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.

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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?

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Originally Posted by MikePal

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 !!!

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I cant wait to learn how to field dress and skin a deer! The blood and guts part doesn't really scare me too much. Fortunately I will be going with an experienced hunter who is also from Kemptville. Just got back from camping on his land right across from Murphy's Point. I know i have a steep learning cuve ahead of me but i'm committed haha

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Originally Posted by smitty55

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

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what kind of knife do YOU use in the field? what kind of blade and how long? i have an 8" bowie knife and with the handle it's close to 12". seems a bit overkill ya?

I use a small fillet type knife for most the the gutting work. You need a fairly small thin blade to do the anus / hip pocket area. Most of my field knives are small Gerber style fixed blade that can be carried on you belt/hip. The deepest cuts you will make are probably on the neck to remove the head when your skinning it at camp or back home so you will have your butcher knives handy for that.

My go to knife in the field is a Normark, with a 4" drop point blade.

Bigger than that, seems a bit like overkill.

c.ken.81 camo clothing is over rated, you can get much better quality non camo for cheaper as long as your out line is broken up with different shades of browns with your hunter orange vest and hat and a face mask would be helpful for cold and concealment as well as being down wind .
All the best Don

I use the 110 buck knife for almost all field work, then a nice small fillet knife for garage work....
Understand deer and their movements will give you the biggest advantage hunting them. Wind and movement are the key to success. Stay downwind, and keep your movements to a minimum.

Don't carry too much stuff with you especially if you are going back to camp after a few hours, just carry the necessities with you. Don't get me wrong, bring more than you need for the trip (extra boots, clothing-food, etc....-leave them at camp) only take the essentials (compass-knife-lighter-license-phone) with you when actually hunting,................ leave everything else back at camp.

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Originally Posted by severn don

c.ken.81 camo clothing is over rated,

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Don you must of worn "Old Guy Camo" ...LOL

A whack of deer were killed by guys wearing the Subury Dinner Jacket :)

http://www.wedoitoutside.com/wp-cont...1-879x1024.jpg

Mikepal still have that jacket in the closet at the camp from the old fellow

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Originally Posted by MikePal

Don you must of worn "Old Guy Camo" ...LOL

A whack of deer were killed by guys wearing the Subury Dinner Jacket :)

http://www.wedoitoutside.com/wp-cont...1-879x1024.jpg

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We all wore them back in the day. Surprising how dark they show up when you see one in the bush now.

Given the quirks of animal vision, I wouldn't be surprised if the old Sudbury dinner jacket didn't function as effective camo.

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I cant stress enough about good boots. Dont buy the cheap ones. For scent control ozonics hr 200 works great!! Have fun

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Everyone has given some great advice, just always remember, the kit doesn't make the hunter. If you have a new rifle, I would recommend buying a bunch of rounds and spending some quality time getting to know it and the distances you're comfortable with, so then you can better know where and how you should scout/place yourself. And as (I believe) Mike said, plan for your success of how to get your meat prepared and home!
Wear enough gear to be comfy, and bring an extra layer in your pack.
Know how to get in/out compass, map, then gps if you need.
Be prepared for the worst (fire making gear, toilet paper, and a book for the boredom!).
Let us know how it went after! Welcome!


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Originally Posted by Chewy836

Everyone has given some great advice, just always remember, the kit doesn't make the hunter. If you have a new rifle, I would recommend buying a bunch of rounds and spending some quality time getting to know it and the distances you're comfortable with, so then you can better know where and how you should scout/place yourself. And as (I believe) Mike said, plan for your success of how to get your meat prepared and home!
Wear enough gear to be comfy, and bring an extra layer in your pack.
Know how to get in/out compass, map, then gps if you need.
Be prepared for the worst (fire making gear, toilet paper, and a book for the boredom!).
Let us know how it went after! Welcome!


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I live in the GTA and finding a range that isn't full is proving to be a challenge. I hear Silverdale gun club in niagra is open to the public on weekends and i think that will be my best bet.

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Originally Posted by c.ken.81

I live in the GTA and finding a range that isn't full is proving to be a challenge. I hear Silverdale gun club in niagra is open to the public on weekends and i think that will be my best bet.

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Ya, it's got to be extremely difficult finding range time in the GTA. I feel for you. If you can find one within a couple hour drive and you can spare the time and money, a range day is a great time!! I am assuming that, as you just bought your rifle that you are fairly new to shooting, but I could be completely wrong, and if so, I apologize! I have shot countless rounds and I still learn every time I go out, so bring a more experienced shooter, and make a day of it. Depending on your ability, camo requirements are different at 50m than they are at 300m! Lol


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I am new to shooting yes. Curious as to how other members here from the GTA work around this. I don't mind driving an hour or two at all. I will keep looking absolutely.

