At OpticsPlanet, we have all the gear you need for just about any hunt. From top brands like Muddy, Wildgame Innovations, and Primos Hunting. We have either from the beginner hunter or if you've been hunting all of your life. We also have hunting equipment you will need before and after the hunt such as Browning gun safes HME Products deer drags, hangers, and sleds.
What Are Some Hunting Accessories Must-Haves?
These items can be for hunting Whitetail Deer, Elk, Waterfowl, and Turkeys. Whether you're an experienced hunter or just starting, these are the hunting items you will need on your next hunt, no matter what time of year and what prey you're hunting.
Hunting can be done in a few different ways, depending on the season and the area. Check with your local DRN to see the hunting seasons and what can be hunted in that period. There's gun season, where hunters use shotguns or rifles, a muzzleloader-only season, and crossbow or other archery equipment. It all comes down to your skill level and personal preference, but you need the right equipment, whichever method you choose. For firearm hunting, you'll need the firearm itself, ammo (buckshot if you're hunting with a shotgun), and a secure gun case for transport. If you are shooting on private property there are some things you can do before the hunt, such as setting up animal feeders or trail cameras. In the first part of this article, we will be looking at hunting gear for all types of hunting, the second part we will be focusing on hunting accessories for archery.
Starting at the beginning, get yourself a base layer shirt and pants. These thermal tops are engineered with a dual layering system trapping air between layers providing a natural barrier of warmth. Make sure you carry hand warmers in your pocket. The next layer will be a camo parka or hoodie, hunting pants, hunting bibs, and waders or coveralls. Some hunters prefer a Blaze Orange coat and pants. Hunter orange requirements vary from state to state, but most need you to wear at least some blaze orange above your waist. You can usually meet the criteria with a blaze orange hunting jacket or safety vest, and you'll also need a blaze orange hat or cap. Check with your state's DNR to be sure about blaze orange regulations. Optics Planets offers men's, and women's hunting clothes blaze orange and camouflage. We even have hunting clothes for kids who want to get in on the hunt.
What Is the Difference Between a Tree Stand and a Ground Blind?
Most of the time, hunting is sitting and waiting, where you need to have a good view from above or have good camo coverage. A treestand allows you to have a better idea of your terrain and get above the whitetail deer's level of sight. Different treestands fit different needs for every hunter, but whichever kind you choose, make sure to wear a hunter safety harness while climbing and when you're in the stand. If you decide to hunt with a ground hunting blind, you need a hunter-orange blind cap. Most states require your blind to have at least 144 square inches of blaze orange, visible from all directions. It lets other hunters see the blind, while the camo still keeps you concealed from the deer.
Many animals can sense you by your scent. That's why you need to use scent-elimination products on your clothes and hunting gear, as deer won't be scared off as quickly if they can't smell you. There are many different scent control items such as laundry sprays, bar soaps, body wash, and various sprays to eliminate your own personal scent. Hunting lures, when sprayed, the far-reaching cloud leaves an attractive scent trail that leads your game directly to you and creates a scent barrier that disguises your presence. OpticsPlanet.com offers hunting scents, attractants, and lures to help in the successful hunting of whitetail deer, javelin, mule deer, moose, elk, coyote, and other animals. We offer natural and synthetic attractants, hunting lures, cover scents, and even scent eliminators.
What Are the Different Types of Game Calls?
Some of the most popular turkey game calls for turkey hunting include box calls, diaphragm calls, and push pin calls. The type of game call you use largely depends on what you're hunting and how you're hunting it. A position signals to other animals, often of the same species, their location. This gives the animal a sense of safety. A distress game call suggests that an animal is hurt. It's meant to encourage other animals like foxes, coyotes, bobcats, or other predators to step out from hiding to take advantage of the wounded creature. An aggression game call signals that an aggressive bull is on his way, so other animals should get out of the way. It encourages them, especially big game, to run or stand their ground. And, a mating call is meant to invite animals of a particular species toward the hunter. It signals that the caller is interested in mating.
Another must have in the hunter's arsenal is the decoy. Whether you're hunting waterfowl such as ducks or geese or deer hunting. You may want a various spread of different species and predator decoys to attract your prey. Check out the turkey decoys from Hunters Specialties.
