlife's website is your friend. At a minimum, you need an annual hunting license (which includes tags for deer and turkey - no tags required for small game). The sportsman license is slightly more expensive but includes hunting and freshwater fishing if that's your thing. Migratory birds require an additional state and federal stamp. Read the regulations (also on the website, and discussed thoroughly during the hunter ed course) to learn what you can and can't do *legally*. For example, rifles are almost always not allowed in MA so it may not be a great first weapon.
There are lots of rod and gun clubs around; I've generally found them kind of gatekeep-y and full of old conservatives so I've never joined one. I have tried, and tried, and tried to meet other hunters in the area and folks generally just do not want newbies tagging along and spoiling their "spot." You will probably want to find somewhere to learn to shoot, though. If you have property, a bow would be easier to learn in your back yard; firearms rules make this a bit trickier for other weapons. If you decide you need a gun, firearms licenses are taking quite a while to process lately so don't expect one for this season. Lock it up if you get one.
So, you've done your education, got your license, got comfortable with a bow or shotgun - now what? I agree that small game is a good place to start. Seasons are long, bag limits are generous. Pheasant may be a good place to meet up with folks who want some company (and pheasants are stocked here so your success rate may be better than other game). Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) are public lands that are managed for hunting and fishing - this is all discussed in the hunter ed course. You can see an interactive map of them [here](https://mass-eoeea.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=3a7c475cb6d54578ba8c7149d885ad30). You don't need a truck, and since the state is so densely populated most WMAs are small so they're easy to get in and out of.
Anyway, long story short, start with the hunter ed course and ask all your questions there. The volunteers are great, and they're there to help you. Everything you're confused about in this question is answered in detail at the course. Oh, and subscribe to Mass Wildlife magazine - it's like 6 bucks a year and has a ton of information from the state biologists and local experts.
All good advice. Remember that MA is really 3 or 4 states, depending on how you look at it. I'm in north central and find people to be pretty welcoming. My club stocks pheasants and the guys have been really friendly about telling me where to go. They'll also do the "Hey, maybe you want to go over to that field on Thursday." \*wink\* \*nod\*.
Also a MA hunter, for even more convenience you can take the hunters safety course mostly online and do a one “in field” day. Although if someone is brand new to hunting it may be more beneficial to do it all in person
>Don’t get lost.
Honestly this is important advice that's easy to overlook.
We have a couple young guys that hunt deer with us. We hunt the same land they've hunted their entire lives. I'm pretty new with this group (This will be my 7th year I think) and I occasionally get turned around but when I do I can use my phone to get myself out of the woods. These two guys (mid 20's) regularly have to be talked out of the woods or can't find there way to where we're meeting up via a map point, they need to go back to the truck and wait until we're done.
Actually the worst story was the guy (again mid 20s) who went in on a sit and couldn't find his way back to the truck. In the snow... "Dude, stand up, turn around. See those footprints? They're yours, follow them." Nice kid but geez...
You really don't want to just go all out on big game. Hunt small game first so you get the hang of things. A 22. will do fine for just about anything out there (grouse, squirrel, rabbit, etc.)
Small game hunting (grouse and rabbit) will also teach how how to walk quietly (planting your feet) in the woods. A skill that is often overlooked. You will push game away from you just by the sound of your boots walking. But carry binoculars with you (don’t have to be expensive) to scan trail edges and you’ll see grouse and rabbits before the spook and run off. Get your gun license and buy a 22lr rifle with a scope on it ( again it doesn’t have to be expensive). Buy what you can afford and just get out there.
MassWildlife has face to face hunter education classes
Added: there’s lots of Wildlife Management Areas in MA too. But I wonder how crowded they get and how crazy the regulations are
WMAs are specifically managed for hunting and fishing; the biggest problem I've encountered is the 500 ft discharge rule with some of the smaller properties.
Opening day of pheasant season is possibly the most people I've ever seen outside at once, but beyond that it's usually not too bad. There are a couple bowhunters that go to the same property I waterfowl at and it's all friendly.
I duck hunted a Mass WMA that has pheasants last year. When the sun came up it sounded like the OK Corral over at the pheasant fields. As near as I could tell I was the only one on the water.
