A camping trip suggests fun times. A journey made into the wilderness to get closer to nature and spend some quality time away from the hustle and bustle of everyday city life. But a camping hunt, however, signifies something more serious. A camping hunt is an undertaking of considerable proportions, where you are not just mindlessly going off to get a pure taste of mother nature, but rather it is a focused journey where you have a goal in mind.
The goal, most often, is to hunt game. More specifically, a camping hunt is an ambitious and exciting adventure where hunters go to test their mettle and survival skills. And for any camping hunt to be fruitful, it is crucial that you carry the necessary gear.
You may be a bonafide veteran hunter or just an eager amateur, but regardless of your hunter status, it would be smart to ask the following question before you step out: What do I need for a camping hunt?
For your aid, we have answered this vital question in detail to ensure that your next hunting expedition is a successful one.
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What do I Need for a Camping Hunt?
For a camping hunt, you need to pack with two aspects in mind: Camping and Hunting.
You can read extensively about camping gear by reading Basic Wilderness Survival Gear-10 Essential Items and pack your backpack accordingly. As for hunting gear, we have compiled below a list of the top 10 things you will need for a successful hunt:
1. Hunting Knife
It goes without saying that you simply cannot complete a hunt without a good hunting knife. The ideal hunting knife should be wicked-sharp to slice through flesh like butter and sturdy enough to withstand blunt force. It should be immune to rust, come with a protective sheath, and a durable handle. We recommend the Outdoor Edge Razorlite, which comes with 6 replaceable blades.
See Choosing the Right Survival Knife to get a better idea of which type of knife should you go for.
2. Hunting Rifle with Scope
Be it deer, turkey, or even bear, a rifle is the weapon of choice for hunters and understandably so. It is simple to use, easy to carry, and completely badass! Some top tips before selecting one for your next hunt are:
- Weight – Nobody wants to lug a massive rifle for miles when there are so many compact ones available. Aim for a rifle that weighs between 5-8 lbs.
- Accuracy – You may be an excellent shot, but it is still wiser to purchase one with guaranteed accuracy.
- Cartridge – Not every cartridge is suitable for every animal. A single .22 Remington may be enough for the smaller games but won’t bring down a large buck, while a .308 Winchester will injure a huge bear but will blow a tiny rabbit into smithereens, so choose accordingly.
- Materials – Opt for stainless steel barrels as they are immune to rust as opposed to the cheaper carbon steel. A walnut body is pricier but worth the money thanks to durability.
- Scope – A good scope may cost nearly as much as the gun itself but it is a necessary one-time purchase, so invest in high-quality optics for excellent vision.
3. Hunting Bow
If you are an old-school hunter or simply one who enjoys a challenge, then the idea of hunting with a bow should be right up your street! If you aren’t fond of guns, then using a compound bow is your best bet. If you have money to spare, you can get a custom-made bow for yourself, but if not, there are plenty of good options available in the market. Just remember to check for the following things before making the purchase:
- Launch Speed – Anything above 300 FPS is good enough.
- Weight – Shouldn’t be too heavy. 3.0-4.5 lbs range is acceptable.
- Height – You should be able to maneuver it comfortably.
- Draw Length – 12-32 inches is an acceptable draw length.
- Price – Of course, it shouldn’t cost you an arm! You can compare prices on Amazon.
4. Binoculars
How will you track your prey? By using high powered binoculars, of course! There are plenty of available options, but the ideal pair should be:
- Waterproof and fog proof.
- Low magnification with a high FOV for wooded areas.
- High magnification with a narrow FOV for open fields.
- Have a night vision.
- A lens between 8×42 or 10×50 should be suitable for most hunts.
We recommend the USCAMEL 10X50 Marine for the best value for money.
5. Rope
A rope will come in handy not just to securely tie up your prey and bring it home, but also in case you need to set up camp. Every worthwhile camper can swear by its usefulness so don’t forget to stash some in your backpack before you head out.
We recommend the Deluxe Magnet Fishing Rope for a camping hunt.
6. Flashlight
You will only end up injuring yourself if you attempt hunting in the dark so carry a flashlight with you. It should be weatherproof and shockproof, with high brightness and long battery runtime.
Our top 2 picks are The VASTFIRE Hunting Flashlight and The J5 Tactical Flashlight.
7. Hunting Vest
Believe us, you do NOT want to land between somebody else’s line of fire! So always wear an orange-lined hunting vest to keep yourself safe. Such jackets offer enough camouflage to conceal you sufficiently from your prey while other hunters can clearly spot the orange color and don’t end up shooting you by accident.
8. Hunting Apparel
Get yourself a tactical hunting suit which not only offers camo, scent and noise reduction, and weather protection, but is also lightweight and comfortable. We recommend the LANBAOSI Hunting Uniform available on Amazon.
In addition, purchase a light cap to shield your eyes from the elements and a pair of thick gloves to protect your hands.
One more thing to consider is weather changes. As a precaution, you can use layered clothing technique. See how layered clothing works.
9. Emergency Whistle
An emergency whistle will allow you to signal for help in case things go wrong. If you are hunting in a group, an emergency whistle will aid you if you get lost or separated, and in case you are injured and have called for rescue measures, a whistle will help the rescue team find you quickly. Always carry one whistle hooked to your jacket and another to your backpack.
- Emergency Kit
Last but definitely not least is an emergency kit. You should always carry a full emergency kit whenever you head out into the wilderness. It should contain:
- Medium to large-sized bandaids
- Pressure bandages to staunch bleeding
- Alcohol swabs to clean out cuts
- Sterile gauze to cover wounds
- Tourniquet (hunter orange in color) to minimize blood loss in severe injuries
- Metal tweezers to remove foreign bodies like splinters, bee stingers, etc.
- Small pair of scissors to cut bandages
- Antiseptic solution/ointment
- Painkillers like Tylenol
- EpiPen
- Survival blanket to save you from hypothermia
- Antibacterial wet wipes to clean your hands and equipment
- Water purification tablets
Summing up, these are the top 10 things you will need for a camping hunt. Make sure you have all your gear loaded up before setting off into the wilderness to catch some A-game.
For additional guidance, see Survival Hunting Tips and get some useful advice.
Hope you have a brilliant –but safe- hunting season!