Basic Necessities For The Beginner Hunter

 

It’s never a bad time to take up hunting as a hobby. Learning how to hunt can be a great thing for anyone of any age. Aside from being a fun hobby, hunting teaches self-reliance and self-preservation. Once you know how to hunt, you’re no longer limited to the grocery store or the local butcher when it comes to finding food for yourself and your family. It’s also a chance to expand your palate, since you can hunt for meat that isn’t widely available in stores. And you’ll be able to defend your land from predators and pests. However, many brand-new hunters make the mistake of thinking their gun or bow and their marksmanship abilities are all that they need to go out and successfully bring home their first kills. You don’t need to go crazy at the hunting supply store for your first trip, but even if you’re a great shot, you need more than just your weapon to be able to hunt successfully. Check out a short list of the must-have necessities that every new hunter should know about.

 

 

The most important thing that you need to know about buying camo is that you have to match the pattern of the camo to the landscape and the season. It’s not important to have a brand name label; the camo doesn’t even have to be new. It’s not a fashion show. What’s important is that you choose a pattern that blends in with your surroundings. The camo that’s appropriate in a desert terrain in the winter time is not the same as the camo that’s appropriate in a forested area in the summer time. Think about what the landscape looks like, and choose a pattern that will match.

 

 

You’re going to be doing a lot of walking, and you’re probably going to go through water, mud, briar patches, and other unpleasant things during your hunt. Protect your feet. Spend some time walking in different boots before choosing a pair. Comfort is very important, because you’re going to be spending hours in these boots and you’ll be depending on your feet to get you around. The best hunting boots are lightweight, waterproof, and rise well above the ankles.

 

 

If there’s any hunting tool that’s going to get as much or more use than your gun or bow, it’s your knife. While you’re out on a hunt, you’re going to need a knife for everything from field dressing and skinning game to cutting twine, branches, and rope. You have a couple of options here.

 

A fixed blade knife is a good multi-purpose tool on a hunting trip. You can use it for a variety of different tasks adequately, and it’s a good choice for a beginning hunter.

If you’re hunting small game, a good-quality pocket knife may be a better choice. You’ll need the smaller size for comfortably gutting small birds and animals, and it’s lightweight and easy to carry.

Are you taking your ATV into the woods? Consider carrying a multi-tool with pliers and a screwdriver in addition to the blade. That way, you’ll have what you need to deal with mechanical issues while you hunt.

If you’re not ready to invest in several knives, get the one that will work best for your first hunting trip, and go from there.

 

 

Animals have a much better sense of smell than you do. Scent blocker may be what makes the difference between coming home empty handed and coming home with enough meat to last you for the winter. There are many different brands and types of scent blocker. You can buy scent blocking laundry detergent, spray, soap, and deodorant, and you can even make your own homemade scent block. You may have to experiment a bit to find out which type of scent blocker works best for you.

 

 

With these basics, you can count on a satisfying first hunting trip. As you become more proficient, you’ll develop a better sense of which accessories you really need, and you’ll be able to add to your hunting gear accordingly.