Where To Start? - A Beginning Hunter's Guide To Finding Hunting Grounds
Where To Start? You’ve got your first bow or rifle and the motivation… but how do you find the game?
Article By: Stephen Miller, BowhuntingAZ
I get asked all the time “where can I hunt?” Or “Do you have any spots you can show me?” It’s a fair question. I can’t fault new hunters for asking this, It’s seemingly overwhelming trying to find your new go to honey hole. However, it’s not really proper etiquette to go and ask another hunter for his location of choice. So, what are your options? What resources do you have when it comes to where you plant your foot in the field to start your journey?
One resource that to me seems highly under untilized is the Arizona Game and Fish website. Arizona game and fish, @azgfd (Instagram) has starting points available, unit by unit breakdown and desired habitats listed on their website that every new hunter should get out to and learn the basics. In short, you need to learn and form a knowledge on what is required to sustain wildlife. Start by finding tracks near water and seeing what plant life is located around the immediate area for food and cover. These are some of the basic items that will offer sustainability for the wildlife you’re after.
Click here to learn from Arizona Game & Fish
For hunting unit specific maps & GPS accurate cellphone app maps BowhuntingAZ utilizes & highly recommends Flatline Maps! An Arizona based company, Flatline Maps “Get Where They Live”
https://www.flatlinemaps.com/
Another option, is road signs. I have pointed out before that these road signs are a dead giveaway as to what’s in the area. They are there for a reason, so why not start heading into the back country from there? Make a mental note of the immediate landscape and start chipping away piece by piece as to where the animals may inhabit, but without the frequent disturbance of human activity. If you’re not able to immediately scout the area on foot but want to get a feel for what is around the area utilize google earth’s 3D-mode and take an aerial overview of the landscape.
Maybe you will end up finding that person who’s willing to give away a spot of theirs. Personally, I’ll never give out my honey holes. BUT, I am working on finding spots that I can take new people to. This way they can see some action, learn to glass, predict & discover what is needed to sustain the local wildlife population. Learn the food source of your game that’s being pursued and never, ever lose the hunger for more knowledge. Good luck to the new hunters out there!
