The proper equipment helps make the hunt more successful and safe. There are many things that a deer hunter can use, but he or she should only bring the necessities. After hiking in the woods for a while even a light load can seem heavy. You should carry this equipment in a fanny pack or a small day pack.
-- Florescent orange is required to hunt deer in Pennsylvania. Every deer hunter has to wear 250 square inches of orange. It is required so others hunters can see you and identify you as a hunter. Even if you are just walking in the woods during hunting season, its a good idea to wear orange.
-Waterproof matches or a lighter is a good idea in case you need to light an emergency fire. Always have at least two ways of starting a fire.
-A good rifle or bow is a must for a successful hunt. The hunter should practice during the off season. The rifle of the deer hunter has changed over the years. The standard deer rifle used to be a Winchester or Marlin lever action rifle in 30-30. It then became a Remington pump action in .308. It then became the .30-06 and .270 in a bolt action rifle, and now all of those rifles are still seen plus the .243, and many other calibers.
-A sharp knife is needed to dress the kill. The knife doesn't need to be very long, a blade of 4 inches is all that is needed. A folding knife works best because it is compact and safer than a standard knife.
-Surgical gloves are a good idea when field-dressing. Some deer are infected with Lyme disease so its a good idea to wear gloves to make sure that no diseases are contracted.
-A good pair of binoculars are a good idea to carry in the woods with you. If the hunter sees unidentified movement its a good idea to use binoculars to see versus the rifle scope because you could be unknowingly sighting in on another hunter. A good pair is a good idea, because poor optics can give you a headache.
-A buck grunt tube is a good idea to use to stop a buck and make him come your way. You could also whistle to make the buck stop.
-A map of the area is a good item to carry when you are in unfamiliar woods. You can purchase maps at sporting good stores or from the Game Commission.
-A piece of rope is needed to pull your gun up in your tree stand or you can use it to drag your kill out of the woods. A length of at least 10 feet is a good idea.
-When you are hunting you should carry your Hunter-Safety Card with you. You also should carry some type of identification with you. To hunt in Pennsylvania, every hunter must complete a Hunter- Safety Course. Since the Hunter- Safety Course has been introduced, hunting accidents have decreased significantly.