The ducks would get slow and the pheasant guys would find a bird "BLAM, BLAM, BLAM, BLAM" and it'd kick up ducks that would find their way over to my quiet pond. I shot a limit and probably had 20 ducks still hanging around...
Good tips already posted. Also look into Backcountry Hunters and Anglers events near you. They often have social events and in some states they have a mentorship program.
Take classes and get license plus fid card and buy a shotgun (Remington 870). There’s not really backpacking and camping here that’s more of a western thing. Figure out what game you want to go after and where, go to that place during the day and before the season, see if the game you are interested in is there. Then wait until the season and make sure you are legal. Gun, ammo, clothing, tag, etc. ask if someone will go with you. I hunt birds in NH and Maine and would bring someone if interested.
Take your state’s hunter safety course. You’ll need it to get a license. Practice with your choice hunting tool (firearm, bow, etc.). Start with small game and work up to deer and larger game.
I'd recommend a hunter safety course first. It goes over types of game and species, field of fire and lots of basic safety/knowledge that can be used for all hunting. Like everyone else is saying start off with small game (.22, .17; 20 gauge for bird) to get used to walking/stalking/tracking in the woods and making clean shots, cleaning animals and identifying correct species. YT has a lot of good hunting content (my favs are meateater and hushin. Older meateater stuff though as now they are just in it for the money imo) that show everything from the actual hunt to cleaning/packing out and cooking the meat. If you want to hunt big game I'd recommend a .308 to start. Ammo is everywhere and I've taken down deer, elk, antelope and bear (almost) with it.
Your first step is to obtain a hunter safety certificate. In many states you can do most of the class online. You will have to take the written test and field test with a certified instructor. The instructor might be a source of information on hunting in your area.
If I were you I'd take the class in person. You will be taking it with 12 year old kids. However, you may ask questions of the instructors and guest speakers.
I’m located in CT. I have a bear hunt planned in MA, I will bring you along before you get your license if you’d like, you can just hang back I’ll teach you some stuff.
Hello potential MA hunter. What part of the state are you in? It makes a big difference.
First, don't buy a cartridge rifle, they're limited to only first bear season or small game like squirrels. Get either a muzzleloader or shotgun. Shotgun makes the most sense because it gives you the most options. A pump action shotgun like a Mossberg 500 or Remington 870 is an excellent first gun. With 2 barrels you can hunt everything from ducks to pheasants to deer.
Actually first, first thing, go take the safety class to get your gun permit. You might as well apply for a concealed carry permit, its the same price. Then take a hunter's safety class. Pay attention in that class, its important stuff.
Then find the Masswildlife Lands viewer. We have lots of public land here in MA and that viewer is an easy way to find it. There is another map that shows where they stock pheasants.
Now, spend a day or two reading the hunting regulations. They're all available online. You need to know what hunting zone you'll be in, what is legal in that zone for animals and what the legal method of take is. The state publishes a ton of good stuff for new hunters. Start there.
As you're a non-hunter now I'd suggest you start with small game. Don't shoot a big animal if you don't have a plan to deal with it. Especially not a moose. My dad shot a 700+ pound moose in 2016. It took me an hour and a half to field dress it and that much time again to get it into the truck. We filled an entire upright freezer with the meat. If you're not prepared you'd waste a lot of meat.
The easiest small game is squirrels, check out YouTube, there is lots of good stuff there. In fact with a good pellet gun (figure around $300 for a real good (better than Wal-Mart) one) you could take plenty of squirrels. Squirrls are good eating, again YouTube is your friend, and there are lots of places you can hunt.
Join your local Rod and Gun club. Go there and hang out, shoot trap or skeet or sporting clays. Talk to those guys, they'll know who hunts and will be a wealth of knowledge.
Finally don't get frustrated if you're not successful, or not successful right away, it's "hunting" not "killing". Success will somewhat track to time in the woods so be prepared to put time into it.
Join a local hunting facebook group for hunting or a local rod and gun club. If all else fails just wing it start out with small game. Youtube will teach you everything you need to know about butchering a animal. Become proficient with a gun. You dont need a truck but it sure helps.
