• Help Support TNDeer:

New Hunter - Bare Minimum Necessary Gear

Sorry but to answer your actual question... Bare minimum necessary gear...

1. A gun you can hit what you are aiming at... or bow depending on what you want manner you want to hunt
2. A sharp knife to gut what you hit when you shoot
3. A license to be hunting...
4. Appropriate orange to be legal if hunting with a gun

That is it... I have gotten to the point I do not even wear camo anymore... just some Carhart overalls and a brown coat. Anything else is just to make you more comfortable while hunting.

Things that are nice to have... Pair of water proof boots, warm clothes, tree stand when you are ready, back pack to take along things with you such as snacks...
 
Rifle I am a 30-06 man but I love buying guns lol. I like to change up. This season I used my 6.5 and 30-06 and my muzzle load. Also weapon will depend on how your hunting. Field edge or hardwoods or thick stuff.

It is trail and error. These guys on here can help reduce errors.
 
DMD said:
I'm going to gum up the works here, but in the area of the state you are hunting, I'd HIGHLY recommend getting a treestand. You have 9+ months to find one and practice with it. I hunted the first several years of hunting life on the ground - when I finally got a decent treestand, it was the best move I ever made deer hunting. So many advantages, they are too numerous to name. And also get a safety harness. Hunting on the ground is okay for some places. Some highly experienced hunters can still hunt in large wooded tracts, but it is an absolute art that very few master. Being in a treestand increases your odds of seeing and killing deer astronomically. My hunting success and enjoyment increased exponentially when I started hunting out of a stand. Today's stands are lightweight, comfortable, quiet, easy to hang and climb. Keep your eye out in the classifieds for a Summit Viper or Goliath. Either is fantastic. There are other good ones as well. It won't take you just a few minutes to learn how to climb. Good luck, be careful and have fun.
Click to expand...
This ^^^ I'll add hunting from an elevated stand increases your odds greatly but and I mean a big but this will keep you to a small area so how well you scouted will play into if you have success or not . Find travel routes as trails but when selecting a tree make sure your not facing the sun and select different trees as to wind direction the day your going to hunt that particular area . A trail they use a lot is great but if the wind is blowing where they travel then your scouting will be invaluable. Sometimes you can just move maybe 50 yards and be ok . Make mental notes of deer movement as it is a cat and mouse type of game you'll be playing but realize deer are playing with their life . Some guys on here keep a journal and it's not a bad ideal . Don't be afraid to change up how you approach hunting areas because some of the biggest bucks I'll killed is were I changed my tactics up some . Try not to hunt to close to bedding areas but close enough to catch them especially in the evenings before sunset . Listen to your peers especially some on here because they know what they are doing well at least some do 😂 if a man is giving up advice don't just put it aside as hogwash try it for yourself might be hogwash but could be very valuable. Realize one thing though experience is the best medicine so just get out there and hunt . Hope you are successful in your hunting endeavor !
 
Last edited:
Stalkhunter said:
All great advice, one thing depending on how you hunt how far you will walk-in will determine what you need.

Example clothing if you sweat like I do you will need to change when you get to your spot. It did not matter my body weight. Sweat just stinks lol.
Click to expand...
Plus given the fact you sweated then most likely your going to get cold . I try to carry as much as I can instead of putting my clothing on . Get a bungie cord and roll up.your overalls or coveralls . I tie my coat around my waste . The less you wear the better off you'll be .when you reach your stand cool off before putting your outer base on .
 
Stalkhunter said:
Rifle I am a 30-06 man but I love buying guns lol. I like to change up. This season I used my 6.5 and 30-06 and my muzzle load. Also weapon will depend on how your hunting. Field edge or hardwoods or thick stuff.

It is trail and error. These guys on here can help reduce errors.
Click to expand...
Good stuff! Thanks!
 
Stalkhunter said:
All great advice, one thing depending on how you hunt how far you will walk-in will determine what you need.

