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Everyone in here has great advice. Try a few bows out and find the one you like. Then take it home and practice. Practice a lot. 3-4 days a week. A lot of people, including myself, really praise John Dudley and his NockOn YouTube channel. He has an entire series called School of Nock on YouTube that will be extremely helpful to you.

Spend some time hiking around the public lands you plan to hunt. Get yourself familiarized with the layout, where the deer move, where the pinch-points are, bedding areas. Learn the movement of the local herds. Maybe even a book on White Tail. I have this one and there's a lot of great info.

Dont think you have to go crazy buying a bunch of high-end hunting clothing. Sitka and First Lite are real nice, but it's not required to get your deer. Most of my stuff was bought on clearance at Field and Stream.

There's a lot of great outlets for hunting information and white tail specific stuff out there. Some great podcasts to check out are the MeatEater, Wired to Hunt (very white tail specific), The Hunting Collective, Truth from the Stand. NockOn also has a podcast.

Lastly, try and find some folks in your area to talk with. Shoot with. Even hunt with. I became a member of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers this year and have met a lot of great people in my area, have worked alongside them with habitat projects and have a turkey camp coming up with folks I met through BHA.

Lastly, enjoy yourself. You may not be successful in your first year. Take the time to learn. You'll pick stuff up quick. You'll learn a lot by spending time in the woods. Learn to identify different food sources, different plants and animals in the area. Pick up as much as you can. The more you understand about the wildness you hunt, the better.

Happy hunting and good luck!

I recommend a QAD Hunter rest for your first drop-away rest. I know I said I'd let you make a decision, but I wanted to at least recommend this rest. It's what I use and have used for years. I've never had a reason to spend over $100 on the other models because this one is less than $50 and works flawlessly. Some people say fork over the extra cash for the more expensive one just because it's quieter, but in all honesty I can't tell a difference in noise between the two and have shot both extensively. As long as you keep the felt on the launcher there is nearly no noise at all. Here is link to the rest on Amazon. It's a fantastic rest. Shop around for other drop-sways such as Trophy Takers, and even Trophy Ridge has some nice ones, but I wanted to recommend the QAD as it's what I shoot and I am more than pleased with it. It has lasted me probably 8 years and still going strong. You may need to take it to a pro shop to get the rip cord installed on your cables. I wouldn't use a "football", clamp I would have them tie it in to your cable. My local shop does it for a dollar, or free if you buy it or bought your bow from them.

I'd start w/ a rangefinder if you can afford it.

Don't worry about special knives. Any small knife will do the trick to dress a deer or elk in the field. You really don't need more than a 2-inch blade. I keep a sharpener like this in my pack, but don't usually need it till half way through the skinning process, and by that time I'm back at camp/the house.

If you can't drag the deer out, you may need to quarter it, in that case a little saw might be helpful till you get the hang of disarticulating the shoulder and hip joints. Game bags might come in handy if you need to do that. A frame pack is useful for packing out quarters.

Maybe a couple yards of surveyor's tape for marking blood trail, be sure to go back and clean up your marking tape if you use it, littering isn't cool.

20 feet of para cord, it's just good to have.

Good luck out there.

I was born and raised in Ypsilanti(about 20 minutes from Ann Arbor), but funnily enough I never got into hunting when I lived there. My dad didn't do it, and I didn't really know anyone who did. I do remember friends from school bringing in deer jerky though and I loooooved that shit. I got into hunting late in life(roughly 28 when i started), and my that time I already lived in texas.


Do those white oaks produce acorns? If they do, those are probably your best bet. Find one near water too.


Trail cameras are you friend. I have a cellular Trial Cam which sends me pictures to my phone when it takes them. It's this one, and it seems to work well after I updated the firmware. If you're hunting area is really remote and there's very little cell signal, This antenna should give you some increased cell coverage and range.




Set a trail camera up near an oak that produces acorns that's near water and potentially bedding areas too. You should start to see animals and then you can pattern them.

You could go to a pay to hunt place and they could maybe set you up, but I don't think someone will be able to take you out and teach you to still hunt, which is what it's actually called. You gotta be stupid quiet when doing something like that. Deer can hear for a long, long distance. Your best bet is to just go out in the woods and try it. It's hard and it'll probably take years of practice, but that's what the hobby is all about really. Honestly, you don't even need any gear off the bat. Just find a place you want to hunt and go for a walk and look for deer. Hunting is like 80% scouting unless you have private property or something. Here's a good book I recommend on the topic. It's very, very detailed and will at least get your mind in the right place to try it out for the first time:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DUGSQMU/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?ie=UTF8&btkr=1

Great story! I hope to be able to share a story like this, but maybe a little less hassle lol.
Flashlights/headlamps are my favorite so sorry about the long write up.

I don't know what head lamp or flash light your using but I recommend you switch over to using 18650 batteries. Batteries are a little heavier and bigger than the normal AA, but they last a lot longer and are rechargeable.


Everything you need to switch will run you about 25 for the charger, 40-50 on the headlamp, 40-50 on the flash light. and about 30 for 4 batteries. Out the door your looking at 155 give or take.


Also if your using the head lamp and your battery dies, you can just swap with your flash light battery.


