Hunting Gear Checklist
A list of essential items to make sure you pack for your next hunting trip.
12 volt Air Compressor
12 volt Air Compressor
Flat tires are one of the most common occurrences with off road vehicles, sometimes it can just be a slow puncture and rather than take the time to change the wheel out, you may be able to just inflate the tire to required pressure and keep going.
Axe – Multi Purpose
Axe – Multi Purpose
Is there a tree fallen across the road or do you need to process large amounts of firewood? The axe is your friend here.
Candles
Candles
A candle is not only a small source of heat but it has been proven that the flame from just one candle can greatly increase morale, keeping spirits high when things seem tough.
Emergency Blanket
Emergency Blanket
Another item that’s just smart to have with the winters here in canada, they are cheap and easy to find, keep a couple in the dash for emergencies.
Farm Jack
Farm Jack
A very useful tool if you find your vehicle stuck, it can also be proposed as a makeshift winch.
Flares
Flares
Having some road flares can be useful if you have had to pull over in a strom and your waiting for someone to come and help you out, they can also make other vehicles aware of your presence on the side of the road.
Flashlight
Flashlight
Having a powerful source of light will really help out in many situations, especially in an emergency.
Hard Case for Firearms
Hard Case for Firearms
Keeping your firearm in a hard case prevents it from being knocked around and altering the sights. Do not leave your firearm in a case in storage as moisture trapped inside will rust exposed metal.
Headlamp
Headlamp
Nobody wants to be caught in the dark in the woods. Whether off the trail, tracking an animal or dressing a fish, it’s no fun in the dark.
Lighter
Lighter
It’s always good to have a reliable source of fire at hand.
Multi tool
Multi tool
A multi tool can be useful for a number of small tasks, plus it doest take up much space in a vehicle or a pack.
Other tools
Other tools
It’s good to keep a small tool bag and breakdown kit in your vehicle, all the items you may need to change a flat tire or jump start a vehicle.
Saw
Saw
Is there a tree fallen across the road or do you need to process large amounts of firewood? The Saw is your friend here. It could be a Silky, Buck Saw or Bow Saw all will get the job done.
Small stove and gas
Small stove and gas
Pocket Rocket or similar. Sometimes you just want a hot drink, it could be coffee, tea or even soup, having one of these small canister stoves at hand can really keep spirits high.
Spare Socks
Spare Socks
Feet are so important and if cold sets in, it can really ruin a day’s hunting. Keeping three or four pairs of wool socks in the vehicle can really help out.
Stainless steel container for heating water
Stainless steel container for heating water
Stanley cook pot or similar. If you’re wanting to make that coffee or tea you’re going to need a container to heat that water.
Storage Bin
Storage Bin
All hunting Items stay in here or in your pack through the hunting season.
Tarp
Tarp
Useful for a makeshift shelter or lining the bed of your truck to lay harvested animals on.
Thermos with hot water
Thermos with hot water
If you know you’re going on a short trip and won’t need to boil lots of water, you could just keep enough in a thermos for the hunt.
Water
Water
Depending on the temperatures it’s good to keep spare drinking water in your vehicle, if you know it’s going to be really cold keep it in a thermos.
Winch
Winch
Learn your limits and the land you plan to hunt, if you know or hear that people often get stuck in an area you plan to hunt regularly then perhaps its worth investing in a winch.
Wool Blanket
Wool Blanket
In Canada with the winters we experience, it’s always a good idea to keep a heavy wool blanket in your vehicle.
1 Liter water bottle
1 Liter water bottle
This depends on the hunt and the choice is up to you, We recommend to carry at least a 1 litre of water in your pack.
3 x Lighters
3 x Lighters
Spread these lighters throughout your pack in the hope there’s always one handy if you need to make a fire promptly.
Ammunition
Ammunition
If you’re hunting with any kind of firearm, remembering to bring your ammunition is going to make or break your day hunting.
Bear Spray
Bear Spray
When hunting, bear encounters are rare but can occur, be smart and carry bear spray.
Blaze Orange Rain cover for Backpack
Blaze Orange Rain cover for Backpack
Keeps your pack dry in wet conditions and highlights your whole back whilst walking through the woods.
