When you are going hunting, you are prepared for a challenge – but with everything considered, you need to bring the right gear if you want to be successful. Your hunts are only as successful as the gear you bring along – and this does not just involve the actual weapon.
In fact, it involves every other piece of gear that you carry around with you, working together so that your hunting spree goes down efficiently and without any hiccups. Here are the items that you might want to check on your list:
1. Proper Hunting Clothes
While you are going hunting, you may indeed want to seem conspicuous to the animals – but at the same time, you should be visible to other hunters. If you only wear muddy, dark colors for “blending in,” other hunters might mistake you for their game and accidentally shoot you.
This is why you should have a bright orange jacket with you or at least one that has reflective stripes on it. It will tell other hunters that you are there as well. Bring a spare pair of warm clothes (while not over-packing), and also bring a pair of rubber boots. This will mask the human odor as you are getting closer to the stand.
2. Hunting Weapon
Obviously, when you are going hunting, the one thing that you should not forget to bring is your weapons. In most cases, when hunting, you might want to have at least a rifle with you, as it will allow you to target the game from a long distance. Make sure to bring a lot of ammunition as well.
If you do not want to bring a rifle with you, crossbow hunting can also prove quite accurate – and the advantage is that the shots are less noisy in comparison to a gun. You might also want to bring a handgun with you if you have to shoot your game from a closer range.
3. Skinning Knife
After you catch your game, the chances are that you will not be able to carry it home just the way it is – especially if you are hunting overnight. You will have to skin and store it. In this case, you will need to bring a good skinning knife with you – the sharper, the better.
A slightly bigger knife will be useful – but make sure that you bring a small one as well. This way, you’ll be able to peel off the skin with ease. You should also bring some mesh bags and salt with you, particularly if you are not planning to bring your catch home immediately. Salt can preserve meat, which is why you should ensure there’s plenty of it to go.
4. Hunting Scope
Sometimes, despite your best efforts, you can’t get close enough to the target in order to get a good shot. In this case, you might want to bring a good rimfire scope with you. Not only does it make your hunting job easier, but it also allows for easier learning if you are still a beginner when it comes to hunting. There will be a better chance for you to narrow down on your target and place an accurate shot.
5. Navigation Tools
When you are hunting, the last thing that you want to do is get lost while you are surrounded by predators all around you. To ensure that you are going the correct way, you might want to bring in a map, along with a compass.
You should also avoid relying on your phone GPS and maps (such as Google Maps). This is because, at some point, you might end up running out of battery or cell phone reception. To ensure you aren’t stranded, make sure that you also have the old-fashioned options with you. Before you go hunting, be certain that you know how to read a map.
6. Sprays
It might not seem that important to you at the moment, but sprays represent an essential tool for every hunting trip – and you may have to bring more types. First things first, you might want to bring an insect repellent tool, particularly if you don’t want to be attacked by all the insects in the forest.
Some animals run away from the first whiff of human scent, in which case you might want to bring a scent killer spray with you. This way, you can get close enough to your target without scaring it off. On the other hand, if you want to hunt for bears, you might also want to bring a bear spray with you, to keep you safe from any potential bear attacks.
7. First Aid Kit
The first aid kit is likely one of the most important things to bring with you on the hunting grounds, as you might never know what disaster can come in your direction. Something as simple as a headache might prevent you from doing your job properly.
Even a simple cut can turn into an infection without proper care. This is why you need to ensure that your first aid kit includes Betadine, gauze, micropore tape, cotton balls, painkillers, band-aids, ibuprofen, and a larger bandage that you can potentially turn into a sling. Better be safe than sorry.
8. Flashlight
When you are hunting, there’s a chance that you may have shot your game as sunset approached – causing you to track that animal way into the night. For this reason, you should ensure that your hunting gear also includes a 300+ lumens flashlight that allows you to see your path properly.
Final Thoughts
There are quite a few things that you might take with you, all depending on the length of your trip and the game that you are hunting down. Regardless of what you are hunting and where, make sure that you bring your hunting license with you, as well as your conservation stamp. This way, you will be spared any problems in case you need to present them.