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Guest Post by Melanie Musson Hunting trips take a lot of planning. You have to apply for tags, scout a location, decide what gun or bow to use, get your optics ready — the list goes on.  Fuel for you is just as important as any other planning you’re doing. You need the right nutrition for whatever kind of hunting you’ll be doing.  My favorite hunt includes long days of spotting and stalking with miles upon miles of hiking and then heading back to a nice warm base (in my case, a camper) at night. If your hunting approach is more stationary, like from a blind or treestand, you won’t need to eat as much. And if your trip includes backcountry camping, your resources will be quite different from mine. Instead, you’ll need to rely on nutrient-dense supplements and snacks. Just like you can still eat healthy at restaurants by avoiding food that is fried or smothered in unhealthy sauces and toppings, you can plan ahead and eat well while you are enjoying the great outdoors. Even if you plan on eating out once or twice during your trip, planning and making your own food can be the healthiest and most cost-effective option. There are some universal ways to eat healthily, no matter what kind of hunting you plan to participate in. Whether you’re new to the hunting world or you grew up with it, here are some ideas to get you thinking and adjust for your situation: Meal plans and grocery lists It’s a good idea to write down what you plan to eat for every meal of your trip. Make a grocery list so you can purchase anything you don’t have on hand.  After you’ve compiled all your ingredients, you can start prepping your food. It takes some time to get it all done, but it will be so worth it when you come back exhausted from a long day in the field, and your food’s ready and all you have to do is heat it up.  If you’re staying somewhere with a refrigerator, you can prep your meals in the container you’ll reheat it in. If you don’t have a refrigerator, you’ll need to keep your food in a cooler. You’ll want to use reusable containers with lids to keep things compact and avoid spillage. Remember to pack plates and silverware. Washable or disposable, just make sure you have something to eat on and with. Along those lines, make sure to bring a pot for the stove, a bowl for the microwave, and a pan for the oven. Tongs, spatulas, and wooden spoons come in handy, as well. Healthy breakfasts We’ve all heard it: Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It’s a fact.  But another fact is that the best hunting is early in the morning. So it’s unlikely you’d want to get up early enough to whip up a healthy, nutrient-packed breakfast and still have time to make it to the happy hunting grounds before dawn.  With a little planning, though, you can have a good breakfast prepared in the same amount of time it takes to pour a bowl of cereal.  Breakfast burritos with sausage, eggs, cheese, and salsa, can be made in advance and warmed in the microwave, oven, or stovetop. Scrambled egg muffins prepared with spinach, mushroom, and cheese can be made ahead and reheated in a microwave or toaster oven. Overnight oats made with oatmeal, greek yogurt, and milk are another great way to start off your day. You can add sweet toppings if you’d like such as honey, sugar, berries, bananas or anything else.  Make sure you plan for some protein in your breakfast. This meal will fuel your morning, and you don’t want to peter after an hour because all you ate was a high-carb meal.  There’s one breakfast item you will definitely want to remember, and that’s the coffee. Bring a coffee pot, coffee, and whatever you like to put in it. Also, don’t forget your thermos.  Healthy snacks Snacks are the easiest place to go out of control on unhealthy foods. But the fact is that you will only eat what you bring. If you don’t bring a variety pack of chips, you won’t eat them! Try putting these types of healthy snacks in your pack: Hard-boiled eggs in a sandwich bag with salt and pepper Almonds Dark chocolate Dried mangos Vegetables like carrot sticks, celery, sugar snap peas Cheese sticks Cheese and crackers Granola bars Fruit like clementines, apples, bananas Jerky and meat sticks It’s very important to remember to drink well throughout the day. So bring plenty of water or, if you’ll be hiking most of the day and you don’t want to pack that much water, invest in a filtration system so you can get safe drinking water from almost any water source. Healthy lunches Sandwiches make a good lunch for hunting. They’re easy to prepare and pack. Here are some favorites: Turkey sandwiches on whole wheat bread are a good whole-grain, protein-packed lunch. Try it with a little raspberry jam which makes it a little like a Monte Cristo. Chicken salad sandwiches are easy to prepare. Make the chicken salad ahead of time and then just spread it on the bread in the morning before taking off. Lunchmeat and cheese sandwiches are a staple for hunting lunches. I like to add a slice of salami to whatever other meat I use. Another delicious option is to thinly slice leftover steaks (bonus points if it’s leftover tenderloins from your freshly harvested deer) and the steak in a tortilla wrap with cream cheese, bell pepper, and spinach.  