From field to feast, the best hunting knife makes it easy to process game. Here are our favorites in 2023 from Benchmade, Gerber, Buck Knives and more.
Deciding upon size
Any good bladesmith will tell you that most people think they need far bigger knives than they really do. While it may make you feel cool to pack a blade like Rambo or Crocodile Dundee, the reality is those big bowie knives can make a good number of jobs harder instead of easier. For general purposes, including cleaning came up to the size of elk, a blade in the 4”-5” range will be enough to handle the job.
Tools for the backcountry
The tools you need will likely be determined by what you are taking into the field with you. If you have other gear with screws or bolts, then drivers and wrenches may need to be accounted for with your pack or multi-tool. If that type of thing isn’t part of your gear list, you’re really looking at basic survival tools. Things like blades and saws can go a long way if you have a little bit of tradecraft.