Last minute tips for a hunting Newb.

Youtube and google will show you everything you need to know without us writing up long essays here. Have a sharp knife. I've used a Buck folder 4" for 30 years and it's done countless deer and some elk.

Good luck!

Shoot for the vitals.

Good knife and latex gloves. From what I know about hunting down there, you won't have far to drag and the deer aren't big, so that should cover it.

Flashlight and/or headlamp is good to have. You shoot something at dusk the headlamp is invaluable. I've gutted deer with a maglight held in my mouth and it wasn't fun. Plus if you knock one down and have to find it if it runs a ways and it's getting dark--a good LED flashlight with up over 100 lumens minimum will save you.

Any good knife with 4" or better blade. There are many and like I said my 4" Buck folder, which you can buy for around 40 bucks, has served me through many big game animals. Stop at any sporting goods store and tell them what you're doing they'll help you out.

Make double-Darn sure that you're hunting with _EXACTLY_ the same ammo as what you sighted-in with.

Carry blood-proof bags for the heart and liver.

Good luck and enjoy yourself........

FjLee Denver CO

Buck 110, flashlight, hunter orange, padded seat if you are sitting on the ground. Not sure where you are hunting but warm clothes and handwarmers make life much more enjoyable.

Make sure you shoot a deer uphill of where the truck is parked.

Bring a snack, candy, and plenty of water.

You need a knife and some luck. Just about any reasonable knife will do as long as its sharp. Traditional slip joints work just fine. Most seem to like a fixed blade with a 3 or 4" blade. A Kabar Becker BK-16 would fix you right up. I like the Spyderco Moran quite a lot. Just carry something that's sharp and you're comfortable using.

A dragging rope...

A few pairs of disposable gloves are useful as are perhaps a few alcohol wipes or other wipes. They are just something to clean your hands off with.

A small flash light and head lamp are quite useful especially one with various power settings.

Binoculars. Don't use your rifle scope to look for deer, you might see a human and they might shoot you in self defense.

You can pick up an decent flashlight at Walmart or Lowes.

They have knives too for that matter.

You might consider what you might do with the meat IF you score??

Around here, you need a pen to sign your tag, and a means of attaching it to the deer. I use electricians' zipties.

to field dress you will need a sharp knife and either a hatchet or a small saw, the saw would probably be lightest and there are some nice foldups that come with holsters. you need the knife to split the hide(careful not to puncture the guts, they smell bad) and the saw or hatchet to split the pelvis. you might want to watch some youtube videos so you know what the heck you're doing.

Take a camera and show us the pictures!

Add a small flashlight to the picture, and you have the basics. The small Gerber saw in the picture is great for cutting the pelvis as mentioned by a number of others. Available cheap online ($12-$15). The Buck 110 is also available for around $30 at Walmart (not a better deal going on a good, classic deer hunting knife IMO). Good luck.

Lazy R said:

Have a sharp knife. I've used a Buck folder 4" for 30 years and it's done countless deer and some elk.

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A knife blade around 4" or so is about right. Don't bring a huge Bowie knife to a skinning party. Every now and then someone who hasn't done any skinning buys a big knife thinking bigger is better. It really isn't.

Having said that, I have an old kitchen knife with a broken point, so that it looks like an 8" machete. I use that on large hogs going down the sides when I'm skinning. But for the legs and neck, I use a smaller knife. My hunting buddy has one with a ceramic blade that's just over 2" long and it works well. Just be sure the handle is comfortable.

I pack pretty light for deer hunting, but I hunt on my own property so if I forget something it isn't a huge deal. The basics for me: flashlight, headlamp, knife, folding saw, rope, latex gloves, water, lite snack, binoculars and a book. Breath nice and easy when the buck fever hits! Best of luck to you!

Best advice I can give you is have fun and enjoy the time in the woods.

Take it slow hunting is not a race it's about patience perseverance and enjoying the wilderness.

You will need a level head, you can't buy those so take your own. Only shoot when you are sure of a kill, don't get panicky just relax, too many first hunts are wrecked by anxiety and which cause poor shot placement. Spend some time visualising taking aim and then taking the shot. You will be in a hide from the sounds of it so wait for the animal to turn and to present broadside then take it in the boiler room.

If in a hut do not rest the barrel on the windowsil you will get too much muzzle lift. Rest the front of the stock on a beanbag type thing on the windowsil.

Good luck