Preparation is the key to a successful hunting trip. Before you set off in search of a game, research the hunting regulations. Get your hunting license and a landowner’s permission where necessary.
When you are out hunting, it is common sense to wear the appropriate hunting gear. These include proper clothing, boots, scent reducers, and attractants. Hunting gear also extends to the rifles or bows, ammunition, and hunting bag.
There are some items that you may not realize are necessary until you are outdoors. We have prepared an extensive guide about the hunting gear you will need for your next trip.
What Every Hunter Needs To Be Successful
Hunting gear enhances the experience of stalking and eventually killing some game. It makes the entire process enjoyable.
The hunting industry continues to grow with the popularity of outdoor adventure. This is clear from the amount of hunting gear sold every season. Product development also occurs rapidly, so it is hard to keep track of new merchandise on the market.
The following are the gear that every hunter needs:
Orange-lined Hunting Vest
An orange-lined hunting vest is essential for your safety. The vest’s loud orange lining signals to other hunters your position.
While the orange color makes you visible to other humans, it is subtle enough to conceal you from the game you are stalking.
Some states have legislated that you must wear hunter orange when hunting certain wildlife. The rule is especially prevalent for hunters of big game such as deer in most states. Other states impose it on shotgun hunting of game birds.
Gun Cleaning Equipment
This applies to hunters who use rifles, shotguns, or handguns. You must have the proper cleaning equipment for your barrels.
If you have different guns, a cleaning rod with a detachable end is ideal. This way, you can clean barrels of different calibers with one rod.
Proper care of firearms further entails using cleaning brushes, patches, gun oils, and solvents.
You probably invested hundreds or thousands of dollars to acquire your firearms, so take care of your investment.
Emergency Whistle
The emergency whistle comes in handy if you are injured or lost. It signals to a search party where to find you. It is an essential piece of equipment for hunting trips that require long hikes.
The emergency whistle has negligible weight, so always carry it on your body to be on the safe side.
Binoculars
Binoculars are a classic hunting tool that will help you spot your prey from miles away. It is one of the essential items of long-range rifle hunting.
Gun safety experts recommend using binoculars or a monocular as sighting tools rather than the rifle scope.
Flashlight
Take a flashlight with you on your backpack or keep it in your truck. Either way, it is extremely useful in tracking injured animals under low light conditions.
Check that the flashlight is working and carry extra batteries just in case they die unexpectedly.
Leatherman Multi-tool
Hunters and other outdoor enthusiasts should have this tool alongside their essentials.
The Leatherman multi-tool set contains an assortment of knives, screwdrivers, bottle and can openers, and files along with much more.
The multi-tool is useful for cleaning game meat and in situations that require survival skills.
Noise and Scent-Reduction Apparel
To successfully beg some game, you need to wear the hunting apparel that makes minimal noise from friction. This attire usually comes with noise-reduction capabilities as well.
If you intend to hunt deer or turkey, the slightest noise or scent will betray your presence. Invest in quality apparel! It will reward you with stealth and plenty of kills.
How to Get Hunting Sponsorships for Beginners
If you enjoy and have great hunting skills, getting sponsors is an excellent way to support your favorite activity.
Obtaining hunting sponsorship requires meticulous planning, drive, and the dedication to build a visible brand.
Build your niche in the hunting industry and gather an audience. When you finally have a brand with a following, start by approaching the businesses in your location for potential sponsorship deals.
The following are detailed tips for beginners who want to land big-time hunting sponsors.
Excel In Contests and Tournaments
Once you have chosen your hunting niche, work on increasing your visibility. It does not matter whether you chose to fish or hunt big game, put in the work.
Participating in and winning hunting competitions is a good way to stand out and be marketable. Look out for contests such as the North American Hunting Competition where major sponsors can be found.
There are tournaments and competitions for every hunting niche, not only the big game. A little research around your location will give you the results you need.
Participate and do well in as many tournaments as you can to build your clout with industry players.
Be a Pro-Staffer
Pro-staffers promote hunting products sponsored by a hunting company. In exchange for promoting the products, the pro-staffers get free hunting gear.
A pro-staffer possesses the following qualities:
- Experienced hunter
- Good communication skills, whether written or spoken
- Marketing skills
A prerequisite to becoming a pro-staffer is that you must have an avenue to showcase the sponsor’s products. It can be a radio show, podcast, blog, or YouTube channel.
Contact hunting companies and request to apply as a pro-staffer.
Make Hunting Videos
It is easy to shoot videos nowadays with an array of cameras and phone cameras available. Sharing video content is even easier with social media and other video sharing sites, or even your own website.
Choose the kind of hunting videos you want to shoot, and build an audience around that. Sponsors tend to gravitate where there is an audience.
The following are some examples of videos that you can shoot:
- Hunting tips
- Instructional videos
- Product reviews
Make the information useful and easy to understand. This is what draws and retains the audience to you!
