r/INGuns • u/xXx_narcissus_xXx • Nov 27 '24
New hunter questions
Hey y'all, I wanna take my .22 and walk around in the woods and see if I can shoot any squirrels (I hear they taste good, and also I'd like to make a hat). I didn't grow up in a hunting family, and the couple of times I've hunted have been with friends who took care of all the logistics and just told me what license to buy and where to go (and also were not in Indiana). I've read the regulations here and still have a few questions:
For squirrels, I just need a basic hunting license? I did hunter safety in Maryland so I think I can use that certificate to apply here.
For finding land, I found this website: https://www.in.gov/dnr/fish-and-wildlife/hunting-and-trapping/where-to-hunt/ Is that the *only* public land I can hunt on? No state parks (or anything closer to Indy)?
Since it's deer season I need to wear something orange, but just one article, right? So a hat is good enough?
Speaking of deer, any tips for staying out of deer hunter's way?
Thanks in advance for answering my dumb questions. Figuring out how to fish was a lot easier!
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u/ItzintheRefrigerator Nov 27 '24 edited Nov 27 '24
You can hunt in certain areas in state forest and national forest. See their websites for regulations. Closest place to Indy would be Morgan-Monroe Forest.
Yes you need to wear blaze orange. A hat would suffice for minimum however I would encourage a vest too as the goal is to be seen by other hunters so you don’t get shot. It can be very crowded in Morgan Monroe during deer season and there are a lot of impatient and trigger happy hunters that might just shoot at movement.
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u/xXx_narcissus_xXx Nov 28 '24
Thanks, I have a vest too and will try to find some less popular places to go
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u/BoomBoomDoomDoom Nov 27 '24
I only need a basic hunting license, correct?
-Yes. Squirrels fall under the general small game license.
Where to hunt?
-The DNR site you linked is pretty great. Morgan-Monroe is popular (though I have never hunted it) Owen-Putnam State Forest also has lots of land to hunt. Saw a bunch of squirrels last week when I was deer hunting there. Deer Creek is also popular (may or may not be there now).
I need to wear Blaze orange, correct?
-Yes. I find Indiana’s description of this requirement to be kind of vague. If you’re squirrel hunting, I would definitely drop the $5 at Walmart and get a vest to go with the hat. Squirrels won’t care about the color, but not getting shot on public ground is kind of nice. That being said, the hat covers you.
Any tips for staying out of a deer hunters way?
-Uhh, not really. Kind of the breaks with public ground. You will already be looking up in trees for squirrels, if you bump someone just back out slowly. People will complain no matter what.
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u/whambulance_man Earl of East Central Nov 27 '24
You're going to need a few squirrels to make a hat, not a lot of fur there, and getting things tanned isnt super affordable. If you wanna pin a squirrel tail to a beanie though, go nuts. Either way its no weirder than anyone else you'll meet.
Wear more orange than just a hat, its worth the $3-5 at Walmart for the vest too. Public land in deer season as a very new hunter is going to be fucking eye opening for you, just trust those of us who've been there & done that and put on a bit more than just the hat.
If you do bump a hunter, stay quiet until they breech that barrier, give em 'the wave' or apologize verbally, then on your way back out keep quiet. The goal is as minimal disruption as possible, for both of you. You will find assholes, its not worth the argument when you both have weapons in your hands. <- This should be obvious but it bears repeating, just in case.
I think hunters safety from other states will work, but if it doesn't its a very simple test that just takes some time (hour-ish, iirc) and since you've done it once you will get ours no problem. There will be links to find the course on the DNR site that you found already.
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u/xXx_narcissus_xXx Nov 28 '24
I've got a vest, I'll wear it. I've seen some olde-timey tanning methods I wanna try lol. If they fail I can just throw it away
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u/AardvarkLeading5559 Nov 28 '24
My go-to spot for squirrels is Charles Deam Wilderness just south of Bloomington. There are no wheeled vehicles allowed past the parking areas and it's sort of rough country, so you wont see many deer hunters once you get deeper into the woods. Stick to the hiking trails for easier walking, just be sure of your backstop with a .22.
As for tanning,Shop - HOOSIER TRAPPER SUPPLY INC. has everything you need. Charlie is a great guy and willing to share his knowledge.
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u/xXx_narcissus_xXx Nov 28 '24
Thanks I will check it out! I have hiked around there before, it's nice
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u/whambulance_man Earl of East Central Nov 28 '24
Right on, just wanted to throw a bit of caution at the tanning thing, a lot of people are shocked at the cost of stuff like that, because they have no idea what kind of labor goes in to it, but you seem to have an idea so I wish you luck. Thats a small animal to flesh the hide on, but at least it isnt a rabbit lol.
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u/OldTea5109 Nov 27 '24
The dnr will be able to direct you to hunting areas, there is also groups on Facebook. And the best way to stay out of a deer hunters path is to not go out in peak deer season. Also get a vest and a hat. 50% of the population is dumb. The other half is even dumber