Hunting is one of the most popular sports in today’s world. It gives you unmatched boosts of adrenaline, fun and the ability to provide fresh meat for the table. While in the past it was mostly a mean through which a man could provide food for his family, nowadays people do it for recreational purposes.

Although it’s posed a lot of dangers decades ago, with the superior technology that we have today, it’s been made easier and almost risk-free. While some people compare it with fishing, this is a completely different kind of sport that requires different tools and a lot of preparation. No matter which terrain you’re hunting on, or the weather conditions, below are some essential bits of advice that will help you improve your hunting experience.

How to Choose the Best Hunting Clothes?

The right kind of clothes will keep you protected, camouflaged, but most importantly – comfortable. It’s always good to keep the weather conditions in mind, but the usual rule of thumb is to wear your clothing in layers. This way you can simply take off the top layer if you’re feeling a bit too hot, while if you don’t have enough clothing, you will be uncomfortable for most of the day. Remember that each of the pieces should also be silent, to avoid scaring off the prey.

Starting with the tops, you will need two or three shirts, depending on the temperature. For the inner layer, you need to choose a comfortable hunting shirt soft to the skin. Because this shirt serves as a base, the material should be moisture-wicking, light and stretchable. Ideal materials for the base shirt are cotton, Merino wool or other natural fabrics.

For the outer layer you will need a different kind of shirt. This layer needs to be sturdy and waterproof. For this reason, it’s best to go for a synthetic material like polyester that’s also lightweight and breathable. The fit should be loose and comfortable; however, if you’re not sure which size you need, some sites will offer a sizing guide for your convenience.

The outer layer shirt needs to have the right insulation to keep you warm in cooler temperatures and a few pockets where you can keep the small indispensable tools. Similar to the different types of hunting shirt, you will need to pay attention to your choice of trousers.

The base layer should be breathable and skin-friendly, while the outer layer should be tough and durable. In warmer temperatures, one layer of trousers should be enough for comfort. The right hunting trousers should provide maximum mobility and flexibility. It’s a plus if they have useful features like reinforced knees and sturdy belt loops where you can attach your knife, GPS, or radio.

How to Choose the Best Navigational Equipment?

Same as with acquiring the needed clothing gear, from the essential shirts for hunting, to the handy trousers and jackets, before you embark on your journey, make sure you have the right tools to navigate through the wilderness. With the increasing number of people getting lost in the wild, the conventional map becomes a rather obsolete piece of equipment.

While it may show accurate results, it’s often hard to rely on when you’re moving through a completely unfamiliar territory. Handheld GPS devices offer you a huge convenience for hunting. While the old models were simple and had limited effectiveness, modern GPS units are highly intuitive and offer you features such as preloaded topographic maps, icons for marking game sign, stand sites, trailheads, and access points.

These help you out by providing visual clues to keep on your prey’s travel route. You have the option to mark your vehicle as a waypoint so you can avoid dangerous and potentially life-threatening situations. To be even safer, make sure to pack an extra pair of batteries and a compass.

Get a Powerful LED Flashlight

If you’re hunting during night time, you will need the right tactical flashlight. Hunting at night can be more dangerous, since most prey have better night vision than humans. When considering a tactical flashlight for hunting, you will need to keep in mind these three factors:

1. The beam profile.
2. The body style.
3. The light colour.

Flashlights come in two types of beams – a spot and a flood beam. The ideal hunting light should have a high-lumen spot beam. This is a concentrated light beam that you can throw over long distances. Its construction should be sturdy and durable. You will ideally need a hands-free operation, so look for a design that can be attached to your weapon.

When it comes to the colour of the light, most people prefer the neutral white output. However, coloured light offers a few more benefits. Certain colours, like red and green, aren’t detectable by certain animals, so you’re less likely to scare them off by using them. Additionally, these are less harsh for the human eyes.

Other Bits of Advice

• Be patient – Hunting requires a lot of patience. When you’re walking through the woods, make sure you go slow and steady because you never know what’s around the corner.
  
• Clear your obstructions so you can take a more precise shot.
  
• Eliminate noise as much as possible – Animals have stronger senses than humans. Simply stepping on a twig can scare any animal in the vicinity. This is why you need to pack food and equipment that isn’t noisy, including your layers of hunting shirts and trousers.
  
• Look for clues – When you take a successful shot, your prey will often try to run away if it can. In this case, try to look for a blood trail. It can sometimes be obvious, but other times you will have to work with a few droplets of blood. Broken twigs are a helpful sign you’re on the right track.
  
• Don’t give up – If you’re new to hunting, understand that this sport takes plenty of experience and luck to get good at. Your patience will be tested time and time again and you may even spend whole days without seeing an animal. However, if you’re persistent, you have a high chance of getting better.
  
• Never forget a first aid kit – Not to intimidate you, but hunting is considered as a dangerous sport so this should be your top priority. Accidents can happen, but if you have the first aid essentials, you can go without any serious complications.