Hi, I’m David, and I’ve been hunting for about 10 years now.
Wait a minute... why does the title of this post say I’m going to learn to hunt if I’ve been doing it for a decade? Well, the truth is, I’ve been trying to hunt for 10 years, but I’ve only been successful once. Honestly, I still feel like I don’t really know much about hunting. Let’s dive into that.
Since I don’t feel confident in my hunting skills, I figured it would be good to document my journey as I learn how to actually hunt. My hope is that my stories inspire others to get into hunting while also giving seasoned hunters a chance to share their wisdom with me. With any luck, this combination of reflection and feedback will help me improve faster.
What can you expect from this blog?
I’ll be sharing my struggles, successes, and everything I learn along the way. My posts will include insights into techniques, recaps of hunts, and plenty of my thoughts as I figure things out. I also hope to provide a few laughs because, let’s face it, I’m a complete amateur at this. A lot of what I share will likely be based on trial and error, so feel free to correct me or share your advice in the comments.
A Little About Me
I grew up in Northeastern Ohio in a family that hunted regularly. My grandfather was a dedicated hunter, so I was always around it, but I never really got into it as a kid.
As an adult, I joined the U.S. Army, and my first duty station was Fort Carson, Colorado. It was there that I fell in love with the outdoors. That passion led me to study Outdoor Leadership and Recreation Technologies, which deepened my appreciation for nature. Around that time, some friends introduced me to hunting, and I decided to give it a try.
My early hunting days were pretty unremarkable. I never even saw an animal while hunting in Colorado. However, when I was stationed in Georgia, I harvested my first whitetail buck—a tiny button buck. After four years of trying, I was proud of that little guy!
What My “Hunting” Looked Like
Here’s the reality: back then, “hunting” for me was carrying a climbing tree stand into the woods, picking a random tree, and sitting in it, hoping for the best. There was no real plan or strategy—just a lot of luck. Once, luck was on my side.\
When I left the Army, I moved back to Ohio to be closer to family, including my grandfather. I hoped to learn from him, but by then, he was already quite old. He had spent 20 years hunting the same private property and had numerous tree stands set up. I’ve been hunting that land for the past six years, but the pattern hasn’t changed much. I climb into one of his stands, wait, and hope. It hasn’t been very productive.
Why I Need to Learn to Hunt
Now you can see why I feel the need to actually learn to hunt. I don’t just want to rely on luck anymore. I want to understand deer behavior, develop a strategy, and head into the woods with knowledge and purpose. To do that, I’ll need to spend a lot more time outdoors, something that hasn’t always been easy for me.
I’m married with five children, so most of my free time has been dedicated to family. But now that some of my kids are older—and the younger ones are old enough to tag along—I’m determined to carve out the time I need to truly learn.
My Goal for 2025
This year, I’m committing to getting into the woods and learning everything I can about the animals I hope to hunt. My focus will be on whitetail deer and Eastern turkey, and I’m taking a year-round approach to scouting and preparation. By the time hunting season rolls around, I aim to have enough knowledge to bag a decent buck.
I’d love for you to share your own hunting experiences in the comments. How did you learn to hunt? Have you been successful? Do you, like me, rely on luck—or have you developed a real strategy?
If you’re not a hunter but are interested in learning, I’d love to hear your plans for getting started. Let me know in the comments below.
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