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Hunting Wanting to learn Hunting.

John lintott

John lintott

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I am very interested in getting into Hunting ,is there any one willing in Mid Wales area to allow me to come along ( non necessary shoot) but to watch for a session and learn the basics from someone experienced .I appreciate permissions are hard to come buy and have restrictions attached ,but any support would be appreciated if possible .i am retired so very flexable .regards Jon
 
Good luck with your quest. Sorry, I'm too far away to offer anything! I see you posted on the 'hunting permission' thread too. I hope something works for you.
I guess many of us didn't have a tutor, for good or evil. If you need general advice read up, especially this forum, selectively watch internet videos - I'd say look for ones on technique rather than large body counts(!).
You didn't specify what sort of hunting, I gather you don't have a strong preference?
Do you have a garden to practice, and a range nearby? Some people there may be hunters too. You may have tried this, sorry if repeating the obvious. Some details of what you have done might help in replies.
All the best.
 
There are a lot of online resources that might help you find more specific hunting groups local to you.

Bit of a cheeky use of the data, but here's a map of ongoing hunts in the UK that is maintained by an anti-hunting group, these are all hunts that use dogs which might be quite different than what you're looking for - but the information might be enough that you can contact the organiser to get involved, even if you just go to volunteer it would be a great way to meet your local hunting community and from there find something that specifically interests you.

If you're not already a member of BASC (and I would recommend it purely for the insurance if you're shooting on your own land), there's a dedicated team in Wales that will probably have contacts that are of use to you. BASC also run courses in Wales, there's a deer stalking one that takes place on the first of next month, £155 for BASC members, you can borrow a rifle and the only prerequisite is that you're over 18.

If you're more interested in vermin/general licence stuff - building your network of contacts is going to be key, and going to these events and talking to people is going to be great way to get started.

Good luck!
 
Hi John and all. Firstly, well done to you for asking for help and advice and recognising that it will require some skills learning and time invested. Secondly, very best of luck finding someone who can help you.
Cheers
Chris.
 
John lintott said:
I am very interested in getting into Hunting ,is there any one willing in Mid Wales area to allow me to come along ( non necessary shoot) but to watch for a session and learn the basics from someone experienced .I appreciate permissions are hard to come buy and have restrictions attached ,but any support would be appreciated if possible .i am retired so very flexable .regards Jon
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Hi, John
You mention " learning the basics" of hunting; I commend you.
This may be of some help to you ? As I understand it, there is a " Right to Roam" on your fair island ( I'm a Yank). Probably 9/10ths of hunting is observation/ location/ tracking/ stalking - the end game, the trigger pull, is just the result of getting all the first 9/10 ths right. Take walks in the woodlands/ the field country you will most likely be, in future, hopefully hunting. Pitch up in a secluded part of a hedgerow, on a hillside( for rabbit) or in some forest understory ( for squirrels) - tuck up, your back to a tree & some bushes for cover of your person & just watch things, listen for things... A different rustling tempo in branches above, that don't match any wind pattern, leaves rustling on the forest floor (possible squirrels moving about)...all while keeping any movements to a bare minimum, slow & being completely silent. Always keep wind in your face & as best you can, sun at your back or quarter to your person, no colognes or fragrant shampoos - be as smell neutral as you can be - keep a dedicated set of " woods clothes". The best way to " learn to hunt" is to first learn to Observe...all that surrounds you. In " open ground" use hedge or fenceline & shadow as your backdrop, on elevated ground , never " skyline" yourself - blend with the hillside & move slow. Keep a smallish set of binoculars with you & use them often - glassing ahead & around you to spot game at distance. Observe. Try your hand now at approach - remember your wind- keep it & the shadows/ vegetation/ sun in your favor...now stalk - slowly, slowly. See how you get on. Observe. Look for trails in the grass, note hairs caught on bottom strands of fencing what did they formerly belong to ?... what side of the wire are they on ? Going to cover or to graze ? How prevalent are droppings on the trail ? Old or fresh? Observe. The shooting is the easy part.
 
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Checkout "The Airgunner's Companion - A Field Guide to Hunting", from our very own Jason, eg: @Dr B which is a very good read, plus make sure you have read up on all the General Licenses, so that you know what you can hunt and when/where/why.... Cheers
 
Hi Chris @chouchin66 - someone will correct me but I thought right-to-roam was in Scotland. In England and Wales there are public footpaths across farms and etc but not quite the same. But my last residency year in the UK was 1992 so my memory may be wrong.

But a great primer on the first 9/10ths!

- Have we seen the OP since thread start? I hope he is ok and not shying away.
 
Old Ironsights said:
Hi Chris @chouchin66 - someone will correct me but I thought right-to-roam was in Scotland. In England and Wales there are public footpaths across farms and etc but not quite the same. But my last residency year in the UK was 1992 so my memory may be wrong.

But a great primer on the first 9/10ths!

- Have we seen the OP since thread start? I hope he is ok and not shying away.
Click to expand...
There is open access land but it it is limited in where you can go compared to Scotlands right to roam.
naturalresources.wales

Natural Resources Wales / Open Access Land

Open Access Land. An explanation of open access land, including details of how to recognise it in person and on maps.
naturalresources.wales naturalresources.wales
 
Thank you for all your good advice and help. Always good advice from more experienced shooters.This really is a great forum for advice and help on all matters .thanks for all that replied .I have managed to get an offer to go out with someone to observe so a step in the right direction .
 
John lintott said:
Thank you for all your good advice and help. Always good advice from more experienced shooters.This really is a great forum for advice and help on all matters .thanks for all that replied .I have managed to get an offer to go out with someone to observe so a step in the right direction .
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Great news. We'll all look forward to updates when it works out for you.
Regards.
 
pjgtech said:
Checkout "The Airgunner's Companion - A Field Guide to Hunting", from our very own Jason, eg: @Dr B which is a very good read, plus make sure you have read up on all the General Licenses, so that you know what you can hunt and when/where/why.... Cheers
Click to expand...
Glad you mentioned that, I've just ordered a copy, bound to be some useful hints and tips, and always nice to read about something you're interested in 👍
 
As long as you're a competent shooter and have good understanding of shot placement ect isn't a whole great deal to learn know your rifle know your distances know your shot placement and know your quarry... Know the general license also, a lot of trail and error taught me with hunting
 
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