For a quick hunt, not far from the car, what would you take on your person when actually hunting?
I have a fanny pack that I do not leave the vehicle without. I have been in too many situations where a short distance turned into tracking an animal or trying to get on one and then having bad weather come in. Here in Oregon you can have two things that will totally disorient you. One is super heavy fog. Fog you cannot see 10 feet when you are in it. You need a compass and either a knowledge of the immediate terrain or a good map and know where your vehicle is and on what road. If not you can die if unprepared with means to make a fire and a shelter. Soooooooooo , I carry two lighters, a little kit with firestarter, A candle, a Space blanket. Heavy cordage, tp. Some trail mix and a stainless cup. I usually have some instant coffee or tea bags too.
Other items is a saw, tp and some flagging,any extra knives I want ect. and an led flashlight with extra batteries.
So far I have always found my way out but several times were iffy and extreme.
The other thing is similar and only twice have I been caught in it. This is a complete whiteout of a blizzard. Same problem of disorientation except a lot colder in most cases.
Once I just gathered some firewood and built a fire and regrouped. An hour later I was at the truck. Its amazing what just stopping and building a fire and relaxing a bit will do for the brain. Once I did that and made a compass to in the right direction ,after determining where that was,. I walked right to the road. I had to see the map in my mind though and need to stop to do that.
God bless, Steve
Very interesting
Elk hunting, my day pack is full, probably weighs 25#. But I'm ready for anything but dying!!
Stupid Phone double posted for me!
Most of the time while out calling I'm les than half mile from the truck. And on farm land. Deer hunting in the sierras I take the kitchen sink and the fridge.
I take the usual navigation stuff (maps, compass, GPS) and enough stuff so I can stay out overnight and still be reasonably comfortable in the morning. I don't bother with a cell phone - the places I hunt don't have any signal.
Here in Nova Scotia, it's law to have a compass (in working order - they say...) waterproof matches and a knife. So, those things plus water, "hunt candy"(Werthers butterscotch), mixed nuts and an apple, antacid tablets.
Ever the optimist, a drag rope and liver/heart plastic bags. Binocs, TP and an aerial photo of where I'm hunting.
Basically all pockets bulging...
I usually wear BDU style pants when hunting and have most of that stuff (plus a few other things like flagging tape, tag material, etc.) in my cargo pockets. The other stuff I have in my Catquiver pouches and if I think I'm gonna go very far from the Jeep, I'll grab it up.
I too am usually no more than half a mile from the truck. I carry a light, knife, pull up rope (as I usually bow hunt from a climber), cell phone - just use its camera, calls depending on the time of the season, a screw in step to help with self rescue, license. That about covers it.
QuoteOriginally posted by GDPolk:
For a quick hunt, not far from the car, what would you take on your person when actually hunting?
I would take a lot less than on a longer hunt a hike from the truck.
Quick hunts not far from the truck...I hunt pretty light....and voted as such. Some of the items are situational. I wouldn't need the flashlight if it was a morning hunt, and I wouldn't need bug repellent if it was winter etc. Leave main camera in car and take hero pics if need be by going back to get it....and incidental pics with cell phone.
Vest pack with water, 8 oz trail mix, 50' real parachute cord, butane lighter and fire pellets, thin Space(tm)blanket, first aid kit, 6" Green River knife, Leatherman tool, silenced cell phone, carkeys.
My Ribz pack carries water, GPS, first
aid, my personal ekit, required meds, knife, more knives, rope, cell, radio, power bars, compass, binos, extra tab armguards, poncho.
My back pack carries all the extras. I can hang my backpack in a tree for a stalk while all necessaries are inthe Ribz.
Some things mentioned here will be included.. Good thread
I have stuff that automatically comes along..............I'd rather have it than need it. :archer:
QuoteOriginally posted by old_goat2:
Elk hunting, my day pack is full, probably weighs 25#. But I'm ready for anything but dying!!
likewise! One hour or one day, if you kill an elk there is a bunch of stuff that you need.