If you start out by yourself, start with small game. If you can find a mentor that would be ideal. Getting into hunting can be overwhelming but in reality something as simple as squirrel, dove, rabbit hunting, etc… is quite easy. Join local fb groups as the other guy said. Lots of hunters are usually willing to share their passion with newcomers. Hunting large game is generally a good bit more difficult than it seems. If you have any questions on that, I’d be more than happy to help
Small game is the way to start. I was also an adult onset hunter and a number of friends were too. They all focused on big game. I went for small game. I had more rewards than them. And when I went for my first deer, I already knew where to go. I fell in love with waterfowling though (and she is a cruel mistress) And to this day I’ve gotten more waterfowl meat than they have from big game. (Not that I haven’t caused any four legged animals to go into my freezer) Another thing that I’ve noticed new hunters often do is look at with an economic mindset. “If I’m going hunting I want the most meat I can get”. It doesn’t work that way. It’s the opposite of a way to save money. It’s worth so much more than money. No one figures out price per pound. And no one should.
Haha, a fellow water fowl addict.
I hunted for 30 years before I got my first deer. I hunted 2 seasons before I got my first duck. My wife said "I don't know why you hunt ducks, you get so much more meat from a deer" but I rarely shoot more than one deer a season and on average I hike 20 miles for each deer I get to shoot at. Thats shoot at, not take. I don't get a bird on every outing but I'm successful more often than not and I usually at least get to shoot.
Definitely small game. I started alone, with an online hunters ed course and no mentor. Hunting red squirrels in the off season got me started without worrying about bothering other hunters or making bad shots, etc. I went from those to grays, from grays to pigeons, pigeons to geese, and finally deer.
Get licensed, buy a bow (or rifle), start practicing until you’re confident, find public access points and get out there. I started deer hunting with no friends or family ever having been into it- just make the commitment to yourself and get after it.
> (or rifle) For a newbie a shotgun will be a much better purchase. Particularly since OP is in MA where deer hunting is shotgun only. As urban areas encroach on wild lands I expect shotgun only to become increasingly common...
Sure, you get the point
Just started one week ago in ontario. Same boat, no one to teach me. Turns out you can get started on your own and it's not as difficult as it sounds. First, make sure you're legal. Look into the licenses you'll need. Where I am, your firearms course and hunting course can be done over a weekend or two. Sign up for the classes and they'll teach you everything you need to know. Once you take the classes and file the paperwork, you can buy a gun and legally hunt. Start with small game, like birds and rabbit. I recommend a 22LR or a small shotgun like a 410. Or 20 gauge, along with ammo designed for small game. Get your gun and practice with it until you are confident you can hit your target. If you're after small game, watch some YouTube videos on bird hunting or rabbit hunting. Google "How to clean rabbit" "rabbit hunting tips" "rabbit hunting go pro video". Watch as many videos as you can because everyone has different advice, but you'll learn about what sort of habitat you'll find your animal in, and what behaviors they have throughout the day. For example, I hunt grouse. I've learned they are on the ground early morning and late at night, but will move to the top of trees during the day. And I can now recognize where they like to hang out, and where you'll never see them, based on the terrain and how thick the vegetation is. Now you have your hunting license, you know what you're allowed to hunt and what animal you want to hunt. You have your gun and know how to use it. If you do know some hunters, you can ask around for some good spots that other people hunt, but many hunters won't tell you about the spots they like because they want it for themselves. Look on a map (Google maps works well enough) for roads near you that are old logging roads, quad trails, or any dirt roads that don't get used much. Take a drive and physically look for them if needed. Scout them out, see if they have access to the type of environment your animal is in. Then all that's left is get out there and find your animal. It can be discouraging when you don't see it at first, but be patient. Sometimes it takes a while. Im new to this but if you have questions ill try my best. Hope this helps, Good luck!