Send Inquiries
Once you have some hunting experience under your belt and picked out your niche, feel free to send inquiries to potential sponsors.
Highlight the following aspects of your inquiry:
- Showcase your skills with videos on your hunting sessions
- Highlight why partnering with you will benefit their business
- Include any awards you have won and media exposure you have received
- Add information about the demographic that views your videos or reads your blog
- Show how many viewers or subscribers you reach per month
If your inquiry is declined, ask what areas you need to improve on in order to be reconsidered in the future.
Research about Hunting Sponsors
There is a wealth of resources online that you can use to educate yourself about sponsors. Read up on the kind of sponsors available, and the kind of people they are looking for.
- What qualities are sponsors looking for in a hunter?
- How can you get the best hunting sponsors?
- Which sponsors will help you grow your hunting career?
All this information is available on the internet at the click of a button.
Write a Proposal
A good proposal includes the following information:
- Why you need the sponsorship
- The amount of money you need
- They type of hunting equipment you need to purchase
- Why you think you should are a good candidate to be sponsored
- Your skills and achievements
- How sponsoring you will be beneficial to their business
The purpose of a proposal is therefore to convince the sponsor to pick you and give you what you are asking for.
Network
It goes without saying that the best way to meet fellow hunters and potential business partners is to network, and build relationships.
There are numerous ways to network, including but not limited to:
- Joining social media groups and chat rooms about hunting
- Local hunting stores sometime have mini-events
- Find local hunting clubs or classes
- Join hunting conventions and expos
- Attend hunting competitions, even if you are not a participant
Relationships borne out of networking are a step in the right direction towards sponsorship.
Negotiate
When you finally find sponsors that are interested in you, you are allowed some room to negotiate.
Learn how to negotiate professionally, speaking honestly about your intentions. Listen and be willing to accommodate your newfound business partners.
Is My Sponsor a Good Fit?
Sometimes, you will get offers from more than one sponsor. It is a good thing, but not every sponsor is right for your career.
The right sponsor is the one who deals in the kind of hunting equipment and gear similar to your niche. A good fit for you should be a partnership where you can easily get along together.
You may not find the right fit immediately, but keep in mind that there are many sponsors in the industry. Keep marketing your brand and skills, it is only a matter of time before you land the right sponsorship.
Don’t Give Up
Your hunting endeavor will only fail if you give up. Multiple rejections are the nature of the business, but keep going!
Most successful hunters you see now also faced rejections but did not give in to despair. Keep working towards your goal, you will get a ‘yes’ along the way.
How to Get Free Hunting Gear
The hunting industry consistently generates billions in revenue. It is safe to say that the industry is thriving.
More people are therefore interested in becoming field testers for new hunting equipment that are constantly being released into the market.
Field testers’ compensation is free or heavily discounted hunting merchandise. So how do you become a field tester to get free hunting gear?
Contact the Manufacturers
Send your application to the company that manufactures the hunting gear. Generally, many of them are open to applications in the fall.
Acceptance into field testing is not automatic. There are requirements that should be met first.
- The more experienced you are, the more likely you are to be selected to test the products.
- You have to be a licensed hunter and demonstrate that you are qualified to test the gear you are requesting.
Start small if this is your first rodeo. Request for one piece of gear the offer to make a video while using it. It is up to you to get creative with your videos.
Don’t overlook the smaller companies that are just starting out. These companies are looking to increase their market share and may therefore be in need of hunters.
Freelance Writing
Hunters who have written extensively have more visibility. They have better chances of being approached by the manufacturing companies or their representatives.
If you are skilled in writing, submit pitches and articles to hunting publications as well as online magazines and journals.
Write about the topics that will show off your expertise. This is what will get you noticed. The more you write, the more you’ll be asked to test different items for the market.
Create Your Own Platform
Hunters are allowed to express their creative side, too! In fact, we encourage you to provide a platform for other hunters to also showcase their skills.
Create a website, blog, or produce a hunting show for TV. There is a high demand for media coverage on the activity.
As your platform grows viewers and readers, you are more likely to be asked to feature gear testing on your platform.
Types of Hunting Weapons
Every time we step out to hunt, it is us coming toe to toe with nature. In the earliest times, our ancestors did not have the luxury of using rifles and bullets. Slingshots did the job, then later on bows and arrows.
To this day, slingshots, bows, and rifles are in use for both big and small game hunting.
Pocket Shot Vs Slingshot
Slingshots have changed somewhat over three decades. It is the pocket shot that is an innovative new product derived from the concept of the slingshot.
The pocket shot deviates from the standard Y-shaped design of the slingshot frame. Instead, it is made of a plastic ring attached to a ribbed rubber bag.
To use the pocket shot, you drop the projectile inside the rubber pocket. Once it’s on, pull the rubber pocket towards you, aim, and then release.