Link is to the head lamp I use. It does not give me money, not an affiliate link or whatever.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06ZYJJQM4/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1


This link is to the flash light I use. It does not give me money, not an affiliate link or whatever.


https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01EWW907A/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1


Batteries I use. It does not give me money, not an affiliate link or whatever.


https://www.amazon.com/2500mAh-Rechargeable-Batteries-protective-plastic/dp/B01N9HB03A/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1540525653&sr=8-3&keywords=18650+lg+battery&dpID=41kKYj1u54L&preST=_SY300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch


and the charger I have been using. It does not give me money, not an affiliate link or whatever.


https://www.amazon.com/Efest-LUC-V4-Universal-Battery/dp/B00HWMFB9Y/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1540525708&sr=8-1&keywords=efest+luc+v4+lcd+charger

Ah nice, you'll have all kinds of options then! Lots of people like the B-Stinger stablizers, and I've heard good things about Doinker stabs as well!

If you're okay with a used stabilizer, check around on the Archerytalk classifieds. Can often get a used one in good shape for a better price than brand new.

Sounds like you're pretty new to hunting as well as bow hunting given some of the questions in the thread about more than stalking like licenses etc... Just thought I'd throw this out there for you to check out, it's a good book with lots of good information for you. [Complete Guide to Hunting, Butchering and Cooking] (https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Guide-Hunting-Butchering-Cooking/dp/081299406X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1499369249&sr=8-1&keywords=steve+rinella+the+complete+guide+to+hunting)

I use this one from Coleman. I like it it because it has regular, blue and red leds. Red for nightvision, blue for blood tracking and the regular light has low. medium, high. The high mode is only 75 lumen but other than that the light has been great. The leds in it are made by CREE.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006OW5O6S/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I like walking to my stand using the red light because it doesnt ruin my night vision and deer eyes are not sensitive to red light. I have had it pointed right at a few deer and they didn't react at all.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQOcUD2aFxEjc-_4JJBLYyg - Randy Newberg, Youtube. So many informative videos FOR FREE

https://www.hunttalk.com/ - Hunttalk forum, way better than reddit for questions like this

Edit: Adding Steve Rinella's book because it has everything someone could need and is definitely worth $20 https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Guide-Hunting-Butchering-Cooking/dp/081299406X

Halo XL 450... got mine for under $75 it’s good out to 450+ yards... perfect for bow hunting it gives the angle and has a scanning mode. and it’s good for most hunting with a rifle too. I mean is it really hunting when you’re getting to be that far away anyway?

In my opinion you’re just going to pay a ton more for the other ones and never use them for what they are designed for. Save the money and use it for other toys!
Halo

Sigmas are really nice. I was not able to afford one. If anyone is looking for a affordable budget thumb button, hot shots makes a nice hunter target release in 3 finger and 4.

Lifetime warranty and you can send it in every year to be serviced and clean for free.

Hot Shot Vapor 3 Release, Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00J44900O/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_9.JwCbTSS3HQ9

I just picked one up and got the regular (non-flex) one. It still has some flex but is a good medium. This stays at home for butchering.


Victorinox Swiss Army Cutlery... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0019WX6H2?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share


I’m my pack I carry either my Spiderco Bow River fixed blade or benchmade hidden canyon hunter. The benchmade saddle mountain skinner is also great too.


https://www.bladehq.com/item--Spyderco-Bow-River-Fixed-Blade--85407


https://www.amazon.com/Benchmade-Hidden-15016-2-Hunting-Drop-Point/dp/B00I90HWYU/ref=mp_s_a_1_12?adgrpid=58883930827&gclid=CjwKCAjw3c_tBRA4EiwAICs8CkoYdHvvUlESAZqiVSKbRHZpQQLtkkh7WV0idXCx5RvnzS76M00CRxoCiV8QAvD_BwE&hvadid=274715390375&hvdev=m&hvlocphy=9009619&hvnetw=g&hvpos=1t1&hvqmt=e&hvrand=16751360973126049935&hvtargid=kwd-302380599510&hydadcr=9850_9624875&keywords=benchmade+fixed+blade&qid=1572097579&sr=8-12

Start with this book before you drop any money.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/081299406X/ref=ya_aw_oh_bia_dp?ie=UTF8&psc=1

That book and its author are full of solid information. Aside from that you will need a range finder and binoculars but take your time and pick out quality stuff you will be happy with.

Any time in the woods hunting, be it small game, hog, or anything will help you. Where do you live?

i use https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MYM8IID. 3 different brightness settings with good up time and super lightweight.

I bought a Morrell target from Amazon that pretty happy with. It wasn't too expensive and all I had to do was build a stand.

Morrell Yellow Jacket F/P Bag Target https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000ZB9474/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_cGxavb0TNKX2H

I have this bag here. I got it because you cant replace the cover as it gets worn out. But you can do that with most of the bags anyhow. This seems to have a new layout since i purchased mine but it will get the job done. Its held up quite well and i dont have any need to replace even the cover after a year of shooting at it a few times a week. I try to shoot at least 50-200 arrows twice a week and it takes it pretty well.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000ZB9474/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Steve Rinella came out with The Complete Guide to Hunting, Butchering and Cooking Wild Game: Volume 1: Big Game and The Complete Guide to Hunting, Butchering, and Cooking Wild Game: Volume 2: Small Game and Fowl. He is definitely a rifle hunter, but that shouldn't change much about handling the animal or other basic skills.