This year I'll be hunting for the first time ever at 40 yrs old. I need help figuring out whats a priority and what's not.
What's on top of your list? Any help would be great
A place to hunt, a bow/arrow combo I shoot well, some type of camo, tree stand/ground blind/makeshift blind and a thermacell in the south. Permethrin treatment for clothes if you don't want ticks and redbugs. Picaridin for skin control of bugs. Snake boots if they are in your area. Flashlight and sharp knife.
Good topic and I am sure you'll get some feedback.
I'd start with a good knife for when you are successful and a good compass if you plan on getting very far off the road. And some good boots to help you get there. :archer2:
Yeah, a decent property to hunt is really number one.
All depends on what you are hunting and where you are hunting. And, i guess how you want to hunt.
Well thanks Chuck.! lol
I'm hunting whitetail in Alabama btw...
Things I always have is something to check the wind, a decent flashlight, extra clothes if its cold, phone or some device to send for help if needed, a good knife and a folding saw. If hunting from a stand a fall restraint, and haul line. Some way to carry your gear. These are a must for me. Calls, rattling horns, etc... are extras to me. Things you can add if you want latter. If in remote areas you should add some survival tools. Fire starter, compass, map, space blanket. Your likely to get a lot of suggestions. You can tweak things as you go. Hope this helps. Have fun and be safe. Always let someone know where your hunting.
Don't get to hung up on camo I kill almost all of my deer in green cargo pants from walmart and a plad shirt
Dont go all out buying stuff, just start with the basics and decide as you go what else you want. And you dont need a big fancy knife, just something compact and sharp; in my opinion a smaller knife is safer
If you're buying a pack, buy a fairly small one. If I carry a large pack, I always tend to stuff it full of things I "might need".
Dave.
For knife i have always liked the shrade sharp finger(good blade, comfortable, fits well in the hand). Clothes if its warm just something that breathes well and is quiet, dont get caught up in big names or the latest greatest patterns. One thing i never skimp on is footwear, for me the right boots can either make or break a hunt. If your feet are uncomfortable then the rest of you is miserable. A simple pack is nice too and to me i prefer one with a hydration bladder so i can carry plenty of water.
If you already have a good bow setup then there's not a whole lot more you HAVE to have...but you can get all kinds of gadgets if you're so inclined. Like other folks mentioned a sharp knife. I may be in the minority but I normally just use the same pocket knife I carry every day for skinning deer, they're not hard to skin. I like a heavier lockblade or fixed blade for pigs. A compass or GPS if you get very far off the trails or roads. Cheap camo from Walmart has always done good for me, but I've shot a lot of deer in blue jeans and a t shirt. Other than that just whatever sort of stand you want to use, and I enjoy hunting out of homemade brush blinds as much as anything else. So you don't have to spend a fortune. Have fun and good luck!!
Don't forget your cell phone, and be sure to make sure somebody knows where you are going and when to expect you to be back. GPS or some form of navigation (along with knowledge of it use) is also good. Some basic first aid stuff is useful.
Must have:
- a place to hunt
- license/tags to hunt
- ink pen to fill out the tags
- weapon that is legal to hunt, well tuned, and that your proficient wth
- time to hunt
- appropriate clothing - seasonally appropriate, weather appropriate, and something that doesn't stand out. It doesn't have to be fancy camo, but does need to generally blend. If hunters orange is required, put it on. I hunt as much in flannel shirts as I do high dollar camo.
- Flashlight if walking in/out at dark - any that you already own is fine
- A way to haul out the animal - cooler, truck bed, whatever works
- A knife that cuts - any old pocket knife or kitchen knife will work in a pinch
- means to get to/from the woods - I've hunted hundreds of times out of a 15+ year old Toyota Camry work car that I got for good gas mileage to/from work because that's what I was driving when I needed to hunt on the way home. It's done well hauling out boned out meat over the years in a cooler that I literally keep in the trunk loaded with ice all fall long, barring the weekends when I move the cooler to the SUV.
Things that make it better:
- quality drop point skinning knife in good steel
- quality camo/wool clothing
- quality headlamp for the trek in to keep your hands free
- treestands for deer in some areas, sometimes ground is better. If in a stand a safety harness is a MUST.
