Hunting on a budget: How to bag your first deer without breaking the bank

• Jackson Landers, a hunting instructor and author, emphasizes that hunting doesn’t require expensive gear or a rural background. All you need is a rifle, a sharp knife and a cooler on wheels to start ethically and sustainably harvesting your own food.
• Landers advises beginners to use a scoped rifle like a .308 for its balance of power and manageable recoil. He stresses the importance of understanding animal anatomy and aiming for the heart or spine to ensure a quick, ethical kill.
• Landers challenges the outdated notion of avoiding does, explaining that hunting does is crucial for managing overpopulated deer herds. Many states even have programs requiring hunters to tag a doe before shooting a buck.
• Landers debunks myths about needing expensive gear like pickup trucks or tree stands. He recommends ground blinds and field butchering to make hunting more manageable, especially for smaller hunters or those hunting farther from roads.
• Landers views hunting as an innate human skill rooted in sustainability and accessibility. He encourages beginners to practice with their weapons, understand the animal, and avoid overcomplicating the process, making hunting an ethical and affordable way to source food.

Think you need a pickup truck, a tree stand and a garage full of gadgets to start hunting? Think again.

During the first episode of “Off Grid Survival Skills” by Marjory Wildcraft, streamed last Feb. 1 on Brighteon University, Jackson Landers, a seasoned hunting instructor and author of “The Beginner’s Guide to Hunting Deer for Food,” shared practical, budget-friendly tips for aspiring hunters. Landers, who grew up in a vegetarian household and began hunting as an adult, has taught hundreds of beginners—including vegans, grandmothers and chefs—how to ethically and sustainably harvest their own food. His advice? All you really need is a rifle, a sharp knife and a cooler on wheels.

Landers’ journey into hunting began with a poignant story about his first deer. After weeks of nursing his paralyzed dog named Simon, Landers took a quick hunt behind his house. He shot a doe at close range, and moments later, Simon miraculously regained the ability to walk. “It was probably about the most positive experience you could have taking your first deer,” Landers recalled. This story underscores the deep connection between hunting, food and the natural world.

For beginners, Landers recommends starting with a scoped rifle, such as a .308, which offers a balance of power and manageable recoil. “The most efficient and safe tool for this job is a scoped rifle,” he said. He also stresses the importance of shot placement, advising hunters to aim for the heart or spine to ensure a quick, ethical kill. “Understand the anatomy,” he urged. “If you can butcher a deer, you can butcher a goat, a sheep or even a pig.”

One of the most surprising revelations for many new hunters is the importance of targeting does, not just bucks. “The idea that you shouldn’t shoot does is antiquated,” Landers explained. With deer populations booming due to the absence of natural predators, many states now encourage hunting does to manage overpopulation. In fact, some states have “earn a buck” programs, requiring hunters to tag a doe before they can shoot a buck.

No need for expensive gear

Landers also debunked the myth that hunting requires expensive gear. “You don’t need a pickup truck to hunt whitetails,” he said. “If you can butcher in the field, you could hunt out of a Prius.” Instead of investing in tree stands—which can cost hundreds of dollars and pose safety risks—he recommends using a ground blind. “All you really need is your rifle, a sharp knife and a license,” he said. “There are so many deer out there that the bell curve is large, and there’s a lot of dumb deer on the far end of that curve.”

For those concerned about handling a large carcass, Landers suggests field butchering. “Quarter the deer right there,” he advised. “You’re only packing out what you’re actually going to use.” This approach not only makes the process more manageable for smaller hunters but also allows for hunting farther from roads, where deer are less pressured.

Landers’ philosophy is rooted in accessibility and sustainability. “Hunting is human,” he said. “It’s something our ancestors did. You don’t have to be a dude from a rural background to do it.” His advice for beginners? “Understand the animal. Practice with your weapon. And don’t overcomplicate it.”

Whether you’re a seasoned outdoorsman or a complete novice, Landers’ insights offer a refreshing perspective on hunting as a practical, ethical and affordable way to put food on the table.

If you want to learn more about the essential skills Wildcraft has gathered for you, purchase your copy of the “Off Grid Survival Skills” bundle here. You will get a copy of the videos from all 10 episodes, 29 life-saving video bonuses, 21 exclusive eBooks and and a physical copy of Wildcraft’s “The Grow Book System,” which will be delivered directly at your doorstep.

Sources include:

BrightU.com

BrighteonUniversity.com