Will you be going squirrel hunting soon? Do you have the right gear and ammunition in Olathe, KS packed in your field bag? Read on for some tips regarding the gear to take squirrel hunting this season!
Get a proper bag
While any weatherproof field bag will do, make sure it is big enough to hold all your hunting gear and hunted squirrels, but not so big that it weighs you down. The bag needs to be durable, comfortable to wear and washable, with multiple pockets and pouches. Popular choices include overnight hiking packs, a waterfowler’s blind bag and military grade field punches.
Gear to put in the bag
The gear you want to take will depend on a few things, such as the weather and time of year, and how much ammo you’ll need for the day’s hunt:
- Firearm and ammunition: You can use a shotgun, but if you are going to hunt squirrels with a rifle, carry one that takes .22 ammo. A rifle that takes magazines means you can carry pre-loaded magazines that hold 10 rounds or so. These rotary magazines are convenient and make for easy reloading, but you should also bring along an extra box of .22 rounds. If you’re a good shot or planning on shooting only a few squirrels, then you could get away with packing a big handful of ammo in a plastic bag instead of carrying a heavy box.
- Binoculars: In order to hunt and shoot squirrels, you need to be able to see them hiding in the trees or blending into the ground. A pair of binoculars can help! Binoculars help hunters distinguish between squirrels and the knots in the limbs they may be sitting on. Want to check out the scenery and other wildlife? You can do this with binoculars. Get a compact pair to save space in your pack.
- First aid kit: If you are going hunting just for a day or two, then a basic first aid kit will do. In a bag or box, pack items like bandages, gauze pads, tissues, cotton swabs, tweezers and needles, eye drops, Vaseline, a small mirror and pain killers, and carry a pocketknife either in your kit, bag or pants pocket. Use a padded box or pad your kit with tissues to keep the things in your first aid kit from moving around and making noise.
- Insect repellent: No one enjoys bug bites, but you need to be careful spraying heavily scented insect repellent while squirrel hunting. Either use a mild spray, repellent wipe-on pads or a device like Thermacell’s portable insect repellent.
- Water and food: Bring a couple containers of water and small snacks. Non-perishable nutritious snacks, such as nuts, seeds, peanut butter, jerky, crackers and dried fruit, are best. Durable fresh fruits like apples and oranges are good, too.
- Plastic storage bags: Be sure to carry a few plastic bags to put your squirrels in before putting them in your pack. This prevents bloodstains.
Visit Harrison Street Pawn today for a selection of firearms and ammunition in Olathe, KS!