Hunting season is very nearly here and now is the time to buy that new gear you have been wanting – have you chose on a new knife?  Is there such a thing as the “perfect hunting knife?” Doubtless not.  But there are many knives on the market that will fill the bill nicely. 

But why would you want to listen to me talk about hunting knives.  Well, a small about me.  I have been an avid hunter for the past 50 years and have hunted huge and small game everywhere from Alaska to Florida, Europe and the Pacific.  I have hunted, dressed and butchered dove-squirrel-rabbit-turkey-raccoon-fox-coyote-waterfowl-javalina-mule deer-whitetail deer-antelope in the US decrease 48, waterfowl-ptarmigan-snowshoe hare-moose-caribou-auburn bear in Alaska, waterfowl-wood pigeons-rabbits in the UK, and wild pigs/boar in Guam.

So, how would I choose the best hunting knife for me?  First, determine what kind of hunting actions you want to do and whether I.  Will you be hunting waterfowl, small game, large game, or a combination of them all?  Commonly, the larger the game, the larger the knife – but that doesn’t mean that a excellent astute smaller knife won’t work just fine.

Once you determine the kind of hunting you are interested in, you need to question yourself a few additional questions.  Do you want a knife just for hunting?  Do you want to carry your knife when you are not hunting? 

Now that we have these questions answered, lets talk turkey.

BIG GAME HUNTER:  If you are a huge game hunter and want a knife specifically for dressing huge game, you should consider a fixed blade knife.  By definition, these knives are everlastingly open so they are commonly stronger and more reliable.  Because the blade is always open, they normally come with a sheath for safe carrying. 

But just deciding on a fixed blade knife is not enough – now we have to determine the blade style best suited for your purpose.  If this knife is to be exactingly used for huge game hunting, I recommend a “drop point” blade – a strong curved blade ideal for skinning large animals.  This gray blade design can also be used for gutting, butchering and splitting the pelvis and rib cage.  Everlastingly, you may consider a knife with a “gut hook” especially calculated for opening the abdomen when field dressing your game. 

If you opt for a knife without a gut hook, you may consider a knife with a “clip point” blade – these blades are usually thinner and have a more pointed blade.  This would be better for opening the abdomen of your game without cutting too deep and penetrating the intestine.

SMALL GAME HUNTER: If your quarry is small game, anything goes, you can choose a smaller fixed blade knife, a folder, or pocketknife.  In person, I have always opted for a folding knife with a clip point blade (my favorite is my classic Buck Folding Hunter).  But, to add flexibility, you may consider a multi-blade pocketknife – the Case Mini Trapper has both a clip point blade and a ”spey” blade ideal for skinning small game.

OCCASIONAL HUNTER:  For the rare hunter who hunts “whatever is in season,” I recommend a excellent mid-size folding knife.  My favorite has always been the Buck Ranger (112BRS).  This classic knife is small enough to effectively deal with small game, but sturdy enough to be just as useful in field dressing/butchering large game.  Mine has been my primary knife throughout my hunting career—including, antelope hunting in Wyoming, deer hunting in Utah, Caribou and Auburn Bear hunting in Alaska, boar hunting in Guam, and a myriad of small game hunting around the world.

FOR THE HUNTER WHO WANTS TO CARRY A KNIFE DAILY:  If you only want one knife to carry for everything, I recommend a multi-blade pocketknife – like the Case “Stockman” or “Trapper” run.  I also recommend you check your local knife carry laws – usually knives with blades 3 inches or less are officially authorized – BUT remember all knives are prohibited from many locations including courthouses, some government construction, airports, etc.  NOTE:  I prefer the venerable pocketknife over a folding knife because the former is carried in a pocket while folding knives are usually carried in a sheath visible to all.

IMPORTANT COMMENT:  No matter what type or size knife you have, it will not do the job except it is excellent and astute.  A knife can lose its edge while dressing the animal, so you need to have a excellent knife sharpener with you to keep the knife astute from start to close.  It is not uncommon for a hunter to stop several times while dressing game to sharpen his/her knife.  Also, in general, the more expensive the knife, the longer it will hold its edge – but this also means these harder blades take longer to sharpen – so there is some tradeoff here.

SUMMARY:  There are literally thousands of knives on the market, so you must prioritize your wants and choose the one (two or even three) that best fill those wants.  It is possible to choose one knife for multiple purposes, but most outdoors public have at least 2 with them when they go out.  To learn more about knives available go to my web site www.PocketKnivesPro.com and search on various knives by type, blade type, or brand.  HAPPY SHOPPING AND HAPPY HUNTING.

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