As
I am typing this, my husband is getting his camo gear out from the
deep, dark depths of the corner of our closet. Hunting Season is here!
But, before he's able to dust off his binoculars, I am going to be
rummaging through his bag to make sure he has what he needs to survive
if he were to become stranded or injured in the wild.
What to have in a hunting survival kit:
1. Water and Food: The #1 thing to be sure you have is
water, and
food
is a close 2nd. Scavenging for food can, in most cases, be easier than
finding drinkable water so it is important to pack a canteen pre-filled
with water, but also some sealed emergency water pouches or boxes.
It's a good idea to have an emergency supply that will last you 72
hours. I know it sounds like a lot of weight to carry, but our Troops
carry much more in the 120-degree desert, so suck it up and just pack
it! Water purification tablets are a lightweight, compact solution so
you could purify found water. Freeze-dried and dehydrated food are the
best to carry because they are extremely light weight, require only
water to prepare and maintain most of their nutritional value.
High-calorie food bars are another great food solution because only one
or two bars per day can keep you alive and trekking through the
wilderness.
2. Warmth:
Most good hunting spots are at higher elevation where it can get very
cold at night even if it was a nice warm day! Having a source of fire
and an emergency blanket or body warmer can literally save your life.
You should add both waterproof matches and a lighter as backup. An
Emergeny Candle that has an adjustable wick is another option that can
provide both light and a source for cooking. A simple poncho with hood
is a must to stay as dry as possible. You can also add hand and foot
warmers that you shake to activate, and don't forget a pair of warm, dry
socks and compact wool gloves.
3. Survival knife:
One that has multiple functions like an army style knife (has scissors,
screwdriver, can opener, file, etc. in addition to the knife blade) is
great way to save space in your pack. A larger hunting knife is also a
must to make cutting into your kill easier. Check out our Ultimate
Survival Knife
HERE!
4. First Aid:
On my husbands very first hunting trip, he made the rookie mistake of
keeping his eye butted up tightly to the scope and not being well-braced
when he made his shot = a HUGE gash to his eyebrow when the rifle
kicked back that probably needed stitches, but they were faaaaar from
the hospital. Luckily, they had butterfly bandages in their pack to
hold it closed while he was being a "man" and saying he was "fine" and
they continued the hunt with blood blurring his vision! So, needless to
say, even a basic first aid kit WILL get used out there even if you are
not stranded.
5. Survival Tools:
Compass, Crank or Shake-to-charge flashlight (requires no batteries),
Hatchet (we sell an awesome foldable multi-tool hatchet, shovel, saw,
hammer
HERE!), and don't forget to include a map of the terrain and area where you are hunting.
6. Misc: Fishing Line and Hooks (catch fish for emergency food), duct tape, nylon rope, tarp or pop-up tent for shelter, emergency glow stick,
hand sanitizer or wet-naps (these have a scent to them, so only use if
it is absolutely necessary because you don't want to scare off your prey
with a foreign scent!), plastic bag, pocket tissues
Please leave a comment if you have more items to add to my list!
If you don't want to compile a kit yourself, we have a pre-assembled
Hunters Survival Backpack that is camoflauge,
HERE!
