Trad Gang

Every year I start preparing for deer season by laying out all the junk that I think I need for a day in the woods and loading a day pack full.  By the end of the season, the pack is left in the truck and I'm down to a flashlight, compass, drag rope, knife, bow and quiver.

Thought it might be fun to hear what others carry in the woods and how it differs across regions and hunting styles.

Are you a minimalist (take only what fits in your pockets) or a "Winnebago" type?

I take whatever I can. The Army taught me it is better have and not need than to need and not have. I typically downsize everything as much as I can. My pack includes:
A knife, small flashlight(led), larger flashlight, batts., compass, latex gloves, ziplock bags, TP, 35 mm film case with matches and striker, space blanket, small first aid kit, folding saw, some 550 cord, and a handful of candy and/or other snacks, various scents/scent killer, and my calls. It sounds like a lot, but it all fits into my pack nicely.

Since this is my Very First "Trad" Turkey Safari that is for Archery Only!! My Main Thing I will Carry is a Camp Seat!! I dont do too Good Standing Still For Very Long.
 I got some Camo from a Very Dear Friend of Mine, I still have to Make "Huntin'Arrows", Take my LongBow as I have a Natural Little Blind, good thing I am Short!! hahaha  I figure a Couple of Bottle of Water, and a Little Something to Munch on. I think they call what I am doing is Hunting By the Seat of My Drawers!!
  I Can Hardly WAIT!!!

I like to travel light.  In Maryland you're never far from civilization so a fanny pack carrys my tags, map and compass, a pair of latex gloves, knife, dragrope, camo facepaint (I don't like facemasks for bowhunting), one of those small pocketsized packages of kleenex for TP, a flashlight, snacks (usually some trailmix, granola bars, apples), and waterbottle.  That's the basics.  Smmetimes I'll have a small sketchbook and pen/mechanical pencil.  I often have a small folding stool to sling over my shoulder (I like hunting from the ground).

Bunyan that's travelling light? LOL

I'm a minimalist. Around here, bow with a one or two arrow quiver, headlamp (in front left pocket), neck knife (around my neck), headnet in back left pocket. Wallet with license & tag in back right pocket. Truck keys in front right pocket. Small 3 cornered stool over shoulder for hunting off the ground.

If going out of town or in unfamiliar terrain I might have a lakota quiver with a couple more arrows and a gps around my neck.

If on a really serious hunt I wear a small fanny pack with a bottle of water, a granola bar, my cell phone and maybe a frs walkie talkie.

I always carry 2 bandaids in my wallet.

Way more than I need!   Pat

"You Is Stuck On Band Aids......"   :smileystooges:    :goldtooth:

What can I say, I like to pamper myself!  And I'd rather forget my knife than the TP!

Backpack includes:

camo toilet paper (biodegradeable)
knife (2)
folding saw
flashlight
binoculars
realtree bow hanger
compass
matches
grunt tube
rope
spare gator straps
spare shooting glove
spare bowstring
digital camera
bandaids
aspirin
gloves
lightweight poncho
snacks
water

I think that is all

Toilet Paper
Knife
Drag Rope
Bow/Arrows/Quiver
Gloves for dressing out

Not much more

I am usually in the Nat'l Forest, and usually, alone. The weather up there can change at the drop of a hat, and there is no cell service.

I carry a garbage bag, and a couple of smaller bags. (emergency poncho and liver/heart transport containers.)

Spare socks, I stay out all day. My money and keys are in a front pocket.

Knife, compass, map, drag rope. Fire makin's plus a candle stub. String in a film can. Two light sources, AA's in a film can. Another knife, small whetstone. Paper towels folded up in one of my plastic bags, and a small roll of non-camo toilet paper in a sandwich bag. I figure that unless my butt is camoed, (And I don't have enough camo makeup for that job!) it wouldn't be practical to have camo TP.  

I carry a huge chocolate bar and some jerky, and maybe a water bottle. I trust the springs where I hunt. I carry some Tinks and have a bit of rag on a big safety pin on my boot. I may carry extra scent wicks in a container if I know that I am going to sit. And I may have a pistol on me somewhere, too.  :D  

Killdeer

For Illinois deer I carry kleenex pack (tp), latex gloves, knife, license, small headlight, cell phone, snack and water.  All fit in pockets of my jacket or cargo pockets of pants.  Oh yeah, bow with bow quiver.

That's all I need.  But now, I bought one of those strap on camera holders.  I am going to have to go to a large daypack to carry the camera arm, video camera, and misc. stuff involved.

I hope I get some good pics.

