No matter where or when you plan on hunting deer, you will need the right gear and equipment to get the results you want.
There are a lot of excellent choices when it comes to hunting gear.
How do you know if you are getting the right equipment?
There are lots of opinions from one hunter to another. We will provide you with our opinion.
Veteran hunters are continually upgrading and obtaining new gear. Regardless of your skill level as a hunter, we are always learning and striving to improve ourselves and our equipment.
So what is the top deer hunting gear that will bring you more success when you are at your hunting lease?
Let’s dive into some of our hunting gear recommendations.
Deer Hunting Gear Recommendations
We have broken down the best deer hunting gear into a few basic categories. Each of these categories contains some of the equipment a hunter will need before heading out to their deer lease.
Deer Hunting Gear Clothing and Boots
Good hunting clothing can easily make or break a hunting trip. It does not matter if you are hunting in hot or cold conditions; if you are uncomfortable at all, then your hunting trip will be miserable.
Having a wide variety of quality clothes can help you prepare for any terrain or weather that you might be hunting in, and allow you to hunt much more effectively.
Following are a few essential pieces of deer hunting gear that you will need:
Base Layer
A base layer is the first clothing layer that a deer hunter will wear under their main clothes and next to the skin.
A quality base layer will be odor-resistant and keep moisture away from your body, leaving you more comfortable and keeping you warm in cold weather and cool in warm weather.
Following are a few of the best deer hunting gear base layers found on the market today.
KUIU Next To Skin Merino Wool
The workhouse of KUIU’s technical layering system, these base layers are designed to handle the stop and go exertion levels a hunter will encounter, all while keeping you comfortable and warm in cold weather conditions.
Black Ovis Base Layers
These layers will provide you with moisture-wicking technology that will keep you warm in the cold and cool in the heat, allowing you to keep pressing forward when the conditions get harsh.
Insulating Layer
An insulating layer is a layer of clothing that you wear over your base layer, and its primary purpose is to add warmth and protection to your base layer.
Depending on the temperature, you may not need any insulating layers, but in colder weather, you will be glad you have one!
Following are some good deer hunting gear options for insulating layer clothes.
Sitka Core Lightweight Hoody
Made of high-performance polyester construction, this hoody will move moisture through periods of high activity while drying quickly to keep you warm or cool and acts as a perfect insulation piece when needed.
Under Armour Iso-Chill Bursh Line Hoodie
With scent control and maximum flexibility, this hoodie is designed to regulate a hunter’s body heat by wicking away moisture and by trapping or releasing body heat.
Outer Shell Layer
An outer shell layer is meant to be used for either protection against rough brush or from the weather like rain, sleet, and hail.
Many hunters will keep an outer shell in their packs until needed, but if it begins raining, you had better have one ready!
A few of our favorite weatherproof outer shell layers at Deer Texas Leases include:
Cabela’s Dri-Fowl Parka
100% waterproof, windproof, and breathable, this jacket incorporates a durable water-repellent finish with taped seams that will seal out even the wettest conditions and make your hunts more enjoyable.
First Lite Corrugate Guide Jacket
Breathable, lightweight nylon protects your skin and base layers from whatever your hunt throws at you while reducing wind chill; this jacket is the perfect choice for outerwear that will keep you in the hunt.
Hunting Boots
Boots are easily one of the most essential pieces of gear and clothing that you can purchase.
You will use your boots more than anything else on a hunt, and nothing ruins a hunt quicker than a bad pair of boots.
To keep your feet warm and comfortable, consider adding the following boots to your deer hunting gear:
Danner Vital Waterproof True Timber Kanati Hunting Boots
These boots are built to handle anything a hunter can throw at them and are constructed of high-quality leather and Goretex lining. This boot will easily keep your feet warm and dry no matter the hunt.
Crispi Summit GTX Hunting Boots
Crispi boots are made and designed in Italy and largely considered some of the best hunting boots in the world. The Summit GTX boots are some of their most popular and keep your feet warm and/cool depending on the weather, and keep you comfortable the entire time.
Lastly, when it comes to your deer hunting gear don’t forget about accessories such as gloves, hats, socks, face masks, or scarves. You will want to invest in some of these items if you are hunting in colder weather or environments.
Quality Optics
There is no way around it; the best investments that most hunters make that improves their hunting is their optics.
Clear and crisp binoculars will allow you to see and look for deer without getting eye fatigue or a headache.
A bright, quality rifle scope will allow you to make a clean and precise shot on a buck, even in low light situations. By doing some research and spend as much as you can afford, you can dramatically improve your hunting by investing in some quality optics.
