First Hunt Gear List Recommendations

Hey guys, new here and am happy there's a forum for this! I have waited waaaaaaay too long to get into hunting but at 36 years old, I have finally done it lol. I have 2 different groups of guys i can hunt with and am planning on getting out as much as possible for deer season. I am still in the process of buying gear and wanted to ask you more experienced guys what i should and should not buy for a beginner field kit. i have talked to a few guys and some recommend a million pieces of gear and some have recommended a minimal approach to gear. All i have purchased so far is my .30-06 bolt action and as of now my shopping list includes:

-rifle case/sling
-camo clothing
-3 1/2" skinning knife
-gps unit
-binocs
-rangefinder
-back pack

i know i have probably left out a million crucial things but i am eager to hear what you guys recommend. Any brands to stay away from? i definitely dont have an unlimited budget but i dont want to buy crap that will fall apart after one season. thanks in advance guys! cant wait to get out there...

You will need at least an orange hat and vest to meet the minimum requirements for hunters orange for the deer hunt.

I have found over the years, that the most important gear to start with would be base layer clothing, every thing else is collectable over time. Staying warm and dry makes or brakes your day. Do the research, if money is tight as it has always been for me. you can get good quality clothing at value village such as wool sweaters and poly propylene shirts and pants. next would be hat and especially gloves Read the labels same as the expensive stuff. The next would be the best 1 or 2 pairs of boots you can afford for early and late season. Depending on your stile of hunting. make sure they are 1 or two sizes larger for wool socks and liner socks. Take them with you when you try on boots. All the best Don

toilet paper!!! wipe and fire starter.

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Originally Posted by c.ken.81

Hey guys, new here and am happy there's a forum for this! I have waited waaaaaaay too long to get into hunting but at 36 years old, I have finally done it lol. I have 2 different groups of guys i can hunt with and am planning on getting out as much as possible for deer season. I am still in the process of buying gear and wanted to ask you more experienced guys what i should and should not buy for a beginner field kit. i have talked to a few guys and some recommend a million pieces of gear and some have recommended a minimal approach to gear. All i have purchased so far is my .30-06 bolt action and as of now my shopping list includes:

-rifle case/sling
-camo clothing
-3 1/2" skinning knife
-gps unit
-binocs
-rangefinder
-back pack

i know i have probably left out a million crucial things but i am eager to hear what you guys recommend. Any brands to stay away from? i definitely dont have an unlimited budget but i dont want to buy crap that will fall apart after one season. thanks in advance guys! cant wait to get out there...

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Welcome aboard! Forget about the "high end" gear like anything from stores like Sail (Columbia etc.) that won't stand up to tough use and it'll break the bank. For a back pack,pick smaller and durable in a simple day pack,but,large enough to pack a small amount of survival gear,your lunch and thermos,ammo and TOILET PAPER (very important,hence the capitals). Canadian Tire is your best bet for one of those AND hunting clothing (Marks Work Wear stuff is unbeatable). A GPS unit is a nice toy to have,but,also buy a good compass because batteries can fail and small units can get lost and break. Never,never trust anything than runs on batteries when you're heading into the bush.

As great as gps units are, always carry a compass and learn how to use it.. No batteries, no weather issues or moisture probs if you go in the drink.
Plus you'll need more than just a skinning knife. Unless you do any skinning in the field it won't do for most jobs.
Flagging tape, matches and a lighter, maybe a couple of flashlights, a whistle, some wet wipes in a ziplock, extra bags for heart etc, buttwipe, some string to tie off the colon, a small saw with fine and coarse teeth, a length of 1/4" rope.
I would always rather be over stocked than under. It's just a bit extra weight to carry. A small folding seat can be real handy too.

Cheers

What severn said about boots. Your feet can get cold and cut your hunt if your not prepared.

A decent backpack if you have to hike in to your watch that can hold layers, food, and your basic kit.

Lot of guys prep for the front end, but fail to prepare themselves for the 2nd half....success means having to have the tools and means to eviscerate a deer and haul it out. Make sure you know how to butcher it or find ,in advance, some who will do it for you.

We've had a few guys come thru the camp kitted out like they were going to war....but couldn't get past the nasty work after the trigger was pulled and quit hunting.

Welcome to the forum and welcome to the hunting fraternity !!!

Thanks for all the practical advice guys. Some things were mentioned I didn't even consider.

Sent from my SM-A520W using Tapatalk

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Originally Posted by severn don

I have found over the years, that the most important gear to start with would be base layer clothing, every thing else is collectable over time. Staying warm and dry makes or brakes your day. Do the research, if money is tight as it has always been for me. you can get good quality clothing at value village such as wool sweaters and poly propylene shirts and pants. next would be hat and especially gloves Read the labels same as the expensive stuff. The next would be the best 1 or 2 pairs of boots you can afford for early and late season. Depending on your stile of hunting. make sure they are 1 or two sizes larger for wool socks and liner socks. Take them with you when you try on boots. All the best Don

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Thanks Don. How important is camo clothing when not hunting behind a blind? Assuming i can get 50-150 yards to a deer, will earth toned clothing suffice under neath my orange vest and hat?