Hunting Season Preparation Guide: Essential Skills, Equipment & Gear Checklist

Getting Ready for Hunting Season – Where to Start

I don’t know about you but hunting season always seems to sneak up on me and preparing for hunting season can be daunting if you don’t know where to start. Here we will discuss some essential hunting skills as well as hunting equipment and items you should have prepared before hunting season starts. What is the first thing you think about when you decide it is time to start to prepare for hunting season?

Essential Hunting Skills to Master Before Season Opens

Practice Your Shooting – The Most Important Skill

First let’s discuss some essential hunting skills to help get you ready for your hunting season. The most important skill you can practice is shooting your firearm or bow. It doesn’t matter what type of firearm you will be using, you must practice your shot. Part of being an ethical hunter is providing a clean and quick kill shot. It is also important to practice shooting the same way you will be hunting as different positions can impact how you shoot.

Hunting Positions to Practice Shooting From:

Sitting on the ground or in a chair

Tree stand shooting

Box stand shooting

Ground blind shooting

Duck boat shooting

Spot and stalk – will you use a tripod/bipod/shooting stick, tree, or lay prone to shoot?

Physical Fitness for Different Types of Hunts

Different types of hunts require a different level of physical fitness for hunting. It is important to prepare yourself for the type of hunting you plan to do in order to keep yourself safe and make it enjoyable. If you plan on hiking get your boots on the ground and put some miles on, if carrying a backpack with gear or carrying your meat out be sure to practice walking or hiking with your pack on, or practice breath control to make an accurate shot.

Species and Sex Identification Skills

Species and sex identification can also be an important skill to work on prior to the season opening. There are times where in a split second you will need to be able to identify your target. Being able to identify a hen duck or turkey verse a drake/tom or a white tail deer verse a mule deer is a requirement to follow the hunting regulations that are set.

Essential Hunting Equipment and Gear Checklist

Primary Equipment – The Must-Haves

When I think about preparation of hunting equipment the first thing that comes to mind besides your hunting license and required tags is making sure your firearm or bow is ready to go for the season and replacing or fixing anything that needs to be and also making sure that it is sighted in for accuracy. Do you have enough ammo or arrows and broadheads and are they sharp?

Hunting Clothing and Layering System

The next thing that comes to mind is hunting clothing. Depending on where you are hunting you may need to take extra clothes with you or take clothes off during your hunt to stay comfortable. How will you transport these extra layers in and out of the field and do you have the appropriate clothing for the climate?

Hunter Safety Requirements

Knowing the visibility regulations for where you are hunting and if blaze orange (or in some state blaze pink) is required and how much you are required to wear and where on your body. Rain gear can also be important to have for your hunt.

Proper Hunting Footwear

Another item is having appropriate hunting footwear for the type of hunting you will be doing as well as the terrain you will be in. Making sure your footwear/boots are broken in can also be a big part of preparation for the season. New boots can lead to blisters and sore feet that can ruin a hunt very quickly if not broken in properly.

Additional Hunting Gear to Enhance Your Hunt

These are all things that can be essential for most hunts but there are other items that you may also want to consider to make your hunt more enjoyable:

Optics and Navigation

• Binoculars
• Spotting scope
• Rangefinder

Comfort and Calling Equipment

• Chair or sitting cushion
• Game calls

Field Processing and Safety Gear

• Sharp knives
• Game bags
• Head lamp or flashlight
• First aid kit

Overnight and Extended Hunt Gear

• Tent/sleeping bags and pad
• Trekking poles/walking stick

Food and Hydration

• Food and water (possibly a way to gather or filter water if needed)
• Thermos/water bottle
• Food/hunting snacks

Final Hunting Season Preparation Tips

Not only is it important to get your hunting equipment and gear gathered for hunting season but making sure it is in good working order, get yourself in the physical shape that your hunt will require, and practice, practice, practice.

Now is the time to start prepping for hunting season – it will be here before you know it. Happy hunting, and don’t forget to bring the snacks!

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