Important survival tips and tricks for beginner hunters

Important Survival Tips and Tricks for Beginner Hunters

Hunting is one of the most intimate ways to get your food on the table, it connects you with nature in a way that’s hard to be described in words. But it’s not an easy job either, it doesn’t just come naturally so you need to learn a few tips and tricks so you can become a better hunter.

Choose your weapon

You can’t hunt well – or at all for that matter – if you don’t choose a weapon that fits your needs and preferences. You might like a rifle for long range shooting, especially if you’re after smaller game. Or you might be more tempted to choose a crossbow or a compound bow, even if these are better at smaller ranges than rifles.

Some people boast that their firearms make more merciful kills, but the truth is you can get the same results with the fastest compound bow on the market, as long as you shoot it right and in the proper setting. That’s why you should do your research first and get the weapon you need for the hunting style you want to practice.

You should also ensure you get something that fits your dominant eye and hand, so it won’t make you feel clumsy. Besides, if you’re wearing eyeglasses and want a rifle, don’t forget to choose one with a generous eye relief.

Exercise

After getting your weapon, it’s important to take it out for a test run or two. That will help you learn how to use it, and really get the feel of it before going out on the field. You’ll find out if there is additional gear you need for it to work better, like a magnifier or a night vision scope.

You’ll learn other things too, like how to adjust it for windage and elevation, you’ll know how much ammunition or arrows to bring, how long the batteries last, etc. And apart from taking your weapon out to exercise, we recommend a prep hunting trip too, so you can actually see what it’s like to go hunting.

Don’t go alone

The best advice you can give a beginner hunter is to choose a mentor, someone they trust completely with both their skills and safety. This should be someone likeminded, that understands what you’re good at, what your style is, if you’re more aggressive and interested in fast shots, or if you’re more careful when shooting.

You can go on trial hunting trips with this person, even if you ultimately choose to go solo on more extended hunts. But it’s a good idea to have the support of a knowledgeable hunter, to begin with since there are tons of accidents that happen in the wild.

You can even shoot someone by mistake or go the wrong way and become the prey to your game. We’re not making this up, beginner hunters are exposed to all sorts of dangers. And even after you become an expert yourself, it’s always wise to let people know your hunting itinerary and schedule.

Get the right gear

There are hundreds of hunters that get lost each year, so you should bring a GPS along, perhaps even an old-fashioned map and compass to ensure you can find your way back. An emergency whistle, a water purifier, waterproof matches, flashlight and plenty of rope are essential, apart from your tent and sleeping bag.

Besides, you should always wear proper-fitting, insulating clothes, made from breathable and moisture-wicking materials. Don’t forget to dress in layers, always pack a rainproof jacket and wear supportive shoes.

You can consider getting a tripod too, a camouflaged shelter, or an odor-masking spray. It’s important to get items that don’t attract the gaze of wild animals, so you should choose camouflage patterns that mimic the way trees and brush look.

You also need a good animal call, like a deer or coyote call, depending on what your game is. These imitate the sounds made by game animals, for instance when they’re in distress or when they’re trying to mate, so they’ll be sure to come your way.

Stay upwind

Apart from hiding your position with camouflage patterns and odor-masking products, you need to know and respect the territory of your game. Say you’re after wild boars, but you’re also navigating through Bear County: don’t start your adventure without making sure you’re safe.

So if you don’t want to be discovered by your game, you should stay upwind, to reduce the chance of being smelled. That said, you need to understand scents the way animals do. Your smell can travel through the air as far as a mile, which can give out your position if you’re not careful.

Play the patience game

Prepare to be disappointed at first, because hunting even with the best equipment that money can buy doesn’t guarantee you absolute success.

That’s why you should scout the environment, familiarizing yourself with the area so you can understand more tell-tale signs that your game is nearby. Knowing the habits of the animals is the first step towards a better hunt, plus you’ll minimize and chances of getting lost.

And after you inflict the fatal shot, you have to be prepared to move your game away, especially if it’s a bigger-sized animal. So you need additional equipment to carry it safely.

First and last minute preparations

Of course, you should begin organizing your hunting trip by researching the hunting laws in place. You don’t want to get an unnecessary ticket, so make sure you respect the hunting season, the game, the weapon and ammunition you’re allowed to use.

But there are other details you need to take into account before leaving, like checking the weather and making sure your equipment is fully functional.

That said, we hope you have a good hunt, but let us know how it went. And after a few more hunting trips, you can come back here and tell us if there’s anything we’ve missed. The comment section awaits below.

Author Bio

Rebecca lives in USA, but loves hiking all over the world. Her favourite is Everest Base Camp Trek in Nepal. It usually takes 16 days, but she likes to slow down, enjoy mountains, company of other adventurers and take more pictures, so it took her 28 days last time. Another of her passion is the ocean, so all short and long hikes along the ocean shore bring a lot of joy. She also writes for hikingmastery.com.

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