Brace yourselves -
Here is another one for you, just the other day in NH:
May 10, 2014Man Shot While Turkey Hunting
http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Newsroom/2014/Q2/hunting-related_shooting_051014.html
This guy literally just tried to kill his friend.
Never underestimate the stupidity of other people. As hunters, we all go into the woods with the intention of killing something. As unbelievable as it seems, there are some who also go into the woods with no intention of first positively identifying what it is that they intend to kill. Orange is not required in NH, where I hunt, but I wear it all the time and it has not kept me from being successful.
I am relatively new to hunting, having only started this past fall, so feel free to take or leave any advice I have. That said, I have spent a lot of time in the woods and appear to be doing something correctly so far, taking 2 deer this past fall, a turkey this spring, and a half dozen or so squirrels. I scout often, and have had many more opportunities to observe these animals and see how they react to my presence.
First off, I do recommend starting off with squirrels. It's what I did, and everyone I introduce to hunting will hunt them with me before anything else. Squirrels are almost everywhere, so your chance of success is high. It will prepare you for almost everything you will experience with bigger game; what it is like to actually kill something, to touch it while it is still warm, to cut into it, gut it, and smell it. You will learn if your knife is sharp enough for the job. You will learn how important the right tool for the job and proper technique and shot placement are when you see how much damage a .22 or shot pellets do to the meat, and you will likely not feel as bad if you end up ruining a good portion of squirrel meat vs. a good portion of your first deer/turkey. You will see exactly why you want to have a good pattern with your shotgun before going into the field on opening day of turkey season. I could go on. I highly recommend it.
Also, squirrels are tasty.
In regards to camouflage, and what you "need" for hunting. I think it is important to remember that people have been hunting for much longer than Mossy Oak, scent-killer (and indoor plumbing), and $7/shell turkey loads have been around. When I buy camo, it's because I enjoy playing the part of the "hunter" when I'm out hunting. When I buy scent-killer, it is because I think "Well...it probably can't hurt" and because it is relatively cheap. I still have not fallen for the $7/shell turkey loads. If your hunting skills are good, I believe you don't need any of this stuff.
I forgo all of the gadgets when I go scouting. Deer and turkey are afraid of humans and motion. The best camo has colors that blend in with your surroundings and break up your human outline. I have found that a completely different top and bottom do this best. When I scout, I almost always wear khakis and a brown or green hooded sweatshirt. For what it's worth, I actually think the best "camo" I own is the khakis and brown sweatshirt. The only reason I don't wear it hunting, is because I think it might look too "animal like" to some other hunters, such as the one mentioned in the above link. If it is hunting season for anything (except coyote - which is year round in NH) I wear an orange hat and vest. When you get to an area where you think there are animals, move slowly. If you hear some turkeys gobbling just over the next rise, and you think you're walking so slow that they might be gone by the time you get there... you're moving at the correct pace.
A while back in the Spring Gobbler 2014 thread, I posted some pictures of turkeys that I saw while out scouting. The pictures were taken during NH youth turkey weekend this year. I was wearing my khakis, sweatshirt, and orange. No gloves, no mask, hood down. There is no way that the turkeys
didn't "see" me as I was moving in...they were often looking directly at me. They didn't run away, and in fact, I'm fairly certain they came
looking for me, to see what that weird blob making noise just inside the tree line was...maybe it was a hen? They had been walking across a field, made a detour to the woods where I was, walked 10 yards in, and had a look around right next me before carrying on their way. Orange hat was on, vest was on, and I was taking pictures. I even changed lenses while they were 15 yards away. The amount of motion I was making was similar to that needed to ready a shotgun, so had it been in season, I would have been eating turkey for dinner. Move slowly, when they are looking away from you. I called another tom in later that day, and again, he ended up walking right by me as I sat there taking pictures.
The best advice I have is:
1 - Most importantly: Scout. The more, the better. If you're hunting more than you're scouting, you're doing it wrong. I'm fortunate that my girlfriend likes hiking, exploring new places, and finding/watching animals (almost) as much as I do. We usually go for a 2-6 hour walk in the woods, once a week, year-round. Yes, people do walk into the woods on opening day and shoot a deer after sitting on the couch all year. That is 100% luck, but it happens. The more you scout, the less you rely on luck. The best hunters out there will always need a little luck, but they can get that percentage down very low. The two deer I took last fall were the result of varying degrees of luck, but the luck involved getting my turkey this spring was minimal.
2 - Don't look or sound like a human. Break up your outline, whether it's RealTree or khaki. There is no need to break the bank. Move slowly and silently. Wearing an orange vest or hat will not make you look like a human, but it will make sure other hunters know that you are one.
3 - If you're going to use calls, whatever the animal, practice often at home by watching YouTube videos. Do not try to sound like guys from the National (insert animal type) Calling Championship. Find videos of the actual animal making noise, and turn up the volume. Bring your calls with you scouting. When you see an animal, sit down and call to them for a while to see how they react. Are you calling too loud? Too soft? Wrong cadence? Find what works.
Oh, and just wear orange.