Hunting Is Expanding – What’s In Your Kit Bag?

From 2021, the American hunt is set to become bigger than ever. According to Pew Research, the pandemic has created a 67% hike in new hunter registrations for some states, providing much-needed hope for the conservationists and hunting experts who had feared the worst for the industry due to record low levels of interest. Furthermore, states across the USA have started to increase the purview of their hunting laws, creating new opportunities. For both experienced and newcomer hunters, this necessitates a review of your kit bag and everything in it.

One area that is seeing huge growth are small and medium animal hunts. Most recently, the Associated Press reported that states across the USA have put out bounties for wolf pelts – greatly expanding wolf hunting days. Small and medium animal hunts require precision, and this is often something to be focused on with regards to your weapons. For rifler hunters, that can be achieved through lowering recoil and improving sights. Consider a new muzzle brake for your weapon; muzzle brakes can effectively lower recoil and have an especially pronounced effect when it comes to rifles. This will enable you to stay safe in the field and also increase your chance of scoring some kills.

Hunting laws are changing in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Alabama, Oklahoma, and a few other states, too. Many of these laws allow longer hunting seasons; in PA, for instance, new deer days and small game hunts are opening up for a greater number of Sundays. With greater longevity comes a need for some resilience in the field – a great time to check on your camping and survival kit. Whether you drive home at the end of the day or not, be prepared with multi-weather gear and plenty of food for the trail. You can also look into high-tech tools – in sunnier states, you can now purchase affordable solar equipment for your vehicle that can keep your devices going on all day.

More hunts, at a greater duration, will lead to greater wear and tear across your kit. In a particularly intense hunting season, this can quickly add up – and lead to a lower success rate on your hunts. Even if you just go for one long hunt per season, it’s important that your stuff is up to scratch for a complete day. Your rifle is, of course, the most important bit of kit – if you use more primitive weapons, you might not need to pay as much attention. This is especially important in inclement weather – rain and storms have a habit of putting dirt where it can really mess up your day. Consider a new all-weather kit bag and special cleaning tools to keep your stuff in top condition.

Taking advantage of the United States’ bumper new hunting season requires a little planning. If you keep your kit in top shape, you’ll keep yourself in top shape, too.

Do you know what to put in your hunting backpack? Please give our list a read!

When you go hunting, you have to pack hunting essentials without adding too much weight. It can take years of hunts until you discover which items you actually use when hunting and which you don’t. Finding the perfect balance between functionality and weight can be tricky, and we advise you to listen to the experienced hunters in the beginning carefully. Having said that, here’s what you should pack for a day-hunt.

Hunting license

You should never go hunting without your hunting license. Since the risk of exposing it to the elements is high, you should be cautious and put the hunting license in a plastic bag.You don’t want it to get wet and impossible to read right when you cross by a game warden.

Water and snacks

It’s not going to kill you if you’re thirsty, but being dehydrated can stop you from being able to focus. Always bring enough water when hunting. It’s best to get a bladder for water because it leaves you storage space. Platypus collapsible is also practical because you can put them in the bottom of the pack.

It’s similar to food, especially since hunting can take you many hours. A grumbling stomach can end your hunt sooner than expected. Jerky beef, granola bars, trail mix, are the most popular snacks amongst hunters.

Knife

You always go hunting thinking that you will get your shot, so it makes perfect sense to pack your hunting knife. Get a strong field dressing knife with a sharp blade. We recommend you spend the extra buck for a long-lasting and tough hunting knife. Knives with convenient drop-point blades ensure fast and effortless cleanup.

Rangefinder or binoculars

The rangefinder is relatively small and doesn’t add much weight to your pack. Since you aim to make an ethical shot, the rangefinder will help you get that. When you know you lack the skills for a 700-yard shot, it will be irresponsible of you to try to shoot and wound and not kill the elk.

Binoculars are excellent for hunting because they’re highly valuable for spotting the game and effortless to carry around. You can buy either rangefinder or binoculars, or both. You can experience both and discover which works for you best.

Flashlight & headlamp

A lot can happen when hunting and you might find yourself in the situation when you have to make the shot as the sunset approaches. Even if you don’t plan to pursue it at night, you should always have a flashlight with you. A model with 300+ lumens is appropriate and helps you see what’s around you or in your track.