Yogurt and cheese sticks are good foods to supplement your sandwich or wrap. Healthy dinners I recommend pre-making as much of the food as possible because it can be overwhelming to try to bring all the individual ingredients for meals. When you decide on the main dish to prepare, don’t forget to bring what you need for side dishes. Here are some ideas: Salad kits from the grocery store make a great side dish. They contain everything you need to make a good salad. I plan a salad for every dinner. Bags of frozen vegetables make easy sides. Just heat them up and add a little butter, salt, and pepper. Baked beans are another easy and filling addition to a meal. As far as main dishes go, there are some that I eat on every hunting trip and others that I rotate in occasionally. Healthy meals can be pretty basic and easy to prepare. Simply think of a meat to grill, a starch (e.g. bread, potato, pasta, grain) to heat up, and a vegetable. A homemade spaghetti sauce can be reheated on a stovetop and poured over freshly cooked noodles. Chili is another good, hearty hunting dinner. Don’t forget the cornbread and sour cream. If you happen to harvest an animal, the fresh meat can make one of the best meals. Grilled tenderloin with a little salt and pepper is hard to beat. Frozen burger patties are available at most grocery stores, and you can grill those for a quick and easy meal. Don’t forget the ketchup, mustard, and cheese.  Eating healthy on a hunting trip does not have to be overwhelming. You’ll just need to think ahead and prepare and pack what you’ll need. Remember, if you don’t pack it, you won’t have it. That can be good for resisting cravings because if you don’t have unhealthy food, you won’t be able to eat it. But it can be bad for essentials that you’ll wish you would have remembered.  You’ll enjoy your hunting trip more if you feel good, and what you put into your body makes a big difference.  Melanie Musson is a writer for QuickQuote.com. She lives in Montana and looks forward to big game season every fall. Another of her passions is cooking delicious and healthy foods for her friends and family. 

Guest Post by John McAdams Buying a new hunting rifle can be a very overwhelming experience if you’ve never done it before. A quick look around any sporting goods store will reveal an wide assortment of different rifles that are available in a staggering variety of cartridges. How do you pick the best one for you? The good news is that many of the popular centerfire rifle cartridges that hunters use these days will work for a wide range of hunting situations. That being said, certain cartridges are better for some hunts than others. For that reason, it’s still important to carefully evaluate what and where you intend to hunt with that new rifle. Here are a few caliber recommendations that will work extremely well for hunting many of the popular species of big game all over the world. Before we get started, take note that this article only covers a handful of good big game hunting cartridges. There are plenty of dependable rifle cartridges out there and the exclusion of a particular cartridge from this list doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a bad choice. 6.5 Creedmoor Though the 6.5 Creedmoor is a relatively new cartridge that first got started in the competitive shooting community, it’s becoming very popular with hunters as well. Firing a very aerodynamic .264” bullet at a moderate velocity, the 6.5 Creedmoor is easily powerful enough for hunting small to moderate-sized game at typical ranges for most hunters. It’s also capable of ethically taking down larger game as well under the right circumstances. The Creedmoor has taken off among hunters in recent years because it is very resistant to wind drift, has a relatively flat trajectory, and has a pretty mild recoil. Since it first got started in the competitive shooting world, the 6.5 Creedmoor is also capable of incredible accuracy in the right hands. With those things in mind, the 6.5 Creedmoor is popular among hunters of all experience levels, but the light recoil of the cartridge helps make it an especially good choice for small framed and/or brand new hunters. All things considered, the 6.5 Creedmoor is an excellent caliber for hunting whitetail deer, mule deer, feral hogs, and pronghorn at distances out to several hundred yards. As previously mentioned, it will also work for game like elk and moose, but it’s a little on the light side for hunting game that size. .30-06 Springfield The legendary .30-06 Springfield is well over a century old, but it remains one of the most popular centerfire rifle cartridges in the world. This is due in large part to the fact that the .30-06 is such a capable and versatile cartridge. With proper shot placement and when using appropriate ammunition, the .30-06 is well suited for hunting a wide variety of big game ranging from whitetail deer all the way up to moose. This also includes North American game animals like black bear, feral hogs, pronghorn, and elk. Additionally, it’s a great choice for hunting animals like red stag, fallow deer, blue wildebeest, kudu, and eland that a hunter is likely to encounter on a New Zealand or Africa hunting safari. While the 6.5 Creedmoor is an excellent long-range cartridge, the .30-06 Springfield is no slouch in that area either. On the other hand, it does have noticeably more recoil than the 6.5 Creedmoor, but most hunters don’t have too much trouble handling the additional recoil of the .30-06 Springfield. Since it’s so popular among hunters, .30-06 rifles and ammunition are widely available and