Quote Originally Posted by hokiehunter07 View Post
As far as pistols go, .357 mag with cast bullets is about the least gun you can use. IF you're on the outskirts of Christiansburg, go to Whitetail Outfitters. http://www.whitetailoutfittersva.com/

That's a pretty good little shop and he can set you up nicely. Like I said you're best bet is to buy a bow. You can buy a really nice used bow for about $300 fully outfitted. Buy a bag target and a 3D deer and now you can shoot all summer in your back yard while learning the intricacies of shot placement and training your nerves.

Speaking of nerves, there is not much you can do on this planet that will get your heart beating as fast and as quickly as the first time you have a deer within bow range. I have no idea how I shot my first two deer with a bow, but over the years I've learned to control my breathing and nerves. Some people never get over the nerves of having a deer close. The best way to practice for this is to do 50 jumping jacks then immediately run up and down a flight of stairs several times. When your heart is beating so fast you don't know what to do, that's about half as intense as it will be the first time you get a shot on a deer...

Getting into a hunt club is a lot easier said than done. A lot of clubs are very selective and won't take anyone without experience. IF you do get an invite be prepared to work. We have 1,000 acres between 6 of us and we plant about 40-60 acres of food plots as well as trim shooting lanes, hang stands, maintain trails, set up game cameras, etc. You're also looking at between $200-1000 / yr to be in a club.

Right up from Craigs Creek road is a Forest Service Rd that if you have a national forest stamp (another license add-on) you can hunt. A lot of people hike that area, but early bow season it doesn't get a lot of hunting pressure. The big boys hang up on the ridges, and the does can be found in the bottoms in the thick stuff. Also there is a lot of land off Craigs Creek Rd. itself that is pretty good national forest land.

If you're hunting national forest land, your best bet is to buy a climbing tree stand. Remember with any tree stand don't be a dumb***, wear a safety harness.

Another thing you can do is put an ad on craigslist in the the sports section. Say you're looking for a lease or someone to show you the ropes. You may get a reply from some older fella that has land but is getting too old to hunt. Those are the best.

Anyways, good luck to you.
what does "looking for a lease" mean in this context? I assume paying someone to have access to private land?