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Originally Posted by c.ken.81

I am new to shooting yes. Curious as to how other members here from the GTA work around this. I don't mind driving an hour or two at all. I will keep looking absolutely.

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Maybe you should start a new thread on gta shooting opportunities, I am sure there are a lot of guys who know where the spots are! Give me a yell if you are ever in the Ottawa area and maybe we can get a shoot going


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Originally Posted by Chewy836

Maybe you should start a new thread on gta shooting opportunities, I am sure there are a lot of guys who know where the spots are! Give me a yell if you are ever in the Ottawa area and maybe we can get a shoot going


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thank you. i will definitely take you up on that in a couple months. my hunting partner has a cabin in Lombardy-i just got back from there a few nights ago. i will be spending much more time out that way in the future.

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Originally Posted by c.ken.81

thank you. i will definitely take you up on that in a couple months. my hunting partner has a cabin in Lombardy-i just got back from there a few nights ago. i will be spending much more time out that way in the future.

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Lol. Oh, I know Lombardy very well! Especially come the fair!


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The deer in my avatar was taken very near Lombardy when I owned a few properties near there. I could hear the fair in the distance.

what is the general consensus about backpacks? When orange is mandatory, does wearing a backpack violate the regs?

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Originally Posted by fratri

Don't carry too much stuff with you especially if you are going back to camp after a few hours, just carry the necessities with you. Don't get me wrong, bring more than you need for the trip (extra boots, clothing-food, etc....-leave them at camp) only take the essentials (compass-knife-lighter-license-phone) with you when actually hunting,................ leave everything else back at camp.

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Frati that certainly depends on the situation. For 15 years we hunted the north shore of White lake. For us it was hop in the boat at 4:45 in the morning, drive across the lake, then hop into a truck and drive 5 minutes before parking. Then it was a 40 minute walk in the dark to our area and walk out in the dark. We had to bring everything in for the day. I did leave a kit bag stashed for the season by "lunch rock" though that had a small saw, hatchet, rope, bags, paper towels etc for when we shot a deer, so at least that didn't have to be carried in each day. This was strictly a walk in hunt and it was a lot of work to haul a deer out. We couldn't have got an atv in there even if we wanted.

Cheers

I found a good website, there are many great reviews of hunting clothing. I think it will be useful - https://under-the-open-sky.com/

The only piece of advice I will give you is cost of anything should not dictate choice. Almost all of my gear is cheap, came from Walmart, Giant Tiger and on sale at big box stores.

The only thing I did not skimp on was walking boots, however, I bought the cheapest (cost) ones at CT and it has been my best investment yet.

The big brand name, high cost stuff is all relative to your hunt conditions, if in a tree stand (ladder), you will want good bib overalls to keep your back warm, good snow boots to keep your feet warm, a hand warmer to put your hands in until time to shoot or glass areas. It don't matter if they are pink or blue (somewhat bow hunters)

Animals like deer smell you long before they see you. Grandpa hunted in blue jeans and the checkered hunting coat and got deer. Stay still, play the wind is your biggest advantage and primary concern.

If in a ground blind, camo not required except face and dark clothing...makes sense, same as a box blind. Nothing worse than being in a blind all hidden and realize your $800.00 dollar Under Armour suit is useless in those conditions.

Duck hunting is the same thing, coffin blind field layout, only face needs to be covered, standing in reeds when duck hunting upper body, face and hands..pants can be dark colored.

Grouse/Rabbit same deal, road hunt or bush hunt, they don't care if your wearing camo. They will spook when hear you moving, before they see you.

Exception to those rules are if you a hunter/stalker then camo and sound are vital to cover. Good boots, scratchless clothing..ect...ect. Bow hunters it is vital to conceal as much as outline as possible with camo, as movement will give you away.

If you know the area and conditions, box, ground blind, tree stand, then you can buy what is needed right now for this season. Wait until the end of season for deals on kijiji, and stores trying to unload stock. I always buy during this time.

Same with used guns, over new. Buy what is needed to hunt under the conditions you expect to hunt in. The rest can be bought slowly over the off season. I buy ammo all year for duck hunting so as not to have the sticker shock opening weekend.

My 2 cents.

The fugal hunter...lol

I agree with what Mark said above. I shop at Canadian Tire, TSC and Costco. Even Merino wool can be found at good prices in those stores. That said, if you can afford to spend more, have a look here: http://www.gostwear.com/hunting-c-86.html

(I'm not advertising. I have no affiliation. I just find they sell some quality wool products that some people could benefit from. You can certainly find these same Canadian-Made products in other stores.)