Becoming lost or incurring a serious injury in the wilderness is every hunter’s worst nightmare. Never venture into the outback without rudimentary survival gear that can turn a life-threatening situation into a simple unexpected night in the woods.
Here are some of the items I keep in my daypack during wilderness hunts.
ACR ThermaBlanket. Lightweight and portable, this metallized, polyester space blanket wraps around the body and traps radiant heat. It’s also wind- and water-resistant.
Garmin Legend C GPS. This small, lightweight GPS combines a color display and advanced routing capabilities in a waterproof design. Mine was loaded with a detailed map of our hunting area on Kodiak Island.
Surefire Executive Flashlight. This compact, dependable, high-quality flashlight helps take back the night and won’t fail under the most demanding conditions.
Firefly Plus Strobe Light. Signaling for help in an emergency can be a snap with this powerful strobe, which emits an intermittent white light.
Food and Other Staples. It almost goes without saying that when you venture out for an extended trek into unfamiliar country, your backpack should contain ample water, food items such as granola bars, nuts and dried fruit and the means of building a fire, even in wet conditions. Other staples might include a first aid kit, parachute cord, signal mirror, aluminum foil, insect repellent, water purification tablets and a pocket survival guide.
Calling For Help
The TerraFix 406, a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) available from ACR Electronics, transmits a uniquely coded distress signal that provides rescue agencies with your exact location. This unit was developed for outdoorsmen engaging in extreme sports or hunting and fishing in remote wilderness regions.
Successfully used for years in Alaska (a test case state), the TerraFix is now available for the first time in the rest of the United States, thanks to a recent ruling by the Federal Communications Commission. Since 1996, 235 lives have been saved with a PLB in Alaska.
Weighing only 12 ounces, the TerraFix is easy to pack and carry. The rugged case protects the sophisticated electronics inside; it even floats and is totally waterproof.