The chances of you having to dress your game in the dark are high, and it’s a lot easier to do it when you have your hands free. Get a dependable headlamp with a long runtime and alert mode settings. Strobe and SOS are helpful in emergency scenarios. Most headlamps today are lightweight and won’t weigh down your hunting backpack.

Game Call

The game call is one of the last things to pack. You want to have fast access to it when you spot a buck not too far away from you.

Rope

Whether you go hiking, camping, or hunting, you should always have some rope with you—you never know when you need it. The rope doesn’t take much space in your bag and you can use skinning, dragging the game, etc. You can also use a rope to get your weapons up in the tree stand.

First Aid Kit

A small first aid kit in your backpack can make all the difference when hunting. It doesn’t need to contain surgical knives, but only essential items for medical emergencies. A few band-aids (pack various sizes), hand sanitizer, antibacterial cream, anti-itch cream, some ibuprofen, and paracord should be enough in most hunts.

Rain Gear

Even if the weather forecast doesn’t include rain, you should be safe and pack soma rain gear. When your hunting takes place on a snowy mountainside, you don’t want to get all soaked if it starts raining all of a sudden. You won’t be able to hunt anymore and you risk hypothermia which can be challenging to handle in the middle of the woods.

Rubber Gloves

We recommend you pack thick rubber gloves for field dressing your game animal. Your game might have had parasites or bacteria. If you don’t wear rubber gloves and the animal is infected, you can get sick when bacteria/parasites touch the tiniest scrape on your hand. Pack two pairs of gloves—it’s not that they take much space or add weight to your bag!

Trash bags/ Game Bags

Since you always go hunting hoping for success, you want to pack trash bags to pack out your game. If your game is larger than whitetail, game bags will make for better choices. Trash bags are less reliable than game bags because they can tear from the heavy pieces of meat. Game bags, on the other hand, are easy to use and reusable.

Navigation Tools

Not many hunters go hunting using the compass or nature’s tell talers to find their way back home. Finding a new spot is excellent until you forget how to go back home. Make sure you buy and know your way around your navigation tools. There are apps for hunters that allow you to mark new territory and take note of scat, scrapes, ridges, etc. You can also create walking trails and note details about the entry and exit to a location. Experienced hunters have access to private and public land boundaries, so navigation of new land becomes effortless.

Survival Blanket

It doesn’t matter when, where and which type of hunting you do. Always pack a survival blanket because it’s light as a feather and doesn’t take space either. Hunting doesn’t always go as planned and the risk of having to post up camp is never null. A survival blanket will make all the difference.

Firestarter and lighter

Experienced hunters will learn how to light a fire without matches, but it can take you some time until you know to do it. With fire being crucial on cold nights, you should always pack a fire starter and lighter.

Scent Protector

Whether you hang a new tree stand, scout, or hunt for a big buck, you should always remain scent-free for your game. The scent protector is fundamental, especially when you’re scouting and hunting deer—they can sense human scent for up to 10 days after you’ve left.

Toilet Paper

You almost never go hunting thinking that you’re going to be away for a couple of hours. You don’t want to find the wrong way to have packed toilet paper before you leave home.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the hunting industry decreasing or growing?

Between 2016 and 2021, the hunting and trapping industry in the US has grown 3.2% per year on average. The increase is significant and the market has increased faster than the economy.

Can animals get COVID-19?

Studies have revealed that some animals (cats, hamsters, ferrets, minks, non-human primates, raccoon dogs, rabbits, and tree shrews) can get and transmit SARS-CoV-2. Should you be positive, it’s recommended that you don’t get in contact with animals.

What’s a small game animal?

Animals that weigh under 40 pounds are considered to be a small game. Ducks, coyotes, squirrels, pheasants, etc. define as a small game. Small game hunting is very appealing to new hunters, especially since hunting licenses are cheaper than big ones.

You intend to hunt medium game animals. Which animals are medium game?

Deer, feral hogs, antelope, impala, caribou, etc., are medium game animals. Animals weighing between 50 to 350 pounds are considered a medium game. The range goes from less than 50 to more than 300 yards.

What size should your backpack for hunting be?

Even if you don’t like shopping, you shouldn’t hurry when selecting your backpack for hunting. Many elements will make a backpack reliable for your hunt or not. Keep in mind that 1,000 cubic inches space is enough for a day of hunting. Should you plan a 3 to a 5-day hunting trip, a backpack within the 3,000 to 5,000 cubic inches range is an excellent choice.