Quoted By:
Utahfag here. I've never hunted before, but I've been into shooting for 15+ years, and I'm thinking about taking the Utah hunter safety course this winter as a way to get into hunting next year.
I know a few things about hunting, but I was hoping some fellow /out/casts can help me with a few beginner's questions... No need to be specific to Utah, even if you know that the answer varies by state. Generic answers are fine, since I'm at a "pre-beginner" level in regard to this info.
>How would living in an apartment affect deer hunting - or other big game species hunting? For example, do most deer hunters just strip all the meat off the animal out in the woods, and bring back only the meat? I don't have a garage, so dissecting an animal carcass at my home isn't really an option. What is the weight and volume of meat you can harvest off a single deer, and how do you get it back to your car?
>Tree stands - how necessary are they? What kinds of alternatives would I have to a tree stand if I were hunting on 100% public land? Could I even expect to get a deer on my first time out (sorry, stupid question - should I get some sort of non-permanent deer stand, or do you not really need them?
>Describe the trip from your car to where the typical deer is killed, and back. How much walking are you doing, do you take a horse, ATV, etc.? I want to get into hunting partly as a way to bond with my dad, who can't do major wilderness hikes anymore due to an injury.
>At what distances do you take most deer, and how necessary would you say that scopes are to a rifle?
>I have two rifles: an Arsenal AK-47 and a Ruger 10/22. Should I spend $250+ on a decent scope for the AK, or should I just get a separate hunting rifle?
>When is the best time to apply for a hunting license/animal permit for that year? Is it something that all serious hunters get done on January 1, or what? Or is there no competition for deer permits, but only for rare species (elk, moose, etc.)?