often very reasonably priced. When all of those things are taken into consideration, the .30-06 is an ideal choice if a hunter wanted to purchase a single rifle that would work for hunting the most game under the largest breadth of conditions. .338 Winchester Magnum As good as the .30-06 is, some hunters prefer to use something even more powerful for hunting especially large and/or dangerous species of game in North America. Hunters who fall into that group often gravitate towards the .338 Winchester Magnum. Just like the case with the 6.5 Creedmoor and the .30-06 Springfield, there is quite a bit of overlap in the capabilities of the .30-06 and the .338 Winchester Magnum. In this case, the .338 Winchester Magnum provides an extra measure of power that can be really nice to have when hunting game like elk, moose, or Alaskan brown bear. That extra power does come with more recoil though, and the .338 Win Mag does not really offer improved performance when compared to the .30-06 on smaller game like deer or pronghorn. For those reasons, the .338 is not nearly as popular overall as the .30-06, but it is still an excellent choice for hunters in places like Canada and Alaska who want or need the advantages it offers. .375 H&H Magnum Last up is the .375 Holland & Holland Magnum. Many African countries have a legally established minimum caliber of .375” for hunting thick-skinned, dangerous game like cape buffalo. So, while cartridges like the .30-06 and the .338 Win Mag are great for hunting almost all species of plains game, the .375 H&H is generally considered the minimum acceptable cartridge for cape buffalo hunting. It’s an outstanding choice for cape buffalo, but the .375 H&H is not limited to just buffalo hunting either. Like the .30-06, the .375 is another old cartridge that has a very well-deserved reputation for solid performance afield. Though it does have more recoil than the .30-06 or .338, the .375 H&H does not recoil as much as one might think. For these reasons, many hunters use the .375 H&H for hunting plains game in Africa as well as game like brown bear and moose in North America. Final thoughts Appropriately preparing for a hunt or buying a new rifle does not end with selecting a cartridge. That’s merely a single step in the process. Selecting the right rifle, scope, and ammunition are all just as important as picking the right cartridge. Additionally, the marksmanship skills of the hunter are extremely important as well when it comes to ethical hunting. As the saying goes, a shot in the right place from a less powerful cartridge is much better than a shot in the wrong place from a more powerful cartridge. Carefully select the right centerfire rifle cartridge for the hunting you plan on doing, purchase a high-quality rifle, sighting system, and ammunition, and then spend plenty of time at the range practicing before your hunt. If you do those things, you should be well prepared for an upcoming adventure. John McAdams is a proficient blogger, long time hunter, experienced shooter, and veteran of combat deployments with the US Army to Iraq and Afghanistan. John started Big Game Hunting Adventures in order to help others fulfill their hunting dreams. John’s articles have been featured in outdoor publications like Bear Hunting Magazine, the Texas State Rifle Association, the Texas Wildlife Magazine, and Wide Open Spaces.

Hunting often takes a significant amount of preparation, skill, patience, and time. All of the effort that goes into hunting may not seem worth it to some, but to others, it’s everything, especially during the fall months. If you know someone who is an avid hunter, you’ll likely see them getting amped up for the upcoming fall hunting season. After all, fall hunting season is a time where hunters gather together, have the chance to go after a wide variety of game, and enjoy the beautiful fall weather and surrounding nature. Do you know someone who is gearing up for an upcoming hunt? If so, consider surprising them with one of these hunting-related gifts that they can use throughout this fall hunting season: Cooking and food Product: Custom Cookbook Description: “This book hosts a collection of recipes from other hunters. The hunt is only the first part of the process. After the hunters kill, they need to know how to make the best meals with their meat. This lets farmers share their recipes, pass down family recipes, and share stories and photos from their hunts.” — Honey and Hive Price: Starts at $120 Available at honeyandhivecreations.com ---- Product: The Meat Eater Fish and Game Cookbook by Steven Rinella Description: “This cookbook by Steven Rinella from the Meat Eater TV show and podcast is designed for every hunter and angler and contains more than 100 new recipes. I’ve given this book to seasoned and brand new hunters. It’s a really well put together compendium of recipes that will educate and encourage any hunter or angler to use the whole animal. There are plenty of pictures along with the recipes, making them harder to botch, which I certainly appreciate, as do my dinner guests.” — Chase Kroll Price: $35 Available on the Meat Eater website ---- Product: The Hunter’s Cookbook Description: “The Hunter's Cookbook is the ultimate gift for the special hunter in your life. There is a good chance they are particular about their equipment so a cookbook is not only a unique gift, it is one that is more likely to be used and appreciated. The best