Basic basic basic kit.

[Amadeus]

So I'm interested in hunting but I still have yet to take my Hunter Ed class as I am still wondering if the initial costs will disqualify me from the sport. I am not a rich guy so when I saw a list of suggested items for a person's kit I nearly doubled over like someone had kicked me in the apples. I thought hunting was supposed to be sort of simple and elegant. Then I get treated to a 3 page list of trinkets, gear, gizmos and god knows what else.

Drawing from my old Outward Bound days, it seems a basic day afield should really include little more than the following gear:

A good pair of boots.
A hat.
Hunting jacket
flare orange vest.
Bandana or similar cotton scarf
Knife
Canteen
Ammo
Gun of choice
Topographic map
Area map
compass
ID
Hunting permits
Small first aid kit with gauze, tape, antiseptic, and some moleskin patches.
Maybe some snackin' food (trail mix, granola bars.)

Is anything more really needed? What's in your kit for a day of hunting? Does it change if you expect to be out there for the entire weekend?

 

[HABU]

A day pack or fanny pack will make it much easier to carry all that stuff.
I would recomend some fire starter. I also carry a sidearm, surveyors tape, binoculars, food, water, compass, gps, knife, knife sharpener, saw, parachute cord, TP, milsurp poncho, ammo, maybe a spotting scope depending on the area, an extra flannel or wool shirt/sweater and some other stuff I cant remember. I have a Badlands 2200 CI daypack that makes it very comfortable to carry all that stuff. If I need to spend a night in the woods, I will be a little better prepared.

 

[Smoke]

Gun. Amm. License.

Smoke

 

[Brian Williams]

What are you hunting?

Birds or Small game
A nice bird Vest or jacket, Ammo, Gun, Hat,
fire starter, nothing better than a few dove breasts roasted over a small twig fire. small first aid kit. Sharp pocket knife.

Deer
Plenty of warm clothes, layers, Boots, Wool trousers, Good hunting coat, Eastern Pa Whitetail it gets cold. First aid kit, tampons(for gunshot wounds), knife and sharpener, Water and a few apples and a sandwich or 2, If I am in a stand I will take something hot to drink.

Ground hogs, pocket full of 22lr and my S&W35 handgun and a cheap Sears rifle, water bottle and orange hat.
or my 1894c in 357

 

[sm]

Depends on critter. My advice is to observe what others use first for critter and enviroment.

Buy Quality. - NOT the same as most expensive or latest greatest touted.

K.I.S.S. principle applies.
My boots - some are 25 + yrs old.
Waxed cotton jacket is only 10...the one I used for 20 yrs stolen from a church foyer.
Favorite shotgun is '74 model.

Smoke...that is "too much" gear and prep...I'm going to have to come down there and straighten you out yet. Pay attn...
Last doves I shot, I had no gun / no ammo. Dressed in Kahkis, Salmon oxford shirt, tie , blue blazer [ my funeral dress...and the lady asked me to wear the salmon shirt before comments are made]

Out back of the rural property , doves are flying, nephews comes out...goes back in...comes back out..."here Old Fart"....just buried the Uncle that gave him the model 12 in 20 bore...we had a sack of shells and just kinda wandered off, with the dog ...fitting I thought.

I guess my license was in my wallet...should've been...not had to produce it in a while...

 

[Spinner]

When hunting I have some gear that I always take with me ... other stuff as needed.

Always carried:
belt, fixed blade drop point knife, ammo wallet (10 rounds), survival pouch (about 5"x4"x2") .... contents include candle stubs, matches in waterproof container, compass, survival blanket, small folding knife, couple of yards of fine braided cord, strips of tyre inner tube, couple of bandages and sterile dressings, handful of individually wrapped boiled sweets.

Usually carried:
cellphone (depending on area and coverage), swandri (woolen, water-resistant shirt/jacket), water bottle, hat, map(s), snack bars in a small day pack.

That belt, knife, ammo and survival pouch always goes everywhere 'cos I figure I can survive long enough for someone to find me if I keep that close. I can deal with broken limbs, minor injuries, getting lost for a couple of days ..... if I get shot, I'll need more than I can carry to keep me alive till more help arrives, so ... With the candle stubs and the rubber strips I can light a fire even if its wet, I can splint a limb, repair a boot, replace broken laces, stop bleeding, etc. I figure if its light, small and easily carried I won't be tempted to leave it behind.

