New To Hunting? We Discuss The Best Beginner Hunting Tips

Hunting is a hobby and sport that many people enjoy. It takes a tremendous amount of skill and patience. However, there are groups of people that depend on hunting for sustenance, and stock up on food to consume later during the winter season. Hunting is a way to prove your self-reliance.

Hunting to put food on the table is not only a practical way to prepare for a food shortage, but it can become a way for you to unwind and relax. If you are new to hunting, there are several beginner tips that you can follow, so you hunt big game while staying safe at the same time.

Carry A Wilderness Survival Kit

When you are hunting in the woods, it is always important to keep a wilderness survival kit close by. No one ever thinks that they could get lost or injured while out in the woods. Unfortunately, these types of incidents occur more frequent than one things, and it is essential to have a basic survival kit. The kit should include food, water, water sterilization device, and a way to call out for help. Having these items in your kit will significantly increase your chances of survival.

Have A Check-in Person

There should always be at least one person who knows where you are when you are out hunting. Set-up a check-in time of when you will either call or text. That way, if you are late checking-in, your friends or family know to contact help. If you have a traditional cellphone, you might not receive signal if you’re in a remote area. So, you might have to invest in a satellite phone to make sure you can always check-in with someone. Service for a satellite phone can be expensive, but your safety is well worth the investment. One other solution is to get a GPS unit of some sort, to ensure you know where you are at all times, and can give direct coordinates of where you are each time you check-in with someone.

Scents

One of the first things that you will realize when you begin hunting is that big game animals have a very strong sense of smell. Which means that masking your scent could mean the difference between bringing home a prize and coming home empty handed.

Deer are very sensitive to smell and can smell a scent as far as a mile away. Fortunately, there are hundreds of products on the market that will help make your scent less detectable by animals.

You should also be cautious if you are a smoker. The scent of cigarette and cigar smoke not only travels for miles, but it is also a deterrent for animals. The smoke will not only keep animals from entering your area, but it will also chase away other animals in the area.

Safety Is Top Priority

The majority of states require that all hunters take a safety course that is offered through the Wildlife Service or The Department of Natural Resources. It is wise for new hunters to take this course before they begin hunting.

Another reason for fatalities is due to those who refuse to follow simple safety precautions. For example, tree stands offer many benefits for bow hunters. It is important for hunters to secure themselves with the safety harness so they will not fall out of the stand.

Wear The Appropriate Clothing

If you are hunting during the winter season, be sure to wear layers. Even in warmer weather, it will be cool in the morning and evening while being warmer in the day. If you are hunting with a bow, you will need to make sure you are wearing camouflage, and if you are hunting with a gun, you should wear orange.

Vests are a great option because they can be worn over shirts or parkas. Heavy coats and coveralls can help you stay warm in the winter. Your head and neck can stay warm with a cap and a neck warmer.

These are just a few of the beginner hunting tips that new hunters can follow. Having a mentor will also help to increase your chances of success during your first hunt.

Back to the homepage.