Hunting Forum

I'm setting up a day pack to have with me when I go hiking/hunting in the Wilderness Areas of the Green Mtn Nat'l Forest. Besides the obvious hunting gear what would you pack in your bag? I already have on the list first aid kit, compass/map, Emergency  Personal locator transmitter...

I keep an MRE and a water bottle in mine, just in case. A lighter is always a good tool to have along with some twine or duct tape in case you have to make a make shift shelter. I also have a SMALL hook and about 6' of 5 lb test fishing line that I keep in my wallet in a small ziplock bag. One time I was hanging out down by a lake with my wife while she was nursing our son and there was a fishing pole, but it didn't have a hook so I put my hook on it, found some bugs, and caught about 3 fish in 10 mins. They were small bream, but it was still a fun way to pass time.

I like a mil-spec poncho (can be used for many purposes), and an army 1-qt. canteen w/ cover, canteen cup, and canteen 'stove'.  It all nests inside the cover, but you can cook/boil water with it, if necessary.  Water purification tablets, trioxane/hexamine fuel tabs, para cord, magnesium firestarter, and a mini-maglight add convenience to unplanned "detour".  More important is knowing how to use everything you carry (maybe try it out once or twice in the backyard some sunny Saturday before you need it).  I traded the MRE for a couple granola bars, jerky, bouillon cubes and coffee packets; worry more about water than food.  I carry a bit more than that, but I also carry packs a bit more often than most folks so those muscle groups stay "in shape".

I put everything I would need to spend the night.


In case my day pack turns into a "night pack".


Be Prepared !

i always pack water, food, lighter or some kind of fire starter and some form of rope other than the normal necessity.

Water, lighters, compass,snacks, knives,ziplock bags, gps, batteries, headlamp, rope, basic first aid kit (also ace wrap and suture kit), tp & sm. shovel and calls snd scents

Home made trail mix- coffee and tea packets- more water than food or purifing method. The mil. poncho and para. cord come in very useful, for many uses.

knife ,water, couple granola bars and a whistle in case I take a fall and can't call for help everything else depends on where I'm going and what I'M doing.what time of year ,how cold at night, how remote the area iswhat type wild animals I might encounter ect...ect...

Matches in a water proof container, butane lighter, an emergency Mylar blanket, flashlight, compass, dental floss, a couple of lengths of different size cordage, a three blade pocket knife. small sharpening steel, straw type water filter and a whistle.  That is all in one pocket, the survival pocket. Then I have a GPS unit, first aid kit, small saw, several four gallon plastic bags with twist ties. I am as much a gatherer as I am a hunter. A camera and a small tripod and some extra batteries for the camera or GPS unit. and a predator call just because it is fun.

That stuff is always in the pack then it depends on what I am doing and when I am doing it before I decide what else to take

one DAY! Sometimes I'll stuff a Monday in the bag, but usually a Thursday or Friday.

What day pack? Travel light and carry what you need in your pockets or at the most, a small fanny pack. Remember,a pack that weighs ten pounds in the morning will feel like fifety pounds by evening.

I'm the same, if it won't it in my pockets - it don't go. But I always make sure I have:

Area map, compass, gps, flashlight, and headlamp with spare batteries for 'em, whistle, butane lighter, self striking matches, knife, small foldable saw, rope, sandwiches, candies, ziplock baggies, TP, cell phone, portable radio (walkie-talkie - we all know the channel we use). I don't worry much about water. The places I hunt I can always find a clean water source. My dense foam seat - just a flat piece of dense foam about 1.5x1.5 feet on a rope. Hand/feet warmer packets.

That pretty much fills me up. ;-)

SC, pockets or saddlebags lol

believe it or not, pockets. Actually most of that stuff is fairly compact. And the bulkier stuff like rope, saw, walkie-talkie, cellphone is actually hanging off my belt or somewhere. Sounds like alot, but it's really not.  Plus my hunting suits have a LOT of pockets.

Since I usually either walk to my still hunting stands from my house, or ride my ATV into the swamp, I pack toilet paper, extra shells, and a thermacell in my folding stool. My flashlight, knife, and pistol are on my belt.

For areas that do not have much human traffic I take a lighter, waterproof container with matches and several cotton balls with vaseline for fire starting. Extra loud whistle, GPS, cellphone, walkie talkie, compass and small map. Paracord, 55 gallon trash bag, extra thick foam cusion, small bundle of fishing string with 2 size 6 hooks. Cable saw, kabar and small mess kit ( spork, stainless steel water bottle with lid ), 1 mre, 2 high cal energy bars, beef jerkey, 32 oz water. Cap has built in flashlight so that rides on my head and not in the pack, also have a back up flashlight that hangs on a clip at chest level. If I am going someplace that is not as remote I leave some stuff out such as the 2nd flashlight, fishing kit, mre and only take 20 oz water. I always take a small 1st aid kit and pack of biodegradable wipes and sometimes a walking stick. Usually about 14 - 28 rounds of ammo for rifle or 20 - 30 for shot gun, 34 for pistol. Yes I know that is a lot, but my "day" starts before sunrise and might last til near sunset.