Gearing up for the hunting season can be exciting for both beginners and experts alike. Hunters should check with their corresponding states’ hunting regulations before they can go on ahead with their open season.
After understanding the legal information needed, packing the essentials for your hunting trip is the next step – from bringing energy food to having enough water for the trip, along with other important hunting gears. You can use this checklist as your guide.
Food & Drinks for the Hunt
- High energy food and snacks
- Reliable water bottles
- Portable cooking stove and fuel, and frying pan
- Plate, cups, spoons & forks
- Dishwashing liquid and dish cloth
Sleeping Essentials
- Tent and ground sheet
- Inflatable mattress
- Sleeping bag
Clothing & Toiletries
- Comfortable and warm tops and bottoms
- 2 sets of shorts, socks and underpants
- Warm hat
- Waterproof jacket
- Sturdy pair of hunter boots, and a spare pair
- Gloves
- Safety Eye Wear
- Rain Gear
- Soap, toothbrush & toothpaste
- Small towel
- Toilet paper
Hunting and Navigation Essentials
- Maps and compass
- Rifle and sling
- Rifle cleaning kit
- Ammunition
- Skinning knife
- Mesh Bag(s) for hanging meat
- Torch or head light, flare lights
- Binoculars
- GPS
- Hunting permit
Safety and Personal
- Identification Kit
- First Aid Kit and Survival Kit
- Camera
- Spare batteries
- Fully charged mobile phone and a spare mobile phone battery
Apart from this checklist, there are other hunting guidelines you might want to take note of before exploring the wilderness.
- If this is your first time, it’s advisable to take the necessary hunter safety classes.
- Map out the route you’re going to trek, how are you going through it, and what are your alternative routes.
- When it comes to clothing, it is best to wear something that contrasts with the surrounding of your hunting grounds. Disguising yourself as your surrounding can be an advantage for you.
- Use hunting hearing aids to level up your hunting performance. Hunters can hear way better than without it. This device can amplify your hearing sense in this sport.
- While in hunting grounds, better stay as quiet as possible, you might surprise the animals close to where you’re trekking.
- Be mindful of other hunters close to you.
- Remember to tell family members or friends where your hunting grounds is and what time you plan to come home, so if there will be any unforeseen circumstance and got you hold up, you can depend on them to search for you.
Hunting season can be dangerous. This is the reason it is wise to equip yourself with the right things. You will be faced with nature’s challenges and you should outsmart them, be one step ahead. This checklist and guide can help you prepare for possible contingencies you might encounter along the way.