On the other hand, we are all familiar with the Y-shaped frame of the slingshot. The slingshot is a compact hunting weapon made for dexterous hunters. It is also a survival tool for campers and backpackers.
The weapon includes a few rubber strings attached to a Y-shaped frame. To use it, place the ammunition on the strings and pull it back towards you, aim, and release.
The slingshot generates brute force with little effort. It is perfect for hunting small animals or target practice.
Safety Tips for Pocket and Slingshots
When using both the pocket and slingshots, the accuracy of each tool depends on the user. So take your time to practice on both stationary and moving objects before you decide to hunt.
- Confirm that no one is within your line of aim before you draw your ammunition. The projectile force generated is enough to cause serious injury to someone.
- When using a slingshot, inspect all the components before using the tool. The strings tend to war out and the frame can rust, crack, or bend.
- Always wear eye protection in case the string breaks and the ammunition backfires to your face.
- Never use the sling and pocket shot while under influence.
- This last one is a no-brainer; don’t shoot at anything you do not want to destroy, hurt, or damage.
What Do I Need to Start Bow Hunting?
Bowhunting starts and ends with personal safety. Bowhunting becomes dangerous when ignorance, complacency, or negligence is thrown in the mix. Therefore, all new bowhunters must enroll in bowhunter safety education courses.
While taking the bowhunter courses, remember that all states require all hunters to take the hunter-education certification.
There is always a wealth of local resources for bowhunting, so don’t look too hard. Your town’s bow shop and archery clubs are good places to find professionals. These people have the knowledge and skills about bowhunting that they could be willing to share or point you in the right direction.
Reach out to your state’s fish-and-wildlife agency to address any further concerns that you may have. The Agency does have some programs that may help you to progress your bowhunting skills.
Now that you are armed with safety certification, basic skills, and tons of knowledge, it is time to get your own bowhunting gear.
The following is a list of on-bow necessities you need to begin hunting with a compound bow:
- Bow
- Fletched arrows
- Broadheads
- Broadhead wrenches
- Allen wrenches
- Release
- Quiver
- Rest
- Sight
- Peep sight
- D-loop
- Field Points
As an aspiring bowhunter, budget for the items in the list above before you do anything else. Without them, you cannot begin practicing with your bow.
Once you have all the necessities, you can get additional tools. They are important, but not having them won’t hinder you from shooting. You can gradually save for them, borrow from a friend, or visit an archery shop or club to use them:
- Stabilizer
- Target
- Rangefinder
- Bow sling
- Bow case
All you need to begin bowhunting is the safety knowledge and a collection of the basic gear. You can now start sharpening your skills with hours of practice. Even the professionals still have to practice to stay sharp.
What Is the Best Barnett Crossbow
Barnett Crossbows continues to serve hunters after more than 50 years. Their customer base has surpassed one million crossbow hunters.
Barnett Crossbows receive rave reviews because they are built to be better, faster, and more powerful with each new release. Each crossbow is optimized for speed, efficiency, and performance during the hunt.
Engineering at Barnett fosters innovation. Each new model of the crossbow has a unique feature that identifies only with that particular model.
- The Commando Crossbow has self-cocking capabilities
- The Demon is the first compound crossbow by Barnett
- Barnett crossbows feature the exclusive Quick Detach Front End technology
- A built-in crank cocking device attachment makes it easy to use the latest crossbows
Barnett crossbows address the dynamic needs of the modern hunter. Every crossbow is lightweight to provide maximum control. The weight does not compromise the quality of the performance. The brand continues to be the best in the manufacture of archery gear.
What Is the Best Shotgun for Duck Hunting
And now for the rifle hunters, it is important to choose your shotgun carefully. Duck hunting has exposed many weak firearms and inexperienced hunters. There are, however, reliable and durable shotguns that can withstand the demands of waterfowl hunting.
1. Remington Model 870
The Remington 870 doesn’t need any introductions. It is the most popular shotgun ever manufactured.
What makes this gun so good? It has a reliable yet simple pump-action design. Remington 870’s pump-action has been tested against other guns whose pump-action held for decades and it still emerged superior.
Each of the dozen shotgun versions made has been equally reliable and affordable. For duck hunting, reliability is the number-one quality a gun must possess.
2. Winchester Model 12
The Winchester is a beloved symbol of duck and turkey hunting. The gun was first manufactured in 1912 and lived through the two world wars.
This gun is the hallmark of simplicity. It is also clean and reliable as is expected of a duck hunting rifle.
Conclusion
The hunting industry comes up with new innovative hunting gear every season. There is already a product overload for the average consumer, yet more are still being released. There is a need for experienced hunters and enthusiasts to guide other consumers through the mountains of hunting equipment.
There is also a need for experienced hunters to build brands that connect with the manufacturers of hunting gears. Together, these two groups of individuals demystify the process of choosing the most appropriate hunting equipment.