Carl

Thanks for all the detailed responses!  So far I've learned 2 things: that they make camo TP  (who knew?) and 2) never sneak up on Killdeer! She's heavily armed!   :D

You  CAN'T  sneak up on Killdeer.  

I stand corrected!   :notworthy:

Minimalist here.
Bow w/ one arrow quiver for the broadhead.
Lakota (sort of) style quiver full of squirrel arrows and a couple extra broadheads. Little pocket on the quiver has my tag, small game license, and bic lighter.
Neck knife.
Small hatchet stuck in my belt with para cord wrapped on the handle for drag rope.

It's either too much or not enough.

For the long day hunts...

Camelback Commander pack with water bladder
two deer drag handles
50 ft cord
pulley and carabiner (mechanical advantage!)
webbing
knife
sharpening stone
energy bars or energy gel
latex gloves
compass
GPS
maps if needed
headlamp
surefire flashlight
emergency blanket
emergency fire makin's
Radio (if I have a partner in the vicinity)
Cell phone
camera
clothing layers (depend on the weather)
Bow
Arrows
powdered gatorade

For the close to camp quickie hunts

Bow
Arrows
water
knife
gloves
phone or radio
snack
deer drag handle

Flesner

I like the idea of the paracord wrapped hatchet.  Could use the hatchet handle as a deer drag handle as well.

I like carrying things that have more than one use!

ok I've got to ask? What is energy gel? Sounds like something from an adult store.    :saywhat:

Something I always carry with me (During warm Weather) is a small package of benedryl.   Just in case i come across some mad bees or snakes.    Its nice to get that into your system ASAP and let it start working.

corncobs,water to drink, lighter, bow and arrows, binocs. knife, folding saw. whatever my wife made from last night, cookies,rolls,etc.

You go Killdeer!  Better leave her alone boys.
Kate

Just loaded my "new to me" catquiverII.
Thermacell
LED Flaslight/2 glowsticks
2 water bottles
Small first aid kit
Throw away poncho
T.P.
paracord
Lighter/firestarter
Jerky/can-o-beanie weenies
Spare pocketknife
Latex gloves
Everything wieghs less than 5lbs.

That's an affirmative on the pistol Killie.......never leave home without it!   :thumbsup:

I have tried every kinga fanny pack around and hate em all. i bought some Tedman chew a couple years ago and got this cheap real small fanny that I love. I got a couple candy bars, tags and permission slips in a baggy, a pen, a couple batteries, small flashlight, small knife, cell fone and a water bottle in my pants pocket. 5 arows in my bow quiver and I'm in the woods ready to kill something.

For me in the public woods of Mississippi;
Small 1st-aid kit
Whistle
Two small lighters
Cotton balls soaked in vaseline
Small maps
Compass(2)
GPS
Xtra Batteries
Two Arc AAA Flashlights  http://www.arcflashlight.com/arc-aaa.shtml
TP
Small roll of Orange Flagging
Paracord
Light weight Poncho

It's really not much.

As little as possible.My climbing stand,a compass,flashlight{ new batteries before every hunt] a good sharp knife,a disposable lighter,a couple of granola bars, a bottle of water a big 100% cotton bandana,paracord/ bow rope. I f I plan on hunting half a day [ sun up to say 12:00] loose the water and granola.I try to keep it simple. Do without any extra motion. [eating and drinking]. Oh a belt on me britches that I can use as a drag if I need it.

Very little my bow and arrows and sometimes a flshlight. No knife or nothing, if I shoot a deer I just leave and go get the stuff I need. I always carry my clothes in a duffle on my back and my stand(I use a bracket system)so I really do not want to be weighed down by any more than that. This year I may carry some binos, never have but maybe!  I shoul dadd my cell phone to that as well, it saved me a long miserable crawl after a fall from a stand a couple of years ago. shawn

Bow,Arrows,Knife.   :archer:

Knife, liquid stitches, matches, compass, headlamp, surveyors tape, water.

I guess i go in the Winnebago group....My day pack is 30 pounds and i don't step off the road without it in the area i hunt. In September the weather can change from the 70's in the day to the 30's at night very easily...i carry enough freeze dried food to survive on 3 days comfortably, a pack stove and lantern, first aid, and all the rest of the survival gear sealed tight in vacuum packed containers....It has a habit of raining quite seriously here at any given moment....i figure if i break my leg in one of those steep canyons, i'd just as soon be warm and have something to eat while the boys are looking for me.....i don't carry much water, but keep a filtration pump in my pack. unless i can find a spring and dig down into it a bit...ALL my water gets filtered anymore...that "Beaver Fever" is nasty stuff....

i spend most my hunting time alone... i try and give somebody a general idea what drainage i'll be in, but the only one that hunts side by side with me is my daughter.....Her day pack runs 15 pounds, and the girls got some sand to her too!