Example clothing if you sweat like I do you will need to change when you get to your spot. It did not matter my body weight. Sweat just stinks lol.
Click to expand...
I didn't go through all the posts but this covers basically what I was going to mention. I could put everything I need in my pockets except I need to pack my insulated clothing when it is cold. I prefer a backpack for this; it's easy to load the clothes in it or strap to it where they won't snag on brush and limbs. If it is very cold and I plan to sit for a while, I need the insulated clothes but I will sweat if I wear them while walking in or out.
 
SolaBeard said:
Good stuff! Thanks!
Click to expand...
You're welcome, back in my younger days I had spot from 1 mile to 3 miles in the woods up the mountains. I hunted a lot of state land in NY. These mountains down here are no joke either, So I packed it all in. These days now I don't go as far. I killed some of my biggest deer traveling that far.

Good luck to you next season. I am also an East TN hunter. The mountain deer with age can be very big. Be prepared, if you travel deep a compass is a must and a a gps.
 
Get a portable power source to re-charge your cellular telephone while in the field. These are relatively cheap and are about the same dimensions as your cell phone. Will come in handy if you use your phone as a GPS, OnX hunt maps, to check in your harvested deer via the TWRA mobile app or to make emergency phone calls/texts. You can find a variety on Amazon for less than $75.
 
SolaBeard said:
I'll check it out!
Click to expand...
Mora are great knives!
But they are high carbon steel which rusts bad. Point being, deer blood is highly corrosive and will ruin a knife quick. That being said, I've been using the same mora knife over 10 years. Regardless of the knife you use, clean it thoroughly as soon as possible
 
3A9EBB5E-1751-42FC-80E3-BAA45D4312FC.png
 
1 good shot said:
Mora are great knives!
But they are high carbon steel which rusts bad. Point being, deer blood is highly corrosive and will ruin a knife quick. That being said, I've been using the same mora knife over 10 years. Regardless of the knife you use, clean it thoroughly as soon as possible
Click to expand...
I wish I'd known that before I bought this one a few years ago but it keeps an edge good and I really can't complain other than how the blade looks.
BE26E0C5-E4BB-4B3F-A79B-0CF512230AA5.jpeg6F4249E3-16AF-45B9-BB23-9AB59AC4F45D.jpeg

Price is right though.
Amazon product ASIN B004TNWD40
 
SolaBeard said:
Hey guys! I'm blown away by how many of you offered suggestions, advice and insight when I asked about what kind of rifle and caliber you'd recommend for a new adult hunter. Your responses have been incredibly helpful. THANK YOU!

While I'm still considering what type of rifle I'll be going with, I'd like to also factor in what kind of gear I will need starting out to budget and prepare for next season. I know there is a huge variety of gear that ranges in cost and quality, so my goal is to compile a list of the bare minimum amount of equipment I'll need to get hunting while focusing on procuring quality, budget-friendly gear.

NOTE: I will primarily be hunting in East Tennessee (Roane, Andrerson, Morgan counties). I don't plan to hunt from a tree stand right away, so anything you'd deem necessary for a successful ground hunting venture is what I'm looking for. This can include clothing, gear, required training/permits, must-have creature comforts, etc.

I hope the responses on this post—along with my last one—will be helpful for future new hunters as well. I look forward to gleaning some wisdom and ideas from you guys. Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
Now is the Time to find deals. You can find a lot of stuff on Clearance. Ground Hunting you will benefit from some camo material. If you are looking for Budget friendly You might consider a Muzzle Loader. You can use it for 2 seasons. You can spend a lot of time and money on Rifle ammo. Sighting a gun in,Zeroing a scope, practicing trigger pull, seeing what ammo shoots the best. . Clothing and Boots that are comfortable are essential. Think Layers lite bottom layers that can be worn alone in warmer weather and when hiking in . A good back pack to Carry in warmer clothes after you hike in. Good boots and socks . Same thing layers .Maybe a Half size bigger to be able to layer socks. Something thin and light that can wick sweat away from your feet. Get em soon and you'll have time to break them in. Keeping your feet dry Makes a big difference when your sitting still on a cold day. I'm looking for a deal on electric socks for next year.
 

Latest posts

Back
Top