Packing for Hunting and Fishing Trips

huntingfishingtripIf you want to avoid looking like a complete rookie when it comes to going hunting or fishing, then you need to know how to prepare and pack. You should start to prepare for a big hunting or fishing trip well before hand so that you can avoid any embarrassment. Nobody wants to have to admit that they forgot something vitally important when it’s too late to go back.

1 – First and foremost, you need to know your destination and your itinerary.
Make sure that you are leaving your itinerary and a detailed plan behind with someone responsible, especially if you are going out alone. This way, if you do not return on time, somebody knows that you may need help.

2 – Verify where your final destination is going to be, and how you intend to get there. Will you be hiking or will you be driving? Do you need a backpack? If you need a backpack and specific supplies, make sure that you have enough space for all your gear and that your backpack is comfortable. You should have a backpack with a large and padded belt around the waist so that some of the load is transferred away from your back and to your hips instead.

3 – Divide all of your gear into smaller batches that can be stored separately. Cooking gear can go into one bag, fishing implements in another, camping gear in a third, and so on and so forth. This makes finding your gear quicker and easier, and ensures that nothing is forgotten when packing and preparing for the trip.

4 – If you are fishing or shooting, invest in a hard case. These are available at most hunting and fishing stores, and they are excellent for fishing rods and rifles. Hard cases go for $100 to $400 depending on the case, but they are well worth the investment because they keep all of your supplies together and keep them safe and secure at the same time.

5 -Make sure that you assess the specific maintenance needs of your hunting or fishing equipment beforehand. Always carry your repair tools with you, including screwdriver, cleaning supplies, pliers and oil so that you can repair and maintain your equipment as needed.

6 – Make sure that you have a GPS implement. Handheld GPS elements are a little pricey, but the $125 or so you will spend on a basic one will be well worth the investment the first time you lose your way during a hunting or fishing trip. Make sure that you practice using your GPS instrument before you go out, and make sure that you also have a map and a compass on hand.

7 – Get good boots if you do not already have a good pair, and make sure that you are packing extra socks. Medium weight socks are a good choice, especially if they are wool or a wool and synthetic blend. You may end up spending a little bit of money per pair, but your feet will end up loving you for it.

8 – Finally, make sure to plan for dressing in layers because then you will be able to add and remove layers as needed depending on the weather and climate. You will need to add and to remove insulation as you encounter different situations, so dressing in layers makes this a lot easier.

Photo Credits: PauerKorde

Originally posted 2009-08-10 05:38:56. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Choosing your Hunting Rifle Caliber

huntingrifleWhen you are choosing the right hunting rifle, there are actually a ton of different calibers that you can choose from. If you are a relatively inexperienced huntsman, then you may be feeling overwhelmed at the sheer number of different available weapons.

When it comes to talking about gun calibers, the simplest way for you to understand the concept is as follows: The higher that the caliber is, the greater that the stopping power will be. Unfortunately, the higher that the caliber is, the harder it will be for you to control. What this means is that you will need a higher caliber weapon in order to deal with larger animals, but a higher caliber weapon is also going to deliver significantly more kick as well.

You are going to also want to remember that the hole that you produce in the target is also going to be larger when you are dealing with higher calibers. This is why choosing the right type of rifle is vital based on what type of game you are intending to go after. Let us say for example that you are interested in hunting something small, like a small deer, fox, hare, rabbit or wildfowl. If this is the case, then a .22 caliber gun is generally a good way for you to go. Typically the bullets or loads for these types of weapons are capable of being varied so that more range and more penetration can be produced as needed. For wildfowl, a standard bullet or load may be suitable, but for a fox you may want to switch to something that is somewhat heavier.

If on the other hand you are hunting larger deer, then you are going to want to choose a rifle with a higher caliber, such as a .303, .308 or a .270 for example. Rifles that fit in with these calibers are going to be significantly more success at taking down larger creatures like dear. The load sizes, once again, are capable of being obtained in various sizes meaning that there are always weapons and ammo choices that are more suitable for specific types of game over others.

Something that you are going to want to consider when you are swapping loads is that you may have the recalibrate the sight for your weapon if you change from one load into another type of load. Different loads are going to produce different types of trajectory paths, and you are likely going to find that your accuracy will be lost if you do not do this reset.

If you are on a budget, then it may not seem pleasant to waste between five and ten rounds on resetting your scope, so if this is the case you should stick to a single load size, hunting accordingly. It is not uncommon for hunters to keep several different types of rifle calibers on hand but if you are just getting started, choosing a single weapon to suit your needs is generally a good idea.

Photo Credits: Kankie

Originally posted 2009-07-23 05:36:17. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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