Kirk
(http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u301/kirkll/Hunting%20pics/KirkonNicksRidge.jpg)

I hunt in National Forest's and sometimes, (rarly)wilderness area's. I carry a day pack with the following items: knife, rope, sharpener, trail marking tape, toilet paper, compass, moleskin, 2AA mini mag light with a LED bulb assemly,(ever try to change a bulb in a mini mag light in the dark? LED bulb assemly is much more reliable), matches in a water proof tube and magnesium fire starter, 2 water bottles, several zip lock bags, bandades, signal mirror, a space blanket sleeping bag (about 4"x 1 1/2"x 1"), 2 apples, 2 energy bars, trail mix, frs radio, (soon to be replaced with a Rino gps/frs/gmrs). If there any chance of rain I carry packable rain gear. In warm weather I carry a thermal shirt in the pack.(weather can change in a hurry in the Sierra's). Sometimes, I have a small digital camera. I wear my binocs on a harness to keep the strain off my neck. Sounds like a lot of stuff but it a goes in the pack with a lot of room to spare. Oh, and my tags are also in the pack. The day pack is a Rancho Safari Cat Day II fleece. Very well made and quiet pack. Jim.

where i hunt you dont need much just a bow quiver full of arrows knife etc etc poncho or rubish bag as a raincoat
a..wipe
foldingsaw
flaslight
compass
firstaid kit
lighter
sparebow string
bottle of water
health bars to eat
medication
day pack
spare clothes socks etc etc
well thats it not a lot realy.
wolfman.   :thumbsup:

Anyone notice a consistency here?  Folks that hunt out of the back 40, perhaps in the east side of the country seem to travel pretty light.  Folks west of the Missouri, well they generally hunt bigger land and consequently are prepared for a longer stay in God's backyard.

East or west, a bow, at least one arrow and a hand full of toilet paper seems like the common denominators.  Now I can't speak for the camo TP.  Usually mine starts out as non-camo type and by the time I'm done it's camoed up nicely.

My wife giggles at all my stuff I have.  I am both a minimalist (by preferrence) and a Winnebago guy (by necessity) depending upon where I'm hunting.  For instance, I leave in 2 weeks for Idaho and my day pack will be around 25-30 lbs.  I could easily stay a few days if necessary.  In November I'm off to the CT/NY line to hunt whitetails and expect to carry everything I need in my pockets.  

No matter where I hunt though my camelbak is second in importance only to my bow and one arrow. I gotta have my water. Next is my knife and compass, equally important to each other.

i take my:
Bow/arrows
tree stand
rope
throwin' hawk (dual purpose for both hunting and trapping)
flint and magnesium strip
small flashlight
Clip-on 3 LED hat light
at least 2 knives
some TP
compass only if i am in unfamilar territory
watch
some kinda grub (trail mix, granola, jerkey, water)
cell phone/motorola radio
binoculars
grunt call, primos "lil' Can, fawn bleat,

I've got more junk in my pack than i need i'm sure but its better to be safe than sorry.
scent killer
3-bottles water
Meds
folding saw
all the food that'll fit.
lighter,and matches.
extra clothes.
heat packets (LOTS)
extra bow string.
extra knife.
44mag mnt-light 2-speed loaders, (saftey) I'm to banged up to run much anymore LOL....
Couple tree steps.
Deer scents up to 4.
To much to be carrying thats for sure.
 :knothead:

I left out flashlight and my leoupolds.  :thumbsup:

normally I am a bit of a minamilist with just my bow witha 6 arrow quiver my lighter, my Grampas old bone handled pocket knife, a pair of moccasins and my binocs on a harness but this year I am going to try a pop-up so I will be adding that and a stool and maybe a litttle jerky in my pocket

bow
4 arrows
catquiver
case trapper
boker two blade foldng hunter
flashlight
squirrel call(when squirrel hunting)
my ruger 22 handgun( only while stumpshooting in summer or early in the season when snakes are out)

Minimalist here. Carry the bow/arrows, knife, flashlight and rope and about 5 pound of gray matter between my ears that I'm hoping will figure a way out of any mess I end up in.

(EXCEPT when I'm in the great Adirondacks - then I assume that I may spend a night or 2 in the woods no matter what my original plan is.)

Yikes!  I wish I were able to leave alot of the extra clothing/gear, but here in Saskatchewan even August can present some wild temperature changes within one day.  Extra clothing makes up the bulk of the ...bulk.

