I took up hunting later in life. Here are 8 tips for new hunters that I wish I’d known sooner

#5  JOIN THE CLUB

I’m old enough to remember doing homework without the internet, but young enough that I tend to use the internet as a way to avoid leaving my house. When I first started hunting, that included trying to find compatible people to head afield with. But just like the way I met my wife, all my lasting hunting partnerships have started out the old-fashioned way—by meeting in person.

Engaging and connecting in conversation with fellow hunters is also how I’ve learned the most about hunting. And one of the best ways to do that is by joining a club. As I’ve discovered, there’s a dedicated club for practically every aspect of hunting out there, with devoted members ready to help you learn.

For example, when we purchased our Weimaraner—named Sir—we knew nothing about training a gun dog, so we joined the local chapter of the North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association. That summer, Sir went on to achieve a perfect score on his natural abilities test. Seven years later, I have a decent gun dog and a good understanding of upland hunting, all thanks to the people I met through that club.

Local fish and game clubs are also great for meeting fellow hunters, and for supporting local conservation efforts. As a bonus, many clubs also have members-only gun and archery ranges, providing further opportunities to network and develop your skills.

#6  THINK AHEAD

With more hunters applying for big-game draws as available opportunities decrease, the wait times for coveted tags are getting longer and longer. This happens across the country, but particularly so in the West. By the time my pre-school daughters can start applying in my home province of Alberta, for example, there’s a good chance there will still be special licences they’ll never be able to draw. The good news is, they can at least start building priority to be drawn as soon as they’re eligible at age 10. In a nutshell, your priority level for a particular special licence increases every year you apply, but are not drawn, so the earlier you start, the better.

Since I didn’t understand how the system worked when I moved to Alberta, I went several seasons without building points when I could have been. In truth, I didn’t apply for the first few years after I got my PAL because I felt I wouldn’t have been ready had I been drawn. What I also didn’t know was that I could have applied to increase my draw priority only, but not to actually get drawn. As a result, I’m now behind the eightball, and may never draw that once-in-a-lifetime tag. The bottom line is, if you’re just starting out, don’t wait until you’re ready before you apply—start building priority right away.

On a similar note, if you’re a new hunter, take the time early on to carefully study the hunting regulations for your region. Even if there is no priority system in place, you’ll still be a better hunter for it in the long run. Had I learned the ins and outs of Alberta’s regs earlier, for example, I’d have also taken up bowhunting sooner.