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If you take elk hunting seriously, it easily becomes a gear-intensive activity. Many beginners feel dizzy when they decide to take a look at one of those elk hunting gear lists. However, the truth is that such lists are made comprehensive and include every little piece of gear that can find application in elk hunting. Elk hunting gear does help make the process easier and less effort-consuming, but you still can hunt without all the tens of positions mentioned in those checklists. Your parents and grandparents lived without them just fine, and you will, too.
The best way to approach elk hunting is to purchase gear little by little. You can start by preparing essentials for early-season elk hunting because you need fewer layers of clothing to stay warm, especially if your style is physically demanding. Besides, hunting during the rut is easier. The late-season elk hunting clothing should feature a sufficient amount of insulation and protect you from water and wind at the same time. Clothing that provides more features for ensuring comfort in harsh conditions tends to cost more. That’s why you may want to engage in late-season elk hunting when you’re better prepared and have the basic elk hunting gear.
A properly constructed layering system of clothing will ensure comfort in any conditions. However, as the season progresses, camo patterns with greens and browns should give place to patterns with more grays and whites. The necessity to change the outer layer for better blending in with the changed surroundings is another reason why preparing for a certain season makes more sense for a beginner. The general rule is to choose elk hunting camo based on the season and terrain.
Elk hunting can take place in various terrains. Since your feet need special care, carefully choose your hunting boots. Consider the environment you are going to hunt in. For shale rocks, buy a pair of supportive and stiff boots. Flatlands, on the opposite, require flexible and lighter hunting boots.
The other essentials include elk calls for luring elk into the range. Calling an elk using a mouth call paired with a bugle tube is a true delight no e-caller can offer. Since mouth calls have a longer learning curve, beginners can start with traditional handheld elk calls or electronic calls.
If you want to save your time and efforts for the real stuff, you can buy trail cameras to learn the behavior patterns of a flock. It will help you prepare for the upcoming season.
The kill kit of an elk hunter should include a drag harness, knife, bone saw, game bags, and flagging.
A rifle or bow, ammo/arrows, a license and tags, a game call, optics (binoculars and/or rangefinder), insulated boots/waders, outerwear and layers of insulating clothing suitable for weather conditions, gloves, a hat or beanie, and a rugged pack to carry it all in.
The key is choosing clothing that allows for plenty of mobility without being too baggy or restrictive. Quality elk hunting clothes typically come in three layers: a base layer for insulation and wicking moisture away from your body; an outer layer made from windproof materials to keep cold air off your skin; and insulation such as fleece or down to trap heat close to your body when temperatures drop. Make sure you have enough room in each layer to add additional layers underneath if necessary.
Essential accessories include headlamps or flashlights as well as extra batteries, first aid kits, maps/GPS units with preloaded waypoints marked on them, water bottles/hydration systems, food items (including snacks), emergency shelter equipment such as tents or tarps along with stakes and groundsheets if needed, toiletries including sunscreen and insect repellent, knives/multi-tools for field dressing animals etc., matches or lighters for a fire source if needed, altimeters to accurately predict changing weather patterns at higher elevations etc., signaling devices such as whistles etc., bear spray (depending on location) etc..
