Things to Keep In Mind When Hunting for the First Time: A Women Hunters Guide
If you’re looking to get into a hobby like hunting as a woman, there are a few things you need to keep in mind when just starting out.
Other than the apparent considerations like safety and equipment, there are other things you need to keep in mind. Comfort, techniques, and tips to remember are just some of them.
In this guide, you’ll learn more about how to hunt as well as the gear you should bring as a female hunter. This will help you develop your hunting skills faster and make the hobby more enjoyable.
Gear to Bring When Going Hunting
Before you go out into the wilderness to stalk and target game, you should pick out the right gear first. While you can buy some of these items online, you should also try them in person.
Weapon of Choice
The central piece in any hunting gear loadout will be your weapon. Whether you’re getting a crossbow, hand-held bow, or a hunting rifle will depend on your training, experience level, and personal preference.
The type of weapon you get will also depend on what type of prey you’re going to hunt. For further insights into a wide array of hunting weapons and their optimal applications, we invite you to explore Shooting Mystery, your go-to resource.
Maps or GPS
Having a map or GPS with tracking on you at all times will help you stay on trail and help you get your bearings if you get lost. Even the most experienced hunters carry one or both to find their way home.
A nice bonus for beginners with a GPS tracker is that most have an SOS feature allowing you to broadcast your location to emergency services if you get lost.
Water Bottle
With any physical activity, you’ll need to hydrate. Having a water bottle in your backpack or gear belt is an easy way to quench your thirst and avoid dehydration when hunting.
Bear Spray
You won’t be the only predator when hunting out in the wild. More experienced hunters like bears, mountain lions, and coyotes are dangerous and can surprise you when you’re least prepared.
A quick, accessible can of bear spray allows you to ward off most predators from getting near you, especially if you’ve just fired your bow or rifle and are caught while reloading.
Hat, Hair Clip, or Scrunchie
If you’ve got long hair, there’s no need to cut it just to focus on hunting. With a hat, hair clip, or scrunchie (or a mix of them), you can keep your hair out of the way, allowing you to focus on tracking and aiming.
Be sure to carry a few extra hair clips or scrunchies in your bag so that you’ve got backups ready if they get lost while hunting.
What to Keep In Mind When Hunting as a Woman
Here are a few tips and steps to take when hunting for the first time as a woman. Applying these tips will help you become a more competent and confident hunter in no time.
Get the Right Gear
Whether on a budget or a splurge, you must pick appropriate gear that meets your needs and preferences. This usually depends on physical factors like your height or arm strength.
Even if you can get hand-me-downs like camouflage clothes or rifle slings from a friend or relative, check to see if it fits you correctly and if you’ll be able to use it to its full potential.
A significant example of this is if a muscular hunter hands you a large, heavy-caliber rifle. You’ll need to verify and test if you can effectively shoot with it and react quickly to moving targets.
Block off a Lot of Time for Hunting
Hunting isn’t a hobby that you do sitting at home whenever you have free time. It’s a hobby you need to intentionally block off a whole day for.
Especially when you’re just starting out and learning the hobby, you’ll want to allot more time for practicing your aim and learning to be patient when stalking your prey.
One of the worst things to do when hunting is to rush your shot, and waiting for the right opportunity usually takes time, effort, and loads of patience.
Hunting Licenses and Training
Check your local state’s laws and regulations on getting a hunting license, what weapons are allowed, and what time of year you’re allowed to hunt.
Hunting is a highly regulated activity in many states, so you’ll want to ensure you don’t run into any trouble with the law. It’s best to ask other hunters in the same position for advice.
Find a Mentor and a Hunting Buddy
One of the best ways to learn is by listening to and following more experienced hunters. They’ll give you valuable hunting advice and tips they learned the hard way, so you don’t have to.
Even if you can’t find a mentor, getting a hunting buddy with a similar skill level will help both of you learn things quicker. It’s also much safer for two women to hunt together than alone.
Practice as Much as You Can
Practice makes perfect. While there are things that will make learning how to hunt effectively easier, there’s no substitute for consistent practice.
Over time, you’ll learn how to use your weapon effectively, track what you’re hunting much better, and get in and out of your hunting sessions quicker.
Frequently Asked Questions
You might have related questions after learning more about tips and tricks that can help you hunt for the first time. Here are answers to the most commonly asked ones.
What Are the Easiest Animals to Hunt?
The most accessible animals to hunt for the first time are small game like squirrels, rabbits, pheasants, doves, and geese. They aren’t really a threat to you and aren’t too hard to track down.
What Caliber Is Best for First Hunting?
The best calibers for hunting are usually 6.5 Creedmoor, .300 Win. Mag, and the .308 Winchester. These can take down even large game with a single shot, though the recoil does create quite a kick.
Does Bear Spray Work on Other Animals?
Besides bears, the spray will work on most mammals like cougars, bobcats, coyotes, wolves, moose, elk, goats, sheep, and deer. They even work on other humans, similar to pepper spray.
Conclusion
While hunting can be a bit intimidating if you’re a woman, it gets a lot easier if you follow the proper guidelines and techniques, and get the right equipment that fits you and your needs.
Just remember to always prioritize your safety. Bring a hunting buddy with you, carry bear spray, or even bring a sidearm with you at all times.
With enough practice, listening to advice from more experienced hunters, and learning from your mistakes and experiences, you’ll be an expert in no time!
