Virginia Hunting Forum

Hello everyone,

I am new to the forum.  My name is Jim and I am a US Air Force active duty SNCO.  I truly love the outdoors and was mainly a fisherman up until about 10 years ago when I started to get more into hunting.  My son was born and I thought it was necessary to teach him more than fishing so I started to build up my hunting skills. I hunt deer, turkey, waterfowl and pheasant. My eldest son has shot a pheasant but I want to get him into deer hunting this year as he is turning 12.

I have a few questions:

1. does anyone know any good training programs for a 12 year old, I can train him in certain aspects but I think most people should get a good basis from a certified program, in case i ingrain any of my bad habits into him. 

2. I had just moved to North Va (springfield) from the UK last year and was fortunate enough to meet a farmer about an hour away that lets me hunt his land free.  He is selling his property and I am likely losing access.  Should I join a club or look for a lease?  I have had bad experiences  in the midwest on public land (a million shooters blasting away at shadows at day break on first day of rifle season) so I prefer limited access lands.

3. I have larger caliber rifles and want to get my son into something smaller...any recommendations?  I shoot a 30.06, i figure a .270 is fine for me and I might downsize, but around here, would a .243 be ok and for a small 12 year old, does that check with you guys?  He has shot a .22 and a 20 gauge (said the shotgun hurt his arm).  I want to make sure his experience is good and not frighten him with the pain of a kick or the noise (I can get him earplugs).

Thoughts?

Thanks again for letting me join your group, I have already met some great folks.

-Jim

Welcome to the forum.  As for a gun for your son I think a .243 is a great rifle for deer in Virginia.  I have used it myself over my .270 for 6 years.  I have taken my wife and several friends hunting with it and they really like carrying and shooting it.  My gun is a Remington model seven so it is really small and easy to handle.  I would think most any of the youth sized guns would be great or if your son is bigger he could shoot a compact adult rifle.  I don't feel like I give up anything on accuracy with the short 20 inch barrel.  I know the shorter barrel loses velocity over the longer barrel gun but I have not needed anything faster for hunting here in Virginia.  

As for access I am not much help in the northern va area but some other folks on the forum will likely chime in.  Clubs can be a ton of fun if you can find a good group to be friends with.  I suggest you find where you will hunt first as some va counties don't allow rifles.

For the training program he will need to take the va hunter safety course.  Look on the VDGIF website.

https://www.dgif.virginia.gov/hunting/education/

Make sure that you check the county regulations for the county your hunting in.
Sent from my VS986 using Tapatalk

Welcome to the forum.

Sent from my VS986 using Tapatalk

You should think about getting into bowhunting with your son. It will open up a lot of opportunities in the area. You also have the entire month of October to bowhunt before gun hunters hit the woods. During that time public land isn't all that bad if that's all you have to work with. You also see more deer and have mild temps which would be good for a young hunter.

You can bowhunt ffx county parks and ft belvoir once you pass the qualification process.

Maybe you can check out NSA hunt club

(05-26-2017, 11:10 AM)LuckyBuck Wrote: [ -> ]You should think about getting into bowhunting with your son.  It will open up a lot of opportunities in the area.  You also have the entire month of October to bowhunt before gun hunters hit the woods.  During that time public land isn't all that bad if that's all you have to work with.  You also see more deer and have mild temps which would be good for a young hunter.

You can bowhunt ffx county parks and ft belvoir once you pass the qualification process.  

Maybe you can check out NSA hunt club

Thanks bow hunting is on the list...thanks again!

Nooooloo. NSA IS A RIPOFF#!

Sent from my VS986 using Tapatalk

(05-26-2017, 11:10 AM)LuckyBuck Wrote: [ -> ]You should think about getting into bowhunting with your son. It will open up a lot of opportunities in the area. You also have the entire month of October to bowhunt before gun hunters hit the woods. During that time public land isn't all that bad if that's all you have to work with. You also see more deer and have mild temps which would be good for a young hunter.

You can bowhunt ffx county parks and ft belvoir once you pass the qualification process.

Maybe you can check out NSA hunt club

You have to have a class and qualify before you can enter the lottery for the Fairfax County park hunts. You have to get drawn and then you can hunt the parks in your cluster.

The way you wrote that Luckybuck makes it sound like you can just hunt the parks after you qualify.

I agree with Alex. NSA is a rip off. Unless you have a lot of money don't even waste your time. Everything costs extra. As in if you want to archery hunt pony up more. If you want to ML hunt that is more too. That isn't a club. The guy that runs it does it as a business to make money.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

(05-26-2017, 05:51 PM)Thummy Wrote: [ -> ]

(05-26-2017, 11:10 AM)LuckyBuck Wrote: [ -> ]You should think about getting into bowhunting with your son.  It will open up a lot of opportunities in the area.  You also have the entire month of October to bowhunt before gun hunters hit the woods.  During that time public land isn't all that bad if that's all you have to work with.  You also see more deer and have mild temps which would be good for a young hunter.

You can bowhunt ffx county parks and ft belvoir once you pass the qualification process.  

Maybe you can check out NSA hunt club

You have to have a class and qualify before you can enter the lottery for the Fairfax County park hunts. You have to get drawn and then you can hunt the parks in your cluster.

The way you wrote that Luckybuck makes it sound like you can just hunt the parks after you qualify.

I agree with Alex. NSA is a rip off. Unless you have a lot of money don't even waste your time. Everything costs extra. As in if you want to archery hunt pony up more. If you want to ML hunt that is more too. That isn't a club.  The guy that runs it does it as a business to make money.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Thanks, any recommendations for local clubs then?