There’s no doubt about it: hunting is a rewarding experience. According to Hunting Mark, there were 15 million hunting licenses issued in the U.S. in 2020. The population of the country in that year was 329.5 million, which means approximately 4.6% of the country’s population was issued a hunting license in that year.
A National Shooting Sports Foundation report also suggests that hunters spend a whooping USD 27.1 billion or more on hunting expeditions.
But if you’re new to hunting, it can be overwhelming. We have compiled a few tips to help you plan and prepare for your next trip.
Let’s take a look.
Find the Right Location
Finding the right location to hunt is important because it can make or break your trip. You want to ensure that you’re going somewhere with plenty of game and isn’t too crowded, so do some research before heading out into the woods.
- Research the area you are going to hunt by looking at maps and reading books about it. You may also want to talk with locals who have hunted there before.
- Understand regulations regarding hunting in different areas, including seasons (for example, bow season vs. gun season), bag limits (how many animals one person can kill), license requirements (if any), and restrictions on weapons/gear used while hunting (such as muzzleloaders).
- Be aware of weather conditions in your chosen location. The type of terrain will affect how much sunlight reaches certain parts at different times during day/night cycles, as well as anything else that might affect visibility, such as foggy days or rain storms.
Many websites will give you top-ranking hunting sites in America to choose from. For example, Forbes lists the top 10 states for hunting expeditions, ranked by experts. According to the site, Alaska is the number one choice for hunters because of its big game hunting. Colorado comes at number two with many public hunting places. And Montana is at three because of its vast, open forest and rangeland.
Get Your Permits and Licenses
Before you can start planning your hunting trip, knowing if you need a license and/or permit is important. Some states require both, while others require neither. Check with your state’s wildlife agency for more information on their hunting requirements so you can be sure not to miss anything when preparing for your adventure.
Richland Source reported that Ohio is the leading state in the U.S. in terms of the sale of hunting permits to non-residents. Hunters in Ohio have purchased 409,672 permits for all hunting seasons, and for the 2022-23 hunting season, hunters from all 50 states have purchased deer permits to use in Ohio.
Other states that rank highly in issuing non-resident hunting permits include Pennsylvania, Michigan, and West Virginia.
Plan Your Shooting Gear
Whether you are hunting a big game animal or just target practice, it is important to have the right tools for the job. This can include firearms, ammunition, clothing, and safety equipment.
You can find a one-stop shopping solution to all your shooting gear needs online on…