part is that this gift ensures that the pleasure of the hunt extends far past the wilderness and enters the home for an experience the whole family can enjoy. The top-selling cookbook features a wide array of recipes for a large variety of wild game and even includes complementary side dishes and desserts. As an added bonus, the Hunter's Cookbook also has a great selection of wildlife line drawings, cooking tips, and hunting quotes.” — Sam Maizlech, Gunivore Available on Amazon ---- Product: Alpine Start Premium Instant Coffee Description: “This is great for hunting because it's lightweight, easy to pack, and loaded with 120g of caffeine. Just add water (hot or cold) and you've got a great tasting premium cup of coffee without the mess and cleanup.” — Alpine Start Price: $8.99 per box Available on the Alpine Start website Accessories and apparel Product: Szanto Icon Signature Series: Shane Dorian watch Description: “The Szanto ICON Signature Series features a collection of watches tied to famous individuals who have made their mark in a variety of fields. Shane Dorian is a well-known surfer from Hawaii but is also commonly known for his passion for hunting, as he is an avid bowhunter. Conceptualized by watch industry veteran Barry Cohen along with big wave surfer Shane Dorian, the new brand features Swiss superluminova lume on the hands and dial numbers that result in a long-lasting glow for reading time in the dark. The series is strategically designed to have colors blend well with camouflaged gear commonly worn by all hunters. The watches are tough, rugged, dependable, water-resistant timepieces equipped with excellent illumination technology which aids night visibility.” — Time Concepts Price: Between $250–$275 Available on the timeconcepts.net website ---- Product: Spartan Armor System Flex fused core Description: “This soft armor can be used stand-alone, giving level IIIA protection or ICW (in conjunction with) as a backer on any of hard armor systems. This would be the perfect gift for hunters this fall because of its durability and its ability to give the hunter extra protection as they go out this season.” — Spartan Armor Systems Price: $261.45 Available on the Spartan Armor Systems website ---- Product: Ashes to Ashes hat Description: “A hat is a must-have accessory for hunting and being out in the wilderness. Abby's hats are comfortable, breathable trucker hats that are adjustable. They keep the sun out of your eyes and shield your face from trees and branches.” — Art 4 All Price: $29.95 Available on the Art 4 All website ---- Product: Hook + Gaff Field Watch Description: “From hunting to fly fishing, and everywhere in between, the new Field watch was designed for the avid outdoorsman. Built with functional comfort for guys and girls who like to get out and enjoy the outdoors, the new Field watch touts all of the necessary features to endure any excursion. To minimize wrist and hand irritation, the Field watch keeps with the signature left-side crown orientation found on all Hook + Gaff watches. Whether you’re casting, climbing, or shooting in the field, this unique crown placement on the left side of the case prevents the watch crown from digging into the wearer’s wrist, offering comfort during all outdoor pursuits.” — Hook + Gaff Price: $300 Available on the Hook + Gaff website ---- Product: Woodsman Beard Oil Description: “Perfect for hunters with facial hair. Beards can help keep hunters warm during hunting season and our Woodsman beard oil, with all-natural ingredients, will keep beards healthy and looking good.” — The Bearded Bastard Price: $20 Available on The Bearded Bastard website ---- Product: Handmade Leather EDC Wallet Description: “This high-quality EDC wallet, made from vegetable-tanned cowhide leather, allows you to keep your small hunting gadgets like your swiss army knife, compass, pocket knife, keys, flashlights, and other handy items, safely together.” — Calen Leather Price: $35 Available on the Galen Leather website ---- Product: Mobile Warming Heated Apparel Description: “Mobile Warming is a line of smart clothing and associated gear for all outdoor activities, but especially hunting. The clothing (jackets, shirts, base layers, gloves) are heated through a specialized app and the Bluetooth capability of your smartphone. The 9v battery is extremely small and unobtrusive. And there’s even a pet vest if you take your dog with you.” — Mobile Warming Price: Varies per item Available on the Mobile Warming website ---- Product: Jack Pyke Lightweight Mesh Suit Description: “Super lightweight two-piece mesh suit from Jack Pyke is ideal for every hunter who is looking for products enabling him to blend into his surroundings with ease naturally. It comes with a pull-over, smock-style top with an adjustable hood and elasticated waistband and cuffs, and comfortable trousers with two through pockets and adjustable, elasticated waist and ankles. It's available in English Oak camo and English Woodland camo prints offering flawless camouflage in a range of outdoor situations.” — Military 1st Price: $56.95 Available on the Military 1st website ---- Product: Stormy Kromer Waxed Cotton Tough Mitts Description: “These durable water-resistant mitts are made with waxed cotton, goatskin leather, and a sherpa lining, perfect for keeping warm and for use during colder climates, and a great, functional accessory for those who love to hunt.” — Hats.com Price: $59.99 