Hunting Gear Checklist

My name is Keith Warren, and I host a program called The High Road. For over 30 years, I've traveled the world hunting big game, and over those years I've learned a lot about the hunting accessories you need to succeed in the field. Today, I am going to show you some basic things that I carry in my hunting pack, so you can decide what to put in yours.

I'm not going to go over any particular brands of gear, because brands are like vehicles. Some people prefer one over the other. All I'm here to show you is the basic hunting gear that I use. Rest assured, OpticsPlanet has a variety of top brands for each item, so you can choose the best hunting gear for your needs. As you start packing for your next hunting trip, be sure to print out our Hunting Gear Checklist to ensure you don't forget any of the essentials!

Hunting Gear Essentials Overview

Hunting Backpack

Backpacks are essential for lugging around all your hunting accessories. Because you're carrying a ton of great gear, you want a backpack with wide shoulder straps. This spreads the weight of the bag out on your shoulders, making it easier to carry over long distances. The last thing you want is to have 30-40 pounds of hunting gear in a bag with skinny straps that will eventually start digging into your shoulders.

Also, make sure your hunting pack is adjustable so that you can get the weight up over your hips. This ensures a more comfortable journey. Lastly, what I like and what you'll need is a bag with plenty of various pockets and compartments to help you organize everything. This way, when you need to find something quickly, you know exactly where it is.

Keith's Bonus Tip: Keep the hunting accessories you use most often on the outside compartments and toward the top of the bag so that you can get to them quickly and easily!

Hunting Gloves

I hunt a lot of big game animals, and years ago I started carrying a long pair of gloves in my bag. If you have to field dress an animal when you have a jacket on, these can be a lifesaver. You don't want to get a nice hunting jacket messy, so a long set of gloves comes in handy, keeping your hands and clothes clean.

In addition, I always recommend a nice pair of latex or nitrile gloves when cleaning animals. Hunters tend to spend a lot of time outdoors, and those that spend time outdoors tend to have a collection of cuts and scrapes on their hands. It can be dangerous to have blood from a downed animal getting mixed into one of these cuts, so keep nitrile gloves and first aid supplies on hand.

Water

You should carry water with you pretty much everywhere you go, whether you use a canteen, water bottle, or an over-the-shoulder hydration system. I mean that's one of those no-brainers – you're going to get thirsty when you're out for hours on end. However, don't forget about water when it comes time to clean up, and you've got blood on your hands or knife. Carry water to not only quench your thirst, but also to clean your hands and gear afterward.

Keith's Bonus Tip: Believe it or not, cold water will remove blood a lot better than warm water!

Hunting Binoculars

There are three main magnification powers of binoculars that hunters use: 8x, 10x, and 12x. If you're a hunter, then you're going to be stalking animals often. This means a lot of moving on your feet and navigating through the natural terrain, so sometimes a pair of 12x binoculars is too bulky. I prefer 8x binos in that particular situation, especially if I'm bow hunting or up in a tree. While up in the foliage of the tree, I don't need a lot of power to see way out there. It's more important for me to have a clear up-close image, so an 8x power or 10x power binocular is an excellent option in that setting.

Regardless of your choice of magnification, grab a binocular harness or strap. A good binocular harness frees up your hands, allowing you to carry other things in this hunting gear list while still having the binoculars nearby for easy access.

Keith's Bonus Tip: Did you know you can turn your binoculars into a magnifying glass? Here's how – Just take the binocular and put your eye up to the objective lens (the end opposite of what you'd normally look through). If you hold the object you want to magnify up to the eyecup, you'll be amazed at how this method will magnify whatever you're looking at...a splinter, a lock, small screws, anything!

Scent Killer

Most animals that people hunt have very keen senses of smell. For that reason, I want to do everything possible to minimize human odor. I'm not a believer that you can completely eliminate human odor, but you can minimize it. I would really recommend putting scent killer on your clothing before you go out, especially if you're hunting whitetail deer, elk, or hogs.

I don't go anywhere near an animal with a good sense of smell without having a scent elimination spray for all of my hunting stuff. You can also use hunting scents to mask your odor with the smell of something the animal you're after is attracted to. For example, you can use synthetic buck or doe urine.

Hunting Knife

Knives are tools, and tools get the job done. There are countless knife styles and options available, so it can be overwhelming choosing one. I'd encourage any hunter to keep it simple and to focus on these three basic styles of knives:

• Folding Knives: These are super compact when closed and do not take up much room in your pack. They are incredibly versatile and can accomplish a lot of tasks well.
• Fixed Blade Knives: These tend to be stronger than folding knives, allowing them to complete difficult tasks with ease, such as opening sternums while field dressing an animal. Many come with gut hooks, which are very, very handy, especially in the dark. Gut hook knives feature a backward-pointing blade that allows you to make body-length cuts on an animal without the risk of puncturing what's inside.
• Skinning Knives: This style features large, flat blades for removing the hide from bigger game, such as elk and moose. Some also come with a gut hook.

There are plenty of varieties within each category, but these are the three main styles of knives I'd suggest for any hunter.

Keith's Bonus Tip: I'm not really big on sharpening knives. I've never been able to get really good at it. Luckily, there are certain knives that have replacement blades, and these are really cool. They're basically like a scalpel, and when the blade gets dull, all you have to do is remove it and replace it with a brand new blade and you're good to go. You never have to worry about sharpening a knife again. However, OpticsPlanet carries plenty of knife sharpeners if that's what you prefer.

Electrical Tape

I always carry electrical tape. With this, I can do a bunch of things, like put a tag on my animals or even throw a flashlight on a tree limb if I need a light to see what I'm doing when field dressing an animal. The tape always comes in handy – be sure it stays in your bag. A roll of electrical tape is also smaller than duct tape, so it doesn't take up as much space in your bag.

Communication Devices

Let's talk about communication. You don't want to go out to the field alone, and I encourage you to always bring someone along. However, if this is not possible, you need to let someone know where you're going and when you plan to be back. Also, bring your cell phone! I DO NOT go to the field without a cell phone. The last thing you want to do is get lost without a phone (trust me, it happens more than you think). Keep your phone with you just in case you need to make that emergency call. If you're going to a particularly rural area, like deep into the backcountry, consider investing in a satellite phone or SOS messaging system.

Hunting Vest

What is the hunter's most important item of clothing? An orange hunting vest. In some states, you must wear blaze orange. However, even in states where it isn't a requirement, I still carry the orange vest for a few reasons. First, it's highly visible, so if I get lost I can hang it up and somebody can find me. Second, if I make a successful shot, I can hang the hunting vest up in a tree next to where I field dress the animal. This not only lets other hunters know I'm in the area, but it also helps in situations where I leave to get my vehicle and need to find my game upon my return. It is always useful to have the vest with you.

Hunting Range Finder

I never go to the field without a range finder. Contrary to what some non-hunters think, we hunters are very ethical. Part of being ethical is not taking a risky shot that doesn't put the animal down quickly. I can't tell you how many times my eyes made me believe a shot was closer than it actually was. A range finder allows you to be more confident of your distance so that you can adjust accordingly and put that bullet where it needs to go.

Aside from ethical reasons, a rangefinder is simply a useful tool to have when you're out in the field. With an accurate reading, you can quickly adjust your hunting optic to the right settings before you take a shot.

Shop Hunting Gear & Accessories at OpticsPlanet!

These are a few of the things that I carry to the field with me every single time I head out. Like I said, you can find almost all of this gear right here on OpticsPlanet. Whatever you need, we strive to carry it in-stock and at an amazing price. Check out our online hunting store to get started before the season arrives!