What Are Hunting Optics?
rifle scopes can be used to make aiming easier. You don't have to line up your front sight with a rear sight, giving you a convenient way to up your hunting game. Beyond traditional night vision and thermal imaging, rifle scopes allow you to track prey in low-light conditions expertly. Infrared (IR) and other advanced technologies reveal hidden game through thick foliage, enabling you to take down bucks unseen to the naked eye. Thermal scopes also offer the benefit of tracking blood trails and fresh footprints to locate wounded prey. With the power of these riflescopes, you can hunt hogs and other nocturnal animals with the same precision and clarity you have in broad daylight.
We offer various reticle options to best suit your preferences, including both first focal plane (FFP) or second focal plane (SFP) reticles. You can sort these scopes by magnification, as well, to find the perfect rifle scope for the field, range, or backcountry. For more information, check out our How-To Guide on the benefits of different reticles.
Binocularsare also a must-have as a part of your hunting gear backpack. They come in all shapes and sizes, depending on your specific needs. 7 x 18 to 10 x 56 binoculars are best for hunting applications. For long-range shooting, such as varmint hunting, more powerful binoculars like 12x40 to 16x50 are best. You will need to use a tripod to stabilize the binoculars at larger magnification, as the image will be very shaky if used in a standing position. The larger magnification amplifies the shaking of your hands
What Is a Trail Camera?
One of the main reasons for setting up a trail camera is to learn where the deer go in your planned hunting area. This will help you set up your tree stand or hunting blind in the best location possible. Trail cameras are also used for land management. Organizations like the Quality Deer Management Association (QDMA) have endorsed the use of trail cameras as an excellent way to scout the type, size, number, and health of the game on your property. Don't forget to check our Trail Camera Accessories to find solar power chargers, batteries, security boxes, and stable mounts.
What Is a Field Dressing Knife?
After you've made your kill, you need to field dress your animal as soon as possible. Field dressing removes the internal organs of the hunted game and is a necessary step in obtaining and preserving meat from animals harvested in the wild. Field dressing must be done as soon as possible after ensuring that the animal is dead to provide rapid body heat loss and prevent bacteria from growing on the surface of the carcass. Field dressing helps maintain the overall quality of the meat, and it also makes it considerably more accessible for a hunter to carry the larger game from the hunt area. You'll want a good hunting knife and saw to cut through bone, wood, and for anything that you may need to cut.
What Archery Hunting Accessories Do I Need?
Bow Hanger
A bow hanger is a must have when you're sitting in a treestand. You can hang your bow while you're on the hunt. It has super-strong machined screws and two accessory hooks are for hanging a backpacks, game calls, range finders, or other hunting equipment.
In archery, you use bow sights to help you aim. Like any device with sights, you align the front and rear sights on your target ahead of shooting. On a bow, the sights are mounted using a riser, extending beyond the front of the bow. There are several different types of bow sights: Fixed Pin, Moveable Pin, Pendulum, and Target.
When shopping for Broadheads or Field Points to use on your arrows. You must choose the correct weight and type of broadhead or field point based on the draw weight of your bow, the size of your arrows, and the size and behavior of the prey you seek. When you nock an arrow and let it fly, make sure you've chosen the broadheads and points that will improve your accuracy and precision so you can make a clean kill.
There are two types of material for most arrows, Carbon Arrows and Aluminum Arrows. When it comes to choosing between Carbon arrows and Aluminum arrows, Carbon arrows are faster and lighter than aluminum arrows. Carbon arrows have become very popular, especially for hunting enthusiasts. A speedier arrow shortens that time from when a game animal hears the pluck of the string until the time the arrow lands. This can often be the difference between success and failure.
Aluminum arrows are heavier and therefore pack a bigger punch. Since an aluminum arrow's energy can be more significant, a hunter can get better penetration when it comes to the actual impact of a game animal. Many hunters choose an aluminum arrow when hunting big game because of this. However, for longer distances past 30 yards, the accuracy can be compromised. Therefore carbon arrows, especially for target shooting and more extended distant hunting, can be the better choice.
Buy Hunting Accessories at OpticsPlanet
OpticsPlanet has a quality selection of hunting accessories for hunters because we are hunters! Our product specialists have spent years hunting worldwide, and they've selected the best of the best hunting accessories so you can get everything you need here at OpticsPlanet! Not quite sure what you need for your best shot? They're ready to answer all of your questions via phone, email, or chat.