Deer Hunting Checklist: Preparing For A Successful Hunt In Canada

The leaves are starting to turn, and the weather is cooling. You’re probably getting excited about deer hunting season! With 1.3 million hunters in Canada, you’re not alone.

You might be gearing up for your first deer hunting trip, or you could be a seasoned veteran. Either way, early preparation and careful planning will go a long way in a successful hunt.

Buying the right gear, understanding the deer season, and having a strategy will raise your odds of bagging a buck and having a lot of fun this year.

In this comprehensive deer hunting checklist and guide, we’ll cover everything you’ll need—from high-quality hard cases and high-end coolers to picking the right clothing and covering your scent.

Your Canada Deer Hunting Checklist:

1. Gun Cases
2. Coolers
3. Types of Weapons
4. Proper Clothing
5. Deer Calls
6. Food & Drink
7. Odour-Eliminating Products
8. Scent Covers
9. Trail Cams

Pre-Season Preparations

It’s a great idea to start preparing long before the season opens. Even a few months in advance isn’t too early to start planning and scouting.

Gear Review: Why Start Early?

Start early on reviewing, buying, preparing, and knowing your gear inside and out. This will save you a ton of stress when you’re actually in the field.

Do your research and take the time to pick the right rifle or bow and other hunting equipment you’ll need. This is also a great time to go over your current hunting gear and decide what needs updating. 

Plan out a checklist, figure out what you need, read and watch reviews, and buy long before the season arrives so you’re not scrambling at the last minute.

Hunting Licenses and Legal Requirements

Make sure you apply for your hunting license and any other permits long before the deer hunting season.

In Canada, licenses and regulations are different in every province, so if you’re a first timer, make sure you know what you’ll need.

You probably need a firearms license (such as a PAL) if you’re hunting with a rifle, and you should familiarize yourself with restrictions on weapon types, season dates, and bag limits.

The Ultimate Deer Hunting Checklist

1. Gun Cases (Pelican, Nanuk, SKB)

Buying a good, high-quality, hard gun case is one of the best investments you can make. A solid hunting case keeps your guns and accessories safe from damage, moisture, and unauthorized access.

At Production Case, we recommend and carry Pelican, NANUK, and SKB hard rifle cases that stand out for their strength, reputation, and features. 

Pelican is a favourite among hunters (not to mention law enforcement and the military). Built using high-impact polymer materials, Pelican cases give you world-class protection against shock, water, dust, and extreme temperatures.

 Recommended Gun Case - Pelican 1750 Long Case

NANUK has a range of high-end, Canadian-made rifle cases that combine innovative design with top of class durability. NANUK cases were designed for search and rescue missions, first responders, and the military. They’re built to last.

Recommended Gun Case - Nanuk 985 Case

SKB is recognized for producing some of the most rugged and reliable gun cases on the market. SKB's cases are crafted from ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene, coming in light weight while still having superior strength and impact resistance. 

Why Quality Hard Cases Matter: The Canadian wilderness can wreak havoc on your delicate and expensive rifles, scopes, and other accessories. So can transporting and flying.

High-end gun cases protect your guns from drops, jostles, and the elements. They also keep them snug, secure, and locked up whether you're navigating rough terrain, going through customs, or holding them in storage.

Key Gun Case Features To Look For: 

• Made from high-impact polymer materials
• Customizable foam interiors (for keeping your equipment tight and snug)
• Heavy-duty latches
• TSA-approved padlock compatibility
• Enough room for rifles, scopes, and gear
• Air pressure release valves to prevent vacuum-lock on flights

A high-end hard gun case is a must.

Shop Production Case’s selection of Hard Rifle Cases.

2. Coolers

You’ll probably need more than one high-performance cooler. Pack a smaller personal cooler with your meals and snacks, drinks, and whatever else you’ll need for day trips.

Bring a larger cooler for transporting your game! Keep your venison chilled until you get it home and ready for the butcher.

We recommend and carry ultra high-performance Pelican Coolers, known for their durability and ability to keep game meat cold for days, even in warmer conditions.

Key Cooler Features to Look For:

• Thick insulation and freezer-grade seals to keep contents cold for days
• Rugged construction to withstand rough handling
• Moulded-in tie downs to keep in place when driving
• Larger capacity for holding and transporting deer

Make your next trip the best one ever by bringing along a couple of Pelican coolers.

Shop Production Case’s selection of Pelican Coolers.

3. Types of Weapons

Every hunter’s checklist will include either a rifle or a compound bow.

Firearms: Popular rifle calibres for deer hunting in Canada include the .270 Winchester, the .30-06 Springfield, and the .308 Winchester (as well as many others). These offer enough firepower for a clean kill without a ton of recoil.

Bows: For bow hunters, compound bows are the way to go. Find a draw weight that you can comfortably pull over a long day of hunting, but that’s also strong enough for the size of deer you’re hunting.

Practice as much as you can. The more time you spend aiming, shooting, and reloading, the better you’ll be when the moment of truth comes. That’s true for both rifle and bow hunters.

Choosing the right hunting weapon for you is equally important.

4. Proper Clothing

Deer hunting season in Canada usually means cold and unpredictable weather. Make sure you at least bring warm layers; It’s better to have them and not need them than to end up being underdressed.

