2021 Guide & Checklist For First Time Hunter – Checklist For Beginners

Hunting Boots

To start off, you definitely need a good-quality pair of boots. Keep in mind that having a poor hunting boot pair can surely ruin your entire hunting excursion. The extreme hot or cold weather is the main reason why you need a good pair of boots.

Frankly speaking, a good pair of hunting boots can definitely cost you, but consider it as a one-time investment.

You might be thinking why I have kept the hunting boots first in the essential hunting gear list for first-time hunters. Well, whether it is elk hunting or duck hunting, your hunting boots can break or make your hunt.

I always recommend the first-time hunters make an in-depth study on the best-rated hunting boots so that they can get the perfect pair for their first-time hunting excursion.

Backpack

Just like the hunting boots, a good quality backpack can play a significant role in turning your hunting experience into a successful one. When you have a high-quality backpack, you can even hike for miles after miles. On the contrary, a poor backpack won’t allow you to hike for a longer distance.

You can depend on your backpack way more than you have anticipated. And, just like the hunting boots, a quality backpack requires a good investment. But, at the end of the day, it is the added value you get from a high-quality backpack.

Just answer me to this question – “Why should you spend again and again buying low-quality and cheap backpacks?”

Poor quality or cheap hunting backpack can make your experience lots of unexpected situations like a zipper or strap break. These kinds of sudden and unwanted events can definitely turn your entire hunting trip into a disappointing one.

While looking for a good quality hunting backpack, it is important to study the reviews of the top-rated hunting backpacks to get the right one for you. Actually, there are lots of hunting backpacks available from a variety of brands at this moment in time. So, buying a random backpack without proper research won’t be a good decision at all.

Water

Water is another crucial item that you have to keep at the top position in your hunting gear list. Water will not help you to be hydrated while waiting for the prey, but it will also simply keep you alive in any kind of emergency situation.

When you decide to go for your first hunting trip, this is something for which you should make an investment. Even you can mark it as one of your top prioritized items.

For your convenience, I will make a short discussion on this topic:

Decoys

Always remember that decoys are important, I mean very important – no matter you are on a turkey hunting mission or waterfowl hunting. I should let you know that not using the decoys while hunting can be your biggest mistake as a first-time hunter.

If you want your hunting mission to be a successful one, it is crucial to keep decoys in your hunting gear list and make the best use of them.

You may need either turkey decoys or duck decoys, or goose decoys for the type of hunting mission you choose.

Bird Calls

It is another must-to-have item you have to keep on your hunting equipment list. It is not like you just only have to use a call during your hunting mission. Also, you have to practice in a way so that the call should sound like next to perfect.

Making the best use of the calls can make the difference between going home filling your bag or empty-handed.

To make a good start for your first-time hunting trip, you can check the Duck Call or Turkey Call.

Scent Killer

A nice-smelling clothing item is all everyone wants to wear before going out, but it is not recommended when you are heading out for a hunting mission.

Although scent-killing sprays or scent killers are one of the most crucial hunting gears, most beginner hunters fail to identify the importance of this particular item. For your information, you have to wash your hunting apparel with a scent-killer apparel detergent.

At the present time, you will find varieties of scent killers from different brands in the market. So, it is essential to check the reviews of the top-rated scent killers from renowned brands. This will help you get the right kind of scent killer for washing your hunting clothes.

At the same time, it is also important to use scent-killing spray on your hunting boot as well. In this case, you also have to make an in-depth study of the available boot sprays to get the right one.

The best part of a good quality scent-killing spray is it works whether your clothing or boot is dry or wet. It is also important to mention that the spray works better when your clothing items are dry.

So, now you know when and how to use scent-killing sprays to get rid of the odors from your hunting apparels and boots.

Trail Camera

Another essential hunting gear for beginner hunters is the trail camera. If you don’t know the usage benefits of the trail cameras, you may be deprived of some additional advantages for hunting.

The trail camera is a great device that can help hunters in keeping track of the game over longer periods of time. You must know the fact that you cannot follow your prey on a continuous basis. So, the trail camera can help you pick up the slack.

This particular device uses a specific technique called “Motion Detection” to determine when large animals pass the route. Then, it produces images mentioning both date and time. This is crucial information for the hunters for planning and organizing the hunting patterns.

In order for making the best use of the trail camera, you have to get a clear idea about the placement of the camera. If you can figure out the right spot, you can do the hunting task without even disturbing your prey.

Since this camera’s main use is to track games, it is better to have a weatherproof and sturdy trail camera. The durable construction will provide you with a longer period of service life.

In order to get the perfect one for you, you should check the reviews of the top-rated trail cameras available currently in the market.

Binoculars

One of the most demanding classing tools for any explorer is a good pair of binoculars. Now, you may think that is why I have used the term ‘explorer’. Well, a hunter is no less than an explorer, right?

Being hunters, we usually explore the little-known secrets of nature and our prey and hunt the game accordingly. For spotting animals like deer from a good distance, you definitely need to have the best pair of binoculars.

To be more precise, I would say that you should get one of the best-rated hunting binoculars available out there as they are specifically designed to serve you in order to meet your hunting needs.

If elk hunting is what you prefer, I suggest you get any of these top-performing binoculars for elk hunting.

