There is always something new to learn when talking about outdoor experiences. We have a lot of videos and posts covering fishing advice – such as what gear to use, or how to find the perfect spot at any time of the day. But today it’s time to pay more attention to another popular outdoor activity – deer hunting.
The deer hunting season is upon us, and plenty of hunters are looking into prepping their gear for the upcoming trips. But what are the deer hunting essentials, and what type of preparations do you exactly need? Many hunters prefer to cover all angles by bringing as much equipment as possible, but this might not always be the brightest idea – especially if you are concerned about weight and convenience. In fact, just like in many other aspects of life, “less is more” when it comes to deer hunting as well. But before you start prepping, you need to fight the right pack to use.
What Type of Pack Should You Use for Deer Hunting?
If you have decided to give lightweight packing a try, when certainly suggest browsing some hunting waist packs, or also known as “hunting fanny packs”. They might look a bit small at first sight, but they offer plenty of space to store the deer hunting essentials everyone needs. What they lack in space, however, they make up for by being convenient, easy-to-use, and very comfortable. Of course do not forget that it is up to you to determine your needs – if you are going to need clothing and plentiful food for long days in the field, then a backpack might be more appropriate. But in many scenarios, a hunting waist pack is the deer hunting essential you need.
This type of pack is ideal, because it is not oversized, and sits on your waist. You are probably wondering why this would be an advantage? Once you sit down, everything you need will be at your fingertips – no need to move around, and make unnecessary noise and movement. Deer hunting does require you to be stationary for long periods of time, so having a waist pack be your ‘workstation’ is very convenient.
Of course, to make the whole thing even better, you should take enough time to prepare your waist pack properly. Make sure to sort everything so that it does not make unnecessary noises, and remember what you have stored in each compartment – these two simple steps will make your time in the field, tree stand or box blind much easier. You can even get to where you know where everything is in the pitch black of pre-dawn.
Last but not least, keep in mind that the waist pack is not a replacement for a utility belt. You will still need one of those to hang all necessities such as knives, water bottle, and other tools.
What Deer Hunting Gear Should You Bring?
Now, there are a lot of things that you should pick based on your preferences, past experience, and destination. However, they are some things that you will pretty much always bring – hence why we are talking about deer hunting essentials. You should always carry at least one knife for cleaning a deer, and my favorite is a Buck 110 Folding Knife. I also recommend carrying water with you, even if you don’t think you’ll be hunting that long. A Nalgene brand bottle is hard to beat for price and durability.
As we mentioned above, you should take the time to properly organize all compartments of your waist pack. Make sure to arrange items neatly, so that they will be easily accessible, and will not make too much noise. Some of the deer hunting essentials you should put in your pack include:
- A dedicated compartment for face camouflage or eye black.
- Another compartment to store your ammo. Of course, be responsible with your ammunition, and do not let it stay there for long periods of time. It only goes in the ammo pouch during hunting trips, and is removed immediately upon returning. Don’t let it get too hot, or forget what’s in your pack.
- It is recommended to bring a headlamp with controllable power levels – it will certainly come in handy during the nighttime.
- Having a face mask or a bandana is also handy.
- Some toilet paper should always be in your waist pack – always be prepared!
Your main compartment is likely to be used to store all sorts of accessories – a backup knife, a flashlight, a deer rattle, doe bleat, and reserve batteries for the headlamp or flashlight. These essentials might not be necessary during every trip, but it is better to have them and not need them, then to need them and not have them. Being overly prepared when in the wilderness is always a great move.
What Should Your Post-kill Pockets Contain?
Now that the generic supplies are taken care of, it is time to talk what you should bring in case you manage to bag a deer.
- First and foremost – reflective tacks and trail tape. You certainly do not want to get lost in the dark, and these tacks are an easy way to mark your path without making any noise.
- Zip ties and a pen are required for tagging your deer.
- You could also bring gloves if you do not want to get too messy.
- Carrying around some duct tape and tinfoil is also recommended, even though it’s for “just in case”.
- A sewing measuring tape is good to have on hand to measure your deer.
- A sharpening stone is a must-have whenever you plan on doing any sort of work with knives.
- Last but not least, a deer drag is another essential that you should always have ready when deer hunting.
These are the deer hunting essentials that you should have ready to use at pretty much all times. Of course, you will learn more and more with each hunting trip, and your list of necessities will grow larger and larger. Also, keep in mind that there are plenty of extra accessories that you may need situationally – if you expect to be bushwhacking, then a machete is a must-have. In the meantime, if you are planning to spend more time in a box blind, then you might need some more specific gear for there.
