What should i start out hunting as a beginner?

I am 20 years old in Illinois. I just passed my Hunter's Safety Course but I still need to do the field day. I want to start hunting as soon as i can, but I don't know what to start hunting. What's the best game and guns and time to start hunting?What should i start out hunting as a beginner?
you should hunt what ever you like





if going for small game then get just .22 for larger game and big game get a ..270 or a 30.30





but since you asked i'd go for whitetail deer since i heard illinois can produce some monstersWhat should i start out hunting as a beginner?
Well, the best game depends on you and what you are like. If you like to move around, then you might want to rabbit hunt or pheasant hunt or something. If you like to sit still then you might like deer hunting. If you want a good cheap gun, then I would definatley get a Mossburg 500. If you want to spend A little more money then buy a Remington 870. Personally I would go with the Mossburg.
I started out on turkeys, you could too if one of your Hunters ED teachers mentored you a bit on the subject ( or better yet took you along). if not, you could join local gun club or hunting organization and see if anyone would let you tag along on a hunt(not just for turkey)
anything you like to eat but maybe start out hunting small game like rabbits and squirrels with a .22lr
The best game.


Any that is in season. I started with small game but that was because deer or turkey seasons weren't in yet.


Guns.


In Illinois for deer and turkey your limited to a shotgun. 12 Ga will work fine. Slugs for deer, #4's for turkey.


The best time.


Is early morning through dusk for deer, Early morning to about noon (in missouri we can't hunt past noon the first week and it used to be past 1pm the second week). Small game early morning through whenever you have to go home...lol...before dark.
the best game is whatever you're interested in, can be further narrowed down by determining what is plentiful in your area(I've heard good things about the birds in illinois?)





the best gun is the one that fits the application, and fits YOU, brand names and prices are secondary considerations, you want to ensure that you'll enjoy shooting the gun, and that it'll be easy/enjoyable to carry while hunting.
You, should start hunting squirrels first. There alot of squirrels you, but eat them. You will learn alot while hunting them. Like how to be quite, how to sneak around in the woods, it will get you ready for other game you plan on hunting. And if you are looking for a good gun to take, use a 16 or 20 gauge shotgun. And as you get better try 22cal. rifle it is alot of fun.
everything in season
small game like squirrels rabbit are great fun especially if your just starting out in the field you don't have to be as quite and still plus they keep your accuracy in top notch shooting squirrels with a 22 is a blast small target with small ammo shooting a rabbit on the run with a shotgun it's a adrenalin rush you can hunt all small game with a shotgun so I would say pick yourself up a good shotgun like a remington 870 look for one with both bird and slug barrel so you will have one gun that you can hunting anything from squirrel to deer it will cover you








Good luck have fun


Be Safe
There is allot more to hunting than guns and shooting. You need to have a hunting license, know what seasons are open, know what a legal animal looks like, what a protected animal looks like, find land that you can legally hunt on, be knowledgable about safety - and - what to do with the animal after you harvest it. No sense killing something you have no clue how to properly care for after shooting. You need to know how to clean it, store it, and cook it.





There is nothing more frustrating than spending a day in the woods and seeing nothing............ other than spending a whole day in the woods, seeing only one good game animal, and missing the shot.





The two things you need to concentrate on - finding game, and, being a decent marksman. Most folks practice their shooting skills when hunting season is closed......... but do not practice their finding game skills until the season is open. Waiting for the season to open to start looking for animals can waste valuable time. For this reasone - I highly recommend you and your dad go out with a digital camera when the season is closed - learn where the animals are - and hunt them with a camera. You will gain valuable knowledge and insight doing this in the spring and summer - it will be a huge help when fall comes around.