What do I need?
 

So I'm new to bowhunting, actually new to hunting in general. Going to take the basic hunter education course soon. My question is what will I need for a day of hunting? I have my bow and arrows however I will need broad heads. What else? Clothing? Backpack? Knives, etc? Discuss. Thanks in advance

First thing I'd like to ask is have you practiced with fieldpoints? I'm not trying to be a smart butt just curious. If you havent, that's where you need to start as long as your draw length and draw weight is correct. Did you buy your bow at a pro shop and did they get your measurements?

Yes I have, I was actually able to set something up at work to be able to shoot. It's about 18 yards long. I did go to a pro shop and was measured. We shot the bow and had it set up for me before I left.

your gonna need a decent set of camo, scent control, rubber boots, you surely have a release, and you have the left over cash, a tree stand, knife(i prefer gut hooks).
walmart is good place to start if you are poor, you get what you pay for.
bass pro or cabelas would hook you up with some nicer things for a heftier price.

I'd also get a range finder or some orange marking tape to mark off yardages in your shooting lanes. Also a little hand saw to trim limbs. I do carry a pack with alot of stuff in it like paracord, knife, headlamp,grunt tube(optional), rattle bag(optional), orange tape or tacks, and alot of other stuff. If I think of anything thats a must, Ill post it.

a fanny pack is a big thing for me. never go hunting with out it.

as for a knife/tool i suggest a multi tool. Its been a huge help for me. I got a leatherman rebar. got a knife, saw, file, heavy pliers and about 14 other tools in it. weighs about 1.5lb. Its the only thing i grab when im setting up my stand or clearing shooting lane and just going hunting, strap it on my belt and im ready.. the blade is 420hc steel. no gut hook but its not hard to gut a deer with out one. I never really considered one for hunting and outdoors work till i got one.

Excellent, my local Walmart doesn't have much when it comes to any hunting related items. I do have a bass pro shop about 45 minutes away. I figure I'll start asking now and just pick things up now a little at a time so I'm not buying everything all at once.

I take my bow, arrows, knife, and clothes. Thats about it.

You are right about the multi tool. I've used mine many times. As someone else already said, sounds like you already have a release. If not you'll need to get one.

All I have at the moment is my bow, a dozen arrows with field points, a release and a case.

lots of things depending on where and when you hunt. One thing I always take is 10x42 bino's, fog and waterproof. Costs a lot to get started at first but over the years the average per year cost isn't bad at all.

A positive attitude is a must.

Yeah you'll also find out some things that you need or want when you start hunting. I know I started out with the items you mentioned and before I knew it, I had my pack full of goodies lol. Thinking about taking some out now. But you'll figure out what you need. I would really suggest marking off yardage points though. And practice from all yardages all the way out to your maximum shooting distance that you feel comfortable with. Good luck and I can't wait to see some pics of your first bow kill!

What broad heads would you guys recommend? If I can take the class early enough I'll still have some time to hunt for some coyotes before deer season. Would I need different kinds of heads for different animals?

What gains field point is your bow sighted in with? Use same grains on broadheads to keep close to what you have sighted in. I like fixed blade broadheads though Im shure there will be plenty that love there mechanical and disagree. Its personal prefernece and when your new its one less thing you need to think about and pay attention to when your hunting. Dont get to wraped up in the gear to bring soon you will find you have to much CRAP. Get some experince under your belt and then decide how you want to hunt.

Good Luck

Niccum

It was sighted in for 100 grain. I realize there are tons of options out there. Are there any pros of cons to either, or is it more personal preference. If it doesn't matter I'll go with price.

This is the killing device on your weapon, Dont be cheep here. I use G5 100grains fixed blades and have had good success on many types of animals. But You will need to shoot it befor you go out you owe it to the animal to do everything you can for a clean harvest.

You can be cheep on the cammo!

I didn't mean I'd cheap out on the head. I was referring to a fixed over mechanical. If its just about personal preference I'd go with the less expensive option. That being said, is there a big difference in prices, what would make something cheap. The type of metal being used or other things?

Ya some 15 doller pack of wall mart broadheads is cheep metal and wont hold and edge for crap I dont like loose or mechanical blades because Machines fail and though it will work 98% of the time perfect as designed I dont want the one time I need them to work on maybe the not so greatest shot angle for it to fail. Not all mechanicals are the same My OLD man LOVEs Rage mecahnical broadheads though they are made extreamly well and make a HUGE hole its still mechanical, it can fail to open, fail to depoly correctly and give a chance for murpheys law to crap on your day. But with Fixed blade braod heads it takes the chances out of the equasion. Its still razor sharp and wont break or fail to depoly correctly because its one piece of metal it wont give. All in all its up to you I have given you to top names for both fixed and mechanical and two pro and cons. So im not being bais. Let us know how it goes and what you choose to do!

After reading online, I'm going with the G5s. Thanks

Good choice they will do the job!

Good Luck let us know how the hunting goes!

Niccum

I would suggest you learn all there is to know about your equipment you plan on using and learn all there is to know about the quarry you are after.
If you can shoot your arrows on target out to 50 yards, that is a start, if you can go out to the hunting area you plan on hunting and see quarry that is a start.
The rest is experience, luck and most of all persistence.
Good luck !!!