7 Hunting Camp Essentials You Shouldn’t Leave Behind

The best place to be is at the deer camp during hunting season. When you’re finished at camp, the rule of thumb is not to leave any traces that you were there. But, before you go, it’s also crucial that you bring all the gear you need for a successful hunting expedition. 

Gear that will help you remain undetected

When hunting in the wilderness, it’s vital to bring gear that keeps you hidden. You’ll want your hunting boots, silencers, camo clothing, and stabilizers. 

Deer can hear and smell you, and they notice electromagnetic frequencies from your heartbeat and muscle movements. Cutting-edge clothing like this will block your electromagnetic frequencies with its conductive, interlocking carbon fiber fabric. To take your smell downwind, you can use various scent-blocking products and odorless deodorants. 

More tent stakes than you think you’ll need

If your deer camp includes tents, blinds, or canopies, you’ll want to have tent stakes to keep the lightweight gear from flying away if it’s windy. Basic tent stakes aren’t always enough to keep blinds in place when winds exceed 10 MPH, so bring a few stakes with twisting anchors. Don’t forget the rope, too.

Bring a portable camp chair

If you want to be comfortable when you aren’t hunting, you’ll want a cozy place to sit. 

A portable, lightweight camp chair is a must-have for any deer camp expedition. It’s nice to have one with at least one cup holder, and some even come with battery-powered heaters for chilly nights around the campfire. 

Bring plenty of firewood

Deer camps never seem to have enough firewood. Bringing your own is the best choice, so you don’t have to wander around camp picking up sticks and twigs. Firewood burns quickly, and the last thing you want to do is chop wood after a long day hunting. Bring your pre-chopped collection of firewood to warm the chilly nights.

You can’t bring enough flashlights

Deer camps get dark, and batteries die. If you only bring one flashlight, you might regret that you forgot to bring more. Bring along hand-held lights for quick trips to the outhouse and bring comfortable headlamps for cooking and other tasks that require two hands. Having a few lanterns also makes for a more convenient, light-filled expedition.
 
 
For nights on the trail, you’ll also want to ensure you’re supplied with something like these night vision goggles or monoculars to ensure that you’re not drawing too much attention to yourself or scaring off valuable prey. The best rule of thumb is to leave your flashlights and lanterns at camp and bring your night vision optics while on the hunt – this way, you’re sure to be safe while both relaxing in your tent and readying yourself to take aim!

Deer cart or ATV

After carrying a deer or two, you realize how heavy they are. Hauling one back to deer camp can be exhausting. Invest in a deer cart or an ATV to get the carcass back to your post with significantly less stress. Rugged deer carts have off-road tires and lightweight frames. Camps that aren’t ATV-friendly are good spots for deer carts. 

Heavy-duty and lightweight cutting boards

You’ll find yourself cutting plenty of meat at your deer camp. Rather than using a wooden cutting board that can quickly become contaminated, choose plastic or stainless steel. 

Conclusion

Planning for deer camp should involve building an extensive list. Consider the items you’ll need to make your deer camp enjoyable and industrious. Just remember that whatever you bring in, you’ll have to bring out.