The Best Hunting Knives for Different Game Types: From Big Game to Small Game

Choosing the perfect hunting knife is no easy feat. There are several features to consider, from the blade to the handle material, as well as the reason why you’re using your knife.

A good hunting knife should double as a survival knife and be appropriate for the type of animal you’re hunting. For example, the knife you’ll need to skin a bear is very different from the knife you’ll need to filet a fish.

In this post, we explore the different types of game and which knife is best for each hunt.

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[abbeybremner]

I always carry a spare but in New Zealand its deer, pigs, goats- a 3”-4” drop point blade is spot on

[JH-enql]

Appreciate the video. I was hoping to hear on steel types as well. Your blackfoot is in ball bearing steel, but you also have one in Magnacut. You mentioned in the video that the blackfoot is not as hardy as your larger Stonewall, but Magnacut is a fairly tough steel, so not sure if your comment was specific to the type of steel used.

[unfi]

Can't wait to see MKC in Australia. Saw you on Fox too. Cheers mate.

[hugues-alexandredery]

I bought the Speedgoat in magnacut, because of my main type of hunting/fishing, but I was looking into other knifes as well (the Triumph one and the stonewall).
I really appreciate the information in this video! It will help me figure out which one the get next.... all of them ;)

[moosa]

Just came across your channel now, great video, enough to hit the subscribe button

[chriswood]

Everyone has there prefrence.. know allot of people who carry a buck 119. Couple 110. Meet allot of people who have customs from there home state. And people who use whatever there gifted.. lol (me) been using a benchmade saddle mountain for years.

[ScaleCrawling]

If I want a set of 4 different sizes/types of knives, which is good in hunting scenarious for various different game, as well as fishing, survival, bushcrafting etc, which ones would you recommend?

[larryacord]

I have no problem skinning squirrels with a hatchet and other small animals like muskrat or rabbits. Is there anyone else who does this ? A knife is much handier than the hatchet. But it works if needed. I'm a wood carver and even make trap triggers sometimes with a good sharp hatchet.

[wyattfouts]

When will we see a magnacut mini-speedgoat drop?!!

[tommywalker]

A big knife and little knife will keep the wife and family fed

[davidmeckl]

If you could only but one of these! out of stock....

[arkas]

You mention the light weight of a knife as an advantage, but I don't think a real hunter would prefer a light knife over a sturdier one. 50-100g will never be a problem for him. With a big knife you can scrape all game with a small one no. You cannot present small knives as hunting knives unless your game is rabbit sized. You can't show hunting knives wrapped with string first because of the non-anatomical nature of the handle. Second, when it gets full of blood and mud after the first use, will you put it in the dishwasher or laundry to clean? So in America hunting knives must be rambo type as they were until ten years ago or too small not suitable for hunting? Is there no middle solution? We're glad you didn't introduce folding hunting knives, they're all the rage for living room hunters.

[John_on_the_mountain]

I justify my big knives for hunting with the fact that the mountain men of the 1800s processed plenty of game with a giant Bowie knife lol