I wash whatever clothing is next to my skin after every hunt, and I switch what I wear depending on the forecast.  So I don't carry anything in pockets of clothing; everything goes into either my fannypack (always with me) or the backpack (for extended hunts).

FANNY PACK:

Emergency whistle
Trail marker tape
Deer calls: buck/doe grunt/bleat
LED flashlight
Scent killer spray
Gerber multiblade knife
Hunting permits/license + $20
ThermaCELL
Platypus water bag + tube
Kleenex in zip-loc sandwich bag
Lipbalm/lubricant
Lens cleaning cloth
Wire saw
Paracord
Keys
Armguard
Finger tab
FRS radio/cellphone
Kwikee quiver mount
Wool neck-warmer/toque

BACKPACK:

Cell phone
Water bottle
Rattle bag
Spare wool gloves
Spare windproof headcover
Windproof wool vest
Woolie-booger handwarmer
High-energy snacks
Cotton hankerchief
Compass
Magnesium firestarter + tinder in zip-loc
Burnt cork
Bow-stringer
Tri-pod stool
Kitchen sink

I used to carry every thing but the kitchen sink...then I learned how far I had to go and the terrian.....I have learned to take less.  Still first day I take to much..next day less till finally...if it won't fit in a pocket...I find I don't really need it.  (I do have lots of pockets though.......)

I learned the hard way last year about hanging stuff around my neck..........

bottle of homemade scent killer, bottle of "deer dander" , Tru talker, primos can, knife, lighter, cattail poofs for wind checking, 1911 colt .45(never know when you're gonna walk up on a meth lab in S.E. Ohio)

Josh

I'm not one for lotsa stuff.
Even when I'm in Northern Ontario moose-hunting...

For deer hunting around home where I know all the bushes like the back of my hand:
TP
flashlight
knife
bow & arrows
sometimes a foldable Dean Torges tree seat.

I feel I should add more...

Day one...folding saw, clippers,tp, raisins for good luck, chap stick, eye drops (for contacts) scent,drag rag in zip lock, license, gloves, hat, screw in bow holder, screw in arrow holder, extra string, compass, whistle, walkie talkie radio, face mask, flash light, water bottle, camera. binos, range finder and a bunch of other junk...I once even took a book...Sam Roberts reads in the tree and the man kills tons of deer.....but it is a waste of space and weight for me...works for others though.  I take a bunch of other junk too.......then

Day 2 I leave the pack in the truck and take the tp, rasins, eye drop..smallest bottle of water flash light and walkie talkie.

I am so rough on the ear piece/microphone for the walkie talkie...I bet I could make my million by coming up with a science fiction/ outer space looking one....like a blue tooth ear thingy.  Maybe have a small radio base the size of a pocket size box of matches..shove that in a pocket..and then wear the ear piece...

I have left a trail of walkie talkie ear piece wires through out Missouri......and Georgia.

Knife, flashlight, water, candy bar, cell phone, cutters, twine.

Bow,Arrows,Knife.....That's usualy about it.....

Oh Yeah, A soft seat cushion to sit on   :archer:

I carry a whole bunch of stuff in a large pack that stays in the car. Depending on the hunt I will take out what I will need. Regardless, I always carry: bow and quiver of 3 arrows, in the quiver there is a pouch for an extra string and some string wax, tags, TP, keys, knife, lighter, hat, bear spray and some rope. If I am just walking down a gated logging road (less than 3/4 mile maybe) this (and probebly some water) is all I take. If I am going much further other things that I may take are my emergency kit (a 5x2x6 inch soft packet with first aid kit, fishing kit, firestarting kit, 2 snares, some cordage, aluminum foil, a granola bar and chocolate, plastic bag, space blanket, water purifying tablets, flagging tape, boot laces, small knife and a little extra TP), extra socks, a wool sweater, food such as jerky or dried fruit, map/s and water.
I personaly feel that no one should go anywhere in western Montana without a knife, a fire starter, some water and extra clothes.

I hunt from the ground rather than a stand. So in addition to my bow, arrows, and quiver I carry a modified version of the Ten Essentials recommended for backpackers and hikers:

Map, Compass, Extra food and water, Extra clothes, Headlamp/flashlight, First aid kit
Fire starter, Matches, Knife, Latex gloves, 100' parachute rope, extra bowstring, and extra tab.

All this really doesn't take as much room as it might seem at first appearance. But hunting in forestlands I like to take this stuff with me just in case I end up having to stay in the woods longer than I may have planned.

i carry flashlights,knives,gloves,weapon,camo,food,and whatever else.

