New hunter, how do you find others for trips?

[Shizam]

Very new to hunting, I have no friends or family that are remotely interested in it and being in the SF Bay Area it’s not obvious where to find groups or people to go with and learn from. What is the best way to find groups or clubs or people to learn from aside from going on (expensive) guided hunts?

 

[va_to_co]

Join a local chapter of a conservation org of some sort. For me growing up it was Izaak Walton League of America, for many these days it's RMEF, BHA, TU, PF, NWTF, DU, NDA, and probably more that I'm unaware of. Also, get out there and scout/hunt/hike. One of my close hunting buddies I met in a parking area almost 10 years ago. Local archery shops geared towards bow hunting can be a good starting place too.

 

[dtrkyman]

I rarely do anymore. Just go.

 

[Shizam]

Ah, conservation org is a good idea, I’ll check that out because the shops ive been to are mostly pistol guys, no hunters. I would definitely “just go” but need some help getting off the ground before I just go out there and start shooting at things. Will join the local rifle range with trap shooting which may turn up some people to talk to as well.

 

[taxidermybycam]

Talk to a taxidermist. We all know the hardcore guys or the niche guys .
"Do you know anyone that mule deer hunts or is in this area hunting? "
"Or guys that duck hunt that might be open to a new guy?"
That's a good start

 

[Pony Soldier]

Marry them or raise them. Hunting partners are harder to find than wives.

 

[TheGrayRider]

Facebook.

 

[Will_m]

Backpage.

 

[HairyScandinavian]

You may have to research and go solo then recruit people you deem worthy to join you.

 

[Shizam]

You may have to research and go solo then recruit people you deem worthy to join you.

I guess there is always this, that first field dressing is going to be wild…

 

[GSPHUNTER]

Look for a local Rod and gun club and become a member.

 

[HairyScandinavian]

I guess there is always this, that first field dressing is going to be wild…

YouTube my friend!

 

[Sizthediz]

Start with hunter education in your state. Possibly an in person class if they still do it that way. You may find a mentor there. Welcome and good luck

 

[Braaap]

That’s a tough one. It might be worth paying for a guided pig hunt to get some experience and there’s lots of options near you. YouTube is also your friend and gutting or gutless method just isn’t that difficult.

Hunting solo has a lot of advantages in some ways. Maybe try some charter fishing trips out of the bay as I’m sure there will be some hunters on board.

 

[WCB]

My advice for trips...don't base your plans around other peoples lives. If you want to go somewhere to hunt do it. If you end up meeting someone you want to or like to hunt with. Plan the trip and tell them they are welcome to come. Almost impossible to get schedules to line up and besides people backing out I here all the time form guys..."it is probably the worst week to go but that is what worked with so and so's schedule."

To meet or find people imo...literally just go hunt. You will run into people. There is SO MUCH information on the interwebs. Research get some basic gear and hit the hills. People are overrated.

 

[Turkeygetpwnd38]

You may have to research and go solo then recruit people you deem worthy to join you.

+1. Go solo, get it figured out. As soon as you start having success and coming back with something more times than not, plenty of people will want to go.
Problem is, by that point you realize most would be a liability/hindrance and anyone worth their weight has figured out what you’ve figured out by now and hesitant to go with others
Basically, get used to going solo…. Or get insanely lucky and find a good partner. I’ve had way more hunts ruined by bad partners than limited by me being alone.

 

[rookieforever33]

If you figure this out let me know. Im fighting my wife to let me go solo without adding millions in life insurance. Look up the hunting partners leaving early thread. It will show you how hard a good one is to find. As far as field dressing everybody did a first one once, you tube would have been more helpful than the guy that showed me. Join a rifle range no matter what. You will learn a ton about shooting just being there, differentiating between the good and bad lessons is important.

 

[TaperPin]

Like others have said, hang out with other hunters and wear a hunting related baseball cap. I can be at a bbq and know nothing else about someone, but a t-shirt or hat is an invitation to talk about hunting. The last bbq of the season I met an entire family of avid hunters from the California wine country. Even if you don’t want to hunt bow seasons, you will meet a bunch of hunters going to an indoor range. Same for a fly tying class, fishing club, etc. Go to the sportsmen’s expo in Sacramento and any hunting or shooting related events you come across. FB is full of knuckle heads, but you need all the help you can get so join groups. I just googled it and it looks like MeetUp has a Bay Area hunting group that gets together in person.

For anything in life it helps to have a one or two sentence tag line that invites conversation. If you wanted to get into Aardvark hunting, anytime you cross paths with experienced Aardvark hunters it might be, “ I’m just getting started trying to figure out Aardvark hunting - it’s hard to know where to begin or what to focus on.” Other Aardvark hunters will chime in with all sorts of advice or words of encouragement. Asking for guidance and direction can be as easy as saying, “Do you have any advice?” or “How did you learn how to hunt Aardvarks?” and let people talk and don’t interrupt and make it about yourself. You might not even like the person, but they know others that you will.

Good luck and you’ll figure it out.

 

[fuzzymarindave]

Ah, conservation org is a good idea, I’ll check that out because the shops ive been to are mostly pistol guys, no hunters. I would definitely “just go” but need some help getting off the ground before I just go out there and start shooting at things. Will join the local rifle range with trap shooting which may turn up some people to talk to as well.

I've found it easier to meet bird hunters than big game hunters and many bird hunters are also into big game. You could try a pheasant club and/or public waterfowl areas.

Most of the population in the SF Bay Area is probably not familiar with hunting and so many hunters will keep to themselves; but if you discreetly let friends know that you are hunting then they might be able to connect you with others.

I go to a range in the north bay that seems to be frequented by many hunters; whereas another range in the east bay seems to be more shooters and fewer hunters. Glad to share these places if interested.

I'm in the north bay and when I walk my retriever in the neighborhood, sometimes the topic of hunting is discussed and I've met a few hunters that way; so you could try that if you have a dog.

You have to build a network, just like a job or career search.

Nice van. Long time ago I had an '86 Syncro Westphalia. Running a popup truck camper now.

 

[EastHumboldt]

I go to local gas stations and parks. On the back of the restroom doors I write this “For a good time in the woods, call 555-123-4567”. I get a lot of responses but most of them seem to know nothing about hunting. Keeping my fingers crossed.

All the above ideas are good. Also check out Rokslide rally point forum.

Good advice about making your plans so that if someone bails on you, you can still continue with your hunt. I hunted solo my first few years. This was before the internet and I spent a lot of time reading books and magazine articles about shooting and hunting. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself about killing an animal, especially at first. It takes a lot of the fun out of it.