Hunting is one of the most challenging adventures a person can undertake. This is why one must prepare the best one can. If you want to have a successful hunting trip, you must be equipped with not just some of the best hunting supplies but also some practical items that will help you around the woods and make your hunting experience a memorable one.
If you are new to hunting, there are many things that you need to know before you go out and hunt. One of the things new hunters should learn about is how to be prepared for anything and everything whether it’s on their hunting camp or out in the field hunting game. The following is a list of items that all hunters should have no matter what hunting game they are after.
Hunting Backpack
Hunting usually requires you to go through trials with the uneven ground making it difficult for you to carry your hunting gear – especially if you are hiking several miles into your hunting site. A good quality hunting backpack will allow you to easily bring all the necessities that you need wherever you go. Of course, size depends on what type of hunting game you are after but it should be comfortable enough for extended use. You can also opt to use a hydration pack while on the move so you can easily replenish during long hikes. There are many great options when it comes to hunting backpacks so you should check out all the available options and buy the one that will suit your needs perfectly.
Hunting Binoculars
Sometimes when hunting animals like deer, spotting them from afar is not enough to ensure a successful hunt or stalk – they need to be within close range before taking a clean and precise shot. Binoculars can help you see animals from a distance and locate their exact position so you can take your shot without wasting too much time and energy trying to stalk them. There are small powerful binoculars available these days that hunters can easily bring along wherever they go. You should also have a good spotter with you to make sure that your shots will be accurate and of course, safe.
Hunting Knife
A good grip, sharp blade, and well-constructed knife are essential to every hunter. Aside from helping you prepare your game for hunting, it will also be helpful around your camp or when faced with an emergency. It is important to know that bigger blades are useful in heavy-duty hunting such as skinning and quartering out your game. Since you will be doing a lot of cutting, make sure that it has a good grip so you can handle it well even when wet. The best handle materials for a hunting knife are wood or synthetic. It is also important that your knife can stay sharp even after being used to cut through thick animal hide and bones.
Flashlight
Hunting in the dark means prey can easily get away from you as well as put yourself at risk of hurting yourself if you come across any unwanted obstacles such as rocks, branches, stumps, and uneven ground among others. Having a good camping flashlight is an invaluable tool especially when going on a night hunt. You will need it to check out possible hunting blinds before settling down for the night, move around without disturbing anything around you, not to mention help navigate your way back home safely after a successful hunt. Hunters should have two kinds of flashlights – one that is battery operated and another device powered by hand.
First Aid Kit
Accidents can happen anytime and anywhere, especially if you are in the woods with all sorts of animal life surrounding you. If you end up cut or scratched by a wild animal’s claws or fangs, you should carry a first aid kit along with your hunting gear to ensure that accidents like this won’t be too serious. Make sure to bring some bandages or dressing for wounds as well as antiseptic wipes to help sanitize any kind of injury so it won’t become worse. There are also certain medications such as painkillers which will come very handy if ever anything happens to you when far from home base so make sure to include them in your first aid kit as well.
Hunting Clothing
The best hunting clothing is those that are designed for the type of game you are after. It is also important to know that not all weather conditions call for the same type of clothes. For instance, if you are going on a fall or winter hunt, you should wear some camouflage jackets and pants with thermal under layers to keep yourself warm even when faced with strong winds while being concealed from animals. However, hunters who are chasing wildlife in hot areas should dress lightly so they won’t feel too overwhelmed by heat while still being able to easily move around without getting noticed by prey.
GPS System
For hunters who plan on going to new hunting sites, you should bring along a GPS so you won’t get lost in the woods. Although you are probably familiar with your surrounding, it’s still best that you have an extra way of looking for your way back home especially when the sun starts setting down. And since cellphones don’t work very well deep in the woods, bringing a GPS is by far the best idea if you want to go home alive and in one piece. Different brands of GPS systems offer different features so you should do some research to familiarize yourself with all its capabilities.
Game Calls
Today, hunters have a lot more options that they can use to lure their prey. Such devices are called game calls and they can help hunters attract specific types of animals. For instance, if you want rabbits, using a rabbit call will do the trick while a coyote call is perfect for luring in coyotes. Of course, not all game calls work perfectly when used out in the open so you should do some research beforehand to familiarize yourself with which calls are most effective when trying to catch certain species of animals. Also, you need to make sure that your game calls are well-maintained before using them since they can decrease in effectiveness over time.
