New Hunter - Bare Minimum Necessary Gear

[SolaBeard]

What size are you maybe some clothes people could donate to you . I have alot of camo , it's not the expensive kind but I don't think the deer mind

I normally wear XL or 2XL if it is an outer layer. Size 12 boots.

I'm not picky! I went to Rural King a couple of weeks ago, and they had a TON of camo marked way down. Should have taken advantage then. Have you ever used their stuff? I think the brand was Logan? (Might be wrong on that)

 

[bowhunterfanatic]

I know zero about scouting. Any good resources that introduce the basics? Thanks for the feedback!

If you're going to be hunting primarily E TN, Mapping Trophy Bucks would be a great book for you to learn some things. It'll help teach you how to identify terrain features on a map and how deer tend to use them.

 

[TN Larry]

What a great list, Larry! Lots of stuff I didn't think about or at least forgot about. Thanks a lot!

Does there tend to be a brand of clothing that is a good quality for the price? Or a house brand you prefer over another? Also, may be silly, but do you always wear camo or do you sometimes wear stuff like Carhartt?

Most of my outer clothes are Cabelas but bought when they made great clothes. It's not as good since Bass Pro bought them out but still good. The Academy brand Magellan is good for the price. I have been buying them for my kids since they grow out of them quickly. However, it is good and warm. You can spend a fortune on brands such as Sitka that are great but wouldn't recommend to start.

I always wear camo but really because the qualities that I am looking for are designed for hunting and in camo and not to particularly "hide". Something like Carhartt would be just fine when gun hunting. You will already be wearing blaze orange on your head and chest. The best way to hide from a deer is still sit in front of a large tree or back in some brush or tree top to break up your silouhette. Sitting still is key as a deer can catch movement very quickly.

 

[SolaBeard]

View attachment 163752This was my setup on the last deer i killed. Settin against a log. A turkey hunting lounger type chair is the way to go for max comfort

That's a beaut of a rifle!

 

[SolaBeard]

The old timers I grew up hunting around carried a gun, a knife and a snack in their pocket. That's all.

Now it seems we carry a bunch of nice-to-haves in the woods which have been mentioned here. I'm guilty of this.

If I could only pick a few things beyond the basics it would be shooting sticks, a butt pad and a flashlight.

I love a minimalist approach to hunting. Side question: do you think there's a specific rifle that lends itself to that type of hunting?

 

[SolaBeard]

If you're going to be hunting primarily E TN, Mapping Trophy Bucks would be a great book for you to learn some things. It'll help teach you how to identify terrain features on a map and how deer tend to use them.

Awesome! I'll check it out. Thank you, sir!

 

[TNGunsmoke]

I normally wear XL or 2XL if it is an outer layer. Size 12 boots.

I'm not picky! I went to Rural King a couple of weeks ago, and they had a TON of camo marked way down. Should have taken advantage then. Have you ever used their stuff? I think the brand was Logan? (Might be wrong on that)

Lincoln outfitters is their store brand. Make sure you try it on, some of it fits differently than other brands. Their boots run really tight to me, and I wear a narrow in normal shoes. Magellan from Academy is good mid-grade stuff. For insulated pants, I like the Wrangler fleece lined camo jeans. I have to order them online to get them, but I don't recall them being too expensive the last pair I ordered.

 

[bigtex]

Blaze orange, a good gun and a sharp knife.

You asked for "bare minimum" you can certainly hunt without a tree stand, a fancy store bought pop up blind, [some brush piled up in front of a big tree works] fancy designer hunting clothes and boots, etc.
Recurve nailed it, sharp knife, blaze orange and a good rifle.
The other "stuff" just makes a hunt a little more comfortable. The more comfortable you are the longer you might stay in the woods, the longer you stay in the woods your chances of being successful improve exponentially.

 

[SolaBeard]

Most of my outer clothes are Cabelas but bought when they made great clothes. It's not as good since Bass Pro bought them out but still good. The Academy brand Magellan is good for the price. I have been buying them for my kids since they grow out of them quickly. However, it is good and warm. You can spend a fortune on brands such as Sitka that are great but wouldn't recommend to start.

I always wear camo but really because the qualities that I am looking for are designed for hunting and in camo and not to particularly "hide". Something like Carhartt would be just fine when gun hunting. You will already be wearing blaze orange on your head and chest. The best way to hide from a deer is still sit in front of a large tree or back in some brush or tree top to break up your silouhette. Sitting still is key as a deer can catch movement very quickly.

Thanks for the feedback, sir!

 

[Ski]

If everything I have burned up in a fire and I had to start from scratch, my top priority would be a good pair of boots. Cheap out on everything else to start but when it comes to boots get the best you can afford. No other gear gets more use than your boots.

 

[SolaBeard]

Lincoln outfitters is their store brand. Make sure you try it on, some of it fits differently than other brands. Their boots run really tight to me, and I wear a narrow in normal shoes. Magellan from Academy is good mid-grade stuff. For insulated pants, I like the Wrangler fleece lined camo jeans. I have to order them online to get them, but I don't recall them being too expensive the last pair I ordered.

I've gotten a pair of the Wrangler hiking pants from Walmart before and they were great. Didn't know they had camo. Thanks good to know. Thanks!

