If you have stumbled upon this article, you are likely pondering taking up hunting as a sport. Hunting can be quite challenging and frustrating, but that is precisely what makes it rewarding and exhilarating. It requires focus, resolve, observation, perception, problem-solving, and most importantly physical and mental prowess.
Fret not though, as these skills are rarely built overnight. It takes practice and experience to fully get a hold of the nuances of hunting and we are here to open the gate for you to this adventuresome ancient sport.
Assess Your Hunting Opportunities
The first step is to evaluate the hunting opportunities based on where you live and where you can travel for hunts. The ideal situation is hunting on your own land but if like most of us, you do not own land nor know anyone close to you that does, public land is your best option as game license fees for privately-owned lands can be very steep.
In the US, the variety of game species, the amount of public land, and hunting rules and regulations vary from state to state. For example, Alaska is a spectacularly good state for hunting with 95.8% public land and impressively rich wildlife consisting of big game species like bison, caribou, sheep, deer, bear, and more. However, in addition to a hunting license, you may need stamps, tags, or permits for specific species which involves a lottery system and requires application a year in advance.
You need to do your homework and study your home state’s hunting scene to understand game management policies and how the license distribution is handled and identify the available hunting spots. You can start from your state’s official website and other online resources such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service website.
The Hunting Gear You Need
There is no limit on how much you can spend on hunting gear but you need to take into account your budget and the amount of equipment you want to carry with you. there is no need for buying ultra-expensive gear to hunt efficiently. Still, the minimum investment needed to get the job done may go north of a few hundred bucks. To keep it minimal, we’re going to go over some core essentials that make your hunts comfortable and practical.
Weapon and Clothes
Technically, the only must-haves are a weapon of your choice and some ammunition. Now we are not going to get into specific models (you can get an idea with a little bit of research on the internet) but generally if you are opting for rifles, we recommend a .243 caliber as it’s a good multi-purpose round with a size that’s suitable for both small and big game hunting. You also can’t go wrong with a .270, 30-06, or a .308. Just keep in mind that a more expensive weapon doesn’t always mean better performance. Make sure to do your research to get the best bang for your buck.
In terms of clothes and wearables, wearing blaze orange is compulsory by many states as it increases your visibility with other hunters and keeps you from becoming the target especially while hunting on public land.
Other than that, it’s only a matter of dressing appropriately and keeping yourself warm with a nice pair of boots, camo pants, a jacket, or whatever suits you most. Also, a rifle scabbard would be a nice addition for an easier weapon-carrying experience. Female handgun hunters can also make use of a conceal holster for women for a more comfortable and efficient way to carry their guns.
Other Essentials
If you’re very low on budget, hunting can be done with only a rifle and a set of warm clothes but realistically, having some additional equipment can go a long in helping you out in certain situations.
When hunting a big game, you need to field dress it as soon as you take it down in order to preserve its meat. This is why you need to carry a knife with you. If you’re a first-timer, you have the option to take it elsewhere and have it done for you but you need to get it there asap to avoid the risk of spoiling the meat. As intimidating as it may seem to a beginner, we recommend field dressing on-site as it helps to cool down the carcass faster and makes carrying it much easier. Having a somewhat experienced partner in your first hunt can make a huge difference in this regard.
A set of binoculars is also very useful to have. You’d be surprised how much having them helps when scouting and tracking your prey compared to the naked eyes. Other essentials include a harness (especially when hunting deer) and a headlamp. A harness can save you a lot of trouble in situations where you can’t drive to your prey and you have to drag it with you to a specific location. Similarly, a headlamp can come in handy when hunting before dawn or when the hunt takes long to after dusk because you need to have a light source to either continue the hunt or do tasks like field dressing and it’s nice to have your both hands available.
Passed the point of essentials, there is a huge range of items, accessories, and equipment that each have their specific uses in specific situations. These include climber stands, hunting blinds, scent killers, rangefinders, hand warmers, trail cameras, decoys, calls, bone saws, and the list goes on. However, you’d better accumulate these things over time to spread out the investment and avoid the regrets of heavy spending before testing the waters of hunting.