I understand it can be tough to get started in the outdoor world without the guidance of a parent, grandparent or family member. I’m so lucky that I’ve had my dad, and his best friend, to hunt with and teach me all the tricks of the trade.

This year marks the 10th year that I’ve been hunting and the 13th year that I’ve been out in the field. This year was actually the first year that I headed out by myself, too!

And can we just point out how cringe 10-year-old me is in this picture..

While I’ve learned a lot through time, there’s a few essential tips to can help anybody get started.

#1: Take a hunter’s safety course (also known as hunter’s education).

At Hunter’s Education, you’ll learn about conservation, sportsmanship, safety and the rules and regulations. I’m not sure about other states, but Washington State requires anyone born after January 1st, 1972 to take the course for a license. Washington will accept hunter’s safety courses taken in any other state, as well.

Which HOW AWESOME would it be if every state followed Iowa’s example and offered hunter’s education as a high school elective? More on that here.  *Comment below if you’re interested in starting this movement with me in the Lewis-Clark Valley.

#2: Find a mentor.

Not everybody will have family to show them the way. Maybe you have a good friend, a pal’s parent or a boyfriend that hunts. Anyone who can be your hunting buddy is a good place to start.

To be completely honest, without my dad, I wouldn’t know a thing. I still ask him questions when we go out. And every time I head out with him, I learn something new. We both never stop learning together.

For a bit, I got to hunt with his best friend, too. It’s good to mix it up! You’ll always learn more from two people than one.

IMPORTANT! When searching for your mentor, make sure you are finding someone who is an ethical hunter. I know a few people who will take the rules and regulations as suggestions and are horrible sportsmen. That can completely change your experience and contribution to the hunting community, so make sure you find an ethical sportsman.

#3: Have the right equipment.

Hunting by myself this year, I realized how much I rely on my dad’s equipment. Now none of this is necessarily essential; however, you’ll find you have a lot better luck with it. Some of my favorite gear to steal from him are his shooting stick and range finder.

Camouflage is important too. Personally, I can’t live without Girls With Guns Camo. Great company, great products, and an even better goal/message.

The one thing that I absolutely see as an essential, for experienced and new hunters, is OnX. OnX is an app and website that allows you to see property lines (public and private), pheasant release sites, wildfires, trails and so much more! And you can do it all without service! It’s a must have.

#4: Put the work in.

This is something I really learned just this year. I’d pretty much always hunted the same property and general area that would deliver a beautiful buck year after year. However, this year, hunting more than just deer and covering different land, I learned the true value of putting in the work.

It’s not just about showing up on opening day and getting lucky, like it used to be for me. And look, you can do that if you’re blessed with that kind of property. But to see more success, have more fun and to be a competitive huntress, you need to be out there on foot for weeks and maybe even months before to scout and follow the animals path. This can also be done with game cameras!

I’m excited for all the time I will have next year, when I’m finally done with school, to invest in the work.

#5: Study up.

Make sure you know your state’s regulation pamphlet from cover to cover. It’s just another part of being a good and ethical sportsman (or, as I prefer, sportsWOMAN). You want to be sure at all times that you’re not making a mistake! Plus, who knows, maybe you’ll see something other than what you’re hunting and need to make an informed decision quickly. That happened to me while hunting bear this year!

Remember that the internet is your best friend when it comes to learning new things. I mean, you found this blog! And there’s plenty more like it to help you learn more tips, tricks and even good recipes.

Three of my personal favorite hunting blogs to check out:

And, obviously, don’t head into the field without a full understanding of how to field dress the animal you’re hunting. You can find plenty of videos to help on YouTube.

When you follow these tips, you’ll feel a lot more confident in the field, with or without your mentor.