When you look for a pair of binoculars for hunting, it is vital to focus on something that is designed for viewing long-distance objects. Spotting your target from a long distance can give an additional advantage while observing your prey. And for this reason, a hunter should have a deeper knowledge of top-rated long-range binoculars.

We all know that a pair of binoculars can be a bit expensive. Since hunting is somewhat a costly hobby, so you can make a big budget for this.

However, if making a big budget isn’t possible for you, I would recommend you check any of the best-rated binoculars under $200 or top-rated binoculars under $300. At this price range, you would get the perfect and affordable binoculars for your hunting need.

Headlamp

A headlamp is one such hunting tool without which you can’t even think of planning for a hunting trip. For your information, by the word ‘headlamp’ I specifically mean headlamp; not the flashlight. You might get mixed things up between these two tools. So, I thought it would be better if I had clarified the confusion.

Rangefinder

For any kind of hunting, a rangefinder is another important tool that is like a must-to-have for every hunter. With this particular device, you can measure the distance to the position of your target.

Since the core function of a rangefinder is to measure the distance, so always put your main focus on the ‘distance measuring factor’ while choosing the rangefinder for you.

In this case, you can also go for one of the best-rated rangefinder binoculars as they both will serve you with the same benefits.

At the end of the day, you will decide which device to choose for fulfilling the hunting needs.

Rifle Scope

Always remember that a powerful rifle, unlike the silent bows, can strike your target with very few accurate shots. While you shoot with your rifle, it requires abrupt precision. So, it is essential for every hunter to manage a good quality rifle scope that features immediate precision.

Night Vision Scope

First-time hunters need to get the best-rated night vision scope as it allows them to have clear vision even in low-light environments. For hunting, every moment is important, whether it is dawn or dusk.

So, don’t forget to add a good quality night vision scope to your essential hunting gear list for a first-time hunter.

Pocket Knife

A pocket knife is a great hunting tool that can help you perform various activities when you are out there on a hunting mission. It is small and compact, letting you keep it in your pocket with ease.

Skinning Knives

While hunting, you will need a good quality knife for skinning your kill. For this purpose, you must need one of the best skinnings or gutting knives designed specifically for hunting purposes.

Weapon

Depending on your preferences, you can take different types of weapons for your hunting mission.

Here, I have made a shortlist of the most common weapons I usually prefer for a hunting excursion –

Apparel

Weather can cause serious harm if you don’t have the right kind of hunting apparel with you. So, always give a higher level of concentration while choosing your hunting apparel.

Hunting Rain Gear

To protect against hypothermia, every hunter (both beginner and pro hunters) needs to have good quality hunting rain gear.

Base Layers

The base layer is another must-to-have hunting apparel for all types of hunters. You can get the HECS Hunting Suit as it comes with a full package.

Hunting Socks

For hunting, you should add a good pair of hunting socks to your essential hunting equipment list.

Ladder Stand tools

A ladder stand tool is also an important tool as it will help you to set your ladder stand against the tree with safety and ease.

Sharpening Stone

When you are on a hunting excursion, it is quite common that you will use your hunting knife a lot. You will need to use it even more at the time of gutting a deer or elk. In that case, you need a sharpening stone to sharpen your hunting knife.

Survival Kit

I would suggest you keep all the modern-day surviving tools in your box of surviving kit.

Food

For a hunting excursion, it is essential to pack the right kind of food if you don’t want to ruin your mission.

You can take the following food types for your hunting trip:

Keep in mind that anything that has a meat scent; you have to avoid that.

Shelter

For any hunting excursion, you may need to stay there for camping. In that case, you have to manage shelter to keep you warm. So, keep yourself prepared in this case.

Miscellaneous Items

First Aid Kit

For your hunting mission, you have to organize your first aid kit box with all the essential tools. Any kind of sudden accident can happen at any moment in time. So, be prepared to survive in the worst-case-scenario.

Blaze Orange Vest

Bug Repellent

Most beginner hunters often overlook this important hunting tool; sometimes, they forget to note this.

If you forget to add the bug repellent to your hunting gear list, you will do it only once. After your first-time hunting trip without bug repellent, you won’t forget to take this never.

Nylon Rope or Cord

Currently, there are various types of nylon tapes available out there. While choosing the nylon rope, you have to look for the ones that are durable and sturdy.

You might be thinking about why you would need a rope for a hunting excursion. Well, you never know what an unwanted situation will offer.

Surveyors Tape

For tracking the downed animal, the surveyor’s tape can help any hunter with the most. You just need to place a portion of the tape on the exact spot where you find the blood trail of your downed prey.

Zipper Seal Bag

For storing lure items and used scents, you have to keep good quality zipper bags.

Field Dressing Gloves

Wet Wipes

Insulated Seating Pad

Compact Pistol

Walkie Talkies

You will need the walkie-talkies if you have a partner in your hunting mission.

Cell Phone

If it is possible, you should pack a solar charger for your phone. But, a cell phone with big battery will suffice.

Checker for Wind Power Direction

Paper and Pen

Hand Warmers

If you are heading out for a hunting trip in cold weather, you must take hand warmers.

Magazine or Books

During your hunting excursion, if you get bored, you can read books or magazines to chill you out from the boredom.

Trekking Poles

Zip Ties

Trash Bag

When you are out there on a hunting trip, it won’t be a good idea to harm the environment with your leftovers. So, you should add a trash bag to your list of hunting equipment.

Belt

Urine Bottle

Survival Guide in Wilderness