- quality, waterproof boots
- quality binoculars
- game calls appropriate for what your hunting
- toilet paper...just in case
- water and possibly a snack
- Thermacell when the bloodsuckers are out
- Small, self contained first aid kit...just in case
- Cell phone to call in tagged animals with a GPS app with stand/blind/ambush locations tagged
- friends and loved ones to share the hunts with
- a good dog to share your time outside with
- a good 4x4 truck or SUV
I prefer to hunt with arrows on my bow and binoculars on a chest harness. All my other stuff goes in either my pockets, or if I'm bringing a snack and water in a SMALL fanny pack. I don't like to be weighed down with all sorts of unnecessary junk. What's above is basically my full load out year round, regardless of whatever animals I'm chasing.
The two biggest "luxury" items that I've spent money on have been binoculars and clothing. Binoculars make it easier to hunt, scout, and watch other critters while waiting. Quality clothing makes you comfortable even in poor weather conditions.
As hunters, we locate, identify, track and stalk game with sight and sounds. Quality binoculars improve vision in a way that can't be replicated. On a budget I'd recommend the 6x or 8x Leupold Yosemites. To get more optically speaking for a basic hunter's needs you'd have to spend A LOT more money.
An old quote is "There is no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate clothing." In a lot of ways this is true. When your not comfortable you won't have a good time and being comfortable requires proper clothing for given conditions. As seasons move on pick up what you can that's well made and versatile. As the collection grows you'll find yourself able to hunt wider temperature ranges comfortably, wider wind conditions, various seasons, and various precipitation levels with ease.
Try to find an archery club in your area to join, probably a 3d club somewhere near you, make some friends and see what they are using, depending on how much coin you do or do not want to spend the possibilities are endless!
For deer in Alabama. I am gonna guess 90% or more use treestands to hunt. I would not skimp on something like that. Always wear and use some sort of fall restraint device. Any bow of say 40# or more is probably adequate. Matching arrows with decent (and well sharpened) broadheads are needed. Camo is not needed. A flashlight a compass and a sharp knife. There you go (to start).
Good thread, very informative!
You probably need about half of what you think you need, but the one thing I wouldn't go without is a good first aid kit. The only law you can always trust is Murphy's. Best to be prepared.
My opinion is you should always have have a basic survival kit with a way to treat trauma/ massive bleeding. Getting caught out over night is no fun and it's much more difficult with no provisions. Fire, shelter, water and a first aid kit are the priorities. Doesnt have to be a lot but something. Ask the people who have done it without. They never will be without again. Remember a slip with a knife or broadhead could put you in grave danger.
I would think your first priority is to get a bow that fits you well (you really don't have to spend a lot of money) and learn to shoot it well.
get arrows to match and good (still doesn't have to be expensive) cut on contact broadheads.
then fill in with gear as you go. Ask questions on this page as they come to you and you will surely get quality answers
Have a SAFE way to carry broadhead-tipped arrows.
Have SAFE way to be secure if in a tree stand.
Good boots. Warm clothes. Prepare for the elements.
Practice shooting...IN YOUR HUNTING CLOTHES and FROM YOUR TREE STAND (or sitting position, if that will be the way you will be taking your shot . Basically, "you play the way you practice."
Binoculars
Drag rope. Knife. Compass, map of area. 2 ways to start a fire (magnesium striker, magnifying glass, strike anywhere matches in waterproof container,lighter). Handgun (if allowed). Water, flashlight. food. Cell phone. Acme thunderer whistle. Foam seat pad. Poncho ( use as windbreaker/blanket. Empty 2 liter bottle (to pee into if in tree stand). Light rope to lift/lower gear into/out of tree stand after/before you climb. Scarf ( keeps wind off face, )
Patience.
Bow, Arrows, Knife, Oh... A piece of rope, in case you shoot one without handles on her head.
Seriously, a mentor to save you a ton of mistakes.
Lots of good advice in this thread so far. This might error more on the side of "optional" and while playing the wind trumps any kind of new fangled "scent free" clothing, scent-free soap, deodorant, and laundry detergent are nice to have. They won't help too terribly much if the wind is blowing straight at the deer, but if the wind swirls on you, it might make the difference between having the extra second to get the shot off and the deer busting you.
Try to keep things as simple as possible without shorting yourself badly. Sometimes, I just walk in to the woods with what's in my pockets and a bow in my hand, but that requires more carefulness and more attention to your actions (like getting out before too dark to see).
Learn how to cut up your animal, have ice & ice chest, if it's warm weather. YouTube is your friend.