I take some creature comforts with me like a candy bar, hand warmer (during cold weather) and a leatherman. Other than stuff like that, I don't see the need for anything else sxcept for maybe a small flashlight. Oh yes,TP is a must have. It can be used as a marker for where you last seen the deer you just shot. Other than that, I go back to the truck and dump off stuff I don't need and take the stuff I do need. Stuff like a knife, lantern, rope.....etc
I'm surprised at the number of folks who take cell phones along. There's no reception where I hunt, but I doubt I'd take one if there were. I suppose they can be used to call for help if needed, but the last thing I want while hunting is to be tethered to the modern world. To each his own. :dunno:
I also have a fanny pack with everything I need that I never go to the woods without even just a hike or scouting.If I am hunting the mountains further from camp or truck I take a backpack that has even more items just in case I might need to stay and build a shelter for a overnight in case of an emergency.
Always a compass, knife, garbage bag, rubber gloves, water. Other stuff depending on where and how long. Oh yeah, and paracord.
My pack before it got stolen always contained what I thought were the basics. Small first aid kit, knife, sharpening stone, marking tape, hatchet, game bags, maps, water purifier, rope, rain coat(usually cheap poncho), tarp, matches, Bic lighter, Zippo, Ferro rod, small container of fire starting material, pot to cook with, small fishing kit, Space blanket, Paracord, duct tape, Signal Mirror, Compass, socks. Most I could pack in the cooking pot. Rope, Hatchet, marking tape, maps, compass, poncho, game bags, and first aid kit would fit in the internal divider pockets. Secondary compass, zippo, knife and sharpening stone I'd keep on my person. I also carry one or two bottles of water in my pack, as well as a canteen on my belt. Base camp would be a lot more obviously. Surprisingly enough, it really didn't weigh a lot.
I leave most things in the truck. Cell phone comes in handy when multiple people are hunting the property, easy to keep track of each other and game movement via text.
On day hunts I have anything I might need in my truck. I always take the weapon I'm hunting with with spare ammo. My semi skinner pocket knife always comes along. My emergency deet, I never assume it is too cold for mosquitoes in Florida. I also always bring a bottle of water. Anything else I take is situatiional and I keep gear for any situation in my vehicle close by.
Bow
Quiver
Arrows/broadheads
Glove
Armguard
Stringer (if shooting recurve)
2 pair nitrile gloves
Knife
Small machete
Herbal Armor bug spray
Compass
Orange marking tape
GPS/phone
String wax
Snack/ water
Deer drag
Wind check powder
Earth scent wafers
Doe piss spray
Face mask/hat/ clothing/snake boots
That's about it. I hunt on the ground and use natural cover. I'm usually within 1-2 miles of my vehicle.
QuoteOriginally posted by monterey:
QuoteOriginally posted by old_goat2:
Elk hunting, my day pack is full, probably weighs 25#. But I'm ready for anything but dying!!
likewise! One hour or one day, if you kill an elk there is a bunch of stuff that you need. [/b]
Agree with both of these. When hunting here "close to the truck" just doesn't really happen. So better safe than sorry. I take multiple tabs with me and batteries too. I'm never less that 25lbs of pack weight.
If I'm hunting where I have scouted and set up already I hunt very light.
Gloves
Face mask
scent
calls
water and a snack
I always have a Knife.
The trucks never more than a 1/4 to 1/2 mile away.
most land is sectioned off around here where I live.
Game cart,camera and other big items can stay in the truck.
bretto
I assumed that on your person meant in your pockets not in your pack. My hunt pack is in the 25# range and has what I need to make it over nite where ever I am hunting.
MAP
I have an agreement with my wife; I take my SPOT everywhere, regardless of how long I think I will be gone. In addition to the regular must haves like compass and windicator stuff, a Mora fire knife now comes everywhere, along with another fireareel, a small LED button light, flagging tape and the cell phone only because it is the smallest, lightest camera I have.
