The Boy Scout in me causes me to want to be prepared for just about anything when I'm in the wilderness hunting, working, or just for fun. To accomplish this I've put together a back pack that I call my emergency/hunting pack. I primarily use it when I go hunting, but I take this pack with me anytime I venture into the wilderness for any reason. It's impossible to be prepared for every possible scenario, but it is possible to prepare for scenarios that are probable. If you spend enough time in Gods wonderful creation, it's not a matter of if something will happen, it's a matter of when. It doesn't have to be a tragic event, but in the woods a minor event can turn into a major event quickly without some preparedness. Little things like having so much fun that the time got away from you and it's now dark, or get lost, or get stranded, or a pop up thunder storm happens, or you or someone in your party has a minor medical event (headache, fall injury), or all of the above. This post is not a how to for survival, it is just a what do I need. We will save the how to for another day. I'm going to show you the basics I start with for deer hunting. My pack is fairly loaded including some tools of trade because my pack is more than just an emergency pack. For each trip I will add or remove things as the conditions or activities require. I will always have some water and some snacks in the pack. If I know It's likely going to rain I will pack actual rain gear. If it's winter time I will have cold weather hats, gloves, and extra socks. If it's "bug" season I will throw in some bug repellent. If I'm elk hunting or going further than normal, sometimes I will throw in a small tarp. I think you get the point. The key is to pack as much as you comfortably can without packing things that you will never need. This is not intended for backpacking, just to get you by when needed and have the need tools take care of your game in the field. My pack could be a little lighter, but I've built in some redundancy and back up for some of the more important items. Everything in my pack is something that I wish I had with me at sometime and didn't or makes my life easier in the field.
Here is my starter list:
1. A comfortable multiple pocket pack. Mine just happens to be camouflage since I primarily use it when I'm hunting. I have a screw in hanger similar to a screw in tree step. This way I can hang the bag on a tree off the ground. I also keep a carabiner clip and a piece of para cord attached to it. These make it easy to attach to tree stand pull up ropes.
2. Poncho, candles, and water proof matches. Believe it or not these could be the most important items in the bag. Obviously the poncho can keep you dry, but in cold weather with the poncho on you can squat down and lite a candle with the water proof matches all under the poncho. It catches the heat and if needed you can build a bigger fire using the candle.
3. Compass. No matter how good you think you are you can still get turned around.
4. Toilet paper. Enough said.
5. First aid kit with a sewing kit, hand warmers, tylenol, and a lighter in addition to the the first aid items the kit came with. Hand warmers are just to get some easy warmth. Tylenol is safe to give to just about anyone. You maybe wandering why a lighter if I already have water proof matches? Fire/heat is so important that you need to have two reliable sources so you will have a backup.
6. Wet ones cleaning clothes and hand sanitizer. I use it after field dressing and can be used to help clean around a wound, or just to clean your hands before you eat.
7. Two flash lights, one hand held and one head lamp. They both require the same type of batteries so I only have to carry one type of extra batteries. You always need to have spare batteries.
8. Ropes. I carry two ropes that are about 10' to 15' long and some para cord. These are your building tools for shelter if needed, field dressing equipment, tie downs, and what ever else you think up.
9. Electrial tape and orange flagging ribbon. There is nothing handier than Electrial tape except for duct tape, but duct tape is to bulky. Flagging ribbon so you can mark trails, where you've been, or game sign.
10. Extra carabiner clip. Sometimes it's easier to clip to something than tie to.
11. Rubber gloves and zip lock bags. The gloves are used when field dressing and can be used if you need to administer first aid. Sometimes I will keep the heart of a deer so that is where the bag comes in.
12. Things that cut. A knife, bone saw, folding wood saw, multi tool, and a sharping stone. Knife and bone saw are for field dressing deer. The folding wood saw can be used to clear shooting lanes, build shelter, or cut walking sticks. The multi tool is a backup knife along with a hand full of useful tools. A dull knife is not much good so you need to be able to keep it sharp with the sharpening stone.
13. Pens to fill out tags with. In Arkansas it's actually illegal to not have a pen with you when hunting game that requires you to fill out a tag.
14. Small red strobe light. These are made for runners, but can be useful to mark a spot in the dark when tracking a wounded animal or to use if you are lost.
15. A dragging harness. These are handy because you can drag a deer hands free and still carry your weapon and use your hands for navigation.
