With Hunting season right around the corner, I figured it was the perfect time to put together a gear guide. This will be helpful whether you are new to bowhunting or an experienced hunter looking for a gear checklist before opening day. I will go over all the gear you will need for a successful season. Make sure you attend a hunter safety course and get the appropriate licenses.
Required Bowhunting Gear
- Bow -The most common bow for hunting is the compound bow. Compound bows utilize a system of cams and pulleys that give the archer a mechanical advantage. This allows for faster speeds and better accuracy because the bow has “let off” which reduces the draw weight at the end of the draw cycle. There are also hunters that use traditional bows such as recurve and long bows. I recommend you go to a local archery shop and allow an expert to help you pick out a bow that fits your needs. They will also be able to set it up and tune it for you.
- Sight– There are many different type of sights to use hunting, but I believe the fixed 5 pin sight is the best option for most archers.
I used this sight for several years and it is also affordable: Trophy Ridge Cypher 5 Pin
- Arrow rest-The rest will support the arrow on your bow. There are two types hunters use: full capture rests and Drop away rests. Either will work fine for hunting applications. The full capture rest maintains contact when the arrow when released, while the drop away rest mechanically moves away once the arrow is released. The drop away rest is more complicated to setup, but prevents any resistance to the arrow’s flight and is preferred by many experienced archers.
The best full capture rest: Trophy Ridge Whisker Biscuit
The best drop away rest: Quality Archery Products Right Hand HDX Arrow Rest
- Release– A release allows more precise shooting than using fingers on the bow string.The main types used by hunters are index finger releases and thumb releases. In my opinion, the index finger release is the best option for new hunters because it uses a wrist strap to keep it in place (this makes it hard to lose in the woods). The thumb release is used by precision shooters because there is less chance of “trigger slap” than on index trigger releases, but the potential downside is you have to hold this release in your hand.
Index finger release: TruFire Edge Bow Release
Thumb release: Tru Ball Max Hunter Pro 4 Release
- Quiver – Most hunters use quivers that are mounted on the bow. Make sure the quiver you choose is compatible with your bow.
Here is a 5 arrow quiver: TRUGLO Reactor Lite 5 Arrow Quiver
- Stabilizer – This helps reduce vibration after the shot and balances the bow to help accuracy. This part is not required to shoot, however it has become standard on most hunting bows.
Basic and affordable stabilizer: LimbSaver HD S-Coil Bow Stabilizer
- Arrows– Carbon arrows are the standard type used for hunting these days. Most archery shops will cut them to the correct length for you if you buy them there. Buy at least 12 arrows because lost arrows are to be expected when you begin archery and bowhunting.
- Broadheads– There are a million different broadheads and even more opinions on which is the best. In my opinion, as long as they are sharp that is all that matters. You have two options: fixed blade or mechanical broadheads. Fixed blade are simple and have no moving parts, just sharp blades. These are the most reliable, but the flight patterns could be much different than field point tips so make sure to practice with them. Mechanical broadheads have blades that open on impact and usually fly similar to field point tip. Mechanical broadheads typically have larger cutting surface.
Fixed Blade Broadhead-Muzzy Trocar 100 Grain 3-Blade Broadhead
Mechanical Broadhead-Rage Hypothermic broadhead 100g
Other Hunting Gear
- Treestand – A treestand gives you the best advantage while deer hunting. I use a climbing treestand, which is a portable treestand you carry on your back and then cl. There are also ladder treestands, which you setup once at the beginning of the season. Make sure to use the appropriate safety gear.
Climbing treestand- Summit Treestands 81120 Viper SD Climbing Treestand
- Pack – You will need a hunting pack to carry all of your gear, licenses , and food/water.
Here is a fanny pack that is big enough to carry all of your stuff – Badlands Monster Camouflage Hunting Fanny Pack
- Rangefinder– A rangefinder will help you accurately judge distance and allow you to make the perfect shot.
- Knife– A knife is required for field dressing and butchering.