Coloured Flagging Tape
Coloured Flagging Tape
A brilliant resource for marking a trail, to an established blind or stand or for marking a blood trail when retrieving an animal.
Compass
Compass
The ability to use a compass is a dying art, but one that can still be extremely useful when your GPS or Mobile phone runs out of battery in the field. It’s nice to have a backup.
Diamond Blade Sharpener
Diamond Blade Sharpener
Processing an animal can be tough on a blade, if your knife is starting to struggle to make quick clean cuts, a lightweight diamond sharpener can put that edge back on your knife.
Dryer Lint in ZipLoc Bag
Dryer Lint in ZipLoc Bag
You can collect birch bark or resinous fatwood while you’re hunting through the woods but keeping a little bag of dryer lint for emergency tinder means you always have the resources to start a fire promptly.
Extra Layer of Clothing
Extra Layer of Clothing
You never know when the weather may change, it’s a good idea to stay prepared and have extra warm layers ready.
Game Bags
Game Bags
If you’re quartering up an animal in the field, these game bags help keep your meat clean and bacteria free.
Hand Warmers – USB or Other
Hand Warmers – USB or Other
Some people just get colder than others, if that is the case for you, using hand warmers can really increase the amount of time you can stay in the field.
Headlamp
Headlamp
Nobody wants to be caught in the dark in the woods. Whether off the trail, tracking an animal or dressing a fish, it’s no fun in the dark.
Hunters Education card
Hunters Education card
Carry your Hunters Education card on hunts, it’s a good way to show that you have completed the education and you are a responsible hunter.
Hunting Tags
Hunting Tags
A legal requirement when hunting, always carry purchased and blank tags. Proof of purchase is required when asked by fish and wildlife officers.
Keys for Firearm Lock
Keys for Firearm Lock
As with ammunition, magazines and rifle bolts, if you leave the keys for your firearm lock at home you will be kicking yourself when you arrive at your hunting destination.
Knife
Knife
Carrying a robust all-purpose knife can help in tasks such as making a fire or an emergency shelter.
Magazine for Firearm
Magazine for Firearm
Keeping your mag in the side pouch of your pack makes for easy access when the hunt starts.
Medical Kit
Medical Kit
Sometimes there is a need for medical supplies, it could be as simple as a band-aid but having a well-put-together medical kit is always a good call.
Mobile Phone
Mobile Phone
In this modern era of hunting a mobile phone device can be an incredible tool, using apps such as Ihunter to track your hunt and set locations can be a valuable asset when getting to grips with the area you plan to hunt.
Nitrile Gloves
Nitrile Gloves
These gloves help to keep your hands clean from blood during field dressing; it also keeps bacteria from your hands affecting the meat.
PAL (Firearms) Licence
PAL (Firearms) Licence
When hunting with any firearm you need to be carrying your PAL licence at all times.
Paracord: 50 – 100ft
Paracord: 50 – 100ft
Having cordage handy is always useful, from setting up a tarp to helping manage an animal you need to field dress on your own, paracord works great.
Rifle Bolt
Rifle Bolt
No matter if you keep this with your rifle or in a pocket in your pack, you don’t want to leave this behind.
Small handheld Saw
Small handheld Saw
Useful for collecting firewood if you need to be out after dark processing an animal, can also be used during field dressing to cut the sternum or leg bones to ease access or reduce weight.
Snacks – Lunch
Snacks – Lunch
No one wants to get hungry while out in the woods, having a good supply of snacks you enjoy can really help you stay out longer.
Spare Wool Socks
Spare Wool Socks
One of the worst things that can happen during in the elements is getting cold feet, sometimes a quick fix can simply be to swap out your socks.
Toilet Roll
Toilet Roll
When nature calls, you’re going to want it.
USB Battery Charger
USB Battery Charger
Phones can be used often when hunting to mark locations on the Ihunter App or perhaps check in on a buddy you’re hunting with, whatever the case, it’s nice to know you can recharge when you need to.
WIN (Wildlife Identification Number) Card
WIN (Wildlife Identification Number) Card
Another resource to show that you are completing all the legal steps when participating in a hunt. Fish and wildlife officers can use this to verify your tags.
ZipLoc Bags
ZipLoc Bags
We recommend using ziplock bags for the organs of the animals you take in the field, they can also be handy for storing wrappers and garbage during a hunt.