I take one bow, a back up string, wet ones, 8 broadhead arrows, 3 blunts, 1 arrow with a judo point, something to resharpen broadheads, 1 knife, 1 headlamp, 1 seat, more wet ones, something to drink, snus, an apple, a travel sized bottle of Dr. Schulz foot powder for my glove and a few napkins to blow my nose or to mark a blood trail.
I am shocked that cell phones beat out both fixed blade and pocket knives. I don't even have a cell phone anymore but i have been known to even carry a pocket knife in my pajamas.
I answered the pool as if I was hunting my normal spot which is about 1,000 yards from my house. It is only about 500 yards from my son's house.
I have a fanny in warm weather and a daypack in cold weather (more spare clothes). I keep items that I might but almost never need in both.
I take the cell phone because when I kill a deer I text my bionic deer dragger (35-year old son).
I always have a spare broadhead or two in the pack just in case I need to shoot more than the 3 broadhead tipped arrows in my quiver. I could take a dirt-dulled one off and replace with a new one.
If the survey was meant in pockets then there is nothing in my pockets except the phone -- if gravity and the ground conspire against me I want to have a chance to 'phone home'.
some things I take no matter distance, time of year or prey...
compass, length of 550 cord, knife, spare tab, spare string, first aid items (size depends on how remote I am), bug spray/hand warmer depending on season, headlamp or small LED flashlight, doe tags if deer season, a snack (Cliff Bar or fruit), and a bottle of water that can double for urine when empty....
I think a cell is very important especially as I hunt from climber, a means of rescue if you can't self rescue just seems obvious.
QuoteOriginally posted by dbd870:
I think a cell is very important especially as I hunt from climber, a means of rescue if you can't self rescue just seems obvious.
could not agree more!
I also understand how Orion feels about the techno aspect being somewhat intrusive, but it can be left turned off and hopefully never turned on.
have found myself laying on the ground 12 miles in at 10,500' with a broken leg. I did not have a cell phone, but did have lifesaving companions. True, there was no service their so the phone would not have helped, but if I had been alone and if there had been service it would have been the difference between life and death!
Heard there's a sat based emergency locator system and am considering getting one.
sorry for running the thread Into the ditch.
If its just a morning still hunt I'll generally go light..might not even bring a pack. All my hunting pants have cargo pockets and my archers jacket has two large pockets that hold what I need. A fire starting kit, space blanket, small gps or compass/map of my hunting area, power bars and a small bottle of water and a small flashlight I will also have some good rubber gloves and a game bag in case I kill something. If it's cold I add some disposable hand warmers. I always also carry an extra bowstring With a foam seat tied to the back of my belt I've been able to still hunt and stop every so often in more promising areas in relative comfort.
If I know I'm going to be out all day and covering some ground before I set up I take an oversized fanny pack that has shoulder straps. This allows me to pack a lunch and some cold weather clothing as well as some extra archery gear like additional broadheads and blunts.
QuoteOriginally posted by Uncle Buck:
I am shocked that cell phones beat out both fixed blade and pocket knives. I don't even have a cell phone anymore but i have been known to even carry a pocket knife in my pajamas.
i like your way of thinking ! i wish i could disconnect more than i have.. never needed a phone in 30 years of hunting, now its almost essential with alot of folks..we know a good knife should be #1 on the list
On most hunts, I am on my own small property with several stands within sight of my son's house if the leaves are off the trees. Therefore, I carry a lot less than I would on a hunt further from home. I usually have a file and extra string in my quiver of 6 arrows. In my haversack I have a couple of grunt calls and rattling bag along with whatever scents I may be using. I carry a belt knife and a folding knife. Toilet paper is a must. Without cough drops, I can't hunt. Extra tabs and arm guards are priceless, as I constantly drop them from the tree stand. Yes, I carry a phone in case of problems or I need to call my son to help drag one out (not a common occurrence). Also, I carry my Glock.
On my person; license, standard 3 knives, compass, para cord, matches, phone, cliff bar and water. Bow in hand.
:thumbsup:
As little as I can get away with!
Bisch