In What Order Should I Buy Gear?

[highcountrymuley]

1. Good boots and socks. Around $200, $35
2. Decent binos. Vortex diamondbacks 10x42 are around $235
3. Baselayer of smart wool or merino wool. Light outer rain jacket for $40 at bass pro
4. About $250 worth of rifle scope. Vortex, Nikon, Burris, etc
5. Cheaper frame pack. Freighter style, about $100... U don't need a $300 pack at all to get started...

Used mountaineering /outdoor store for boots, clothes, pack. Rokslide classifieds for some used binos and hunting gear. Have fun, know how to read maps and use them along with your satellite/gps/ phone stuff! Carry 2 energizer headlamps with fresh batteries.

 

[summs]

Id start with clothing, you can wear it to hunt local to you now and it gives you time to learn layering and how well it works. Then shoes. Then a good back pack.

 

[cjdewese]

Considering where you are hunting, I'd make sure your clothing and boots are up to the task so you can spend more time in the field.

If you are wet and miserable you won't be focused on hunting or be able to stay out long enough to be effective.

 

[TxFrog]

Start with the stuff that keeps you alive, then work towards what keeps you comfortable.

 

[Phaseolus]

Boots first, a quality brand that fits your feet. Sometimes you won’t get ‘that’ pair without a failure or two. They should be used year round while you are learning your craft and accumulating gear.

 

[Luked]

Boots in my opinion are #1. Takes a while to find good ones that fit right and also get them broke in.
2nd would be a pack.
Then optics.

 

[Beendare]

Boots then binos then backpack.

Agreed^

 

[Marbles]

In order.

-Good knife (a cheap one will be fine)
-Good shoes.
-Good pack.
-Game bags (expensive are nice, but pillow cases work).
-Trekking poles
-Mid range binoculars (such as Zeiss Conquest) and bino harness.
-Clothing, no need for camo, just stuff that is comfortable in the field.
-Stove/pot/spoon.
-Sleeping pad/sleeping bag/tent.

Scale the hunt to the gear you have, so start day hunting until you are set up to camp.

The logic on this list, with a rifle, a knife, and steet clothes you can start poking around and if you happen to kill something, be able to work with it.

Shoes that work well will make any experience better, a pack will let you day hunt further in and be able to get the animal out with more comfort. Game bags help keep the meat edible. Trekking poles improve safety and comfort if the pack is heavy. Binoculars will increase success, but you have to be able to handle the hard part of packing first. Cothing increases comfort, but outside of extreme conditions most anything will work. A stove increases comfort on long day hunts and safety in the cold. Once you have all that, then over nights become a possibility.

Were and how you hunt will play into this, I'm assuming my style of mountain hunting, which is heavy on sweat equity and as much about being in the mountains as it is about finding animals.

 

[TaperPin]

. . . and don’t skimp on ammo - everything in your equipment list is for not if the shot is missed when the time comes. If a person were to dry fire and/or get to the range for just 10 shots a week you’d be better off than most.

 

[Restless]

I grew up in a hunting family, but got away from it after moving to the city for school. Needless to say, since I’m on Rokslide, I want to get back into it!

I am hoping for some suggestions on the order in which i should prioritize getting gear. I have some basic stuff, like a rifle and a small amount of camo, but that’s basically it. My goal is to have a chance at deer, elk, and bear.

For the sake of this question, consider me as not having anything but a rifle. What are the first things I should buy to get started, then how should I continue to prioritize more gear for future seasons?

Thx in advance

Binos. I'd prioritize spending money on a high end pair before a high end scope simply due to the amount of tie behind binoculars in the field versus a scope.

Good boots. Get fitted properly, lace them properly, and break them in. Your feet will thank you. This can make or break a hunt.

Warm and dry clothes. I wouldn't get hung up on camo pattern or brand or anything, half of what I wear is solids. But being warm and dry when sitting makes a huge difference

 

[velvet muley]

A good waterproof pair of boots is a must unless you want to be going home early and miserable, after that a pack should be 1B to pack out the game you kill and carry all your essentials and safety equipment like head lamp, matches, water filtration, etc.

After that I would say you can start working on non essential items like glass, quality clothing, rain gear, trekking poles etc.

 

[lak2004]

If I could give myself advice it would be this:
-Spend time figuring out your feet. Meaning have someone measure your foot and fit you to a high quality boot/insoles.

-Dont waste money on camo, buy clothing that is purposeful to how, where and when you will hunt. A good baselayer, active midlayer and insulating layer are a must for me. Cheap rain gear gets my by because I don't hunt in rainy places often.

-A good pack is worth the cost and will last you many years, find a used exo, kifaru, etc on here and use it. Buy once cry once

-Spend as much time as possible outdoors hunting. The gear is only to make you comfortable. You'll fine tune it as you go but don't get caught up in the gear addiction. Using it a lot will let you know what you'd like to change later. Think about what, where and when you hunt then pick the gear that matches your goals. Rent and borrow what you want to try or cannot afford to know if it will work for you.

 

[Boarmaster]

You said assume you have a rifle so next is scope and good ammo.
1) reliable scope or good ammo
2) good ammo or reliable scope
3) Great Binos and harness with wind checker and lens cloth.
4) Boots
5) Servicable knife and sharpener
6) Pack (appropriate for your use)
7) Quality clothing for your use.
8) Processing equipment starting with a quality grinder if your doing your own.
9) Shooting equipment for practice and zeroing rifle. Starting with good shooting bags.
10) Gear box to keep all the gear and junk your going to buy. Hardest things are all the small
Items. I like a Yeti Go Box. Expensive but after 45 years of hunting its one of my best most useful purchases.