Spread out throughout the threads in this forum are bits of wisdom that soon become buried. I've tried to help a beginning hunter with a speargun or a camera. . . and think that lots of experience gets lost in the topics.
Bringing back a post, I'm hoping that other experienced hunters will join in to help the beginners.
"Quote:
Originally Posted by mckinness
Still new to diving but I love to hunt! Where to start. Spear or gun, what length and brand, or Should I focus on just honing dive skills? Would like to start low buck to see if I like it. Any suggestions.
Hunting above water, you match conditions with the prey. . . deer fall to handguns, 30-30's and 7 mm mags. Your conditions, distance, toughness of the prey, your skill, will make the choice. Underwater conditions, and the prey will direct you to the right tool.
Even though you are new to diving, you can learn to hunt without a gun in your hands. Before you get in the water, learn what fish are legal to hunt where you live (wildlife departments) Learn if there are good eating fish where you dive, and size limits, and seasons. As you learn Scuba skils, you'll learn to "see" further, when you can recognize silhouettes, Learn to not swim straight at a fish, but learn to swim at an angle to their path. Don't stare at a fish, but keep your head pointed away from your prey, and move your eyes. When you're ready with a speargun, learn to shoot to your side, Fish fear another predators facing them but not a predator facing away from them.
Every hour of the day fish change to suit the conditions of light, temperature, food supply, and many things we'll never understand, ( O2 ?) Lake or ocean, begin the dive day by going to a greater depth than the bait fish are running, then slowly approach your prey from below. A freightened fish will try to run to depth if they can. If the threat comes from deeper, they will hesitate a little longer, before they flee.
The GUN, oh yes. . . that's what you wanted to know about. When you know if you're hunting small soft skinned fish, choose something cheap. If you're hunting big fish 20 feet away you'll need to spend more money. I hunt freshwater lakes, I'm hunting flathead catfish, occasionally up to 50 lbs. And range is usually under 10 feet. And my current gun is a Riffe, metaltech size "0" (short ) with replaceable spearpoint. I use a spinner barb, rock point from JBL that a machinist rethreads for the Riffe shaft. And if there isn't someone offended already, I'm lazy and use a springy clip from the speargun to the shaft. That's the way I like it, and every diver here will do it differently."
Bringing back a post, I'm hoping that other experienced hunters will join in to help the beginners.
"Quote:
Originally Posted by mckinness
Still new to diving but I love to hunt! Where to start. Spear or gun, what length and brand, or Should I focus on just honing dive skills? Would like to start low buck to see if I like it. Any suggestions.
Hunting above water, you match conditions with the prey. . . deer fall to handguns, 30-30's and 7 mm mags. Your conditions, distance, toughness of the prey, your skill, will make the choice. Underwater conditions, and the prey will direct you to the right tool.
Even though you are new to diving, you can learn to hunt without a gun in your hands. Before you get in the water, learn what fish are legal to hunt where you live (wildlife departments) Learn if there are good eating fish where you dive, and size limits, and seasons. As you learn Scuba skils, you'll learn to "see" further, when you can recognize silhouettes, Learn to not swim straight at a fish, but learn to swim at an angle to their path. Don't stare at a fish, but keep your head pointed away from your prey, and move your eyes. When you're ready with a speargun, learn to shoot to your side, Fish fear another predators facing them but not a predator facing away from them.
Every hour of the day fish change to suit the conditions of light, temperature, food supply, and many things we'll never understand, ( O2 ?) Lake or ocean, begin the dive day by going to a greater depth than the bait fish are running, then slowly approach your prey from below. A freightened fish will try to run to depth if they can. If the threat comes from deeper, they will hesitate a little longer, before they flee.
The GUN, oh yes. . . that's what you wanted to know about. When you know if you're hunting small soft skinned fish, choose something cheap. If you're hunting big fish 20 feet away you'll need to spend more money. I hunt freshwater lakes, I'm hunting flathead catfish, occasionally up to 50 lbs. And range is usually under 10 feet. And my current gun is a Riffe, metaltech size "0" (short ) with replaceable spearpoint. I use a spinner barb, rock point from JBL that a machinist rethreads for the Riffe shaft. And if there isn't someone offended already, I'm lazy and use a springy clip from the speargun to the shaft. That's the way I like it, and every diver here will do it differently."
