I'm not sure where to turn so I thought a forum might be my best bet.

I want to learn to hunt small game (at first) such as pheasants, turkey, etc. however, I have no were to turn. I have wanted to learn to hunt since I was a child however my Father was a staunch guns-are-bad type of person.

I know I could just buy a gun and a license and hope for the best but I am worried that I will injure myself, another or that I will bag a bird and not know what to do with it.

So, if anyone could help me or point me in the right direction; I would like to start by learning on someone else's (or an organization's) equipment so that I can make a final decision as to whether this is something I really want to learn. Are there any groups that teach this stuff or were else do I turn to?

PS: I live in Williamstown, MA.

Welcome to the forum. Have you taken a hunter safety education class?

I'd suggest calling your state fish/game department, they should be able to steer you in the right direction.

Best of luck and hope someone can help you out locally.

As above first take a hunter safety course. You can contact the state or try local gun ranges. You will find that 'gun people' are some of the friendliest you will ever meet.

They will probably have resources for you including clubs and just good guys and gals to help.

Here is a list of gun ranges in MA.

http://www.nrahq.org/shootingrange/findlocal.asp?State=MA

As the guys said, the Hunter safety course is the place to start, but they failed to mention that, in most States, it's a prerequisite for obtaining the hunting license. One must show proof of the course to obtain one's first hunting license.

The game you mention is birds, which will require a shotgun. Hitting game on the fly is tough, and requires some practice. You might consider joining a skeet league to get some training and practice hitting clay birds b4 you go after real birds. The connections you make at the league may lead you to a hunting partner. They can also help you select a suitable gun. Contact your local shooting ranges to see who has skeet leagues, and ask about skeet lessons, too.

These days, many shooting ranges require hunter safety before they'll let you shoot on their range. Their lawyers won't allow them to have untrained people shooting. In addition to what mikeG said about the fish & game dept., many ranges also have hunter safety courses.

I think you are getting good advice to take a hunter's safety course and practice at a range. I'd also suggest a guided hunt for your first couple of efforts. A good guide will not only get you into game but can give you tips on safety, hunting tactics, ethics, and etiquette that might take a long time to come by on your own.

I'm in the same boat. When I was a young kid I spent alot of time in the woods plinking with a .22 rifle but I never did any hunting. My dad didn't hunt so I did not have a role model either. My problem now is my 14 year old son wants to hunt but I am clearly not the person to teach him. At 52 years old I feel silly about asking some of my friends to take me so I can learn and then teach my son. Most of them have their own kids that go with them and I am not going to barge in. You can only learn so much from books or a class and then you have to go out and do it. I'm afraid that we will get something and I would not be able to field dress it and, to me that is a VERY BAD thing to do.

v/r Dave

You've received good advice so far. I can only add that if you regularly attend a church, you perhaps could find a person or group there that would enjoy showing you around the woods. I made some great hunting friends by offering to lead a two day course on GPS and map/compass use at my church. But definitely get the hunter safety course under your belt first. For legal and practical purposes, you'll need it, and enjoy it too. A gun shop also can probably help you out. Remember, they want to sell guns and ammo, so they want you to succeed in your quest. By the way, my father was not a hunter either, and I didn't start until I was in my early twenties, so I know where you are coming from. Best of luck.

Look into joining the nearest Fish and Game club. Its the place to get the most bang for your buck. Alot of the older guys in the club I was in growing up used to host "new guy" hunts where they would take out guys who were new to the club and show them the ropes. With luck you may just find a few life long friends and hunting buddies. I did.

Thank you all very much for the kind responses. I honestly was not expecting such a quick turnaround on my question.

I guess I know the place to keep asking questions and learning throughout this venture.

Wow, You live in one of the best areas of the country for Hunting and fishing. My parents had a summer house about 15 miles from you in Stephentown NY. The Pittsfield sportsmans club may be a good place to start. http://www.webcom.com/gun_guy/rangesma.htm

Here in Michigan we have ( starting our second year now ) , a hunter apprentice program set up with our DNRs blessing. Perhaps your state does this also ? Even if your state doesn't have the apprenticeship for hunter program , your DNR should be able to steer you in the right direction to accomplish your goal. Welcome to the great outdoors.

If a person was your friend and a real hunter they would not feel infringed about taking you along. He would not mind if you went along for a couple of hunts to learn the ropes.

Nobody is born a hunter; it takes a lot of work.

When I first started, my dad and uncle made me jump on every brush pile and walk through all the thick stuff to kick out the game.

Then when I got a little older - I learned that - the brush piles and the thick stuff was where the game was at and they didn't have to tell me to go in there.

I already knew where to go and what to do.

Then I started getting more game than they did and they wanted to go hunting with me because I knew all the good spots to hunt.

Once you start hunting, do us a favor and buy yourself a good gun. Starting out with a substandard gun is the way that some people start hunting. But if you miss more than you get, you will get discouraged and in time will loose interest.

In Pennsylvania the single parent home is becoming more of a reality than we would like to admit.

The Game Commission came up with special early seasons for Junior hunters and mentored hunts where the kids gets to hunt without a license - Squirrels and Grouse the last time I remember.

They now have programs where the Junior hunters can shoot any Buck with antlers more than 3 inches long in area's designated as 3 and 4 points to one side only.

I could not advise anyone on places to hunt birds in Maine - because I do not know of their Game Commissions stocking programs or if they even stock birds on public lands.

My only other advice is to ask farmers for permission to hunt on their property. Even if you just offer him part of your harvest or help bring in the hay the next year - you will make a friend for life. Having a place to hunt is just as important as knowing how to hunt.

You could be the greatest hunter and shot in the world, but if you do not have a place to hunt, you aren't going to be able to go hunting anyways.