First deer hunt, what to bring?

[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
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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!