First deer hunt, what to bring?

[EmeraldBullet]

I have never been hunting before but passed hunters ed, and today I bought my deer tag. I plan on hunting modern rifle on the east side with some family friends (they have ample experience, and agreed for me to join them this year.)

Obviously I am going to bring my tag (and some string to attach it?), rifle, ammo, knife, spotting scope, backpack. I was also thinking some heavy duty garbage bags and perhaps scissors.

What am I missing? What do I really NEED to bring that I'm not thinking of? Thank you so much for your help.

[DeKuma]

You could do without the scissors, at least I have never packed any.
Good rope is always a plus.  My pack has rope, flashlight, gloves, towel, handi-wipes, game bags, extra knife, batteries, matches/lighter, first aide kit to name some items

[bobcat]

Don't forget your hunting license. A map, compass, and GPS. TP in your pack, or even better, baby wipes. And don't forget a good waterproof coat, sounds like it's going to be raining.

[EmeraldBullet]

Thanks guys. Map and compass, wipes, and first aid kit will be added to my list for sure. Rope is a good idea too.
I was thinking of gloves, forgot to mention that in my original post, I'm thinking some cheap latex gloves with some nicer leather gloves over them (something that provides a little protection from a knife mistake but also allows for dexterity.)
Thanks again for all the help. Everyone here has been great.

[tgomez]

Knife, saw, flashlight, 10x binos, extra ammo, gloves, watchcap, flagging tape, deer call, rope, rain wear, waterproff boots, and a good pack that you can haul out meat with. BEST OF LUCK!👍😁

[Lincoln4]

Patience.

And the wipes.  A headlamp.  A quart ziplock bag to put the heart in.   

[tonymiller7]

Food, beverages, sleeping bag, tent, etc.  Nothing worse than a noob who expects everything handed to him.   

[bosshogg112]

Besides all that has been mentioned above, I always have some zip ties in my pack as well.

[pianoman9701]

http://www.gandermountain.com/checklists/deer-hunting.shtml

Some of the above doesn't apply but it's a pretty good list. Pocket chemical heater packs are nice in the cold. A mushroom field guide like All That The Rain Promises And More. A couple of foil packs of cat food. If you get lost, you won't eat them until you're really, really hungry. Eventually, the best glass - binos or spotter, the best boots, Best jacket, and the best wet weather gear you can buy. Everything else can be just fairly good if these are solid. A great knife for skinning and boning, Like a Razor's Edge with replacement blades. Lots of Advil or Aleve. If you have some leftover Percocet or vicodin, these are great for your emergency pack in case you've hurt yourself, or Xanax is good to calm yourself down if you get lost or hurt.

In camp, some warm lounging clothes that don't melt, and camp shoes. Don't forget pillows and towels. Twice as much booze and you think you need. Good cigars, a cutter, and a lighter with fuel. You're almost 60 like me, right? Don't take free pepperoni from the natives. That'll come back and bite you. Extra chairs. Have fun.

[bosshogg112]

Forget to mention toilet paper...  Having to cut out pockets to wipe with is not fun...

[rickomatic]

Forget to mention toilet paper...  Having to cut out pockets to wipe with is not fun...

bd

Also known as "mountain money"

[Fl0und3rz]

A good hat, rain and/or wool stocking cap.

Ample water and snacks for your pack.

[WAnoob]

baby wipes > toilet paper, just saying

[wapiti hunter2]

Knife sharpener

[police women of America]

Here's some of things on my list:
1. Scent control
2. Saw, small knife, and a good sized sharp knife
3. Rubber gloves
4. Head lamp or flashlight
5. Hunting license, tag, and hunters-Ed cirtificate
6. String for the tag, and a cheap hole puncher (I find it easier to use then a knife)
7. Map and compass (just incase)
8. Bear pepper spray
9. Hunters orange vest
10. Strong rope
Those are about the essientials. I also always carry a medical kit and flares with me too. Try to visualize hunting day step by step, that's how I got a list together.
Good luck! And if you have any questions feel free to message me, just two years ago I was asking these questions myself.

[fish vacuum]

Knives
Multi tool
Rope
Game bags or pillow cases (don't pack meat in plastic)
A clean sheet or table cloth (used as a clean surface to place meat on)
Electrical tape
Compass
Whistle
Hydration bladder
A lighter and fire starter
TP
Protein bars
Camera
2-way radio
Head lamp

[fisheral87]

Celebratory Snickers Bar.

[fishnfur]

If you hunt on the west side, an extra set of tires and a six pack of beer!

[DaveMonti]

I know you said these items already, but just to emphasize.  These items are easy to leave behind, and many a hunter has.  They have also found themselves constantly and mercilessly razzed by the rest of the camp.

