Source: lonelyplanet.com
There’s nothing like the great outdoors. And with that grandness, there always comes a sense of wanting to belong. You want to be able to become a part of the natural world around you, immerse yourself, and be in control. If you’ve had this feeling, you’ve probably tried some fun activities in nature like camping and hiking, and might even consider trying something even more thrilling like hunting. And while these are all exciting activities, they can be dangerous if you don’t prepare properly, especially hunting.
There are many steps to preparing for the great outdoors, knowing how to set up a camp being the first one. And when it comes to hunting, not only do you need the basic camping tools, but also some specialised equipment as well. Obviously, the right firearms and the necessary hunting licenses are the first things you need to obtain. But there are some additional tools that can make or break your experience. That said, this article will focus on some of the best tools you could have in any hunting situation and why.
Hunting Knives
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There are many factors to consider when buying a hunting knife. But, before we get into any of that, you should check if it’s legal to own and carry a knife. Here in Australia, the laws state you can only do this if you have a legal excuse. Luckily, recreation, such as hunting, is considered to be one, and as long as you have a hunting license you can carry a hunting knife with you without any problems.
With that clear and said, let’s get into the nitty-gritty of finding the right hunting knives for you. First of all, don’t get just any knife. Just because it’s sharp, it doesn’t mean that it will get any job done for you. All knives are made for a specific use. Therefore, there’s a big difference between EDC, fishing, and hunting knives, with the shape being the crucial difference. For example, fishing knives are long and thin with sharp, flexible blades so you can easily remove the bones. Folding knives for hunting, however, have a simple look with a sharp blade that pops out. Therefore, they can be useful for several purposes, from marking spots to opening things to lightly skinning some animals. Also, they’re easy to transport as they are known as pocket knives.
With that in mind, other technical factors to look out for when buying folding knives for hunting are size, weight, and material. All of this corresponds to balance, sharpness, and ease of use. Regarding the material, an industry-standard is stainless steel. If you’re looking for a sharp knife with a nice look, then this is for you. However, it can dull after some use, and you need to sharpen it. So, consider getting a good knife sharpener too.
Additionally, you should also make sure that the knife feels right to you. Grab it and see how it feels. Take into account the material and shape of the handle. If it’s wood, then it will be easy to handle and durable, but it will lose its beauty with time and damage. Antler or bone can get slippery if it’s raining, but they’re also strong and durable. On the other hand, plastic is lightweight and fluid, but it does break easily.
Finally, a good folding knife for hunting has to be easy to access. You don’t want to take forever to open it. Two things determine this, deployment and lock. Deployment can either be manual, assisted or automatic. In the case of the manual, you need to take it out carefully. While with the assisted method, you have a spring mechanism, and with automatic, you press a button.
Lock, on the other hand, is the device which keeps the blade in place when opened. If you don’t want your knife to close and cut your hand in use, make sure you have a quality lock system, such as a lockback. A lockback stops the blade from going back into the handle unless you press it at the bottom of the spine. Otherwise, two notches exert pressure and keep it opened safely.
LED Torches
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Visibility is one of the most important things to have while hunting. You don’t want to get lost at night, with no way to distinguish the natural world around you. As such, this is where LED torches are of great help. These portable sources of light are compact, easy to use, and weigh almost nothing. And you have a wide choice of headlamps and flashlights, with many different characteristics. With the right choice, you can easily read maps in the dark, track animal paths, and make other hunters aware of your presence.
If you want to get the right LED for you, you need to consider things like lumens, battery, scope, tint, and extra features. Let’s do a short overview of them. The lumen determines how much light the lightbulb is generating, while the scope is the beam distance and intensity. On the other hand, batteries determine how long the LED will work. If you don’t want the LED to turn off on you, make sure to keep it full and not overheat. Extra features can be strobe, zoom-in, and they can be life-saver in some situations.
Finally, tint can make the chief difference while hunting. If you don’t want to scare away the animals, never use white light, which is detectable by them. Meanwhile, a green light is somewhat better, but read is ideal. Most animals in Australia cannot perceive red as it’s not in their colour spectrum. Furthermore, it’s energy-efficient and offers a clear target.
Survival Gear
Source: mycalgary.com
Last but not least, never underestimate the power of small, helpful survival accessories. Like for example, a compass. You might not always have Google Maps with you or a good signal. A compass can then be your guide in the unknown. Or let us say it’s raining or you got lost with no way to start a fire. You have little tinder or quality firewood. Then, a spark force flint-based fire starter can save your life. You’ll find it easy to use with its lightweight nature and detachable cap, which is there for protection. But, worst comes to worst, and you’ve lost somewhere in a dark place, or no one can find you. If so, chemical lightsticks are a great thing to have. You can use them anywhere with just a simple snap.
Safe and Fun Hunting!
Source: beneluxnews.net
All in all, you should never underestimate nature and the wilderness. You should always have everything prepared and be ready for any possible situation. If you plan to camp or hunt, you should have researched and trained yourself, so that you’re always in control. As such, never overlook the small and helpful tools that can make a difference.
