Before the Hunt: A New Old Hunter's Journey

Introduction

I am what some might call a "new old hunter." I didn’t grow up hunting, yet, perhaps foolishly, I decided to take on the challenge later in life. My motivations for this pursuit are varied. First, as my family grows, I want to be able to guide my kids if they ever decide to hunt. Second, my brother and I have been working on our marksmanship for long-range competition shooting, and I wanted to put those skills to practical use—namely, filling my fridge with fresh meat.

At 32 years old, I embarked on my first hunt. Leading up to it, I felt a mix of excitement, anxiety, and a sprinkle of doubt. I spent the week before double-checking all my gear, making sure everything was clean, functional, and ready to go. Little did I know, there were plenty of lessons waiting for me in the Florida wilderness.

Gear List

For Hunting

Mossberg Patriot Night Train .308
Scentlok pants and shirt
Magellan Outdoors Rain Jacket

For Camp

TETON 55L Scout Internal Frame Backpack
TETON 20F and 5F Degree Sleeping Bag
TETON Camp Pad
Amazon Fire Tablet
Amazon Kindle
Kitchen Kit

Butane stove
Pot, pan, and a kettle
French Press (no reason to not have good coffee)

Day One: Arrival & The First Stand

The adventure began with a three-hour drive to the Florida Panhandle. Upon arrival at the hunting lease, I quickly set up camp, signed some paperwork, and donned my camo. There were about twelve hunters in total, five of us roughing it in tents while the rest enjoyed the comfort of a bunkhouse. After a quick overview of the property, we drew lots for stands and headed out.

Stand 9: The Chill of Inexperience

I reached Stand 9 around 3:30 PM EST—without a jacket (this becomes important later). I did my best to quietly approach the stand and climbed to the top. The blind offered a beautiful view of the back of the property. A food plot was set up about 50 yards away, making me regret bringing an overpowered scope.

For the next three hours, I eagerly anticipated a six-point buck strolling out for dinner. Unfortunately, he never showed. Around this time, two things happened:

I heard a rifle report to my east from Stand 8—probably scaring away my imaginary buck.
The sun dipped below the horizon, and temperatures plummeted. Remember the jacket I forgot? Yeah, that came back to haunt me.

Deciding I had enough of freezing in silence, I headed back to camp for dinner—a hearty meal of grilled chicken, baked potatoes, and salad. Meanwhile, hunters from another stand hauled in a hog. As the night wore on, I realized how poorly insulated my tent was when the temperature dropped to the 30s. Thankfully, my sleeping bag was a warm cocoon. Lesson learned: Always be ready for the cold.

Day Two: Hopes High, Game Low

The morning started at 5:00 AM EST with the usual sounds of camp—chatter, cookfires crackling, tents unzipping, and gear rustling. Breakfast was simple: a few cuts of sausage and a cup of coffee. After drawing lots, I ended up at Stand 11.

Stand 11: Rookie Mistakes

A hunter who had occupied Stand 11 the previous day gave me some helpful notes, including signs of hogs and the sighting of a small spike. My hopes rose as we loaded into the vehicles, stopping a quarter-mile away to avoid spooking any game.

I approached the stand as quietly as I could but quickly encountered a problem—I had grabbed the wrong flashlight and didn’t have a red cover. Improvising, I shined it through my safety vest to soften the glow. Then came my first blunder: while pulling my rifle into the stand, I let it clang loudly against the metal. Not ideal.

As dawn approached, I scanned my surroundings—a road to the north with corn scattered on it, pine scrub to the west, and a thicket behind me. It was an excellent setup. Unfortunately, it turned into a morning of birdwatching. Around 10:15 AM, I walked back to the pickup point, chatting with another hunter.

On our way back, we spooked two deer—of course, the only ones I’d seen all weekend. One hunter had better luck, dropping a doe just ten feet from his stand. Back at camp, we watched as he processed his first harvest, following the long-standing tradition of “painting” himself. Meanwhile, a tracking dog team was called in to search for a previously wounded doe but found only a drop or two of blood. The consensus? A grazing shot.

Stand 5: More Waiting, More Birds

Feeling restless, I drew a stand for the evening hunt—Stand 5. Nestled near a pond and surrounded by woods, it seemed promising. Unfortunately, it became another session of birdwatching, with only a few distant turkey gobbles to keep me company.

At least dinner was worth it—pork and potatoes. Knowing I had a one-year-old at home, I figured if I wasn’t going to catch a deer, I could at least catch some sleep.

Day Three: The Rabbit Incident

The final day began with another 5:00 AM wake-up. Coffee, sausage, and another draw. This time, I pulled Stand 1, toward the front of the property. I felt good about my approach—stealthy, prepared, warmed up.

As dawn broke, I finally saw some action! I scoped in, my heart racing, my moment finally arriving…and there it was—a rabbit. Three days of hunting, twenty hours in the stand, and the only animal I had in my crosshairs was hopping through the brush.

With nothing else stirring, I made my way back to camp, broke down my gear, helped pack up, and began my drive home.

Final Thoughts & Lessons Learned

Going into a last-weekend hunt, my expectations were low, but my enthusiasm was high. Though I didn’t harvest anything, the experience was invaluable. I met fellow hunters—including some from my hometown—shared stories, and learned lessons that will make me a better hunter next season. Here are my biggest takeaways:

Key Takeaways for New Hunters:

Be prepared for the cold. Never, ever forget your jacket.
Practice scent control. Animals can smell you long before you see them.
Stealth matters. No clanging rifles against stands!
Use the right flashlight. White light isn’t your friend in the dark woods.
Expect the unexpected. You might not see a deer, but you’ll gain experiences that will make you a better hunter.

Even though I left empty-handed, I gained something just as valuable—knowledge, camaraderie, and a burning desire to try again. Next season, I'll be back, better prepared, and hopefully, with a full freezer to show for it.

A New Old Hunter's Journey