How do I start hunting?

Ok, heres my situation....





I am 19th years old, possess a foid and have any needed weapon available to hunt.





The problem....





I don't have any family member to take me hunting nor any private property to hunt on. So I am trying to figure out what steps I should do take in order to start hunting.





For instance, am I legally required to take a safety class?





This is in the State of Illinois.How do I start hunting?
Most states require you to take a hunters safety program, but at your age it may not be required.





To hunt and kill game you need a weapon of some kind, a riffle, pistol, bow, sling shot, pellet riffle, etc.





You may want to check with a local sportsman's club, hunting club, to see if someone will go hunting with you and give you some of the basic pointers.





As for a place to go hunting, most states have state owned land in which they allow hunting during the appropriate seasons. If you have some money there are hunt clubs which will allow you to shoot game for a fee.





For starters you may want to head out to the woods with a good camera with a zoom lens. I live in northern Michigan and I deer hunt every year. What I have found is the moment you pull the trigger, all the work begins. If you ever shoot a deer you will know what I mean. You can enjoy the thrill of the kill when the camera goes ';click'; Hope this helps.How do I start hunting?
Anyone born after Jan. 1st, 1980 has to take a hunters safety class. You won't be able to buy a license without the class. There are a couple of exceptions, landowners taking nuisance animals for instance, but none apply to you. You'll want to start by checking your state's DNR page for available classes. The classes are a few days long, usually in the evenings, and are either free or very cheap. The certificate you earn is good for your entire life.





In every state there is land available for public hunting. You can once again turn to the DNR for maps that outline public land county by county. There is also the possibility of befriending a farmer or landowner. Farmers consider some game-animals nuisances and occasionally allow hunters access. Of course, you'll have to be a friend to them even on the off-season, this may include stopping by and trowing hay bails for him once in a while.





You may also want to keep your ears open around work. Some of your co-workers may be seasoned hunters. If you get in good with them they may give you useful advice and might invite you along. There are no better, or longer lasting friendships then those forged at a weekend hunting camp.
Well, you first have to take a hunter safety course. Then, make sure to look over your state's hunting regulations, and laws, especially the seasons for what you will be hunting for. Next, head down to your local Department of Fish %26amp; Game office and ask for public hunting land locations.





Then, just hunt.
In addition to the many high quality answers, I wish to add that in any endavour where there are ';trade or enthusiast publications';, your most valuable source of tips will be in those. You ask an enormous question. I have assembled a collection of related articles on my website, all downloadable with a right click, once they are visible. On your cleared browser's upper address register, type http://www.oldhunterrumors.com/ and hit enter. Or just click on the blue stuff. Regards, Larry.
you will have to take a safety class. In class, ask if there are any sort of hunter clubs or sportsmans organizations. Join these and make friends, or at least ask them to point you in the right direction of public lands
Tough situation. I moved to Michigan for college (after growing up hunting in Indiana), and face the same problem you are having now. I'll suggest (as did the guy before me) that you look into state land to hunt. It will be pretty difficult to get property owners to allow you to hunt, especially given your age and inexperience (I've been hunting for around 15 years, and people still won't let me hunt).





Since you're not familiar with hunting, a hunter's safety course (even if it's online, like the one I took) may be helpful. I had the ';whatever...I don't need it'; attitude with mine, but it was decently informative, even for an already somewhat seasoned hunter.





Pointers for hunting on public land:


1) Wear lots and lots of Orange. Hat, vest, overalls, shoes, facepaint...might even paint your gun orange (okay, that's too far). Public land, especially early in the season and on weekends, is like a war-zone. Make sure you are visible.


2) Be ready to walk. Not only will you have better luck the further away from the ';trails'; you can get, but you'll probably encounter less people, making it safer.


3) If you can afford it, get a stand (people don't...usually...shoot towards the top of a tree while deer hunting). Look into the local restrictions, but you should be able to set up a stand, even on public land.


4) Do not, under any circumstances, shoot before full daybreak. I doubt the lawsuit from shooting another hunter's decoy (especially if he's setting it up) would be worth a lifetime of hunting.





Mostly, it will just take some time and dedication from you. Find out what is required through your local DNR, and find some public land close to you. Read up on the game you want to hunt (I wrote this from the perspective of a deer hunter, so I apologize if that's inconvenient). If you are looking to deer hunt, find a Peter Fiduccia book. The guy has a lot to say about how to hunt whitetail.





Good luck.
Don't hunt. It's not fun, nor a sport.
dont