Available on the Hats.com website ---- Product: Badlands Diablo Dos Camouflage Hunting Backpack Description: As stated on the Amazon website, this pack “has the highest strength-to-weight ratio of any hunting pack on the market” and comes with hypervent back suspension, water-repellent fabric, and weighs four pounds. Recommended by Benjamin Smith from BestCompany.com Available on Amazon Tech accessories Product: OnX Maps Description: “OnX is a suite of layered interactive GPS maps that include public and private land boundaries and ownership information, downloadable to your smartphone. OnX maps are a great gift for a wide variety of hunters because whether you’re chasing mule deer or mallards, you need to know where you stand. OnX helps you stay legal and ethical in all your wild game pursuits. The app is super intuitive. I use it all over the country.” — Chase Kroll Price: Annual rates are $29.99 for one state or $99.99 for all 50 states Available on the OnX maps website ---- Product: Somewear Satellite Communicator Description: “Whether it’s a quick text to a partner letting them know your hunt is running long, to request assistance for packing out an animal, or an SOS in case of an injury, Somewear is the most user-friendly, satellite communicator on the market. About the size of a hockey puck (weighs 4 oz.), Somewear pairs with your favorite mobile device to provide fast, reliable two-way text messaging, pinpoint weather forecasting, mapping/tracking, and SOS emergency services, anywhere on the planet. Somewear can send and receive 1,000 text messages on a single charge and it features the most affordable Iridium satellite data plans on the market.” — Somewear Labs Price: $349 for the unit, see prices for data plans here Available on the Somewear Labs website ---- Product: Motorola Solutions T265 Sportsman Edition Talkabout Two-Way Radios Description: “The Motorola Talkabout T265 two-way radios are ideal for use when out of cell phone range at the lodge, on the trail, and in the deer stand waiting for the big buck. These are specifically designed for hunters and serious outdoor sports enthusiasts. They feature two push-to-talk earbuds with microphone, reliable two-way communications, up to a 25-mile range, hands-free capability, NOAA weather channels, 20 call tones, and dual power. The T265 also comes equipped with two Micro-USB wall charging cables and a handy camo carry case, making them easy to pack for the next hunting expedition. Two-way radios provide peace-of-mind in the great outdoors by allowing hunters to stay connected and hear important weather alerts when out of cell phone range.” — Motorola Solutions Price: $84.99 Available on the Motorola Solutions website ---- Product: Wosports Hunting Rangefinder Description: According to the Amazon product description, this rangefinder has a lightweight design, “6x magnification optical objective lens,” and comes with a 12-month customer guarantee. Recommended by Benjamin Smith from BestCompany.com Available on Amazon Outdoor relaxation Product: Rhino-Rack Batwing Compact Awning Description: “Rapidly deployed by one person, the Batwing Compact offers fast and generous weather protection and shade. The Batwing Compact Awning is perfect to provide shade and protection from the elements while on your hunting adventure.” — Rhino-Rack Price: $649.00 Available on the Rhino-Rack website ---- Product: Patriot Venture Day Cooler Description: “The Rugged Personal Cooler is perfect for hunting or any outdoor activity. This heavy-duty cooler features an easy-access, quick-flip top, anti-microbial interior, and sealed interior liner designed for ice packs. It keeps food and drinks cold for over 24 hours.” — Patriot Coolers Price: $37.99 Available on the Patriot Coolers website ---- Product: Helinox Chair One Realtree™ Description: “Hunting equipment can get heavy. But with it's innovative and award-winning design, the Chair One won't weigh you down when you're on the move. Smaller than a water bottle, this chair is assured to be your new favorite hunting luxury. Despite its tiny size, this chair is structured with advanced DAC aluminum poles, holding up to 320 lbs.” — Helinox Price: $120 Available on the Helinox website ---- Product: GelPro Elite comfort mat Description: “GelPro mats are some of the plushest and most comfortable mats on the market, providing relief to legs and backs while standing or kneeling in a blind or at home in the hunting lodge at the end of a long hunting day.” — GelPro Elite Price: Start at $119.95 for a 20”x36” mat Available on the GelPro Elite website Tools and Cleanup Product: Geekey Mini Multi-Tool Description: “Whether it's needing a screwdriver or wrench to adjust a scope or bipod, a serrated or file edge for cutting or whittling, or a bottle opener or pipe for the end of the day, the Geekey has it all — and more. Plus, it weighs less than an ounce and can hang from your key ring or around your neck, which means no more scaring off game by rummaging around.” — Geekey Price: $26.99 Available on the Geekey website ---- Product: PF940c Full Build Kit Description: “The PF940c Full Build Kit from JSD Supply is a perfect gift for firearm enthusiasts who have everything. The Glock G19 Compatible build kit will keep them busy for hours in the garage, and out of your hair! The kit includes everything they will need to completely build their very own Glock G19 compatible pistol. All they need to complete this