Hunting season is upon us! Whether you are going to the duck blind for a quick two-hour hunt or heading to the elk woods on a two-week pack-in hunt, you need to have these seven things before pulling your boots on and grabbing your firearm.
1. A plan
Okay, so this isn't really an "item," but it's important. We all need to not only have a plan, but we need to have shared that plan with someone. A plan is as simple as writing down or communicating where you intend to go and what time you expect to return.
Things happen. A simple hunt can get complicated by an unexpected fall, weather, encounter with a bear or medical issue. If we have a plan and share that with someone, we can likely expect some help to start our way at some point when we are overdue.
Part of each plan should be a plan “B.” What if we have to deviate from plan “A”? What other options may we choose? If the weather gets really bad while duck hunting I may tell my wife that I have the gear to ride it out in the blind or in the truck. We should be prepared for some of these scenarios too with the proper gear.
2. A means of reliable communication
Communication these days is most often a cell phone. Some remote areas may not afford strong enough signal for the use of a cell phone. In these cases, if the area you are headed does not have cell signal, it may be wise to consider a personal locator beacon if things get really hairy. Consider something like Garmin’s inReach Mini or Messenger, so you can send messages despite no cell service via satellite. Even if you are within an area where cell service is good, consider having a portable power pack in case the cold zaps your phone battery. That way, if you do get hurt, stuck (or maybe the hunting is so good you simply cannot leave it), you can let those that you left plans with know that the plans changed! You will be glad you have a way to communicate if you get hurt or really need help.
3. A first aid kit with basic medicines
This includes any medications you may personally use, but you should really also bring along some antihistamines such as Benedryl ... and possibly something to quell diarrhea should you get hit with a bad case of it. Sometimes something such as a bad allergic reaction or bad case of diarrhea can drain you and make it much harder to do even the simplest things, such as walk out to the truck or run a boat back to the ramp. Fever reducers such as aspirin or ibuprofen are also a good idea.
4. A firestarter
A means to build a fire, whether for signaling or simply staying warm is a must in your hunting coat or pack. I personally have a Titan SurvivalSteel Fire starter. It is small at 5" long, and it's easy to use. An emergency whistle is on the lanyard made of 9' of Survivor Cord. It throws 3,000-degree sparks up to 12,000 times. This thing works wet too!
Waterproof matches will work if you have enough of them. Regardless of what you have, practice lighting a fire with it. That way, when you are shaking, sopping wet or in a rush, you can still make a fire.
5. A good knife and small sharpener
A good knife is invaluable when hunting. Some people opt for a well-made multitool; others, a good hunting knife ... or both. Without a knife, being stranded or trying to take care of unexpected tasks can be very difficult, to say the least! Be sure the knife you carry is well made and will hold an edge. No one wants to be skinning an elk with a dull knife at dark with bears lurking around. At that point, time is of the essence and a sharp knife speeds up the process. What's more, a sharp knife is a safe knife. Dull knives can "jump" or "skip" during cutting tasks and injure you.
6. A bit of energy/food and water
Even if you only plan on a short hunt, take an energy bar, something with protein and carbs, should you have an unexpected stay. Sometimes that extra little bit of food you tucked in your hunting coat or pack will get you through a hard moment when you need it most. I keep a bag of trail mix in my pack and eat it and replace it immediately when tracking game, or having an extra long drag of my deer to the truck.
On the same note, getting dehydrated can be a real danger if you are exerting yourself. Cold, dry air can hasten that if you are breathing hard and a lot. Most people do not realize that dehydration is not just for hot, humid weather. Take an extra water bottle, or if on a long hunt for days, perhaps a water filtration system.
7. Proper outerwear
If you are hunting where rain or snow is possible, the proper clothing, even if you have to pack it inside your pack, may be a lifesaver one day. Something lightweight that also sheds water and insulates or reflects heat back to your body is golden in challenging conditions. I like to take a lightweight jacket that is large enough to fit over whatever I normally wear that is waterproof or something that can easily be worn as a base under what I normally wear that wicks sweat is a good idea. At the very minimum, a space blanket is very small and packable.
This season before heading afield, run through our checklist and be sure you are ready for whatever the wild may throw at you. Good hunting!
