On average, US hunters plan roughly 185 million hunting trips a year. This weighs in at close to $22.9 million spent on all hunting activities!
Clearly, hunting is a beloved sport that most avid hunters take seriously. Whether you’re new to the hunting game or are planning your twentieth annual trip, it still helps to create a packing checklist in advance to make sure that no important item is overlooked.
What Should You Bring on Your Weekend Hunting Trip?
AllCanada.com recommends covering all the bases as you pack for your hunting trip in the following categories:
- Identification: This may include your driver’s license, birth certificate, or passport, as well as money, itinerary, and necessary licenses, tags, and permits.
- Gadgets: Don’t forget important gadgets that will make daily hunting easier, like binoculars, a range finder, two-way radios, a headlamp, a Leatherman, and a spotting scope and tripod. If you’re hunting with a hunting dog, make sure to bring necessary training gadgets, like beeper collars to find a dog’s exact location.
- Navigation: When hunting, navigation technology is a must with items like a compass, area maps, and bright eyes.
- Lures: For a successful hunt, you’ll need scents, calls, and/or lures, including game attractants and scents, game calls, and masking scents.
- Clothing: Remember to pack essential hunting clothing like camouflage gear, warm clothes for camping, scent masking clothes, and a bright orange vest or hat as some states require by law.
- Guns: You won’t be able to hunt without the proper guns and ammunition, as well as a gun cleaning kit, a bipod, a bone saw, a rifle and sling, and a shotgun.
- Safety Gear: Safety gear for camping may include a fire starter, a fire extinguisher, a GPS, a signal mirror, and a whistle. If you’re hunting in the wilderness, it’s also recommended to keep a disaster supply kit on hand with enough food, water, and necessary supplies to last for a minimum of three days.
How to Wrap Up a Weekend Hunting Trip
Now that the fun is over, it’s time to head back to the daily grind. But before you do… Don’t forget to fill out and mail your harvest report card, process game, and contact a taxidermist, if necessary.
To keep your supplies in the best condition for your next trip, take several hours to clean and store all of your hunting and safety gear. Last but not least, reward your hunting dog with treats and praise for a job well done as they contributed to your successful hunt!