Going hunting for the first time...what supplies?
- Thread starter mcrn
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Gun and ammo! [JK!}
I see Fl as your home. You're going to need appropriate clothes and shoes - it will be cold up in Mich in Nov..
I see Fl as your home. You're going to need appropriate clothes and shoes - it will be cold up in Mich in Nov..
Mainly warm, layered, water resistant clothing and a good pair of broken in, water tight boots.
The weather in MI in November can range from pleasantly warm and sunny, like last fall, to really cold and snowy.
I talked to a guy last week who had already seen snow in the UP this fall, so be prepared, 'cause you never know.
The difference between a nice day in the field, even if the weather is cold and wet, and a miserable one is all in the clothing and footwear you choose.
The weather in MI in November can range from pleasantly warm and sunny, like last fall, to really cold and snowy.
I talked to a guy last week who had already seen snow in the UP this fall, so be prepared, 'cause you never know.
The difference between a nice day in the field, even if the weather is cold and wet, and a miserable one is all in the clothing and footwear you choose.
are you in a shotgun county or rifle?my best advise is to layer if cold... and most important keep your feet dry!make sure your boots are a size larger so you can pack those insulated socks in them.A good sock high in merino wool will make a noticeable difference.
First time in Michigan, or first time hunting?
If it's the latter, I highly recommend a firearms safety course.
If it's the former, dress warm. Layers are your friend.
If it's the latter, I highly recommend a firearms safety course.
If it's the former, dress warm. Layers are your friend.
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Something to consider to do is to have enough extra time to re-sight your rifle in the colder weather (assuming the weather in November is chilly in Michigan). If you sight it in while in the warmer Florida temperatures, it will be off in the colder Michigan weather.
I hand load and always use extruded powder to minimize the changes in velocity (which equates to differing points of impacts), but this does not totally eliminate the changes caused by the differences in temperatures.
Re-sight your rifle when you arrive and you will be glad that you did.
I hand load and always use extruded powder to minimize the changes in velocity (which equates to differing points of impacts), but this does not totally eliminate the changes caused by the differences in temperatures.
Re-sight your rifle when you arrive and you will be glad that you did.
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Dress in layers, bring plenty of beer and jerky.
Bible.
Bring a First Aid Kit.....remember what happened when VP **** Cheney went hunting with a friend....in the woods....all alone and away from the view of the public!
Just kidding....have a great time.
Just kidding....have a great time.
Under-armour under clothes.
Gore-tex: camouflage fluorescent orange coat, gloves, hat, pants, and boots. For the gloves look for hunting mittens, they have all four fingers in one area, and a flap to slip you fingers through to work the gun. Get the fluorescent orange base color that also has pasterns of branches and leaves. Deer are color blind and do not see the fluorescent orange. Most states have a requirement of a minimum amount of fluorescent orange you have to wear.
Gore-tex is great stuff. You can be out in a cold rain and remain dry and warm, and it breathes so it is harder to get over-heated in.
Hunting license (including permit for the county you will be hunting in if required, some states have a limited number of permits per county and you have to apply to a lottery and win a spot to allow you to hunt there) and a holder to display the license on you back or hat depending on requirement. If you do not properly display the license and county permit if required, you can be fined. Most states have a tag you fill out and remove from you hunting license and attach by string or wire tie to the ear of the deer. You have to do this before you move the deer, and you should do it before you gut it. Be certain to attach it well, like through a hole in the ear of the deer. They are easy to loose when you drag the deer out.
If you get a deer let it lay for a while before you approach it so it has time to die. Then when you approach it consider it to still be alive until you use the front of your gun, or end of your bow to poke it in the eye to see if it is dead.
My dad worked with a guy who had a son who approached a buck he had shot. The buck got up and gored the young man with its antlers. He got cut on the inside of his leg by the groin. It hit an artery. There was no areas above the cut to stop the bleeding and he bleed to death. So remember to let it have time to die, and then be sure to poke it in the eye to see that it does not move.
GPS unit that you know how to use, and spare batteries. If you are not familiar with GPS get one in advance and learn how to use it. Before you leave the vehicle to walk into the woods, note the location of the vehicle you will want to return to. You might write down the coordinates of the vehicle if the GPS unit will lose it when changing batteries.
If you can't afford a GPS then get a Compass: take a reading of the direction you are going when you leave the vehicle and walk into the woods. If you might forget that reading write it down. Note any major changes in direction when you walk in. You will have to back track these directions by 180 degrees to get back to the vehicle.
The last thing you want to do is get lost. If you are hunting with a group, do not count on the group to prevent you from being lost. I have been in a hunting party of five and we all met up, but had a heck of a time finding the vehicle we came in.
