What to Expect When Going on Your First Hunting Trip and How to Make the Best Out of It
As an avid hunter, you might have a ton of experience when it comes to hunting. It is really fun, and many people make a hobby out of it. However, beginners join the hunting circles every day, and many of them have no clue what to expect and how to make the best out of each hunting trip.
Embarking on your inaugural hunting expedition involves more than just the anticipation of the hunt itself. Before setting out, it’s crucial to familiarize yourself with essential tools, and the Strikeman Dry-Fire Training System can play a vital role in honing your shooting skills. This innovative system allows you to practice and refine your aim in a controlled environment, contributing to increased accuracy when you encounter game in the field. Incorporating such training tools into your preparations ensures a more confident and responsible experience during your first hunting trip.
For that reason, I re-winded the clock a little bit and reflected on my first hunting experience. While my nerves were shot, there were a few things that I could have done a little better or been prepared for a little more. In this article, you will learn a couple of the things you can expect to find on your first hunting trip and how to prepare for them.
What To Expect From Your First Hunting Trip As A Beginner:
Before we dive into the things you should expect and prepare for, you should also keep in mind that these will not apply to everyone. Your hunting experience will solely be dictated by the area you are hunting in and the people you are hunting with. However, here is a list of the common things you can expect:
- It Is Not As Easy As It Sounds:
Talking to beginners, the first thing I realized was the way they always say that it can’t be that hard to shoot something. Yes, this might be true and it is definitely not that hard to kill a deer once it is standing in front of you. However, the reality is that the deer will not simply pop up in front of you at a very close range.
Many people forget about the chase and the chase is one of the best parts when it comes to hunting. You can spend hours at the shooting range to prepare yourself, but unlike the target you are shooting, the animal will not be as still and consistent at a certain range. You might need to spend days on end searching for your target and then you should hope it gives you a clear shot to shoot.
The difference between an avid hunter and someone who does not hunt that much is the part they find exciting. Yes, I also love the adrenaline rush of pulling the trigger, but the chase is the most fun part. Once you have spent a couple of days chasing your target and you eventually make the kill, you will feel a much better sense of accomplishment as well.
- Long Days Of Walking:
Ranches can be massive and many owners don’t allow you to drive out on the ranch when hunting. Beginners might find this a little tough if they are unprepared and you will spend hours outside wandering the ranch and tracking your target. Generally, you will be accompanied by a guide and this guide will help you with the tracking process.
Nevertheless, the sun will be beating down and you will need to keep moving or wait in a specific spot for your target to appear. One of the things that many beginners lack is patience and they tend to give up just before striking gold and having the target in shooting range. Taking along something to keep you from being bored will be a great way to combat impatience.
It is also worth keeping in mind that you might need to move around and this can be a little uncomfortable for some. When we talk about moving around, we are talking about crawling to stalk your target or perhaps get closer to make the shot a little easier. If you are not someone in tune with nature, you might find this frustrating.
- All Your Equipment Is Carried By You:
There is a ton of advanced equipment on the market today to make hunting a little easier for the beginner. However, all of this equipment needs to be carried along.
In today’s world, there are many options for firearms. There are pistols, revolvers, shotguns, and rifles. Of all the rifles available on the market, the AR-15 reigns king. This semi-automatic rifle is incredibly popular due to its accuracy, modularity, lightweight, and low recoil. It can be used for a wide variety of purposes, including hunting, home defense, target shooting, and more. To find out where you can purchase them, go to AR15s For Sale.
The hunting rifle is obviously the most important part of your kit, but these are definitely quite heavy after about 5 miles of walking. Sometimes, you need a pistol and a rifle, so that is where a concealed carry holster comes into play. This is one of the reasons many hunters choose smaller rifles like the .223 instead of the best .375 for hunting.
After deciding what kind of firearm to use, you have to figure out what kind of ammunition to use to load the said firearm. There are a lot of debates about the different types of ammo. Steel or Brass? Why brass you ask? Brass ammo has been popular for some time now because it provides better accuracy and performance than other types of ammunition.
When it comes to selecting the right type of ammunition, it is essential to do your research and find the best option for your specific hunting needs. You can read a Tulammo review or other reviews online to help you make an informed decision.
Once you have made the kill, you need to gut the animal to get rid of anything that might spoil the meat. If you are lucky, the ranch owner might help you transport the animal back to the camp, but if not, you need to do all the work in the field. The hunting meatpacking bags are handy and can be carried on your back to make life a little easier.
Small tip beginners should remember is to pack as light as possible. If you are an experienced backpacker, you will understand the value of reduced weight and how it can help prevent fatigue. Some of the equipment on the market might be completely unnecessary and they will only hold you back or impede your moving speed.
- You Need To Understand The Rules And Regulations:
This tip is actually quite self-explanatory and you should do your research on the area. While each state has its own laws regarding hunting and the hunting seasons, each ranch will also have a set of rules and regulations. To ensure none of these is breached, it is recommended that you take some time to read and study them.
For example, one of these rules might be that a certain animal might not be killed. If you do accidentally shoot this animal, you might be fined and your hunting experience will come to an abrupt end before even finding the ideal target.
- Hunting Can Be A Great Way To Learn More:
No one will become a professional hunter overnight and it takes a lot of time and experience to reach this level. If you consider yourself someone who loves nature, hunting is a sure way to help you learn more. One of the most common misconceptions is people simply think that hunting is all about killing when it is actually about nature and respecting it.
Final Thoughts:
Hunting is definitely fun and you will need to understand what to expect when going on your first trip. There are many more new things you will come to find with each hunting trip and each new environment you see. However, the main purpose should be to learn more and respect nature whilst having fun.
Now, we would like you to share some of the things you believe beginners should expect from their first hunting trip. If you are a professional hunter, you might have a lot of experience and many beginners are wondering what they should prepare for. You can leave us your thoughts in the comment section below to help out the newcomers.