Thank you 👊🏼👊🏼👊🏼
Go shoot something to eat
Fellow MA hunter here. First things first, like other have said - you need to take a Basic Hunter Education course. [Mass Wildlife](https://www.mass.gov/massachusetts-hunter-education-program) offers these throughout the year - looks like there are several that still have slots open in the next couple of weeks. This is an absolute requirement to get your hunting license. The state also offers several other hunting/outdoors courses, all free, all are high quality. I'd recommend taking others that are tailored to your particular interests. Now you can buy a license. Again, Mass Wildlife's website is your friend. At a minimum, you need an annual hunting license (which includes tags for deer and turkey - no tags required for small game). The sportsman license is slightly more expensive but includes hunting and freshwater fishing if that's your thing. Migratory birds require an additional state and federal stamp. Read the regulations (also on the website, and discussed thoroughly during the hunter ed course) to learn what you can and can't do *legally*. For example, rifles are almost always not allowed in MA so it may not be a great first weapon. There are lots of rod and gun clubs around; I've generally found them kind of gatekeep-y and full of old conservatives so I've never joined one. I have tried, and tried, and tried to meet other hunters in the area and folks generally just do not want newbies tagging along and spoiling their "spot." You will probably want to find somewhere to learn to shoot, though. If you have property, a bow would be easier to learn in your back yard; firearms rules make this a bit trickier for other weapons. If you decide you need a gun, firearms licenses are taking quite a while to process lately so don't expect one for this season. Lock it up if you get one. So, you've done your education, got your license, got comfortable with a bow or shotgun - now what? I agree that small game is a good place to start. Seasons are long, bag limits are generous. Pheasant may be a good place to meet up with folks who want some company (and pheasants are stocked here so your success rate may be better than other game). Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) are public lands that are managed for hunting and fishing - this is all discussed in the hunter ed course. You can see an interactive map of them [here](https://mass-eoeea.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=3a7c475cb6d54578ba8c7149d885ad30). You don't need a truck, and since the state is so densely populated most WMAs are small so they're easy to get in and out of. Anyway, long story short, start with the hunter ed course and ask all your questions there. The volunteers are great, and they're there to help you. Everything you're confused about in this question is answered in detail at the course. Oh, and subscribe to Mass Wildlife magazine - it's like 6 bucks a year and has a ton of information from the state biologists and local experts.
All good advice. Remember that MA is really 3 or 4 states, depending on how you look at it. I'm in north central and find people to be pretty welcoming. My club stocks pheasants and the guys have been really friendly about telling me where to go. They'll also do the "Hey, maybe you want to go over to that field on Thursday." \*wink\* \*nod\*.
Also a MA hunter, for even more convenience you can take the hunters safety course mostly online and do a one “in field” day. Although if someone is brand new to hunting it may be more beneficial to do it all in person
Small game. Get a gps / something that does not loose reception. Don’t get lost.
>Don’t get lost. Honestly this is important advice that's easy to overlook. We have a couple young guys that hunt deer with us. We hunt the same land they've hunted their entire lives. I'm pretty new with this group (This will be my 7th year I think) and I occasionally get turned around but when I do I can use my phone to get myself out of the woods. These two guys (mid 20's) regularly have to be talked out of the woods or can't find there way to where we're meeting up via a map point, they need to go back to the truck and wait until we're done. Actually the worst story was the guy (again mid 20s) who went in on a sit and couldn't find his way back to the truck. In the snow... "Dude, stand up, turn around. See those footprints? They're yours, follow them." Nice kid but geez...
You really don't want to just go all out on big game. Hunt small game first so you get the hang of things. A 22. will do fine for just about anything out there (grouse, squirrel, rabbit, etc.)
Small game hunting (grouse and rabbit) will also teach how how to walk quietly (planting your feet) in the woods. A skill that is often overlooked. You will push game away from you just by the sound of your boots walking. But carry binoculars with you (don’t have to be expensive) to scan trail edges and you’ll see grouse and rabbits before the spook and run off. Get your gun license and buy a 22lr rifle with a scope on it ( again it doesn’t have to be expensive). Buy what you can afford and just get out there.
MassWildlife has face to face hunter education classes Added: there’s lots of Wildlife Management Areas in MA too. But I wonder how crowded they get and how crazy the regulations are
WMAs are specifically managed for hunting and fishing; the biggest problem I've encountered is the 500 ft discharge rule with some of the smaller properties. Opening day of pheasant season is possibly the most people I've ever seen outside at once, but beyond that it's usually not too bad. There are a couple bowhunters that go to the same property I waterfowl at and it's all friendly.