Wet-Fire fire starter. I do not know if you can take a Bic butane lighter on an airplane so after you get there pick up a Bic butane lighter at a restaurant or convinced store.
Canteen, cereal grain bars (I like SnackWell's Cinnamon Raisin).
Toilet Paper, also good to help start a fire.
Do not count on your cell phone in the woods, there is a very good chance it will not be close enough to a tower to allow it to work. If you want a cell phone that will work in the woods you will require a satellite phone (you can rent them).
Hunting knife to gut the animal.
For deer, you will require a rope to drag the animal out of the woods. If you carry a deer you risk getting shot.
Very lite weight emergency survival tent (the one time emergency use kind that fit in a large pocket). Lite weight sleeping bag.
A back-pack to put it all in.
Small chemical flame-less heaters that you open and expose to air to activate.
LED flashlight. (get one that uses the same size batteries as the spare batteries for the GPS unit if you get the GPS).
In big game country, most hunters carry a large caliber pistol just in case a bear happens to ketch you without your rifle.
Another story: A friend of my dads was in the garden of the camp and did not have his rifle with him. A deer came by and he took it with his pistol, but he tried to conceal the pistol from the deer by keeping the hand not holding the pistol in front of the pistol with his hand forming a opening for the bullet to pass through. He got the deer, but the flash burned the heck out of his hand.
Drinking and hunting do not mix. You can be fined if you have a couple and then hunt. Wait till the hunting for the day is over before hoisting a few.
Gore-tex: camouflage fluorescent orange coat, gloves, hat, pants, and boots. For the gloves look for hunting mittens, they have all four fingers in one area, and a flap to slip you fingers through to work the gun. Get the fluorescent orange base color that also has pasterns of branches and leaves. Deer are color blind and do not see the fluorescent orange. Most states have a requirement of a minimum amount of fluorescent orange you have to wear.
Gore-tex is great stuff. You can be out in a cold rain and remain dry and warm, and it breathes so it is harder to get over-heated in.
Hunting license (including permit for the county you will be hunting in if required, some states have a limited number of permits per county and you have to apply to a lottery and win a spot to allow you to hunt there) and a holder to display the license on you back or hat depending on requirement. If you do not properly display the license and county permit if required, you can be fined. Most states have a tag you fill out and remove from you hunting license and attach by string or wire tie to the ear of the deer. You have to do this before you move the deer, and you should do it before you gut it. Be certain to attach it well, like through a hole in the ear of the deer. They are easy to loose when you drag the deer out.
If you get a deer let it lay for a while before you approach it so it has time to die. Then when you approach it consider it to still be alive until you use the front of your gun, or end of your bow to poke it in the eye to see if it is dead.
My dad worked with a guy who had a son who approached a buck he had shot. The buck got up and gored the young man with its antlers. He got cut on the inside of his leg by the groin. It hit an artery. There was no areas above the cut to stop the bleeding and he bleed to death. So remember to let it have time to die, and then be sure to poke it in the eye to see that it does not move.
GPS unit that you know how to use, and spare batteries. If you are not familiar with GPS get one in advance and learn how to use it. Before you leave the vehicle to walk into the woods, note the location of the vehicle you will want to return to. You might write down the coordinates of the vehicle if the GPS unit will lose it when changing batteries.
If you can't afford a GPS then get a Compass: take a reading of the direction you are going when you leave the vehicle and walk into the woods. If you might forget that reading write it down. Note any major changes in direction when you walk in. You will have to back track these directions by 180 degrees to get back to the vehicle.
The last thing you want to do is get lost. If you are hunting with a group, do not count on the group to prevent you from being lost. I have been in a hunting party of five and we all met up, but had a heck of a time finding the vehicle we came in.
Wet-Fire fire starter. I do not know if you can take a Bic butane lighter on an airplane so after you get there pick up a Bic butane lighter at a restaurant or convinced store.
Canteen, cereal grain bars (I like SnackWell's Cinnamon Raisin).
Toilet Paper, also good to help start a fire.
Do not count on your cell phone in the woods, there is a very good chance it will not be close enough to a tower to allow it to work. If you want a cell phone that will work in the woods you will require a satellite phone (you can rent them).
Hunting knife to gut the animal.
For deer, you will require a rope to drag the animal out of the woods. If you carry a deer you risk getting shot.
Very lite weight emergency survival tent (the one time emergency use kind that fit in a large pocket). Lite weight sleeping bag.
A back-pack to put it all in.
Small chemical flame-less heaters that you open and expose to air to activate.
LED flashlight. (get one that uses the same size batteries as the spare batteries for the GPS unit if you get the GPS).
In big game country, most hunters carry a large caliber pistol just in case a bear happens to ketch you without your rifle.
