How to Equip an Effective Hunter

David Cox

I am often asked by first time hunters, what do I need for my first hunt?  Well, that ranges from almost nothing, to thousands of dollars of equipment depending on what, when, where, and how you are hunting.  If you are hunting with a guide service, you may need nothing more than some warm clothes, but if you are hunting with a buddy for the first time, you may need everything.  I will say this now; ALWAYS hunt with an experienced hunter until you are completely comfortable with the basics of hunting, your equipment, and the land you will be hunting.

The most obvious thing you will need for your first hunt (if it is not provided) is your weapon of choice, but we will leave that to another article.  In short, here is what you will need, minus the weapon, for any hunt:

Good clothing and shoes/boots are the most important part to a successful hunt.  Items that are often overlooked are gloves, socks, and face masks.  These items are just as important as pants, shirts, shoes, and jackets.  You must select the proper attire for the type hunting you have chosen.  In many cases, we hunt in cold environments, so it is imperative that you remain warm while still comfortable and mobile.  To do this, you should choose your pants, shirts, and jackets to supply the insulation necessary to keep you warm, but do not over do it.  To achieve this, it is best to dress in layers so that you can remove some of them during the middle of the day.  The best insulated suit in the world will not be able to keep you warm in a stand in freezing temperatures if you first layer of clothes are wet from perspiration earlier in the day.  Regulate your clothing throughout the day to maintain comfort without getting too hot.  In addition to perspiration, select water proof clothing to keep you dry if you will be hunting in an environment where precipitation is likely.

In addition to warmth, you must select your clothing and footwear to allow comfortable, quiet movement.  There is NOTHING more disappointing that loosing or missing that shot of a lifetime because your game heard your jacket sleeves rubbing your sides or your jacket was so thick you could not comfortably aim the weapon.  Choose materials that do not make much noise when rubbed against themselves.  You should also try to keep your garments as flexible and thin as possible (while maintaining enough protection against the cold) to allow for an easy, comfortable shot when you get that chance!

You must also select clothing that will provide the proper amount of camouflage.  If you will be hunting from a stand, this is not as critical, but must still be considered.  If you will be completely exposed, such as with stalk hunting, full camouflage will be required.  If this is the case, consider all layers of clothes.  You may need more than one layer of camouflaged clothing if you expect to shed layers later in the day.  Finally, make sure the camouflage chosen is appropriate for the environment you will be hunting.  Do not wear upland camouflage if you will be hunting in the deep swamps of the South. Read the full article here...