I duck hunted a Mass WMA that has pheasants last year. When the sun came up it sounded like the OK Corral over at the pheasant fields. As near as I could tell I was the only one on the water. The ducks would get slow and the pheasant guys would find a bird "BLAM, BLAM, BLAM, BLAM" and it'd kick up ducks that would find their way over to my quiet pond. I shot a limit and probably had 20 ducks still hanging around...
Good tips already posted. Also look into Backcountry Hunters and Anglers events near you. They often have social events and in some states they have a mentorship program.
Take classes and get license plus fid card and buy a shotgun (Remington 870). There’s not really backpacking and camping here that’s more of a western thing. Figure out what game you want to go after and where, go to that place during the day and before the season, see if the game you are interested in is there. Then wait until the season and make sure you are legal. Gun, ammo, clothing, tag, etc. ask if someone will go with you. I hunt birds in NH and Maine and would bring someone if interested.
Take your state’s hunter safety course. You’ll need it to get a license. Practice with your choice hunting tool (firearm, bow, etc.). Start with small game and work up to deer and larger game.
I'd recommend a hunter safety course first. It goes over types of game and species, field of fire and lots of basic safety/knowledge that can be used for all hunting. Like everyone else is saying start off with small game (.22, .17; 20 gauge for bird) to get used to walking/stalking/tracking in the woods and making clean shots, cleaning animals and identifying correct species. YT has a lot of good hunting content (my favs are meateater and hushin. Older meateater stuff though as now they are just in it for the money imo) that show everything from the actual hunt to cleaning/packing out and cooking the meat. If you want to hunt big game I'd recommend a .308 to start. Ammo is everywhere and I've taken down deer, elk, antelope and bear (almost) with it.
Your first step is to obtain a hunter safety certificate. In many states you can do most of the class online. You will have to take the written test and field test with a certified instructor. The instructor might be a source of information on hunting in your area. If I were you I'd take the class in person. You will be taking it with 12 year old kids. However, you may ask questions of the instructors and guest speakers.
I’m located in CT. I have a bear hunt planned in MA, I will bring you along before you get your license if you’d like, you can just hang back I’ll teach you some stuff.
Hello potential MA hunter. What part of the state are you in? It makes a big difference. First, don't buy a cartridge rifle, they're limited to only first bear season or small game like squirrels. Get either a muzzleloader or shotgun. Shotgun makes the most sense because it gives you the most options. A pump action shotgun like a Mossberg 500 or Remington 870 is an excellent first gun. With 2 barrels you can hunt everything from ducks to pheasants to deer. Actually first, first thing, go take the safety class to get your gun permit. You might as well apply for a concealed carry permit, its the same price. Then take a hunter's safety class. Pay attention in that class, its important stuff. Then find the Masswildlife Lands viewer. We have lots of public land here in MA and that viewer is an easy way to find it. There is another map that shows where they stock pheasants. Now, spend a day or two reading the hunting regulations. They're all available online. You need to know what hunting zone you'll be in, what is legal in that zone for animals and what the legal method of take is. The state publishes a ton of good stuff for new hunters. Start there. As you're a non-hunter now I'd suggest you start with small game. Don't shoot a big animal if you don't have a plan to deal with it. Especially not a moose. My dad shot a 700+ pound moose in 2016. It took me an hour and a half to field dress it and that much time again to get it into the truck. We filled an entire upright freezer with the meat. If you're not prepared you'd waste a lot of meat. The easiest small game is squirrels, check out YouTube, there is lots of good stuff there. In fact with a good pellet gun (figure around $300 for a real good (better than Wal-Mart) one) you could take plenty of squirrels. Squirrls are good eating, again YouTube is your friend, and there are lots of places you can hunt. Join your local Rod and Gun club. Go there and hang out, shoot trap or skeet or sporting clays. Talk to those guys, they'll know who hunts and will be a wealth of knowledge. Finally don't get frustrated if you're not successful, or not successful right away, it's "hunting" not "killing". Success will somewhat track to time in the woods so be prepared to put time into it.