Fans of unusual types of hunting are always looking for ways to surprise themselves. In search of new sensations, some go hunting underwater, others in the highlands, and others in the desert. The last option seems extreme, forcing hunters to survive in harsh conditions while trying to get at least some game. You will learn how to properly combine these two activities and what laws should be taken into account to ensure your safety from this article.
Features of hunting in the desert
The desert is a unique place where wildlife lives by its own rules. Therefore, hunting in such a territory becomes an unusual event with many features. The main one is the nocturnal lifestyle of most animals. Due to the daytime heat, game is minimally active during the day, so hunters most often have to hunt at night, using various night vision devices and other auxiliary equipment. Limited resources are another essential feature. When hunting in the desert, finding food and water won’t be easy, so you will have to take them with you and carry them for many hours. This will create additional difficulties and make the activity even more extreme.
It is equally important to know that the desert is a place characterized by the monotony of the landscape. This feature complicates navigation and the search for visual landmarks. At the same time, the absence of a large amount of vegetation opens up a good view of the adjacent territory and makes it possible to see animals from a long distance. Finally, sharp temperature changes are the last but no less important feature of hunting in the desert. Excessive heat during the day and noticeable coolness or even cold at night are common occurrences you should be aware of in advance.
Laws of survival in various situations
Desert hunting enthusiasts always face many dangers, many of which can cause problems or even lead to death. To avoid this, hunters must know and follow the four basic laws of survival in the desert. This section of the article will discuss each of them in more detail.
1) Control over the supply of water and food
In the desert, the main treasure is water. It helps to cope with excessive heat and maintain normal body condition throughout the event. Therefore, those who will hunt in the desert must constantly monitor the reserves of the most valuable resource. Depending on the amount of water left, you must decide whether to continue or finish the hunt. Food is no less helpful. It allows you to replenish energy reserves and save strength for further hunting. Therefore, constant monitoring of food supplies is also a key law of survival in the desert, which every hunter must follow.
2) Protecting from the sun
Extended stays in the open and constant exposure to direct sunlight can turn hunting into hell. The consequences can be catastrophic, even fatal, so providing reliable protection from the sun is another key law of survival in the desert. It will not be enough to use only a hat or other headgear to achieve the desired effect. You will also need to minimize the open areas of the body by using suitable clothing. It should be light and made of materials with good air permeability. Do not forget about sunglasses, which will protect your eyes from the adverse effects of ultraviolet radiation.
3) Using different methods of orientation
In the desert, it is always challenging to determine your location and find the right direction of movement. The lack of a large number of clearly visible landmarks, the monotony of the landscape, and poor visibility due to sand grains raised by the wind increase the risk of going off the chosen route. Frequent failures in the operation of navigation equipment, which occur due to extreme heat and the impact of other external factors, do not add optimism. In this regard, the simultaneous use of several orientation methods becomes one of the hunter’s main survival laws. You can combine anything. For example, a GPS device can be supplemented with a compass or a paper map. This will allow you to get more information on choosing the right direction of movement in any surrounding conditions.
You should also not neglect devices that will help you navigate in space. Do not forget: you are in an aggressive environment, which remains aggressive at all times—both at night and during the day. The usual scout kit will not help you much. It is better to give yourself a chance with thermal accessories that will expand your capabilities in the lifeless desert night.
4) Keeping calm in emergencies
Hunting in the desert is an unpredictable event. At any moment, you can feel unwell because of the intense heat, get injured because of one careless action, become a victim of an attack by a scorpion, snake or other dangerous creature and much more. To make the right decisions in such emergencies, you need to follow another vital law of survival – staying calm, no matter what has happened to you. The absence of panic will help you correctly assess the situation, quickly provide first aid, and find available ways to reduce body temperature.
Recommendations for hunters in the desert
Compliance with the laws of survival is the key to a successful desert hunt. Despite this, hunters should not limit themselves to them and neglect the recommendations of experienced colleagues who have repeatedly undergone a similar test.
The most important advice is to plan the hunt carefully. Only in this case will it be possible to foresee different scenarios in advance and find the best solutions for each of them. The following recommendation is hunting in the desert with 1-2 or more partners. This way, you can support and assist each other in difficult situations. Solo hunts in harsh terrain should be excluded due to their excessive danger.
Regular monitoring of weather forecasts is another essential recommendation. Thanks to it, you will be able to learn in advance about the approach of sandstorms and other troubles, promptly taking measures to protect your health. You should also pay attention to visual signs of worsening weather. Often, they help make a more accurate forecast than the one forecasters offer. Having spare equipment (for example, a second navigation device) is equally essential. In case of breakdown of the leading equipment, it will help to complete the hunt and avoid many troubles successfully.
Finally, remember to respect wild nature and its inhabitants. When hunting in the desert, do not destroy the sparse vegetation, which may be the only food or shelter for many living creatures. Do not kill snakes, scorpions and other poisonous animals that do not pose a threat to your safety. Do not hunt excessive amounts of game, even if this is permitted by the hunting rules in the selected territory.
The desert does not forgive mistakes to anyone, and hunters are no exception. Therefore, while doing their favorite thing, they should adhere to the correct algorithm of actions and observe the laws of survival in harsh terrain. This is the only way to pass the strength test and get several good trophies.
