Gearing up for Your First Hunting Trip: 4 Tips for Beginners
Is there anything more exciting than gearing up for your first hunting trip ever? You’ve been practicing for what seems like forever and if you never see another target or another bullseye in your life that will be just fine! Now you want some real action but with just a few days to go before you are set to leave, you probably aren’t quite sure if you’ve packed everything you need to bring.
Gearing up for that first hunt is so exciting that you just may have missed some things you should have packed and packed other things that are just taking up space. Don’t worry, there’s time yet and we’ve got you covered. Here are a few tips to help get you ready to walk out the door when your buddies get here to pick you up.
1. Make Sure You Have Plenty of Ammo
One of the things you may not have known is that you always bring more ammo than you intend to use. A lot of shots can be wasted, especially on your first hunt. There’s just something about knowing this is your first time out that gives you a case of the jitters. It’s okay because it happens to almost everyone on their first time out, so with every shot you will notice yourself getting steadier and steadier.
2. Did You Order the Right Ammo?
Speaking of ordering enough ammo, did you get the right ammo for your hunting rifle? You know that you shoot .223 bullets, but you have read that you can also use 5.56. If you need any specific caliber adjustments, don’t forget to check out rifle primers for sale to ensure you have everything you need for your next hunting trip. When comparing the two, you need to ascertain if both can actually be used in your gun and if there is a difference between the military grade 5.56 and the .223.
In some guns the 5.56 will not fit in the camber so it is imperative that you ordered the bullets you will be using. Do that before leaving or you won’t have any ammo let alone enough!
3. The Legal Stuff
Of course, your buddies who have been out on many trips like this one probably advised you on all the legal stuff you had to get out of the way. Since you already have your state’s hunting license and permission from the landowner because this is where the guys go every year, there are other things you should have with you such as:
• Your driver’s license
• Scent reduced hunting clothes
• Deer tags (if deer hunting)
• A tree stand or blind
And, of course, it is assumed that you took a safety course.
4. Equipment for the Hunt
Besides the gun and ammo, you will need a good pair of binoculars, a hunting knife, a first aid kit, camo clothing, backpack, cooking gear, and a few other odds and ends such as two-way radios to stay in touch with the guys during the course of the day.
It is suggested that you only use the radio sparingly while positioned so that your voices aren’t heard, scaring your prey away. Bear in mind that this is your first time out. Don’t be too disappointed if you don’t make the kill shot. It isn’t uncommon not to make the kill until a second or third time out, if then.
Even seasoned hunters don’t always come home with game they’ve shot but they’ve also learned the fine art of patience when it comes to hunting. Sometimes the deer (for example) are running where you’ve set up, and sometimes they aren’t. Just keep at it and in time you will have food for the table and a head for the mantle. You must find a taxidermist for that first head, right? It’s a prize worth showing off and one you will be talking about for years to come.