build is a couple of tools they've probably already purchased for other projects around the house.” — JSD Supply Price: $449.99 Available on the JSD Supply website ---- Product: Hunting Semi-Folding Knife with Rosewood Handle Description: “The Semi foldable handle knife is the best companion for outdoor activities such as hunting, fishing, etc. It comes with a sharp stainless steel blade which opens safely with a little pressure. Wooden plates are installed on each side to make the grip comfortable. The semi-utility is a cool outdoor companion, especially for survival situation that can occur while hunting. It's a great solution for cutting fruits, meat, vegetables, bread, and opening cans. It is also good for self-defense to encounter predators or small insects.” — Syed Ali Hasan, Film Jackets Available on Amazon  ----- Product: Buck Knife Field Master Kit Description: According to the Amazon website, this kit includes the “141 PakLite Large Skinner, the 135 PakLite Caper, and the 499 PakLite Guthook.” Additionally, the kit comes with an easy-to-clean sheath. Recommended by Benjamin Smith, BestCompany.com Available on Amazon ---- Product: Game Hauler | Cart Dolly for Game, Gear, Hunting Accessories Description: “Hauls up to 500 pounds while the cart itself is lightweight and easy to move. My dad and I use these all the time if we can get one into where the animal is to make the haul out easier. My dad picked up an entire female deer he had shot one time and carried it down the mountain. His meniscus was unforgiving and had ripped by the time he made it to the bottom.” — Benjamin Smith, BestCompany.com Available on Amazon ---- Product: Grease Monkey Wipes Description: “These individually packaged, pre-moistened wipes are perfect when there's no soap and water around, cleaning off blood, grease, oil, grime, lead residue, and more from hands, metal and more. And, they give off a natural aloe and citrus scent compared to an unnatural chemical odor.” — Grease Monkey Price: $6.74 for a 12-count package Available on the Grease Monkey website The bottom line These hunting gifts may just help your favorite hunter get a good head start on the upcoming hunting season. The more useful items they can get beforehand, the better off they will be when hunting season comes around. After all, being well-prepared for a hunt can make all the difference. If you are interested in gifting ammunition, firearms, or additional hunting accessories, consider checking out this list of top-rated online gun and ammo stores.

The sport of hunting is actually more complex than you may think. At first glance, hunting may seem like a simple hobby that you can pick up right after taking a trip to your local outdoorsman store. Only once you actually go hunting will you realize that there’s much more than what meets the eye. It can be hard to get into hunting, especially if you don’t have anyone who can explain the steps. If you are having trouble knowing how to begin your hunting journey, here are a few steps and tips to help you get started. Safety The first and most important thing a beginner hunter needs to learn is proper hunter safety.Owner of The Big Game Hunting Blog and experienced hunter, John McAdams recommends that beginners take a hunter safety course and find a hunting mentor: “First, prospective hunters should take a hunter safety course. Most states require that hunters pass hunter education before purchasing a hunting license. Even when not required, this is useful training that I highly recommend all prospective hunters complete. In addition to detailing a number of important safety practices all hunters should abide by, hunter education also provides useful information on relevant hunting laws and regulations, hunting etiquette, (and) a general overview of important hunting tips. Consult your state fish and game department for details on how to take hunter education training.”  He adds “After passing hunter education, I recommend finding a mentor to help out with a lot of the finer points of hunting. If you don’t have any family members or close friends that hunt, consider checking out Powder Hook, which is an online resource where you discover a place to hunt and find a mentor in your area that can help get you pointed in the right direction as you begin your hunting career.”Eric Andrews, owner of Hunting Buff, echoed McAdams’ remarks about the benefits of taking a hunter safety course. He also stressed the importance of hands-on learning:  “Before going on your first hunting trip, make sure to take a hunter safety course in the state where you'll hunt. This course will help you understand the safety rules and hunting regulations in your area. Also, before you go gun or bowhunting, make sure you visit a range and get some experience firing your weapon."   