 

[SolaBeard]

You asked for "bare minimum" you can certainly hunt without a tree stand, a fancy store bought pop up blind, [some brush piled up in front of a big tree works] fancy designer hunting clothes and boots, etc.
Recurve nailed it, sharp knife, blaze orange and a good rifle.
The other "stuff" just makes a hunt a little more comfortable. The more comfortable you are the longer you might stay in the woods, the longer you stay in the woods your chances of being successful improve exponentially.

I appreciate that insight! Are there any specific knives you prefer?

 

[SolaBeard]

If everything I have burned up in a fire and I had to start from scratch, my top priority would be a good pair of boots. Cheap out on everything else to start but when it comes to boots get the best you can afford. No other gear gets more use than your boots.

Are there any specific ones you'd recommend?

 

[Ski]

Are there any specific ones you'd recommend?

Only recommendation would be go try several different ones and pick the ones that feel as comfortable as an old pair of underwear. Bad boots will make you miserable. Good boots will keep you going.

 

[SC Manimal]

Couple of notes-
1. Check these classifieds regularly.
2. I have a camo jacket you can have.
3. I live in Rhea Co. I don't topically hunt public land but I could show you some and help you learn to scout a little bit.

 

[Vince]

rifle with scope, ammo, orange vest, orange cap/knit beanie, insulated waterproof boots, clothes to keep you warm (depending on how cold - base layer, mid layer, outer layer), sharp knife, flashlight, something to pull/drag (or quarter out if that's what you prefer), something somewhere to sit comfortably (can be ground stand or blind or shooting house or whatever works for you).

appropriate license, hunter safety cert, smart phone to report harvest or otherwise paper tag. You can get license online and should see hunter safety automatically once you login. If not, call TWRA and they can locate old hunter safety for you.

If you need it, carry:
snacks
water
cough drops
shooting stick (I guess you wont need it unless long range)
binocular (no need unless long range)
ear plugs
backpack for extra stuff
rattling horns, deer call (for mature buck hunters)
toilet paper
use toe warmers/shoe shield for extreme cold weather. A cold feet will end your hunting quickly.

stay away from all fancy attractants and stuff. Tried many of these and no difference to hunting. Use a scent free detergent to wash clothes and sun dry in permethrin in summer (https://www.tndeer.com/threads/permethrin-mix-rates-i-know-someone-will-ask.390952/). Chewy.com was the cheapest i found permithrin last year.

i use a jet sled to haul deer and transport it (no truck). It's very handy but not bare minimum. i also keep a big bottle of water in car to wash hands if field dressing.

Many suggestions above are under the assumption you will be rifle hunting, which starts in Nov, and it's cold from then until Jan..

 

[Chiflyguy]

If you're hunting the mountains, a good pair of boots.
After hunting season, a knee brace and a physical therapist.
Get a good ground blind. Not a tiny 1 man either.
The shooting sticks are great.
I bought Allen off of Amazon.

 

[DTM]

I love a minimalist approach to hunting. Side question: do you think there's a specific rifle that lends itself to that type of hunting?

Savage Axis .270/6.5/.243/7mm-08
3-9x40 weaver scope (will come on rifle)
Cheap but reliable rifle and any caliber over .243 (wouldn't suggest over 30-06 for just starting out). Keep it simple nothing fancy.

 

[SolaBeard]

Couple of notes-
1. Check these classifieds regularly.
2. I have a camo jacket you can have.
3. I live in Rhea Co. I don't topically hunt public land but I could show you some and help you learn to scout a little bit.

That's awesome, man! I appreciate that.

 

[SolaBeard]

rifle with scope, ammo, orange vest, orange cap/knit beanie, insulated waterproof boots, clothes to keep you warm (depending on how cold - base layer, mid layer, outer layer), sharp knife, flashlight, something to pull/drag (or quarter out if that's what you prefer), something somewhere to sit comfortably (can be ground stand or blind or shooting house or whatever works for you).

appropriate license, hunter safety cert, smart phone to report harvest or otherwise paper tag. You can get license online and should see hunter safety automatically once you login. If not, call TWRA and they can locate old hunter safety for you.

If you need it, carry:
snacks
water
cough drops
shooting stick (I guess you wont need it unless long range)
binocular (no need unless long range)
ear plugs
backpack for extra stuff
rattling horns, deer call (for mature buck hunters)
toilet paper
use toe warmers/shoe shield for extreme cold weather. A cold feet will end your hunting quickly.

stay away from all fancy attractants and stuff. Tried many of these and no difference to hunting. Use a scent free detergent to wash clothes and sun dry in permethrin in summer (https://www.tndeer.com/threads/permethrin-mix-rates-i-know-someone-will-ask.390952/). Chewy.com was the cheapest i found permithrin last year.

i use a jet sled to haul deer and transport it (no truck). It's very handy but not bare minimum. i also keep a big bottle of water in car to wash hands if field dressing.

Many suggestions above are under the assumption you will be rifle hunting, which starts in Nov, and it's cold from then until Jan..

This was very thorough, thanks! Do you have a blind you'd recommend? Would that need to be set up well ahead of the hunt?