The autumn season is a transitional period, and in many hunting territories, you will see the shift in the climate affecting the terrain and the wildlife itself. Cooler temperatures and chances for heavy or light rain will impact hunting preparation fall considerations. In late autumn, there may also be a chance of experiencing the first frost.
PREPARING FOR FALL HUNTING CONDITIONS
One of your main concerns should be the shift in the behavior of game. Since there are too many types of game to discuss here, we’ll focus on one example: deer. In autumn, the incidence of cold fronts will typically lead to heightened deer activity. Bucks, in particular, become more active and visible as they engage in displays of dominance. By scheduling a hunt around a cold front, you improve your chances of bagging excellent game. Keeping track of weather conditions can be a good idea. Light rain doesn’t inhibit deer activity—and it can make hunting them less dependent on stealth. The rain will help to conceal your scent and the sounds you produce. That can allow you to get closer to the deer. Or stay in position longer so that you can wait for that perfect shot. Just be sure that your fall hunting gear includes something to keep you dry!
CLOTHING FOR COMFORT AND CAMOUFLAGE
Tactical clothing is often a sensible choice for a hunter. You can expect such clothing to be durable, protective, weather resistant and good for mobility, like all tactical hunting essentials. Add the hunting preparation fall season’s demands—such as keeping you warm in the event of chill outdoor conditions—and the choice of tactical clothing will look even smarter.
Tactical pants, for instance, can be worn over your regular pants. Not only does this grant better protection for your legs and clothing, it allows quick and handy layering. Any outdoor enthusiast can tell you about the benefits of layering your attire. This technique creates an air layer that helps trap in warmth, making you less susceptible to the pains of exposure to the cold. Anytime you spend a long time in the wilderness, whether for hunting or camping, you’ll want to achieve some level of comfort even while challenging yourself. It helps you to be more effective at what you do.
Camouflage is a viable strategy for staying hidden as a hunter. You can find tactical clothing with a camouflage design. Depending on the design, however, you may find it has limited applications. Your best bet is often to create your own camouflage. Gather short branches and foliage and attach them to your clothing. Also make sure to equip yourself with autumn hunting gear whose colors can blend into the environment.
For more extreme camouflage, you can consider the idea of wearing a ghillie suit. While that can prove an expensive purpose, you can also try making your own! We have a guide on how to achieve camouflage with a ghillie suit—check it out if you’re interested!
OPTICS AND NAVIGATION TOOLS
Today’s tactical hunting essentials should account for the need to locate targets precisely and track their movements (and yours) accurately. That means your fall hunting gear wouldn’t be complete without tactical optics and navigation tools.
Hunting scopes obviously need to be at the top of your list. These days, you are spoiled for choice when it comes to picking a lightweight scope for your hunting rifle. You’ll find a lot of things you’ll need to consider when making the choice, such as the comfort of use, adjustment capability, versatility, viability at various degrees of magnification, and so on.
Binoculars make for a great addition to your autumn hunting gear ensemble. You can use your scope when you have your rifle out, but on other occasions, you’ll want to have those binoculars handy. They can let you do a quick scan of the area to find promising hunting spots.
For navigation, you can rely on a trusty compass, or make use of a highly precise GPS system. Though ideally, you’ve leveled up your tactical game enough that you can navigate in the wild without a compass! That’s an excellent skill to have. Nevertheless, being prepared with navigational tools is certainly a good idea!
SHELTER AND WARMTH IN THE FIELD
When selecting your tactical hunting essentials, consider including portable shelter, ground pads and heat sources. You may end up on an extended hunt in cold and wet conditions, and if that happens, you’ll need to see to your comfort and safety. Your best bet is to come equipped with proper shelter. While you should be able to build a shelter outdoors if necessary, it’s far more efficient to be geared up instead!
A canvas wall tent would make a fine addition to your autumn hunting gear. This type of portable shelter has been around for a long time—you know America’s early pioneers and explorers used some version of it! Very much a tried and true piece of equipment! What’s more, a canvas wall tent can last you a lifetime with good care and maintenance.
A sleeping bag is another item that should be on your list. You do want to get a good night’s sleep outdoors, so you can be clear minded and energized for the hunting day. Note that sleeping bags are categorized by season rating. For your hunting preparation fall needs, a 3 season sleeping bag is the perfect choice. You could also choose to go with a 4 season bag, in case you have plans of going on an outdoor adventure in winter. However, the 4 season bag is probably overkill unless you have plans of challenging extreme cold conditions!
MORE FALL HUNTING GEAR ESSENTIALS
We’ve mentioned the key considerations for selecting your tactical hunting supplies and equipment. The list can go on pretty much forever, but at some point you’ll have to focus on what is truly essential. You can’t truly be prepared for everything, so you simply find a balance between getting as well equipped as you can be, while being practical about what you can bring on the hunt.
We do have a few more suggestions of items to include:
- RIFLE COVER – to protect your firearm from rain and exposure
- HUNTING AMMO POUCH OR RANGE BAG – for protection
- FIRE STARTING KIT – to quickly set up a campfire
- BEAR SPRAY – to avoid getting attacked
- MULTI-TOOL – can come in real handy!
- FIRST AID KIT – for emergency care
- Remote communications tools
Did we leave out anything important? Let us know! We hope you’ll have a great hunting trip this autumn!
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