Checklist for Gun Hunting

One of the best ways to ensure a safe and enjoyable trip is to prepare yourself with the appropriate equipment for your outdoor activity. Hunting is a dangerous sport unto itself - for the hunted, at least. Hunters, on the other hand, can ensure that their trip is safe, comfortable, and enjoyable if they adequately prepare for the activity at hand. For those whose weapon of choice for hunting is a gun, you’ll want to ensure that you’ve packed your back with the essentials from this checklist.

Keep in mind that one can dedicate an entire day, week, or longer to hunting in the rural outdoors with only a tent or cabin for shelter, while others may hunt as an accessory sport to their regular travel plans. Those with longer hunting trips requiring more confrontation with nature will likely need to check our camping, travel, and hiking checklists as well to ensure that they’re stocked and ready to go!

Click here  to download a printable PDF shopping list.

Essential Gun Hunting Equipment

There are some obvious gear requirements for gun hunting, and the ammunition needed for your primary weapon will vary depending on - you guessed it - the gun you’ve chosen. Be sure to always pack enough ammunition for a full day and to inspect and clean your gun before heading out to ensure a safe hunting excursion.

Gun Accessories

If your weapon of choice is a gun, then you’ll certainly want to ensure that you’ve stocked your bag with the accessories you’ll need for the hunting trip. Remember to always carry your up-to-date permits with you as well to ensure that if you’re stopped by law enforcement, that you have the paperwork to ensure that your gun carrying is legal.

Basic Gear

Once you’ve armed yourself with your hunting weapon of choice - be it a bow, gun, etc. - then it’s time to outfit yourself with the basics. This list encompasses many of the essentials that one would need during their hunting excursion, but keep in mind that many of these basics are pertinent to certain weapons and, thus, can be ignored if the gear is not fit for your weapon of choice (for instance, arrows go with a bow, but gun hunters need not invest in this gear).

Clothing

While many of your standard clothing items are good for layering, there are certain pieces of specialized outdoor clothing that can improve your comfort while you’re out hunting. Keep in mind that the coloring of your clothing can help to disguise your persons from the target and increase the odds of your camouflaging with your surroundings. As always, dress in layers if the temperatures are cool and may potentially warm up during the day.

With any type of hunting, pay close attention to the colors. Bright orange colors help to signal to other hunters that you’re there, and even a bright camouflage can help you stand out to humans while not being distracting to your target. Deer, antelope, elk, sheep, goats, and pigs only have the bluish light cells and the green-yellow light cells in their eyes, meaning they can only see in these colors. Purple, red, pink, and orange don’t make an appearance. So dress in bright colors for these types of prey in order to alert other hunters to your position while not distracting your targets.

First Aid

As an essential to any trip, first aid can help to ensure that minor accidents and ailments are taken care of. Hunting can be very dangerous, as hunters deal with wild animals, untamed wilderness, and the addition of a live weapon. Be sure to pack your kit for minor accidents as well as an emergency surgical kit in case of a more serious situation. Check out some of our pre-made survival kits as well to ensure that you’re stocked for most emergency situations.