There’s a lot that goes into packing for a hunting trip. You have to bring all of your clothes, your accessories, your weapon, your tags — but have you thought about food to take hunting? Many people underestimate how hungry they get out in the field, and if you’re doing something as physically demanding as hunting, you’ll need to give your body the fuel to take on the task.
Packing food for a hunting trip may not seem like an easy thing to do, but if you know what types of food to bring and some easy meal ideas, you’ll be in great shape. Read on to learn more about how to plan your hunting food choices and get some meal ideas.
How to Plan Your Hunting Food Choices and Quantities
As you’re putting together your hunting food list, there are a couple of different things you need to keep in mind.
Assess Your Calorie Needs and Plan Accordingly
Calories are a unit of energy — and any hunter will tell you that hunting requires quite a bit of energy. Packing hunting food requires you to do a new type of calorie counting, and instead of trying to limit the calories you intake, you want to make sure that you’re getting enough calories to keep your body going throughout the day.
The recommended caloric intake for a person depends on their height, weight, age, sex, lifestyle, and overall general health, but in general, an active man should try to consume 2,500 calories a day and an active woman should try to consume 2,000 calories a day. However, if you’re out walking through a field carrying firearms and other hunting equipment, you’ll want to aim to consume more than 2,500 calories since you’ll be burning through them rather quickly.
Choose Nutrient-Dense Foods
With that being said, you shouldn’t take this as an opportunity to load up on calories in a non-nutritious way. Consuming calories is one thing, but you’ll also want to make sure that you’re getting the right nutrients that your body needs.
Small, packable foods that are nutrient-dense (think blueberries, nuts, seeds, or vegetables) will give your body so much more energy and awareness than typical snack foods like chips, crackers, or candy. When you’re out in the field, you’ll want as much energy and awareness as possible, so load up on nutrients in any way you can.
Bring Enough Hunting Food But Don’t Overpack
Despite how well you pack, any hunting trip is going to require you to bring plenty of things with you. Because of this, you’ll need to be smart with the amount of hunting food that you bring with you. Obviously, you’ll want to bring enough food that will last you throughout the trip, but it’s also important that you don’t overpack.
Think about any opportunities you have to eat at a restaurant. Will you be staying in a tent the entire time, or are you taking breaks at night to stay at a lodge or hotel? Whenever you have the chance to get food somewhere else and not pack it is a win for your backpack, so take any opportunity you can get.
Eliminate the Unessential
As mentioned earlier, your bag is going to be plenty full, and it will be tough to find space for all of your hunting food. Food is obviously an essential item, but can you say the same about the rest of the items in your bag?
If there’s anything in your bag that you would consider unessential, it’s best to take it out. You can be caught with plenty of things out in the field, but being caught without food is not an option. You’ll be much happier that you have food in a bag than a random unimportant accessory, so pack with care.
Backcountry Breakfast Ideas
They say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and if you’re a hunter who is waking up before the sun rises to get out in the field, you probably tend to believe it. However, cooking a full breakfast isn’t exactly an option when you’re hunting. Thankfully, there are plenty of different options to choose from that take up little space and contain some good nutrients.
- Breakfast/protein bar
- Oatmeal packets
- Bananas
- Pop-Tarts
- Granola
The Lunch List
Once the sun is at the peak of the sky and you’ve spent the morning hunting and scouting, you’ll likely be ready for lunch. Here are some great backcountry hunting meals that make for a great lunch:
- Trail mix
- Dried fruit
- Bagels
- Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches
- Tuna pouches
- Apples
- Jerky
Easy Hunting Dinners
Dinner is likely the time when you’ll be the hungriest and want to eat the most. These easy hunting dinners will help you load up on calories and keep you feeling full for a long night’s rest.
- Cup Noodles/Ramen
- Peanut butter crackers
- Summer sausage
- Macaroni and cheese
- Freeze-dried meals
Don’t Forget Snacks
These meals alone may not cut it. You may want to bring some snacks with you for an extra boost. Some of the best hunting snacks include:
- Snickers bar
- Macadamia nut butter
- Meat sticks
- Cheese crisps
- Sports drinks
Keep Yourself Fueled in the Field
When you’re hunting, you’re only as good as your body allows you to be. Hunting is a physically demanding activity, and if you don’t give your body the fuel it needs, it can end up costing you. If you follow the tips listed here, you can be confident that your body will be prepared for whatever your hunt throws at you.
Once you’ve eliminated the possibility of a growling stomach scaring a deer away, it’s time to address the noise that your hunting rifle makes. This is where Silencer Central can help you out — learn more about how hunting with a suppressor can help you out and then browse our selection today!
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