Layering: Start with a synthetic moisture-wicking base layer, add a fleece or wool insulating layer for warmth, and top it off with a waterproof and windproof outer layer (usually a shell jacket). That way you can strip off if needed, but you’ll still stay nice and warm on cold mornings.

Camouflage: Make sure you blend into the background so deer aren’t alarmed.

Footwear: Buy some good waterproof, Gore-Tex boots that are insulated and have great traction. Pair them with wool socks that will keep you warm and dry. Avoid cotton socks. In fact, avoid cotton clothing in general. Cotton will absorb your sweat, and once it’s damp, will never dry out.

Gloves: Bring a pair of leather shooting gloves and a pair of insulated, Gor-Tex hunting gloves for colder weather.

5. Deer Calls

Deer calls can be a great way to lure bucks into rifle range, depending on the time of season. The three main types of calls are:

• Grunt Calls: These are meant to sound like a buck. They’re more effective during the pre-rut and rut seasons when bucks are looking for territory and to establish dominance over other bucks.
• Bleat Calls: These imitate a doe or fawn and can be effective throughout the season.
• Rattling Antlers: These sound like two bucks locking antlers. These work best during the pre-rut and rut seasons when bucks are aggressive and looking to challenge rivals.

Remember to avoid overusing any of these calls. Make sure you’re downwind and out of sight.

6. Food & Drink

Make sure you stay nourished, energized, and hydrated when you’re out hunting for hours on end. That’s a lot easier when you’ve packed appropriately.

High-Energy Snacks: Pick up easy-to-carry and calorie dense snacks like energy bars, jerky, trail mix, and nuts.

Hydration: Carry plenty of water, but stay away from plastic or noisy bottles. Consider buying hydration bladders which are easy to carry, don’t weigh much, and are silent.

Bring lightweight snacks that won’t go bad or give off strong smells and risk drawing in other wildlife or spooking deer. Keep everything in resealable, scent-proof game bags, and don’t use noisy wrappers. 

7. Odour-Eliminating Products

Deer smell you before they see you. Keeping your scent to a minimum can help you stay undetected and improve your odds.

Odour-Eliminating Sprays & Soaps: Use scent-free soaps, laundry detergents, and sprays to reduce your human scent as much as possible.

Washing your clothes in a scent-free detergent is also a good idea. This will remove any odours from previous hunting trips.

After washing, keep all of your hunting clothes and gear separated in plastic bags. 

8. Scent Covers

You can also use natural or commercial scent covers like pine or dirt scent or deer urine to mask your smell.

Spray them on your clothes and gear and re-apply when you’re in field.

9. Trail Cams

No deer hunting checklist would be complete without talking about trail cameras.

Cams are a great way of scouting and tracking deer both before and during the season.

The sooner you put your trail cams up, the better. The more you set up in your territory, the more you’ll know about the deer in the hunting area.

You’ll understand patterns, feeding times, and travel routes before you start your hunt.

Key Trail Cam Features to Look For:

• High-resolution images and video
• Long battery life
• Weatherproofing for harsh Canadian conditions

Three trail cam models we recommend are:

Browning Strike Force Pro XD

Known for its durability and reliability, the Browning Strike Force Pro XD offers high-resolution images and fast trigger speeds, making it ideal for capturing deer movements in real-time.

Bushnell Core DS No Glow

Excellent for hunters who want to stay undetected while monitoring deer. The Bushnell Core DS No Glow uses invisible infrared flash to capture nighttime images without spooking wildlife.

Stealth Cam G42NG

The Stealth Cam G42NG strikes a good balance of quality and affordability. It features a 100-foot detection range and no-glow technology, making it perfect for monitoring deer in remote Canadian locations.

10. Timeline & Planning Your Hunt

A well-planned hunting timeline will get you the most of your deer season.

• Scouting: Start scouting bucks in your planned area a few months before the season opens to learn their patterns, timings, and routes.
• Setting Up Tree Stands: Set up stands in areas where you know bucks will be likely to go, where you’ll be well-hidden, and where you’ll have clear lines of sight.
• Preparing for the Weather: Know the weather forecasts and pack and dress accordingly.
• Physical & Mental Readiness: Make sure you're physically and mentally prepared for long days outdoors.

11. Final Tips for a Safe & Successful Hunt

Safety Precautions

Always practice shooting and firearm safety and respect your rifle. Keep your gun unloaded until you're ready to shoot.

Stay aware of what’s happening around you and wear blaze orange to stay visible to other hunters.

Also, pack some emergency supplies and charge your cell phone (if you have cell service) in case of an emergency. 

Deer Tracking & Field Dressing

Learning how to track a deer is a big part of a successful hunt. After taking a shot, follow blood trails carefully and find your buck.

Make sure you have everything you need with you to field dress it and preserve the meat.

Preserving Your Harvest

This is where that big high performance cooler comes in! Pack your meat on ice immediately to keep it fresh until you can process it.

Why Choose Production Case for Your Gear?

Production Case carries top-of-the-line Pelican, Nanuk, and SKB hard gun cases and ultra high performance Pelican coolers that are perfect for your next deer hunting trip.

We offer exceptional customer service and free shipping on orders over $150.

Shop now for Pelican, Nanuk, SKB Gun Cases and Pelican Coolers.