If you’ve never gone on a hunting trip in the United States before, you’re in for an exciting adventure. With 60% of wildlife areas in the country wherein you can hunt, there is a wide variety of big game, migratory birds, and other animals such as woodchuck and raccoon that you can find. Hunting is both an outdoor tradition and a wildlife management tool in America, so whether you’re a sport or subsistence hunter, it’s important to respect seasons and hunting limits to ensure that wildlife populations are sustainable. Before booking your hunting trip, here are some tips that you need to know to prepare to hunt in the US.
When choosing a destination, decide on what type of game you want to hunt
Where you’ll go hunting depends on the type of game that you want to find. If you’re looking to hunt deer, head to Georgia, Texas, Iowa, Missouri, or Kentucky. If it’s moose you’re looking for, Maine, Idaho, Washington, and Alaska is where you want to be. The latter is particularly great if you’re looking to bag a trophy moose, as bulls can weigh up to 1,800 lbs. and have a spread of 65 inches.
Make a checklist of the things that you need to bring
You never want to go on a hunting trip unprepared, so it’s a good idea to make sure that you have everything that you need to bring. You’ll need a spotting scope that works for day and night. It’s very important to have one, as you can’t hunt game unless you can find it. You’ll also need a tent, sleeping bag, and a sleeping pad, clothing, your weapon of choice, a water purification kit, a GPS, a cooking kit, and a first aid kit. Make a hunting checklist to ensure that you don’t forget anything before leaving for your trip.
Don’t forget to get a permit
There are different types of hunting permits in the US, and you will need one or several, depending on where you’ll go. You may also want to check if you need a hunting guide. For instance, if you’re heading to Alaska, it’s very likely that you’ll need a guide because if you’re not familiar with the millions of acres of wilderness in this state, the chances of bagging game can be extremely low.
Hunting in the United States can be an exciting experience for the avid hunter. Keep in mind that preparation is the key to a successful hunting trip.
