When new to hunting there are a lot of things that are nerve-wracking but packing the gear shouldn’t be one. You can make a checklist to make your life easier. Here are few to enter in your checklist:
Hunting Day Pack
Dragging your gear, supplies, and hopefully game meat can be a big task. So, the first and foremost item on your list should be hunting day pack. This will be the carrier of your rest of items and will make your gear safe and secure. Having the appropriate hunting gear bag for the job may make a big difference in how enjoyable these activities are to do. From something as simple as a binocular pouch to a hunting day backpack or a full-size expedition backpack, having the best hunter backpack is a must.
Hunting weapon
Next you need to pack the hunting weapon. Choose your mode of hunting either if it is bow, rifle or even slingshot and pack it tightly.
Water
There are many things you need for survival, but water is the most important one. You should always save the majority weight for water.
Rain Gear
Checking forecast before hunting is an essential but to be prepared for the weather changes is better than no preparations. Buy and load your rain gear. Make sure it is breathable, packable, and quiet.
Headlamp
A headlamp or headlight torch is necessary for outdoor activities at night or in dark conditions such as hunting. It is easier to carry around than a normal flashlight or torch.
Food/Snacks
The importance of food is obvious and essential. Carry something light and packable but also fulfilling because you need that energy to hunt.
Protein-packed foods are great for hunting to keep your energy up.
- Granola bars
- Fruit snacks
- Dried fruit
- Trail mix
- Nuts
- Warning! Don’t eat beef jerky because you want to avoid anything with meat scents as the smell can scare off prey and also draw in predators.
- And remember to have all of your items stored already unwrapped as to avoid the loud noise that wrappers can make.
- Easily store all foods in zip-bags or easy tear vacuum sealed bags to quietly remove and snack/eat.
Knife
Any hunter’s daypack should have a decent field dressing knife. While hunting, make sure you have a sharp, powerful blade. It should come with a handy drop-point blade for quick and easy clean-up. You can choose Pocketknife, Skinning Knife, Gutting Knife
Rubber Gloves
When field dressing any animal, it’s usually a good idea to use rubber gloves. It’s impossible to tell what germs or parasites an animal may have. You might become severely sick if you have even the tiniest scrape on your hand and then dress your animal without wearing gloves. Make sure you have two or three pairs of rubber gloves in your suitcase just in case one goes missing.
Trash bags/ Game Bags
To avoid frightening animals away, choose thicker weight bags that may create less noise while opening.
Survival Blanket
A survival blanket should always be in your hunting bag. They are almost weightless and take up very little space. You’ll be glad you have it if you wind yourself tracking an animal late at night and must set up camp.
Rangefinder
With a lightweight rangefinder, you can eliminate any guesswork from your shot. You’ll need a rangefinder for bowhunting that works well in close quarters (10 yards or fewer), with readings in fractions of yards.
First Aid Kit
First aid kit because you can never be overly cautious. Make sure to pack
- Bandaids
- Ointment
- Gauze
- Water Purification
- Two lighters wrapped with duct tape and a waterproof Magnesium striker
Fire Starter
Some great essentials to consider keeping in your bag to make fire starting east are firesteel, magnesium starter, petroleum jelly smeared cotton balls, strike anywhere matches and a zippo lighter
Game Call
It’s a good idea to put your game call in last after everything else is in your bag. That way, if you spot a great bull or buck not far from where you’re trekking, you can quickly get to it without making too much noise.
Hunting License
Don’t forget to pack your hunting licence with you and cover it in a plastic bag to protect it from the elements otherwise it can get wet.
Compass
Compass is necessary to guide you through the woods.
Electrical Tape
Electrical tape over a rifle’s barrel will keep out grime. It can also be used to stop used as band aid. So, electrical tape can be useful to keep.
Binoculars
Binoculars are the key gadget to hunt. The able to assess your target and beyond before taking a shot. Choosing the right pair of binoculars for hunting depends on the power of magnification you want balanced with the weight you’re willing to carry. Anything from smaller 8×32 to the Bushnell Forge 15×56 binoculars might suit your needs. Accessories like a bino harness or bino tripod might also be worth having depended on your type of hunt and hunting area.
Some more important items to pack are:
- Face Mask
- Safety Harness
- Quick-Dry Travel Towel
- LED Flashlight
- Scent Killer
- Rangefinder
- Odorless Bug Spray
- Survival Shelter
- Field Wipes
- Hunting Vest, Gloves
- Latex Gloves
- Field Dressing Kit
- Rifle case
- Wind Detector
- Vaseline
- Thermos
- Quick-Dry Long Sleeve Shirt
- Camouflage Overalls
- Camouflage Hat
- Necessary medication
- Bone Saw
- Bug Repellants
- Camera – Trail Camera
- Decoys
- Ladder Stood – Kit & Tools
- Mapping Essentials
- GPS
- Compass
- Phone & Phone Charger
- Phone Essentials
- Try and bring a solar charger if you have one, but a cell phone is good to have on hand for anything ranging from an emergency to getting help with a larger animal
- Rope & Nylon Cords
- Scopes
- Rifle Scopes
- Night Vision Scope
- Sharpening Stone
- Surveyors Tape
- Survival Guide
- Toiletries
- Toilet Paper
- Wetnaps
- Paper towel
- Walkie Talkies – If it’s more than just one person
- Wire Cutters & Pruner
- Zip Ties
- Zipper-Seal Bags
- Extra Hunting Gear
- Insulated seating pad
- Metal screw-in tree steps
- Light compact pistol
- Wind power direction checker
- Pen and Paper: For filling out tags as well as for general use.
- Hand Warmers: These are especially useful throughout the winter months.
- Books or magazines: Let’s face it, hunting may take a long time, and you can only look at so many squirrels for so long.
- Trekking Poles: Having a decent pair of trekking poles will make your life a lot simpler, especially if you’re going into higher terrain.
- Belt: Used as a tourniquet or to keep objects close to your waist. When it comes down to it, you’d be amazed at how many applications a belt may serve.
- Urine Bottle: In the case that leaving your stand is inconvenient.
- Bear Mace Spray: You’re hunting your prey in the woods, but who knows what’s stalking you. While you should always have your gun on you, Bear Mace is a good backup choice to have on hand just in case.
- Snare and Fishing Gear: In case you need it, bring a tiny snare and fishing gear with you or learn how to make your own in the woods.
- o Survival Guide for the Wilderness
- Optics
- Lens cleaning cloth
- 2 lighters wrapped with duct or gorilla tape
- 5 pre-cut 6 ft. sections of 3mm cord (for hanging meat and butchering)
- Space blanket (to put meat on to keep it clean)
- Gerber small multi-tool
- Small set of Allen wrenches (for archery hunts only)
- Bandana/handkerchief (to protect my face and neck from the sun)
- 3 extra AAA batteries for headlamp
- Therm-A-Rest butt pad (Use this for glassing all the time)
- Chapstick