A simple pair of binoculars is where most hunters should begin, and a few of our favorite picks that won’t break the budget include:
Vortex Diamondback 10×42 Binoculars
Vortex Optics carry an excellent warranty, and should anything happen to your optics (literally anything), they will repair or replace them free of charge. The Diamondback line is an excellent mix of quality for an affordable price.
Nikon Prostaff 3S 10×42 Binoculars
Nikon is a very well established optics company that has been in the game for a long time, and their prostaff line of optics is tried and proven in the field. These binos are an excellent option for any beginner hunter out there.
Swarovski EL – The Legend
These are light, state-of-the-art optics. They are pricey but worth it if the budget is not the primary concern. The sophisticated range and angle finder provides a large field of view and produces impressive transmission values in both barrels of the binoculars.
The EL also provides ergonomic balance providing accurate measurements at long distances.
From binoculars, rifle scopes, and rangefinders, quality glass will make a huge difference in finding deer and putting a hunter in a better position to kill a buck. If you are unhappy with your current optics, a simple upgrade can make a world of difference and easily help you achieve better results.
Hunting Backpack
Besides your hiking boots and optics, an essential item on the list of necessary hunting gear would have to be a good backpack.
Your back is where you carry all of your other gear and equipment, and in the event of a successful hunt, a heavy load of meat and/or antlers.
Don’t think that you have to spend a fortune to get a quality pack, but try and get one that fits you correctly and is comfortable on your back.
A few of our favorites include:
Eberlestock H31 Bandit Pack
The H31 Bandit Pack offers an impressive amount of space for its compact frame. As the lightest pack in Eberlestock’s lineup, the H31 makes for the perfect pack to carry on daylong hunts and hikes.
Horn Hunter G3 Tree Stand Backpack
Designed with the bowhunter in mind, this pack has all the bells and whistles you need, and none of the stuff you don’t. It offers a massive 2,200 cubic inches of storage space, with 20 compartments to keep your gear organized and ready at a moment’s notice.
Ground Blinds
BlackOut X83 Ground Blind
This blind is light enough to transport deep into the woods, but is large enough to accommodate many different hunters. It is effortless to set up and take down and comes at a very reasonable price.
Rhino 100 Ground Blind
Lightweight and one of the best prices around, the Rhino 100 is a relatively new blind but is making waves in the hunting world.
Tree Stands
Big Game Ladder Treestand
Big Game Stands make some excellent products, and their ladder tree stand is a perfect choice for beginners as it is very big and comfortable.
Millennium M150 Monster Hang-On Treestand
This treestand is lightweight, comfortable, and is very strong. For hang on tree stands, it is hard to beat.
Deer Stands
Millennium Buck Hut Deer Stand
Another great product from Millennium, the Buck Hut Deer Stand, is huge and roomy, giving a hunter the best possible way to sit and wait for a deer to come by.
Guide Gear Tripod Deer Stand
This deer stand is a very affordable option for hunters who are just getting started and want to try out a deer stand instead of a treestand or ground blind. It is also very comfortable and robust.
Map / GPS
Even if you are hunting urban areas and don’t ever plan on using it, having a quality map or GPS can be a lifesaver. We love to carry both of them, as they each have their own strengths and weaknesses.
A good map or GPS can not only help you navigate where you want to go, but they can help you find new areas to hunt, keep you from accidentally trespassing onto private land, and help you find your way back and not get lost.
Studying your map or GPS will help you find new hidden gems to hunt and find that next giant buck hotspot. Hunters that consistently find success in deer hunting will no doubt have their maps and/or GPS always on hand and are continually studying them.
Miscellaneous Hunting Gear
Every hunt is going to be different, and your gear list is never going to be the same every time.
Some other things you might want to consider packing, depending on the hunt, could include things like:
- Rain Gear
- Wind Checker
- Deer Decoys
- Scent Killer
- Hand Warmers
When it comes down to it, any piece of gear that makes you more comfortable or gives you more confidence while out hunting is going to be a good thing to bring along.
The more comfortable and confident you are, the harder and longer you are going to hunt, and the more success you will inevitably see. If you think it is a vital piece of gear that is going to make your hunt more successful, then make sure that you do not forget it.
While this is in no way a complete or comprehensive list of every single item you should have as a hunter, it is a basic guide to help you think about some of the pieces of gear that drive the most results.
Do not be afraid to throw things in your gear list that you might think you would like to have or might need, and on the flip side, don’t be afraid to leave something behind if you do not require it.
Every hunter is different, and every piece of gear will also be very different from any other.
Deer hunting gear that delivers results will be slightly different from hunter to hunter, but no matter what you decide to buy and hunt with, the most important thing is to get out there, hunt hard, and have fun!