Another story: A friend of my dads was in the garden of the camp and did not have his rifle with him. A deer came by and he took it with his pistol, but he tried to conceal the pistol from the deer by keeping the hand not holding the pistol in front of the pistol with his hand forming a opening for the bullet to pass through. He got the deer, but the flash burned the heck out of his hand.
Drinking and hunting do not mix. You can be fined if you have a couple and then hunt. Wait till the hunting for the day is over before hoisting a few.
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Do not fill out the tag on the hunting license in advance. You could be accused of using a tag twice. Bring a pencil to fill the tag out after you shoot the deer. You can do this while you give the deer time to die before you approach it. Also bring wire to tie the tag to the deer.
Originally Posted By: mcrn
Going to Michigan to go hunting for the first time. I do not know exact details but its for deer and will be on private property. So what is some basic supplies I will need? It will be in mid November.
#1 Hunting license and tags (a gun and ammo would also be good).
#2 Clothing. Hunting naked is fun, but the important parts can get damaged to easily.
#3 food and water
#4 a good credit card to buy anything you forgot.
A little hint. After you shoot the animal don't move around. Stay still, look, and listen. If the deer doesn't drop emediatly you will need to track it down. If you can see and here where they went, how fast they ran, and for how long they ran, it would make it easier to find.
I also agree with the above poster that said to let the animal die before approaching. Don't pounce on a dieing animal like a Ted Nuggent psychopath. Give the dieing animal some respect.
Going to Michigan to go hunting for the first time. I do not know exact details but its for deer and will be on private property. So what is some basic supplies I will need? It will be in mid November.
#1 Hunting license and tags (a gun and ammo would also be good).
#2 Clothing. Hunting naked is fun, but the important parts can get damaged to easily.
#3 food and water
#4 a good credit card to buy anything you forgot.
A little hint. After you shoot the animal don't move around. Stay still, look, and listen. If the deer doesn't drop emediatly you will need to track it down. If you can see and here where they went, how fast they ran, and for how long they ran, it would make it easier to find.
I also agree with the above poster that said to let the animal die before approaching. Don't pounce on a dieing animal like a Ted Nuggent psychopath. Give the dieing animal some respect.
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The FSR radios are nice, but they have a very limited number of hours of stand-by time (like a few hours). So if you are in a group, you could bring FRS radios, and a watch for each person and arrange in advance a time when everyone will stop hunting for the day, and turn on the radios to communicate about anyone requiring help such as help to drag a deer up a hill.
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BTW, a smart hunter would rather park the vehicle at the bottom of a mountain and shoot a deer up hill from the vehicle, and then drag the deer down the mountain to the vehicle.
An in-experienced hunter will park the vehicle at the top of a mountain, and shoot a deer in the bottom of a valley and then bust his hump for the next several hours dragging the deer up the mountain to the vehicle. And if he is a smart person, he will learn this lesson and only do it once, and park at the bottom of the mountain in the future.
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BTW, a smart hunter would rather park the vehicle at the bottom of a mountain and shoot a deer up hill from the vehicle, and then drag the deer down the mountain to the vehicle.
An in-experienced hunter will park the vehicle at the top of a mountain, and shoot a deer in the bottom of a valley and then bust his hump for the next several hours dragging the deer up the mountain to the vehicle. And if he is a smart person, he will learn this lesson and only do it once, and park at the bottom of the mountain in the future.
When you fill out the tag to put on the ear of the deer, a pen is probably better than a pencil because no one can accuse you of doing it in something you can erase to use the tag twice, but a pen can freeze to the point of not working if it gets too cold. Probably best to bring a pencil and a pen and use the pen if it is warm enough to work.
The dragging down hill vs dragging up hill is a big thing. I have an uncle who dragged a deer up a mountain one year. The next year he was in a valley below his vehicle and saw a deer. He let it go because he did not want to drag it up hill.
Originally Posted By: fdcg27
Mainly warm, layered, water resistant clothing and a good pair of broken in, water tight boots.
The weather in MI in November can range from pleasantly warm and sunny, like last fall, to really cold and snowy.
I talked to a guy last week who had already seen snow in the UP this fall, so be prepared, 'cause you never know.
The difference between a nice day in the field, even if the weather is cold and wet, and a miserable one is all in the clothing and footwear you choose.
This
Mainly warm, layered, water resistant clothing and a good pair of broken in, water tight boots.
The weather in MI in November can range from pleasantly warm and sunny, like last fall, to really cold and snowy.
I talked to a guy last week who had already seen snow in the UP this fall, so be prepared, 'cause you never know.
The difference between a nice day in the field, even if the weather is cold and wet, and a miserable one is all in the clothing and footwear you choose.
This
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