Paul Ronto, seasoned hunter/outdoorsman and CMO and Director of Digital Content for RunRepeat also firmly believes that taking time to learn hunter safety is crucial:“First and foremost new hunters need to understand firearm safety before they ever step foot in the field. Whether it's a rifle, shotgun, or even a bow, hunters need to know how to handle a weapon, how to carry one safely, and how to accurately and safely fire their weapon. Practice time at the range is crucial; firing a gun or releasing on a bow is like any other skill, and practice makes perfect. You wouldn't step onto the pitcher's mound expecting to throw a perfect game without years of practice, and shooting is very similar, especially with larger or more dangerous animals or at longer distances. Nothing worse can come out of a hunt than either injuring yourself, a fellow hunter, or your prey because of ignorance about your weapon." Although safety might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you are planning a hunting trip, you should definitely make it a priority. Game and area planning Once you learn the right hunter safety basics, then you can focus on what you want to hunt and what area you want to hunt in. If you are interested in hunting in a different state, follow the proper state hunting laws and protocols. Determining what you want to hunt can be difficult, especially if you have no hunting experience. McAdams said that “going after small or upland game (rabbit, grouse, squirrel, pheasant, etc.) is a great way for beginners to get started hunting. Those sort of hunts usually don’t require very specialized equipment, are often more action-packed, and are usually less physically demanding than hunting big game like deer or elk. However, they still offer beginners a great opportunity to hone their skills and take home some healthy and delicious meat before attempting a more difficult hunt.”Once you know what kind of game you want to go after, start conducting personal research to see which areas in your state would be the best place to find that game.“Knowing the area you are going to hunt and/or knowing how to read a map is a crucial skill before you step into the field. Getting lost in the woods is a serious issue and hundreds if not thousands of people a year get lost while hunting or hiking. So know where you are at all times, have a plan for where and when to meet up with your group, and know how to get back to the tent or truck even if it gets dark. GPS can help, but relying on it can get you into trouble too. Nothing beats paying attention to your geographic surroundings and knowing how to read a proper map,” Ronto explained. Local laws Your planning isn’t finished once you decide where you want to hunt and what game you are going to go after. The next step is to understand the local hunting laws and regulations for the particular area you are planning on hunting in. Hunting laws and regulations often vary by state, area, and hunting season, and are also subject to change. For instance, you might find new or different restrictions regarding deer hunting in place this year than what was in place the previous year. It’s crucial to keep up on what rules, regulations, and laws are currently in place for the area you want to hunt in before you start hunting. Ronto explains, “Being aware of local hunting laws and hunting ethics is key. You need to have a wealth of knowledge about where you can hunt, when you can hunt, how to get permits, where public/private land starts and ends, and how to ethically hunt before you head out into the woods. Go talk to the local DOW or DNR, stop in at forest service stations and ask rangers; it's better to ask for help so you are sure you are hunting legally than doing something that can get you into trouble.” Sam Maizlech, firearms and survival expert for Gunivore.com, also stressed the importance of knowing hunting laws. He advises “As a hunter, it's your responsibility to know all the laws, rules, and regulations to ensure you have a safe and lawful experience. While some regulations are pretty standard, there are countless laws which are downright hard to believe. For example, it's illegal to shoot wild game birds on the ground in Kansas. Another great example is Montana's ban on electronic hunting aids, such as trail cameras. At the end of the day, every state has all of the relevant laws and general information on their gaming commission or division of wildlife websites. The important this is to stay up-to-date and follow all the necessary precautions so that you can hunt in peace without worrying about any legal consequences.” Gear Becoming a hunter isn’t cheap. You need to buy the right shoes, weapons, clothes, accessories, etc. Although there are a few ways you can save money on hunting gear, you’ll find that investing in good gear overtime will prove to be worthwhile. Ronto strongly recommends getting appropriate hunting footwear.He explains that “out of all the gear you need to go hunting, nothing is really more important than your hiking footwear. You can deal with cold, wet, or even hot weather without the right gear, but expecting to take down an animal without having to walk, especially in the vast expanses of the West, is not realistic. Not only are you on your feet all day chasing prey, once you take one down, you have to hike it out. So be sure to have solid boots that you've broken in well before your big hunt.” Footwear and clothing can make or break your hunting experience. Ronto adds that having gear that can withstand bad weather can definitely make a difference: “There's no such thing as bad weather, only bad gear. After you get your footwear situated, having the right gear makes hunting much more enjoyable. Sure, you can hunt in jeans and a hoodie, but when bad weather hits, it's nice to have proper insulating layers, waterproof outerwear, and a pack that can handle over 100lbs should you need to pack out your kill on foot. I don't think new hunters need to go out and buy the most expensive gear they can find. You don't need to invest all your money in year