Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting So, what do you pack on a day hunt?

Hi all,

With opening day next week, I'm I need to get my stuff together. I'm curious what is the standard gear that you'll have with you. FYI, I hunt in flat, mostly wooded country, usually less than 1/2 hour drive of the family cabin. Also, with lot's of trails/fire roads to get you into into the heart of the bush. I'm usually not too far from the truck.

Aside from rifle, & appropriate clothes, I usually carry a fanny pack in case the hunt goes well (cleaning goods) or the hunt goes very bad (e.g. get lost - hasn't happened yet). Anyway fanny pack has;

~additional 10 rounds of ammo
ligher(s)
strike anywhere matches in waterproof thingy
firestarter (cotton balls saturated with vaseline in a 35 mm film canister, deer license & tag would work in a pinch too)
compass (which I've never needed)
trail mark tape (should I need to leave some markers)
twine (for building lean to, or in case I feel the need to tie something off when field dressing)
medium folding blade knife (Gerber gator)
swiss army knife (one with a small wood saw on it)
handful of T.P. (ah, luxury)
spare gloves (light kind with grippy palms and fingers)
pair of surgical gloves (makes dressing less messy)
mini mag light
about 8' length of rope (for draggin' deer or whatever)
a few bandaids (in case I nick myself while gutting)
compact binoc's

a sandwich(?) (often I won't bother.... often I'll wanna get back to the truck to move somewhere else anyway, I usually leave a food pack there)

A couple of new additions that I will add this year:

a tube of crazy glue (in case I REALLY cut myself, I can glue the cut prior to bandaid) - I ended up doing this last spring... was mucho nicer than a long trip for stitches. Should be in every first aid kit I think.

a FOX 40 whistle as an emergency signal (it's in there now as required boating equipment anyway)


Written out, it looks like a lot, but it's only a small/medium sized fanny pack. Weighs maybe 3 or so lbs.

At the truck:

Food & coffee (eatin' keeps you warm)
Water (ample, for washin')
Spare clothes (esp boots and socks)
"come along" for loading bambi if I'm alone
hacksaw (in case I need to cut the legs off somethin')
big flashlight

Oh, and BTW, there isn't cell phone coverage where I hunt, so a phone is of no use in an emergency.

At the cottage, I keep a backup rifle (& ammo) and enough extra clothes that I don't need to dry everything from the day before if it's wet. If there won't be a cook there, I'll have somethin' easy to make/reheat. (who feels like cookin' if you been beating the bush all day??)

So, anything obvious that I'm forgetting?? Any little safety/survival/comfort items that you always carry?? Ever said to yourself, "I should've brought _______!!"

A few hunks of jerky come to mind... but it's probably just 'cause I'm hungry. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

With a few additions or substitutions this fanny pack goes with me every time I go into the bush, or head out fishin'. It's sort of my fishin'/huntin' security blanket.

Thanks for your thoughts!

Brent

I carry one of those personal water purifiers. So I can get more fluids if I really work up a sweat. ( I usually bring enough water so the purifier is strickly for the unexpected)

I also pack a space blanket. I can use it as a rain poncho or a wind break if the weather turns suddenly. Plus it could be a life saver if I had to spend a night on the mountain top. Plus the silver mylar could be a good reflector if I had to signal a search plane.

And lately I've started packing a FRS/GMS radio and a GPS. The GPS to mark downed game or where I tied the horses up and to satisfy my curiosity about how far I hiked, elevation on ridge tops and sometime I even upload the trails into my computer topo maps to see where I really was vs where I thought I was.

I quit paking the mag lights and starting taking one of the head lamps with the LED lights. 3 AAA batteries last 150-200 hours.

In MN I use a backpack with an old sleeping bag. Only way to stay on the stand all day when it is cold. Works like a charm...if u can stay awake.

I don't see a canteen or flask on the list. Looks to me like you go very well prepared.

Great list.

I have recently added one of those little led lights. Makes a great backup flashlight.

otherwise in the fannypack:

• roll of white gold (tp)
• quarter roll of duct tape
• small first aid kit
• space blanket
• tri--- (something or other) "army surplus firestarter"
• lighter and waterproof matches
• pocket camera w/ film
• 2 feild dressing knives
• foxfire whistle
• metal mirror
• couple zip lock bags for the heart & liver
• gps
• 2-way radio
• extra batteries
• compass
• maps/topos
• extra ammo
• extra blaze orange vest for the harvest
• led light w/ headband (hands free)
• some energy bars
• waterproof, SAS compact survival guide
• 25' light weight rope
• small spool of parachute cord

I wear:

• camel back water pouch
• binoc's

...more than I need but don't want to be caught without it either. It really doesn't weigh that much either.

Depending on the weather I carry rain pants (my coat has goretex) a down vest, a wool shirt, and a hand warmer muff. The rain pants work well when field dressing a deer to keep the blood off your pants and in high cold wind helps keep you warm. If you wear a wool coat a nylon wind breaker to wear under your coat helps if the wind comes up and you strart getting cold. We all have two-way radios and I carry an extra blaze vest too.

If I am going more than 10 feet from the truck here is what I usually pack.

5 gallon bucket of water, don't want to go thirsty
2 rolls of toilet paper, never want to be with out
1 color tv with a car battery to run it
coleman stove with 1 gallon of fuel 2 pots and pans
couple cans of soup and some mac and cheese and a pack of hot dogs to go in with it.
good heavy rain proof jacket, hat, boots, mits etc...
40 x spotting scope with tripod, the aluminum kind want to keep the weight down... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
good map, etc...

you know the necesseties.... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I can usually tote these around the mountain a few days before I tire...

