If you’ve never been hunting before, you may be both nervous and excited about heading out on your first trip. Depending on the type of hunting you’re planning on doing, your experience and preparation will vary. But in general, there are some good guidelines to follow in order to ensure that you have a great experience and increase your chances of using your rifle to bring home your next meal.
To help you see how this can be done, here are three tips for going on your first hunting trip.
Know It’s Not All Fun And Games
While most people consider hunting to be a hobby, you’re dreaming if you think that every aspect of going hunting is going to be fun. In fact, according to Ian Fohrman, a contributor to Outside Online, a lot of hunting is really just suffering in the hopes of having a few great moments along the way. But if you don’t go into the experience knowing this, you could wind up miserable and disappointed.
So before you take off on your first hunting trip, make sure you have the right expectations. You’re going to be spending a lot of your time walking and hiking, crouching, and being either too cold or too hot. But if you’re able to fill your tag, it could all be worth it in the end. And, it could even be an experience you want to keep doing over and over again.
Learn As Much As You Can
Now that you’ve reigned in your expectations, it’s time to start preparing yourself for what you’ll be doing while you’re on your hunting trip. To put yourself in the best possible position, you’ll want to learn as much as you can before you take off.
As you’re educating yourself, Nabin Paudyal, a contributor to LifeHack.org, recommends that you spend quite a bit of time familiarizing yourself with the area you’ll be hunting in as well as all of the new tools and gear you may be using for the first time. The last thing you want to have happen when on your first hunting trip is to not know how to use your firearm or to wind up getting lost.
Beware Of Fleas And Other Pests
When you’re out on a hunting trip, it’s not only the animals you’re hunting that you need to be careful of. Things like ticks and other pests can easily get on you while you’re hiking in the brush and out in the wild, so make sure you take care to keep yourself safe.
Additionally, OutdoorLife.com advises that you skin any small game that you get as soon as possible. While they’re easiest to field dress while they’re still warm, this also will help you to get rid of any fleas that may have been on them. These fleas can easily transfer onto you, so it’s best to avoid this.
If you’re wanting to take up hunting this year, consider using the tips mentioned above as you plan and prepare for your first hunting trip.