1.  Ammo
2.  AMMO
3.  Don't forget the AMMO!!!

[jkthomps]

I know you said these items already, but just to emphasize.  These items are easy to leave behind, and many a hunter has.  They have also found themselves constantly and mercilessly razzed by the rest of the camp.

1.  Ammo
2.  AMMO
3.  Don't forget the AMMO!!!

I am going laugh my butt off when you forget ammo next week haha


What I pack changes depending on where I hunt, but there are some basic items that go on every hunt... mostly mentioned above. I might recommend electrical tape added to your pack. Great to attach your tag to an antler and also works to make sure makeshift splints stay in place on broken bones... and you can even fix broken pack straps or strap extra meat to your pack.... all from experience

Bring your a camera and capture your experience and share with all of us!

Good luck!

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[fisheral87]

Organizing multiple times prior to the trip helps me not forget stuff.

Good excuse to hang out in the garage listen to Gritty Bowmen and drink some 16 year Glenlivet.

Al

[wheels]

orange of some kind vest, sweat shirt

[Hilltop123]

Positive mental attitude

[DaveMonti]

I know you said these items already, but just to emphasize.  These items are easy to leave behind, and many a hunter has.  They have also found themselves constantly and mercilessly razzed by the rest of the camp.

1.  Ammo
2.  AMMO
3.  Don't forget the AMMO!!!

I might recommend electrical tape added to your pack. Great to attach your tag to an antler and also works to make sure makeshift splints stay in place on broken bones... and you can even fix broken pack straps or strap extra meat to your pack.... all from experience



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Experience with electrical tape, splints, and broken bones?  I've got to hear about this one!

[bb76]

Wool socks
Don't forget your tag and license.
Hand sanitizer.
Head lamp
Lighter
Emergency kit
Gorilla tape

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[curlewkiller]

In lieu of rope in pack I go for a thicker gauge parachute cord.  I also always pack a thermal foil blanket. Oh, I also pack thin parachute to tie anus off once cut loose.  Keeps the bad stuff in while pulling through pelvis.

[builtfordtough]

Maybe I'm missing something. Make sure u have a bladder. A 3 liter

[jmscon]

Game bags, hatchet or saw, clean sheet for putting meat on, tp (in a ziplock), extra knife, sharpening stone, rubber gloves, marking tape, orange vest (in case it warms up and you need to get down to a tee shirt), water bladder, compass, snack bars, lighter or matches (in a zip lock), warm gloves, warm hat, purifying tablets or steripen, gps, head lamp, extra batteries for both.

I keep my tag and license on me in case I have to drop my pack and cant find it again.

Don't forget your rifle, it's a long drive home.

Good luck!

[MNguy33]

Unless I missed it, you may want something to get your deer out depending on where your party is hunting. Rope / sled/ etc.

[losdaddy7]

I always bring a couple Ziploc freezer bags for the liver and heart.

[jtw]

I know you said spotting scope but do you have binoculars? I rarely use my spotter except to get a closer look at things. Binoculars on the other hand are invaluable.

[PastorJoel]

Extra pair of socks.

[Skyvalhunter]

.375 CALIBER RIFLE

[WSU]

It really depends on where you are hunting.  For example, I hunt a farm in Goldendale and don't bother to bring many of the things mentioned.  I bring different things if I'm hunting 5 miles from the truck.

[andrew_in_idaho]

Going back to the OP you said you were thinking of bringing some heavy duty garbage bags, I'm assuming your thought there was for meat and I'm going to tell you not to do that. Get some game bags, you want breathable fabric as opposed to garbage bags which will lead to spoilage


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[andrew_in_idaho]

Here's some of things on my list:
1. Scent control
2. Saw, small knife, and a good sized sharp knife
3. Rubber gloves
4. Head lamp or flashlight
5. Hunting license, tag, and hunters-Ed cirtificate
6. String for the tag, and a cheap hole puncher (I find it easier to use then a knife)
7. Map and compass (just incase)
8. Bear pepper spray
9. Hunters orange vest
10. Strong rope
Those are about the essientials. I also always carry a medical kit and flares with me too. Try to visualize hunting day step by step, that's how I got a list together.
Good luck! And if you have any questions feel free to message me, just two years ago I was asking these questions myself.

Where are you hunting that you need bear spray? Unless you are in the extreme NE corner of WA, Idaho panhandle or the greater Yellowstone area there aren't many grizzlies in deer country, and the odds of being attacked by a black bear are very low


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[coachcw]

one thing for sure binos , don't scope anything your not going to shoot ( IE people)

[police women of America]

Here's some of things on my list:
1. Scent control
2. Saw, small knife, and a good sized sharp knife
3. Rubber gloves
4. Head lamp or flashlight
5. Hunting license, tag, and hunters-Ed cirtificate
6. String for the tag, and a cheap hole puncher (I find it easier to use then a knife)
7. Map and compass (just incase)
8. Bear pepper spray
9. Hunters orange vest
10. Strong rope
Those are about the essientials. I also always carry a medical kit and flares with me too. Try to visualize hunting day step by step, that's how I got a list together.
Good luck! And if you have any questions feel free to message me, just two years ago I was asking these questions myself.

