Do you consider yourself as an adventurous person? Do you frequently go on hunting in your spare time? Hunting in the wilderness is one of the most adventurous and beautiful experience that one can have. It can be fun, tiring or even a near-death experience; depending on the area, you go to and simply, your luck.
Hunters carry a variety of stuff with them, and it totally depends on their preference, but still, some things are just too important to avoid. One shall never get lost in the adventurous feel of the hunting experience and shall always take care of their safety with whatever they have with them.
Important Items for Hunting
There are millions of things that one can think of carrying while going on a hunting trip alone, but obviously, you cannot carry everything and just go. The following are some of the most important items that you need to have in your waterproof backpack (waterproof because it might come in handy during rains or if you are required to jump in a lake or something to save yourself):
Water bottle
One of the most important things that you need to have is a bottle of water because as already mentioned above, it can be pretty tiring to walk all day in the wilderness. When you are tired, you tend to feel weak and thirsty. If you do not have water with you, you might find yourself in a very difficult position or might even have to end the trip then and there. A survival water bottle not only allows you to quench your thirst but also enables you to have a container to refill from a nearby waterfall or anything, if it finishes off.
Guns and ammo
Guns and hunting go hand-in-hand, but it does not mean that you do not keep a spare gun for safety purposes with you. The ammo of your rifle might finish and then you will be stuck with an ammo-less gun and nothing to hunt with. A spare gun allows you to hunt freely with your rifle and use it in case the ammo finishes. Always carry extra ammo for both as well, simply for ‘just-in-case’ purposes. A hunting experience is most likely to get more adventurous if you encounter a bear or a wild boar.
However, that does not mean that you will risk your life just to have that amazing thrill. A gun will help you in such situations to not just have the thrill of a near-death hunting experience, but also to save yourself when bad luck knocks your door.
Related article: Ten Survival Hunting Essentials
Folding knife and knife sharpener
A folding knife might also come in handy when you wish to cook the animal, you had hunted. The knife can be used to skin the animal or in emergencies, is very useful for killing one in close by quarters. There are a variety of knife designs, depending on your preference and usage. Some hunters love to use a knife on their hunting trips to kill an animal, as a replacement for a gun, when the animal is small enough not to hurt the hunter if anything goes wrong. Killing an animal with a knife is also an amazing experience.
A quality knife sharpener allows you to keep the cutting edge sharp and dangerous, whenever needed. It can also be used to cut off tree limbs when it comes in the way. You can find folding knives in UK, USA or buy them directly from the internet; just don’t forget to keep it with you in your backpack. Even if you don’t wish to use a knife to hunt, it might simply be a survival knife, in bad situations.
Extra pair of clothes
A hunting trip can go wrong without any prior notice because an adventurous trip is supposed to be that spontaneous. Carrying an extra pair of clothes might not cause any harm to you, but can be very useful when you actually need it. E.g. what if it rains and you get wet on a 3-4 day long hunting trip? Just like this, there are many situations, which require you to change your clothes or at least have an option to do so. An extra pair of clothes will not increase the burden of your backpack. Even more it can be an asset in some unfortunate situations.
Quick eatables
Having a snack helps you to concentrate and hunt better. It is always advisable to have a few quick eatables in your backpack, which can be eaten raw, whenever and wherever you need it. As you are already aware of some of the bad situations that you might face on a hunting trip, do you really think that you will have the time or the resources to cook your food? Isn’t a raw snack like a protein bar or chips better than a cooked meal? In any case, it is necessary to have food by your side at all times. In this article, you will find recipes for a succesful winter trail.
Waterproof flashlight and Batteries
A flashlight does not sound that important. Still, it is considered to be one of the most important items that should be in your backpack. You will need one because wilderness at night is extremely dangerous and you need light to focus on your patch or to stay away from becoming a prey from a predator. It is always good to carry a durable waterproof flashlight (just in case, it rains) and a pair of extra batteries for it as well as a portable charger for your mobile phone. It is better to be safe than sorry.
A safe hunting trip is adventurous, not deadly, which is what everyone wants! You need to stay alive and healthy to tell your amazing hunting stories to your friends and family. Staying alive may sound a little over-the-top, but trust a professional’s advice. “A hunting trip can be the most thrilling experience that you will ever have in your life”. Sometimes, adventure is misconceived as a deadly experience; all you need the adrenaline rush, not an accident.
This article was written by Billy for Prepper’s Will.
Author Bio
Having been on the Perkin Knives team for several years as a marketing executive, Billy has been part of a great many top-of-the-line projects. Not only has he personally contributed to the service in every way, but he also happens to be one of the most revered members of Perkin Knives.
Other Useful Resources:
This ONE THING Can Help You Terminate Your Store-Bought Dependency
A DIY Project to Generate Clean Water Anywhere
A Green Beret’s guide to combat and shooting
Every hunter should have a small survival kit, something that will get them thru the night. A kit that will have matches, something to make a wind break or cover in case of rain, tea or coffee, sugar, and a few other emergency items. Several times I have been caught out and several miles from camp and for one reason or another have not been able to make it back to camp till the next day. Be prepared to make an emergency camp instead of wondering around the wood all night.
Pretty limited list. Matches and heavy duty space blanket are never left out of my hunting pack. All mentioned are NECESSARY! Compass is always good to have if you know how to use it.