Hunting season is just around the corner. This year, just as years in the past, many hunters will be looking to buy a new hunting knife or two. Many will make the same mistakes that others have been making for centuries. Buying the wrong knife for the job at hand. But this doesn’t have to be. I’m going to help you determine what the best hunting knife is for your needs.
First off, you need to determine what you’ll be doing with the hunting knife. Most likely, you’ll be field dressing a deer or two that you’ve shot. This seems simple at first thought, but you need to take into consideration that deer grow to different sizes depending on where they are. A buck from Maine is going to be a lot larger than one from Arizona!
Happily though, a blade length of 3 to 5 inches is ideal for most field dressing chores. You obviously want it to be sharp, so make sure you know how to get an edge on it. Don’t settle for one of those cheap sharpeners that you pull across the blade. These do not leave a razor sharp edge, but rather a micro jagged edge that is not ideal for field dressing.
I like to use a ceramic sharpening stick and hones. This way I know my knife is sharp and will stay that way.
The knifes handle is important to me also. I want one that I will be able to hold onto when my hands are wet and cold. I’m guessing that a leather handle is out of the question? I’m currently looking a hunting knife with a zytel handle. Would this be a good choice?