In partnership with the National Deer Association (NDA), Vortex® holds Field to Fork events every year to get interested team members into the field to learn how to hunt. Field to Fork takes new hunters without experience to filling their own freezer, with NDA’s own Field to Fork having served nearly 90,000 students.
Four years ago, our own Kathleen S. signed up for the program. What began as a single day hunt turned into a three-year journey to get Kathleen her first deer. Here are three things Kathleen experienced in those three years that will help get you ready for your first hunt.
1. Set realistic goals and expectations.
“I didn’t come into this thinking I was going to get THE buck,” Kathleen said. Still, after three years, and hunting multiple locations, it’d be understandable for any hunter to get discouraged. “What am I doing wrong? Am I bad luck?” Kathleen remembers thinking. “I wasn’t discouraged it was just … where are the deer?”
Especially when you’re just starting out as a hunter, without an understanding of deer behavior and habitat, it’s going to be difficult to locate big bucks and reliable hunting locations. “I came into this not knowing anything about hunting. Nothing about deer, the equipment, where to hunt,” Kathleen said. Getting a deer is great, but have a few smaller goals for your hunt, like learning about deer habitat.
Also, even if you don’t get a shot at a deer, the experience of being in the field is worth it. “Being out in nature and watching the woods wake up,” Kathleen said. “You feel so connected. I love the outdoors, but hunting is on a different level. I’m hooked.”
2. Have a plan.
It seemed like the perfect opportunity: A mature doe, inside of 100 yards, completely unaware two hunters were watching. So why wasn’t a shot fired? That had everything to do with the yearling at the doe’s side. “I struggled with that,” Kathleen said. “I didn’t want to hit the mother and leave the young one. And being a mom myself, I didn’t want her to lose her baby.”
Every hunt, and every hunter, is different. For example, you might not be comfortable shooting a rifle past 200 yards or, like Kathleen, you might not want to shoot a doe with a yearling. Knowing that, and communicating it to your mentor, sets you up for success by ensuring you’re both on the same page.
Why is that so important? On your first hunt, you’re going to feel some nerves. “Even the night before my first time out, I was second guessing myself,” Kathleen said. “You have all these things going through your mind. Am I going to be able to make a good shot? Am I going to see anything? It’s overwhelming.”
Open communication and having a plan mean you and your mentor can get past those nerves and focus on what really matters: Enjoying your hunt together. “One thing I appreciated is that there was no pressure [from my mentor]. If I wasn’t comfortable, I didn’t have to make a shot at all.”
3. Enjoy the whole experience.
While harvesting your first deer is something you’ll never forget, for many, hunting is about more than filling the freezer. For Kathleen, and for many new hunters, those first hunts are an introduction to a new culture and way of life. “The group we were with shared everything, their knowledge and their experience,” said Kathleen. “And that camaraderie was something I wasn’t expecting. I feel like I walked away from this with friends, and I appreciate that.”
In the snow, the rain, and the sun; through early mornings and late evenings, Kathleen eventually harvested her first deer. And it meant a lot more than just the meat. “I never thought I could do this … and I did it,” Kathleen said. “It gives me a sense of pride, confidence, independence even, knowing I can put food on the table.”
Since taking her first deer, Kathleen has brought her family into hunting, with her son tagging his first turkey last year.
Watch A First Time Deer Hunter’s Journey - Field to Fork and First Deer to see the full hunt .
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