Hunting is a favorite pastime of millions of people. It provides an opportunity to get closer to the wild and enjoy the process of finding animals just like our ancestors did. This process requires various preparatory activities, during which the hunter collects the necessary equipment and selects the appropriate equipment.
Hunting equipment & gear checklist
Hunting is a real art, the masters of which know all its features and secrets. In order for everyone to master it and become the same professional, it is necessary to correctly carry out preparatory actions and take into all the recommendations of specialists. The most important factor in the success of this case is the careful selection of suitable equipment and equipment. They will simplify the process of hunting as much as possible, as well as eliminate any discomfort while tracking or shooting game.
Mandatory equipment and items of equipment:
1. Shoes
First of all, the hunter needs to take care of having a comfortable pair of boots or boots. They must exactly match the size of the foot since any inaccuracies will make hours of walking in search of prey a painful task. Also, the selected pair should be protected from moisture, which will allow you to move freely through the wet tropics and wetlands. Another important feature of hunting shoes is the durability of their soles. In this case, you can safely walk on branches, sharp stones, and other natural obstacles without fear of hurting your leg. An additional plus will be the presence of a protector on the sole, which reduces the risk of falling on slippery sections of the path.
2. Clothes
Jeans, T-shirts, sweaters, jackets, and other casual clothing are not suitable for hunting. Therefore, before you go to the forest, you need to get special hunting clothes. In most cases, it is characterized by increased strength, lightness, and ease of use. Thanks to this, the hunter does not experience any discomfort and is not afraid of with tree branches and bushes that can tear everyday clothes. In addition, it is important to dress according to the season. Otherwise, you will experience cold or heat, which will negatively affect the hunting process. You should also take into the features of the area you are heading to and choose the appropriate camouflage pattern for it. It will make the hunter less visible to the animals and increase the chances of a successful event.
3. Backpack
Very often, you have to hunt far from settlements. Therefore, it is important to have everything you need with you, folded into a backpack. The latter should be roomy and have the correct shape, but at the same time remain quite compact and light. Only in this way will he not interfere with walking and will not create an excessive load on his back. The backpack must also be camouflaged. In this case, it will become invisible to the game. An additional plus will be the presence of a large number of small and large pockets, where you can expand the items taken with you.
4. Weapons and ammunition
When going hunting, the main thing is not to forget weapons at home. It is prepared in advance and carefully transported to the venue of the event. As a weapon, any legally permitted carbine, gun, rifle, and even a bow can be used. At the same time, the hunter must have documentation authorizing the carrying and use of weapons for hunting. In addition, do not forget about ammunition. They need to be taken with you in sufficient numbers so as not to run out of ammo at the most inopportune moment.
5. Optical devices
Modern hunters prefer to use a variety of optics to help track down animals. Optical sights are the most popular option, followed by monoculars and binoculars. All these devices will help to inspect the surrounding area and find the location of animals from a great distance. Night vision devices are a separate category. They are used at dusk and at night when it is not possible to see anything with traditional daytime optics.
6. Medicines
The ability to provide timely medical assistance is the key to the safety of any event. Hunting is no exception, during which you can get injuries of varying degrees of complexity. To quickly fix a particular problem, you should always have a first aid kit with you. It should contain antiseptics, dressings, painkillers, anti-allergic drugs, drugs that help quickly stop bleeding, as well as medicines prescribed to the hunter by his doctor (for example, for diseases of the cardiovascular, respiratory, and digestive systems).
7. Food and water
Hunting can last from 4-6 hours to several days. In this case, the hunter must have a sufficient supply of food and water in his backpack. As for food, it is best to use foods that do not require cooking. They should be as high-calorie as possible and usable for several days. If the food on the hunt can be obtained easily enough, then water suitable for drinking is not. In this regard, you need to take with you many liters of liquid or special tablets for disinfecting water taken from streams, rivers, lakes, and other bodies of water.
8. Sources of fire
Anything can happen on a hunt. Therefore, if you get lost in the forest or for some other reason we’re forced to stay there for the night, then you will definitely need a fire. It will help you cook shot game, boil water, scare away predators and simply warm yourself after dusk. To avoid making fire by friction, you should always have matches or a lighter with you. With their help, it will be possible to build a large fire in just a few minutes.
9. Means of communication
Being completely alone with nature is useful but not safe. Therefore, various means of communication should be included in the list of mandatory equipment. They can be walkie-talkies, smartphones, or satellite phones. All these devices will help the hunter to call rescuers for help in case of an unforeseen situation. In addition, many modern means of communication are supplemented by GPS sensors, which can be used to find the correct direction of movement or to indicate your exact location.
10. Lighting devices
A sharp deterioration in weather conditions, sunset, and other natural causes can greatly impair visibility. In this case, the likelihood of catching your foot on a branch or stone, falling, and getting seriously injured increases many times over. To remedy the situation, you need to take a portable lighting device with you when hunting. The best option would be a flashlight on batteries or a rechargeable battery.
11. Knife
This simple item people use every day and do not even think about its significance. On the hunt, it becomes even more useful, as it helps to perform many different jobs. With the help of the simplest but well-sharpened knife, you can butcher the carcass of a dead animal, build a temporary shelter (for example, from heavy rain), protect yourself from predators, and get your own food. It is important to that in hunting, you need to take a knife in a special protective case. The presence of the latter will make it safe to transport a sharp object and exclude the possibility of cuts in case of falls or other troubles.
12. Additional items
Depending on the nature and characteristics of the hunt, a person may need a lot of additional items that he did not use during past trips. These items include rope, hygiene products, plastic bags, solid fuel (for cooking in places where wood is not possible), and repellents. The latter will help to cope with a huge number of harmful insects that are sure to meet on the way of every hunter.
The hunting business is fraught with many secrets. To solve them, you need to regularly go hunting and improve your skills step by step. You can speed up this process a little by using carefully selected equipment and modern equipment. They will help you enjoy the process and get your main trophy.