So this will be my first year deer hunting. The guy helping me said you don't win most of the lotteries so we applied to several of them in parallel. Wouldn't you know it - all of the ones we applied for we won. Currently I'm scheduled for:
Nov 7 Patuxent Central Tract (afternoon slot)
Nov 12 WSSC Big Branch
Dec 7 Wye River general area
Dec 9 Smithsonian ERC
Jan 12 WSSC Triadelphia
We all won together ... ironically however the first one I'm a primary but my mentor is an alternate, so unless someone is a no-show Saturday my very first hunt will be solo.
Which leads me to my questions:
1. With my mentor (maybe) not along with me to show me how to clean the deer, I'm left with YouTube videos. There are hundreds of them out there. Which one or ones would you best recommend for a first-timer?
2. Assuming I bag a deer, how do I pick a processor? I see a bunch of ads in the MD Hunting and Trapping Guide but rather than throw a dart at one randomly, how do I go about selecting one? (And note Patuxent and where I live is in Anne Arundel County.)
3. Any other advice for a first-timer? My buddy has been great showing me what gear to buy, how to scout for a good tree and look for signs of deer (although at Patuxent I understand they'll assign me to a specific tree), he's loaned me an extra tree climber, etc. But beyond all of that, any other advice?
Thanks much, and wish me luck!
Nov 7 Patuxent Central Tract (afternoon slot)
Nov 12 WSSC Big Branch
Dec 7 Wye River general area
Dec 9 Smithsonian ERC
Jan 12 WSSC Triadelphia
We all won together ... ironically however the first one I'm a primary but my mentor is an alternate, so unless someone is a no-show Saturday my very first hunt will be solo.
Which leads me to my questions:
1. With my mentor (maybe) not along with me to show me how to clean the deer, I'm left with YouTube videos. There are hundreds of them out there. Which one or ones would you best recommend for a first-timer?
2. Assuming I bag a deer, how do I pick a processor? I see a bunch of ads in the MD Hunting and Trapping Guide but rather than throw a dart at one randomly, how do I go about selecting one? (And note Patuxent and where I live is in Anne Arundel County.)
3. Any other advice for a first-timer? My buddy has been great showing me what gear to buy, how to scout for a good tree and look for signs of deer (although at Patuxent I understand they'll assign me to a specific tree), he's loaned me an extra tree climber, etc. But beyond all of that, any other advice?
Thanks much, and wish me luck!