Hunting is a popular hobby across the globe. Many people are passionate about hunting and feel thrills to get an opportunity. If you are interested in hunting and want to know about the essential hunting gears for beginners, you’re in the right place. Though different hunts need a different set of gears, we’ll try to give you a generalized view of what you need to carry the most on your next hunting season.
By the time you finish this article, you’ll have a pretty solid idea of what you need to pack and whatnot. We’ll also try to make sure that you know about everything you need to survive in the woods in case anything bad happens. So without any further due, let’s get started. Shall we?
Essential Hunting Gears
Clothing
Your clothes will change drastically depending on the place you’re going hunting, the weather, and the amount you can carry with you. Our expert team advice beginners to take a minimal approach. Once you get more comfortable and experienced, you’ll know what to carry and what not. One of the biggest issues any hunter has to face is the risk of hypothermia in extreme conditions. A good set of clothes can help you prevent that.
You’ll need a rain jacket, camouflaged clothing, hunting socks, strong boots/hip boots, protection from cold weather, and some other protective gear to keep you running no matter the weather conditions. Don’t forget to
Tools
You must have a wide range of tools in the woods that’ll offer you superior control over the situation. Some must-have items are torch/flash, hunting knife/multi-tool, bug repellent, a pair of visual aids, solar charger, ropes, and many others. Don’t forget; the lighter your tools are, the more you can carry them. But lighter tools tend to break easily.
So we have to find some durable hunting tools. So our experts suggest investing in durable and reliable hunting tools. You’ll need more tools in the cold seasons than worm weather.
Backpack
You’ll need a hunting backpack to carry all of your hunting accessories, duh. There are many hunting backpacks available on the market. So just pick one. You can also use your travel bag or an everyday backpack. But a hunting backpack comes with a set of additional features that can come in handy.
You can also get a breathable game bag to protect your game from flies and other insects. The more bag space you have, the better prepared you can be for the hunt. And if you plan to spend the weekend there, don’t forget to bring some changes in clothing.
Firearms
This part is a bit tricky. Many states have hunting regulations on what firearm you can use and whatnot. Find an online guide for checking which firearm is allowed in your desired spot within the USA. The firearm should be decided by the type of hunting you’re going to do. A shotgun is good for small to medium range, and a rifle is for covering long distances.
As for the rounds, use buckshot ammunition for hunting birds and slugging ammunition to hunt deer (Shotgun). No matter what you choose, it’s important to protect, clean, and transport them to increase their lifespan and efficiency.
Navigation
This is one of the essential helpers on your hunting trip. To avoid getting lost/hunting blind in the woods, and accurate navigation system is essential. You may work with a traditional map and a compass, but many people won’t. That’s why our experts suggest a digital navigation system. You can use a hunting GPS unit or your phone to navigate your way around in the woods.
You can also use a number of hunt apps available on the internet. Most of them work offline. So even if you go outside the networks, you’ll always find your way in. Just make sure your batteries don’t run out before that.
Scent Control
Most animals possess a higher sensory ability to smell even the faintest scents and become alarmed. That is why we need to be extra careful when preparing for the hunt. For example, Deer have up to 297 million olfactories (scent) receptors in their nose. We humans have only 5 million. So it’s really easy for them to get spooked by an unfamiliar scent.
We need to remove our scents thoroughly from most of our equipment. So, add a scent control kit to your hunting checklist if you haven’t already. And don’t forget to check the wind direction and speed before setting up your camp. Use zipper-seal bags if you have to.
Emergency Supply
You’ll need a variety of items protected in case of an emergency occurs. This includes a first-aid kit, high-calorie dry foods, toilet paper, water purification kit, fire-making supplies, lights, and extra batteries. It would be best if you were on your guard as emergencies don’t come announced. And never lever your emergency supplies behind while you’re on a hunt.
Try to keep your emergency supplies in a dry place. If you have dry foods, protect them with ziplock bags and keep them safe. Don’t forget to take multiple chargers in case one gets damaged. And carry extra batteries for nighttime use.
Communication
This becomes crucial when you are hunting as a group. You’ll be needing to keep your communication with your team members stable and consistent. Communication is a crucial factor while hunting large animals. That is why our experts suggest using Walkie Talkies to keep the communication smooth and uninterrupted.
This will also help you navigate in the woods in case you get lost. Most Walkie Talkies have a decent communication range that should be fine for most of you. But if you want a more powerful one, you’re welcome to get one.
Processing Equipment
The hunting doesn’t end with hitting the target alone. Once you have secured your score, you’ll need to process the meat and protect it from insects and bacteria. So include trash bags/game bags, paracord in your hunting equipment list. It doesn’t matter whether you go turkey hunting, deer hunting, or duck hunting. Cleaning up before you leave is always recommended.
The list of processing equipment isn’t long. It’s always a best practice to store the meat and clean the surroundings as soon as possible. We all hope that you also will be responsible and clean up after you make a mess.
Conclusion
A popular hobby/tradition- whatever you call it. Though it may sound rude and cruel to many people, it has helped many people either put food on their plate or engage themself in a challenging task. Don’t worry. There are hunter education courses, and the authority issues hunting licenses to ensure people don’t overstep their boundaries.
So if you are a beginner at hunting, then congratulations. Now you have a better idea about how to prepare yourself for a hunt. If you want more hunting tips and tricks, please let us know what you think we should talk about next.
That’s all for today. I hope this article proves to be helpful to those in need. Please feel free to share your thoughts and experiences with us in the comment section below. Thanks for reading this far. Don’t forget to check all essential hunting gear before you leave. Happy hunting to you.