By Tim E. Hovey
I’ve been on enough deer hunts, both in California and out of state, to know what I need to bring along to make the trip easier. And as I get older, I’m all about making things easier. I like to divide up my gear into three parts, clothing for all types of weather, on the ground hunt gearing, which includes everything I need to hike into the backcountry and hunt, and a meat processing pack. If I pack everything correctly, and bring the gear I need, I find I make less work for myself.
CLOTHING
You’ve heard it a hundred times when it comes to dressing for unpredictable weather. You want to dress in layers, adding more when it’s cold, and removing layers when the day starts to heat up. I like to start with a simple t-shirt and then pull on a long sleeved thermal. On top of this, I’ll add a heavy hoody. Most hoodies have front pockets perfect for hand warmers. My final layer is a heavy hunting jacket with a hood. I’ll drop a second thermal into my backpack incase the four layers aren’t enough.
For whatever reason, I’m not a big glove guy. Since I never shoot with them on, I find that unless my hands are freezing, I don’t wear them often. That doesn’t mean I don’t bring them. I pack two sets, a thinner, more tactile set and a heavy, cold-weather set.
I’ll wear thermal bottoms and comfortable work pants. I stay away from wearing jeans. My hunting boots are well-worn and fit well. If I pick up a new pair, I make sure I wear them often well before the hunt. The worst thing you can do is to show up to deer camp with a brand-new set of boots. You won’t get far before your feet start to complain. Nothing takes a hunter out of the hunt faster than sore feet.
The last bit of clothing I toss into the pack is a loose-fitting set of rain gear. Nothing fancy, just an off the shelf set that keeps me dry when it begins to rain.
to spot. Playing the wind and using the terrain to your advantage, is the
key to success. TIM E. HOVEY PHOTO
HUNTING GEAR
As hunters, we all hunt differently. I prefer to pack light and bring gear that suits how I hunt. A good set of binoculars is essential in my hunting success. Good glass helps to identify bedded or hidden animals, and come heavily into play after the shot, to pick a way through to the downed animal for recovery.
I’ll also bring along a laser range finder to gauge distance to targets and distances to glassing spots. They’re small, compact and don’t take up much room in my pack. To keep myself comfortable during lengthy glassing sessions, I’ll tie a padded butt pad to the outside of my pack. If I’m comfortable, I can stay in one spot a lot longer.
I’ve hunted off shooting sticks for decades and I usually don’t go on a hunt without them. I’m used to them, they steady my shot, and they can be extended and used as a walking stick on the hike in. Another crucial piece of gear for me is a rifle sling. I always cross sling my rifle, leaving both my hands free for navigating the wild world. Honestly, once I attached a sling to a rifle, it never comes off.
Ammo is secured in a carry pouch attached to my belt. As a right hander, I keep it on my right side, within easy reach, to reload my rifle within seconds. Tucked into side pockets are two headlamps that have seen more use than just about any other piece of gear. A hunter will gain a few more hours of processing time if they know they can light the way out when it gets dark.
ticipate in. I make sure I carry the essentials, but I want to pack in light,
expecting to pack out heavy. TIM E. HOVEY PHOTO
MEAT PROCCESSING
I have always field-dressed my own animal out in the wild and in thirty years of big game hunting, I know exactly what needs to be in my meat processing pack. I carry at least three knives with me and plenty of extra replaceable blades. A Ziplock bag loaded with surgical gloves, a roll of electrical tape, some line for tying up quarters to my pack, a pen for filling out tags and a Leatherman are also included. I also carry a heavy blade knife for disarticulating the legs and head.
All this processing gear is packed into a small, zippered pack so I can keep it all in one place for when I need it. I also include a small first aid kit with Band-Aids and gauze, in case I injure myself during processing. A small box of waterproof matches is always a good idea in case you end up having to spend longer than you thought in the backcountry. Lastly, a small 6 X 8 tarp folded small completes the processing kit. The tarp is used to place quarters, back straps and rib meat on to keep it from getting dirty.
The spare clothing, the hunting gear and the processing pack are all placed in a framed backpack, along with a few bottled waters and some snacks. Honestly, I try and pack extremely light going in, knowing I could be packing heavy coming out. The less I actually have to carry in my hands when I’m headed back to the truck, the better.
If you’ve hunted for any length of time, you understand the gear you need to be comfortable and effective in breaking down an animal. I tend to lean towards double redundancy when it comes to gear I really need like head lamps and knives. Making sure you have everything you need for the hunt will go a long way towards being successful in the field.
