Prepping for Hunting Season:
Your Gear Checklist
Many of those who love the great outdoors are already excited for the hunting season to come full. When that air turns crisp and the leaves start to change, hunters everywhere feel the call of the wild. While you have a couple of months until that point, a successful hunting season begins with solid preparation, and now you have time for it.
This means having the right gear.Whether you are chasing whitetail in the Midwest or you’re after elk in the Rockies, showing up unprepared can ruin your trip before it even begins. So to help you to get ready for the season, here’s a checklist of essentials to ensure that you’re geared up, dialled in and ready to go.
- A firearm and optic zeroed in. It sounds obvious, but your rifle or your bow needs to be tuned and accurate. After months in storage, even the smallest bumps or changes in humidity can affect your zero. That’s where bore sightings come in. A bore sight manufacturer who offers multiple calibres can make your hunting prep a heck of a lot smoother, especially if you’re using different rifles for different game. This small investment can save you time, ammo, and frustration at the range.
- Ammo. You need to be prepared with the right type of ammo and enough of it. If you’re using premium hunting rounds, pick them up early. Popular calibers tend to sell out fast during peak season, which is why you’re doing all your preparation now. Check your stash from last year for any damaged boxes or tarnished brass and test fire a few rounds to confirm consistent performance. Just make sure you’re doing it on the range in a safe area so nobody gets hurt.
- Invest in proper footwear. You should never underestimate the value of good boots. They should be waterproof and insulated if needed, and they should be broken in well before opening day. As we’re a few months off of hunting season, you could buy your boots now and start breaking them in before you start hunting. Blisters or wet feet can tell a dream hunt into a miserable slog, so pack extra socks and consider gaiters if you’ll be walking through snow or wet grass.
- Binoculars and rangefinders. If you want the upper hand in your hunt, you need a spot game early. A quality pair of binoculars is an absolute must. A range Finder is equally important, especially if you’re hunting in open areas or mountainous terrain where estimating distance by eye can be difficult. You should never rely solely on your rifle scope because it’s meant for aiming, not scanning.
- Field gear and tools. Don’t forget to pack your essentials, a sharp knife for field dressing, game bags, gloves, and maybe even a small sword depending on the size of your game. You should also pack a multi tool or small repair kit for fixing gear in the field. Put fresh batteries in your backup headlamp and your existing headlamp, which can make a big difference if you’re tracking in low light.
Great hunts don’t just happen, they are built on preparation, so don’t be afraid to get prepared early.