Where are you hunting that you need bear spray? Unless you are in the extreme NE corner of WA, Idaho panhandle or the greater Yellowstone area there aren't many grizzlies in deer country, and the odds of being attacked by a black bear are very low


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There have been a lot of black bear attacks (usually none-fatal) even though they are more rare then grizzly. Where I hunt (here on the west side, sometimes Capital Forest) even the "pros" say you'd have to be crazy not to carry some or have a gun on you. I've also been chased by a black bear last year, he was just scaring us off but after that I would never go anywhere in the woods without pepper spray. Not to mention cougars.

[EmeraldBullet]

Thanks so much for the help everyone. I have forgotten a lot of stuff on my list that I intended to bring, but who knows since it wasn't on my list.

Added to my list are Disposable Camera, Hunter Orange vest, AMMO AMMO AMMO, Bear Spray, torch lighter, ziptyes?

[EmeraldBullet]

Going back to the OP you said you were thinking of bringing some heavy duty garbage bags, I'm assuming your thought there was for meat and I'm going to tell you not to do that. Get some game bags, you want breathable fabric as opposed to garbage bags which will lead to spoilage
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Thank you so much, this helps a ton.

[h20hunter]

2nd thatvon garbage bags. On a seperate note....takecall the crap you think you need. Next year, you will take half!

[bigmacc]

Going back to the OP you said you were thinking of bringing some heavy duty garbage bags, I'm assuming your thought there was for meat and I'm going to tell you not to do that. Get some game bags, you want breathable fabric as opposed to garbage bags which will lead to spoilage
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thank you so much, this helps a ton.

May sound a little silly but I,ve seen it happen before....License, tag, gun, shells, boots, sleepin bag,plenty of socks and clean shorts :tup:Good luck.

[7mmfan]

I guess here in WA I don't worry about bear spray much, since I carry a bear tag anyway. I know that they can catch you off guard, but I think its pretty rare around these parts. If I was in griz country, I'd definitely have it however.

TP and wetwipes are ESSENTIALS. Everything else is negotiable   

[7mmfan]

Seriously, this is my pack list.

Tags/Licenses
Ammo
Hunter Orange

Water, more than you think you need. I carry 96 oz. Nothing worse than being dehydrated and cramping up miles from the truck with a load of meat to haul out.

High protein snacks (Jerky, if you have access to lots of water, protein bars, trail mix, etc...)
Compass/Maps (Maps may or may not help you a lot depending on the area/situation, but a compass is required)
Binos
Extra wool socks
Packable Rain Gear
Wool Gloves
Beanie
Rangefinder (optional, depends on the situation)
50' Paracord
Small length of rope
Knife and Sharpener (I use a Havalon Titan, replaceable blade and heavy blade, covers everything needed to break an animal down)
First Aid Kit
Safety Blanket
Fire Kit (matches in waterproof container, lighter in waterproof container, fire starter)
Head Lamp
Extra Batteries
Game Bags
Shooting Sticks
Small roll of electrical tape
Zip Ties (you never know?)

Large heavy garbage bag (I see others say not to use them, and I agree for long term storage, but it serves a few purposes. If you are breaking down an animal in the field, you can use it as a short term staging area for meat before it goes in the game bags. You can then put your game bags in the garbage bag for the pack to the truck so you don't soak your pack in blood. Remove your meat from the garbage bag asap when to the truck. Also, if you get the real big, real heavy duty ones, you can actually cut them lengthwise and make a small emergency shelter out of them. Can also make an emergency poncho out of them.

Depending on how long you're there for, bring some boot grease/wax to waterproof your boots. If you hunt in wet conditions or snow, your boots take a pounding. I use Obenaufs, it works great.

I also bring a collapsible slingshot. I don't like shooting grouse with my rifle when I'm hunting, but its a fun distraction chasing them with a sling shot   

I don't worry about the latex gloves when it comes to deer and elk, I would for bears or other predators. I would also use good heavy Nitrile gloves if hunting rutting mule deer. They're very stinky.

I know it all seems like a lot to pack around with you, and some of it is negotiable depending on the time of year/situation where you're hunting, but if you are going to spend any amount of time in the woods any distance from your vehicle/camp and by yourself, every one of these could not only come in handy, but save your life.

Good luck this season!