In many families, going hunting is a right of passage. However, some of you may find yourself going hunting for the first time as an adult and wondering how you should prepare for the trip. 

Well, you have come to the right place. Hunting is so much fun but can also be an incredibly dangerous activity if you don’t take it or the area you are hunting in seriously. 

Whether you’re hunting for game, sport, or just enjoying nature, it’s crucial to take the necessary precautions to prevent accidents. In addition to prioritizing safety, having the right gear and hunting supplies can also make a big difference in the success of your hunting trip. Check hunting gear and supplies here to improve your chances of tracking and catching game, while also keeping you comfortable and protected from the elements.

In this pocket guide to hunting, you will find 6 tips that will help you to prepare for your first wild hunting trip. 

#1 – Get all the licenses you need 

The first thing you need to do is make sure that you have the right licenses and permits to go hunting in the area you want to. 

The paperwork you will need will vary from state to state, and the application process may be completely different if you are applying to hunt in another country. 

The best thing you can do is to do your research well in advance of your hunting trip. This way you can be sure that you will have got all your paperwork in order by the time you are ready to take your trip. 

#2 – Prepare for the worst weather 

The worst thing you can do when hunting and camping in the wild is to not prepare properly. In wild areas, the weather can change quickly and you do not want to be caught out – especially as you will be away from electricity and will have no easy way to get to the hospital. 

You should make sure that you bring waterproof clothing with you, as well as bug spray, sunscreen, thermals, enough drinking water to last you for the whole trip, sunglasses, a hat, and any other extreme weather items that you think you could need. 

#3 – Get to know the area 

You will want to make sure that you plan your hunting routes before you go on your trip. When the weather changes it can be hard to navigate your way back to base camp. 

So, you will want to make sure that you have familiarised yourself with all the landmarks in the area and that you know how to make it back to your camp from those landmarks. 

You will want to make sure that you bring a physical map with you, as data, signal, and battery power may not be available for you to use at all times. It is best to prepare for all emergencies. 

#4 – Pack a first aid kit 

First aid kits save lives. 

You will want to make sure that you bring a fully stocked first aid kit on the trip with you. We recommend that you carry it around with you, even when you are hunting. 

The combination of extreme weather, guns, and wild animals can lead to injury – and you will want to make sure that you can keep everyone in your hunting party safe. 

Your first aid kit should include bandages, bandaids, burn gel, pain killers, antiseptic cream and gel, shock blankets, portable warmers, aftersun gel, and more. 

#5 – Find a hunting buddy 

Once you have picked out the best ground blind for hunting for yourself then you are going to want to find a hunting buddy to share it with.

Going hunting on your own can be dangerous, especially for first-timers. If you got injured there would be no one there to help you and you would also not have anyone there to give you hunting advice. 

So, for your own safety and so that you can learn how to hunt faster – bring an experienced hunting buddy with you. If something does go wrong you will be very grateful to have them there with you. 

#6 – Pick out the perfect scope 

Finally, you want to make sure that you set out on your hunting trip with the right equipment. 

If you are a first-time hunter then you most likely haven’t invested in a proper hunting gun yet – that’s fine. In fact, we don’t recommend investing too much in a hunting rifle before you are more practiced. 

The piece of kit that will be the best investment for you will be a high-quality scope. And the good news is that high-quality scopes aren’t that expensive. 

They will make a difference to your ability to shoot accurately and spot the animals as they move through the undergrowth.