Must-Have Tactical Gear For Hunters

When in the wild, it’s best that you prepare for the unexpected. There’s nothing worse than finding yourself in an unwelcomed situation and realizing that you don’t have the tools necessary to get yourself out of the predicament. This is especially true for hunters, who spend a majority of their time in the woods. Below, we’ve detailed some of the must-have tactical gear for hunters. We believe that this gear is essential when building your hunting kit.

Vests

Some hunters may balk at the idea of wearing a tactical vest in the field, but many have made the switch lately and loved the results. First and foremost, the vests come with sewn-in pouches and pockets that allow you to access gear easily. For instance, keeping shotgun shells in a breast pocket could help ensure you complete your kill, especially when hunting erratic animals like turkeys and other birds.

Additionally, hunters can reconfigure the vest so that it best fits their needs. The vests are often Velcro, allowing you to attach pouches where you best see fit. The vests will enable you to keep vital equipment such as:

• An extra pistol or knife
• Hearing protection
• Shooting glasses
• Target tools
• Gloves
• Binoculars
• Game calls

Furthermore, many of the vests available on the market today also serve as hydration packs. No longer will you need to worry about lugging a cooler to your blind. When wearing a tactical vest, you can fill the hydration pack with any liquid you’d like before you go.

Lastly, information from the International Hunter Education Association indicates that each year, roughly 1,000 people in the United States and Canada are accidentally shot while hunting. An additional study found that nearly a third of these injuries were severe. Even when practicing proper hunting techniques, accidents can still occur, primarily due because people are:

• Unfamiliar with their equipment
• Overexcited
• Careless

Many of today’s best tactical vests are bullet-resistant and can help reduce your chance of injury. Making the switch to a tactical vest when hunting will not only put many resources at your disposal easily, but it could also help keep you safe were an accident to occur.

Backpacks

If a vest isn’t for you, but you’d still like to stay organized while carrying a large amount of gear, you should check out tactical backpacks. Manufacturers design tactical bags to withstand the toughest of conditions. Packs are available in a variety of sizes, although even the smallest packs provide ample storage space that should allow you to go off the grid for at least a couple of days.

Today’s best tactical bags feature self-healing YKK zippers, which prove durable for years. They also allow you to zip and unzip your pack quickly while on the go. Furthermore, the packs feature waterproof nylon, suitable for the roughest of conditions. Manufacturers also design these packs to hold small weapons safely.

Lastly, manufacturers design these packs to carry heavy loads. Many of today’s best packs feature ergonomic support that allocates your load proportionally and makes it easier and safer for you to carry your belongings. No matter if you’re going on a weekend hunting trip or merely making a short walk to your blind, your back will thank you.

Knives

Even if a rifle or shotgun is your primary weapon of choice while hunting, it’s essential that you carry a high-quality knife with you at all times. Many of today’s best tactical knives are foldable, making it easy to carry in a pocket and access quickly. This sets them apart from traditional hunting knives, which do not fold and are awkward to carry. Tactical knives are significantly stronger than your average folding knife.

Furthermore, carrying a tactical knife can reduce your load. Many tactical knives add multiple tools that could be necessary when in the wild. For instance, some tactical knives also feature:

• LED flashlights
• Fire starters
• Liner locks

Not only do the knives feature both curved and straight edges to help you undress your most recent kill, but they also have serrated edges that can help you cut rope or branches. Tactical knives are also built to withstand the toughest of conditions, many of them featuring stainless steel blades that are corrosion-resistant.

In summary, a tactical knife can do everything that a hunting knife can do, and then some. You’ll find that you can lighten your load by reducing the tools that you must carry with you. Additionally, a tactical knife is much more accessible than a hunting knife. Because tactical knives fold, you can quickly put them in a vest pouch or clip them to your belt and still run, jump, and chase prey with ease.

Flashlights

Even if you plan on hunting during the day, you’ll want to bring a high-quality flashlight with you. There’s a good chance that you’ll go to your blind in the early hours of the morning and could use a tool to help you see. Furthermore, were you ever to find yourself in a survival situation when in the wilderness, a flashlight will be one of the tools that you rely on most frequently.

Fortunately, the best tactical flashlights are lightweight and easy to store in a vest or backpack pocket. For instance, some flashlights are no longer than five inches and weigh less than four ounces. However, they provide a brightness up to 400 lumens, shining up to 800 feet. This could also help keep you safe from other hunters as well, alerting them to your presence. Many tactical flashlights also come with strobe settings that could help in case of an emergency.

Update Your Gear Today

No matter if you’re just getting started hunting or have been doing so for years, it’s critical that you routinely update your equipment. Choosing tactical gear, such as the four options listed above, could revolutionize your experience in the field.

At Orion Tactical, our team is comprised of survival experts who have years of experience in the field. We seek to share our knowledge and expertise with our readers, providing them with the information and products necessary to survive any tactical situation. We invite you to check out the News Section of our site to learn more about what we offer our readers and check out our latest product offerings.