The right equipment to go hunting in the wilderness

Published on 24 February 2020

Author: Aleksejs Vankovs

Getting Equipped

Let’s talk a bit about stalking or hunting equipment in general. I am not talking about things like rifles and scopes today, but rather the equipment you carry in your rucksacks, kit bags and all those pockets which nowadays adorn jackets and trousers. I know that everyone has their own personal preferences as to what they need and use, and every country has different regulations and traditions: therefore, what follows is perhaps not a complete list.

My list of must-have equipment for my outings

Let’s start with the most obvious and popular and we’ll see how we get on.

Knives

It is hard to imagine a hunter without a knife or two. I think that if you ask any hunter, they’ll probably have a collection of knives, and if you ask them to pick a favourite one, they won’t be able to.

We all know that each knife is different and special in its own way, and has a specific task to perform (well, at least this what we tell our wives).

Axe and saw

It is very common for European hunters to have these in the boot of their car or in their rucksack. If I remember correctly from my hunting experiences when I was a kid, an axe is a great help in the woods for setting up camp, making shelters and preparing logs for the fire.

Nowadays, there is huge choice of multi-tools that combine an axe, saw, wire cutters, etc. to make the ultimate camping tool.

Rope

I would say this is one of the most important items in your goody-bag. Rope can be used in many different ways: holding up a hammock, attaching the top of the shelter, or suspending a carcass above the ground while you are dressing it, or just to make sure that predators can’t reach it at night. The best part about rope is that it’s usually very easy to pack and it doesn’t weigh much either.

Insect net

This item has become more popular over recent years. It is mainly used by hunters in warmer parts of the world, or in spring, summer or early autumn to protect a harvested animal or carcass from unwanted flies and potential maggot infestation.

At the same time, it keeps carcasses clear of potential contamination from multiple sources. Nets are also very common in the meat handling business to avoid cross-contamination between animal carcasses.

First aid bag or box

This should probably have been the 1st or 2nd bullet-point on our list. Let’s be honest, we all have one somewhere and often fail to make it a priority to have it close at hand.

Disposable gloves

These are picking up in popularity amongst hunters for hygienic reasons: for example, when handling game meat or working with a carcass.

In the UK, using disposable gloves is a MUST if you are a professional hunter supplying harvested meat in to the food chain.

I think these would be the most popular choices for most hunters to have in their bags at all times when out in the wild. If you think I’ve missed something, please leave your comment below the article.

Safe hunting dear friends.