ONLY THE ESSENTIALS!!!!
flashlight, knife, T.P., (Torges) tree seat, G.P.S., scent killer, Thermarest on the hot days, can call, rattle bag, grunt tube, bloodlight, scents... scrapemaker, pen, liscense, water, snacks, camera, spare batteries, butt out tool, deer handle, scent wicks, brite eyes, saw, pruners, cell phone... space blanket, signal mirror...    :knothead:  

just funning... 2-3 hr hunt ...
knife
small light
a lil TP (for marking the shot
tree seat if on the ground
a lil corn starch in a sqeeze bottle (for checking the wind)
bottle of water...
and a small set of pruners...

  :notworthy:   and hopefully a lot of luck!!!

I never actually tried to make a list before. This should be fun.

Bow
3-arrow bow quiver with broadheads
Safety harness
Tags
Zip ties for attaching tags to animals
Small flashlight
Extra stick-on arrow rest
Extra bow string
Film canister full of milkweed
Small digital voice recorder for field notes
Extra AAA's for flashlight or recorder
Compass
Cell phone
Gerber multi tool
Screw-in bow holder
Pruning shears
Small folding saw (3" blade?)
Hand warmers
Gloves
Spandaflague head net
Small pocket-sized pump bottle of bug dope (early season)
Bottle of water and snack (usually venison jerky)
Tiny first aid kit (about the size of a matchbox)
Binoculars
Small pull rope
Extra finger tab
Grunt call
Bleat call
Reflective twist ties for marking blood trails
Small pack-sized roll of TP
Roll of electtrical tape
Motor mounts for a 1964 Pontiac GTO   :saywhat:  

My camera equipment and game cart stay in the truck, although I'm thinking about picking up a high quality P&S digital camera to take with me when I hunt.

QuoteOriginally posted by Ishiwannabe; The Army taught me it is better have and not need than to need and not have

I agree whole heartedly. I found that out the hard when I was in the army.   :knothead:

I am a minimalist by nature, but have learned to carry a lot of stuff if needed. So, it depends on where I'm going. If I'm just going to hunt out behind my house then all I carry is my bow, one arrow, and of course my annoying back tag(don't know why WI still requires those). If I go to another spot about 10 miles away I'll carry more arrows,cell phone, knife/sharpener, drag rope, flashlight, a snack, digital camera(wish they made those 20 years ago),  and some sort of butt pad.

Some of the lists seem really long but then you look at where they are, and it makes sense. None of the places I have hunted so far are true wilderness areas, a person could walk out in a matter of hours at the most. I do plan to someday  do a pack in hunt in the Nicolet NF, and will pack accordingly.

This is embarrassing, but as we are all friends, here...

Sat morning, I hung my stand in the state forest across the street from my house.

This year I am trying out those reflective tacks to mark my "trail" through the thick brush, and I go in about 3/4's of a mile.

Sat NIGHT, I say "it's nice and dark, I'll grab my light, and see if those tacks work, and check my trail"

I nicely follow my trail, get to my stand, turn around to go home, and the light goes instantly dead...

I have no backup light, no compass, although I did have a phone.  

I know the area well, but at night with no light...   I stumbled and bumbled through thick brush for quite a while, and eventually found my road, but a few times I was prepared to call my wife and say "don't tell ANYBODY about this, and I am just going to curl up and wait for dawn to find my way out..."

Yes, I learned a good lesson on that one!
(even a simple walk can be a problem if the unexpected happens)

I am swearing you all to secrecy!   ;)

QuoteOriginally posted by Rich LaBombard:
This is embarrassing, but as we are all friends, here...

, but a few times I was prepared to call my wife and say "don't tell ANYBODY about this, and I am just going to curl up and wait for dawn to find my way out..."


I am swearing you all to secrecy!    ;)  

:smileystooges:    

Easy to laff about now...

Did I Miss the  "TOOL OF A MILLION & ONE USES"  somewhere?  :confused:   The Lowly Wooden, or Plastic, Spring Clothespin??  :thumbsup:   They are Handy for  ALL  Kinds of Stuff!  :archer:    :biglaugh:

I generally hunt close to home and this is what I usually take, slightly modified since I switched from compound:


bow
extra string
3 broadheads, 2 judos
glove
armguard

all this stuff fits into a fanny pack with lots of room to spare:
lighter
matches
cork
small first aid pouch - gauze pads, bandaids, claritin, benadryl, ibuprofen, antibiotic cream, eye drops, carmex, superglue, duct tape rolled around a pencil.
pruning shears
binos
knife
gerber version of leatherman
piece of rope
carabiner (seems like I alway end up using this in some way)
piece of nylon string

sometimes I throw in a bottle of water and a couple granola bars but usually not.

cell phone and car keys in my pocket

classic, Slasher, thank you!