First year in the field. help Please whats the essentials

[Bjorn]

There are some really good things mentioned-I would add a friend or two if possible.

[Knotter]

In your first year you may want to keep it simple.  You will be experiencing your hunt in an entirely new way.  There is no second chance at a first impression. I would hate to look back and have missed those awe inspiring moments fretting over equipment. Trad challenges you (and not you and all your leveraged technology).
You may encounter some pretty big changes in how you hunt- embrace them.
For me it's about working with what you have and making the most of it.

I don't go afield without these things:

1. The right mindset (entirely up to you)
2. the means to kill an animal as cleanly as possible
3. the means to deal with that eventuality to the best of your ability.
4. the means to get home
5. the means to live a night under the stars if you can't for some reason achieve # 4.
6. the means to deal with injury (basic)
7. Confidence in In your back pocket.


You will decide what else you need but you may want to learn why first. Then you will never forget that thing (whatever it is) again.