one, but slowly start to build up your hunting equipment." He added that it’s good to “start with a solid waterproof jacket. Next look for a good pack that can carry weight well. From there you can find pants and insulating layers that fit the climate of where you hunt. Also, you don't need camo if you don't have it. Any drab color like brown or green will work; plus in most places, you have to wear blaze orange anyway which defeats the purpose of expensive camo patterns. So don't feel the need to invest in high tech hunting-specific clothing on day one.” Butchering Knowing how to butcher in the field can be helpful if you are going after bigger game. After all, most people don’t want to spend extreme amounts of energy and time awkwardly hiking back with a large animal on their shoulders. Ronto says that “it's really important to know how to butcher an animal in the field. Watch youtube videos for this, learn how to either field dress an animal, or even better, how to quarter an animal. Quartering an animal is a quick and easy way to break your kill down into manageable pieces that you can hike out. It's crucial to get your meat onto ice or into a cool setting quickly so your kill doesn't go bad. Late season hunts don't have to worry about this as much, but early season hunters need to start the cooling process as quickly as possible which many times means butchering to some extent in the field. Have a sharp knife with you at all times and a way to sharpen that knife through the butchering process. I personally like the knives with changeable blades so I don't have to mess with a sharpening stone or kit.” Additional expert tips The steps mentioned above can help you get started on your hunting journey. However, you will likely need additional guidance before you go hunting. You can seek the help of an experienced hunter, conduct your own hunting research, and consider following the additional expert tips listed below. Get outside “As a new hunter the biggest bit of advice I can give you is to just get out there and start looking for animals. Go hike, get used to being in the field, find animals, follow them, stalk them, and learn their habits. You can do this year round, no need to wait for hunting season. Hunting is a great excuse to get outside, and the more you do it the more you'll fall in love with the outdoors, which is what hunting is really trying to save. Hunters are the biggest contributors to conservation of public lands and rangeland management of any of the user group that recreates outdoors, get out there and learn why it's so crucial to preserving our right to our lands.” — Ronto Focus on accuracy“While getting the best shot may seem like a nice bonus, the truth is that you want to get the best shot to prevent as much suffering to the animal as possible. Hunting demands a certain degree of responsibility and that extends to the game as well. In practice, this means you may have to wait until you can guarantee a kill shot. Likewise, hunters should always check their target after it goes down and carry a backup gun and tactical blade to end its suffering if need be.” — MaizlechThink about your prey“Seeing your prey is step one in killing your prey. Learn to walk off trail without having to look down. You need to be able to walk through the woods while paying attention to your surroundings. A lot of new hunters bump off prey long before they ever see it because they are focused on the ground. Think like your prey. Finding animals is hard, especially so during hunting season, so change your mindset and remember simple things about your prey, like they need water multiple times a day, they need food, and they need rest. Find their patterns and you'll find them.” — RontoInvest in binoculars “Good binos are something you'll want to save for and invest in as soon as you can...binos are a key tool needed to locate your prey. My advice is to save for a season or two and invest into a good pair rather than buying a cheap pair your first season. You'll quickly grow out of the cheap pair and have wasted your money, so wait until you know you want to continue to hunt, then buy something decent in the $400-$1,000 range.” — RontoUse the right weapon“If you're going to be turkey hunting, many states have laws against the use of rifles. You'll need to use a shotgun in many areas.” — AndrewsEat your meat“I know this sounds like common sense, but a lot of new hunters are unsure of how to prepare their kill when it comes time to eat it. Hunting should not be about horns or trophies, those are icing on top of the cake if you get them, but the real point is to put food in your freezer and on your table. Share your meat with people around you and show them how good it can be. There are tons of recipes and shows dedicated to cooking wild game. Try a few and find your favorites. Ethically speaking too, take as much meat off your kill as you can, leaving anything is a waste of a precious life you took to sustain your own life, use everything to its fullest.” — Ronto The bottom line Hunting requires a significant amount of time, energy, patience, and money in the beginning. Once you get started, however, things get easier. Getting the right gear, weapons, and ammunition can help make your first hunting trip one to remember. If you are looking for the best places to purchase hunting firearms, gear, and ammunition online, click here to check out our top-rated online gun and ammo stores.