Depends on the terrain.

In the desert:
Rifle/sling/bikini cover
9 cartridges

Daypack with:
Platypus 100-oz. bladder filled
Map
Compass in left pantleg pocket
GPS in right pantleg pocket
Binos
headlamp
survival bag (REI storm matches in waterproof container, 2 small Bic lighters w/o child safety/1 whole firestarter stick)
sunglasses
Knife
small stone
Leupold Lenspen
Lunch (trailmix, jerky, 2-3 clif bars)
Patagonia Ether parka
Cabelas down jacket
beanie
small first aid kit
surgical gloves
50 feet of parachute cord
license/tag/id
lip balm


Rick

Try to go as light as possible <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

2 compasses
Topo map
Windproof lighter & matches
2 Gerber Gators
Pruning shears & a folding mini saw (usually during bow season)
20 feet of thin rope
1 Streamlight and 1 mini Mag flashlights
2 way radio, cells don't work most of the time
PB&Honey sandwiches, peanuts, jerky & 1 quart of water
Dishwashing gloves
Small first aid kit (super glue is a good idea, used it before, will add some)
Rain poncho, works well for a small shelter too
Chem heat packs, worth their weight in gold if you need them
Mostly fits in a possibles bag around my shoulder and in my BDU pants pockets.
Binos on a bino buddy.
Depends on season and weather but bug spray and scents and calls at times too.

I imagine western hunters would have to carry a bit more, most places around here are no more than a few miles from roads and civilization, just have to be prepared for the times you might not be able to make it out.

Mr Rick, I read your list but only got part way. How do you carry a platypus with a full bladder? What is the most comfortable way to carry a platypus, for you? for the platypus? Do you carry him on your back or in your pocket or do you have to make a nice little handbasket for him? Will he walk to heel on a leash?

The only platypuses, platypusi, platypussies, or what ever you call more than one of 'em I ever saw look like a muskrat crawled up in a duck and died. Ain't a 100 oz. bladder awful big for that small an animal? Ain't he awful uncomfortable? I know I am when my bladder is full and it ain't near 100 ounces though sometimes it seems that way. Seems like carrying one around with a full up bladder that way would be mean and cause that poor old platypus to be cantankerous and sufferin' all the time. How do you drink out of a full bladdered platypus anyway?

Wouldn't a quart fruit jar with a piece of burlap wraped around it do as well? 'Course you couldn't play with it like you could a platypus when you ain't thirsty.

Besides a zoo or a circus where can you get platypussies around here? I haven't seen them stocked in your gear shop.


BCR

platypi are the bee's knees. one'll stow in a possibles bag, a backpack, a fanny, or a dedicated hydration pack. they are great for a long day in the stand or a long stalk anywhere. you can drink from 'em without much moving your hands, too, if you are on stand.

Boggy, that reply about the platipussies got me giggling in my office. My secretary thinks I'm loosing it. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

thanks for the posts...

I was going by memory when I wrote out my list... last night I looked in there to see what I had forgotten. Aside from the list, there were also:

spare AA's for the flashlight
a hunk of para cord
a couple empty plastic bags (waiting for fish fillets)

pdxkevin... your post reminded me that normally I also have a squashed part role of duct tape in there... but I vaguely remember using it up for something... gotta restock! You also reminded me to find my little 35mm snappy that I too often forget. Thanks!

those LED lights sound like a good idea. Beats the aluminum flashlight in the teeth thing. GPS has been on the list of wanted items for awhile... maybe for next year.

Thanks again for posting... I try to be prepared enough that I wouldn't feeze to death if I have to spend the night. On the other hand, I like to travel light. It doesn't look like I'm too far off. I don't carry water 'cause of there's no shortage of snow. But maybe some kind of collapsible cup for melting it in (and couple packs of "cup o' soup") would be a worthwile addition.

Anybody know if there's such a thing as a collapsible aluminum or foil cup? Never seen one... but then again, I've never seen a platypus with a full bladder either. I imagine that tastes tangy.

thanks for the input guys!

Brent

oh ya,

there was a small sharpening stone in there too....

Brent

BCR:

You need to read the whole post.

Who do you think the bikini cover is for???

Geez.

Rick

Let's see, I'm looking at my buttpack right now:

2 small 2-cell AA flashlights, one has a headstrap
1 Caughlins folding saw
1 combination deer call (bleat, snort, wheeze, grunt)
1 safety strap
1 screw-in bow/gun holder
1 T-screw (a second bow/gun holder
1 meatstick/cheese combo
1 candy bar (Mister Goodbar)
1 3/0 snag hook on 40 Ft of paracord --retrieves dropped objects and grabs limbs for pruning
1 Gun/bow retriever with a 30ft strap
1 emergency whistle
1 glowstick for getting back to a carcass after dark
1 FRS radio for calling the woman and telling her to fetch my slippers, or to bring the truck to pick up a carcass. If I get bored, I can call her up and talk dirty.
1 emergency compass
1 butane lighter
1 pair of cheap binos

I hydrate well before I leave to go hunting. That carries my water where it's easiest to carry. If I'm staying on my stand all day, I carry a can of pop and a sandwich.

If it gets real cold, I carry a couple heat packs for my hands.

I always leave word as to where I'm going. If the girlfriend isn't with me, I leave my destination written on a signboard along with the FRS. That way the neighbors will know where to look for the body.

Even though it's never more than a half mile to the house, I carry a compass. I've seen foggy nights that could easily turn a man around. I've also heard stories of guys getting injured and getting weird in the head.