Hunting is a vital skill that was developed very early in human evolution. It was a mode of survival for many centuries until humans learned to farm. All of us have a hunter within us. It can be seen vividly in some people, while the skill is still undiscovered by many. If you’re learning to hunt or just revising the basics, you’ve landed on the right page. Here are seven essential things every hunter should know and must put into practice.
1. Patience
Hunting takes time. This is where most of the beginners get demotivated and quit hunting before even experiencing the thrill of it. It requires a lot of patience. More often than not, it takes several hours for a hunter to spot the animal they are hunting for. In many cases, excited hunters scare away the animal by hurrying through the process. Every step must be taken very carefully and patiently. A small misstep can make you lose the opportunity by warning the animal about your presence.
2. Being Silent
Animals in the wild have superb senses that alert them about predators in their vicinity. Deer, for example, have a strong hearing ability and sense of smell. They can smell a hunter’s body odor or hear a snap of a twig from a distance away. Once they’re alerted, they look in the direction for a long time before getting back to what they were doing as if they were never disturbed. In such situations, it is best to stand still without moving or making any sound. If you want to stay undetected, move to a different location as silently and cautiously as possible. Be silent, swift, and stealthy like a leopard to be a master hunter.
3. Navigation
Hunting is best done in deep forest areas, away from the hustle-bustle of the cities and towns, where it is easier to spot game. The biggest challenge in the wild is to navigate the way. It can get confusing to identify a path if you’ve been wandering around the woods all day long. Carrying a terrain map, compass, and GPS with you can be life-saving if you’re ever lost while deer hunting in an unknown forest. If you have none of those things with you, pick a direction and stick to it. Leaving a trail of breadcrumbs can help you avoid walking in circles.
4. Getting Clean Kills
Killing an animal is not a good deed. The best you can do is to try inflicting a minimum amount of suffering to the poor creature. This is also known as “getting a clean kill“. While packing the firearms for hunting, make sure to carry your choice of hunting knives because they are tremendously useful for gutting, skinning, or butchering. Understanding the anatomy of the animal you’re hunting is extremely crucial. Hitting the vital organs of a game can ensure swift death. Aim for the lungs or the heart whenever you take a shot. If there’s no possible shot, wait for the perfect opportunity to present itself.
5. Identifying The Clues
Tracking an animal in the wild is probably the most exciting part of hunting. Sometimes it’s really easy, but sometimes you’ll have to inspect broken twigs and branches to locate the animal. After you’ve taken a shot, approach the spot where the animal stood. Inspect any visible patches of blood on the ground. The trail of blood will assist you in tracking the wounded animal. In some cases, when you lose the trail, try to retrace your steps back to the initial location and start looking again.
6. Masking Your Scent
Animals are exceptionally great at smelling human scents. The wind flow is responsible to some extent for carrying the smell. Staying downwind can mitigate the chances of your body odor reaching the animals. The clothes you wear also determine how much smell is being masked. You can choose to opt for products that are specifically made for making scents.
7. The Art Of Not Giving Up
Last but not the least, it is extremely essential to remember that you’ll find an opportunity eventually. Do not give up. Your skills and chances of getting a kill will improve as you gain experience. Don’t get disheartened easily even if you don’t shoot an animal for days. Good things come to those who wait.
Have patience, be stealthy, know your way, be an ethical hunter, be on your toes, mask your scent, and don’t ever give up. These are the only things that will help you transform from being a good hunter to a great hunter!