What You Should (and Should Not) Bring on a Hunting Trip

Hunting is now getting popular for lots of people, it’s not just for old people but young ones are getting interested in hunting as well. It’s an amazing way to learn survival and practice skills and techniques in hunting.  It is also a great way to bond with your friends and family sometimes.

It is hard to determine what a hunter needs on hunting trips. And you don’t want to take your chances on your first hunting trip. But we made a list to help you on what are the essentials that you should and shouldn’t bring when hunting. 

1. Backpack

During hunting, you’ll be moving from one place to another, so what you need is a good backpack in which you can put all your hunting essentials. It should be comfortable to wear and will not hurt your back after long hours of carrying it.

Choose a bag with a good harness system that will not put all of the heavyweights on your shoulders, but equally distribute it to your whole upper body. 

What you shouldn’t bring: Unnecessary things that will make your bag heavier.

2. Glass Optics

Glass optics are one of the much-needed devices in hunting. If you can look clearly at the hunting environment then you can see how wildlife moves around it. Gaming always consists of stalking, you have to look for things from a distance. And to do that you need solid glass optics. If you plan on staying overnight, you might consider buying budget-friendly night vision scopes to aid you during your night hunt.

Hunting will be hard if you don’t have an accurate rangefinder for both pastures and mountain slope shooting range.

What you shouldn’t bring:  Regular binoculars without good glass, as they won’t work in all hunting environments.

3. Knife

A knife is also crucial for hunting, it should be sharp and handy as you have to use it in many different outside scenarios. A good option to have is an edc knife, it can be used for cutting ropes, skinning game, making makeshift shelter, and even cutting bandages for wounds. It should be handy and readily available just in case any life and death situation arises. 

What you shouldn’t bring:  A blunt knife, although it may seem obvious lots of beginner hunters tend to not invest in good knives.

4. Proper Hunting Clothes

You have to choose your clothes carefully, the best choice is a warm, light, and comfortable outfit. Some hunters can experience rain showers when hunting, there are also hunting trips that may fall in winter. Being cold will stop you from hunting better.

While in some scenarios you can be hunting while it is hot outside, so you shouldn’t be in thick material that will make you sweaty. The material should be waterproof, moisture-proof, and also heat-proof. In short, it should be an all-weather kind. You should also bring extra clothes for unexpected emergency situations. 

What you shouldn’t bring: Lanky clothes or regular outside clothes that wouldn’t stand extreme weather situations.

5. Headlamp 

When your hands are holding a gun, your bag, or doing some other thing, you wouldn’t be able to hold a regular flashlight. This is why a good headlamp is a wise investment. Find a headlamp which is suitable for long hunts, you need a bright one for hunting games in the wild. Rangerexpert has tested and reviewed some of the best headlamps on the market. You can check them out to match your needs.

There are some that have alert mode settings and SOS functions for emergencies. Make sure that you choose a lightweight one so it won’t hamper your hunting. 

What you shouldn’t bring: Low power flashlight as they won’t help in long-range gaming and can’t withstand long hunting hours.

These are some of the essentials that you should definitely bring with you. And if you are a novice hunter, make sure to research everything first for a hassle-free experience. And with a list of everything you need, you should carefully pack them beforehand so you make sure that it’s ready when you go on your hunting trip!