But then again I've been hunting in terrain that is a little different to the stuff a lot of you folks hunt in.

Spinner

 

[sm]

Spinner,
Good point, great post , great tips and reminder.

I use what we call "tea lights" - small flat candles.
I have a survival "pouch" ( somewhere) for really serious terrain, weather, and being out for awhile.
Extra knife, emergency blanket, waterproof matches, magnesium fire starter, diposable lighter, first aid, whistle, compass,( with signal mirror) braided cord, electrical tape, mini-mag light, glowsticks, metal cup, bouillion cubes, tea bags, instant coffee...etc. Fits on belt, inside backpack.
Whistles are really good to have. Gunshots get ignored - whistles are unique and draw attenion in the boonies , carry a long distance.

 

[Smoke]

Salmon oxford shirt, tie , blue blazer [ my funeral dress...and the lady asked me to wear the salmon shirt before comments are made]

Yeah, but you didn't have to admit on a public ofrum that you wore a "salmon" shirt. And in TX we prononuce (with emphasis) the L.

One would assume that when a body leaves the house for any purpose he has clothes, shoes, a knife, maybe a cell phone.

So I reiterate.....Gun, Ammo, License.

Smoke

 

[Spinner]

I gotta say I now have an image of sm as one o' them "gentleman hunters" ..... all doodied up and shooting doves ..... I sure do hope the doves appreciated all the effort you went to in dressing up for them

Can't think of a better way to remember/honour a fellow shooter either.

Spinner

 

[Amadeus]

There's something ironic about shooting doves.

if I get shot, I'll need more than I can carry to keep me alive

Um, Spinner? This statement concerns me. I've never gone hunting so what events might transpire that would lead to you getting shot?!!!


Seems like with a few exceptions there's no way around it. Hunting = plan for a camping trip; bring gun.

I was sorta hoping hunting meant plan for Hike; bring gun. Oh well.

 

[Spinner]

The circumstances that might lead to me getting shot? .... well, lessee .....

1) Idiot who doesn't identify target figures I'm a deer and decides to shoot me.
2) Idiot having a negligent or accidental discharge
3) Idiot in the next valley shooting at and missing something on a skyline (has happened before!)

I'm sure there are many more .... oh and I could be the idiot in #2 (though I'm planning not to be).

I just wanted to make the point that I consider a basic 1st aid kit as necessary .... but anything more than fairly minor injuries you really can't expect to cope with.

Chances are you are not going to have a problem .... but on occasion there are idiots about who shoot at sound or movement or who are so hyped up to see and shoot a deer that they start to see things as deer and shoot at them. I once (and only once!!) hunted with a young guy who, while behind me as we were stalking quietly in the bush, closed the bolt of his rifle and fired it. I just about leapt outa my skin when I heard the bolt close and turned around to see him aiming off to the side into some light undergrowth just before he fired. I couldn't see what he was aiming at. I asked him what he'd shot at and he swore it was a big black billy goat. He reckoned he'd hit it too. Well we spent some time scouting about and I couldn't see any goat tracks or any blood or anything that looked like evidence that a goat, wounded or not, had been in the area recently. But I did find a big black tree stump with a 6.5 mm hole in it. His face turned bright red .... we went back and reconstructed what happened and sure enough he'd bagged his first trophy stump. That's probably a mistake he won't make again.

The point is the mind can fool a person into thinking what he's looking at is what he wants to see.

Don't expect to get shot at .... but don't dress or act like a deer when there are lots of hunters about either. On more than one occasion I've heard of two hunters stalking each other using calls, each thinking they were stalking a rutting stag. I've heard of guys carrying deer carcasses or heads out of the bush being shot at because keyed up hunters saw the deer and thought it was moving under its own steam.

There are generally about 4 or 5 hunting related accidental shootings in this country a year .... and the scariest thing is that most of them happen at less than 40 yards.

Just be aware and identify your target. I generally don't hunt deer during the rutting season when there tend to be more once-a-year hunters all wound up and looking to ventilate anything that might be a deer.

I always take my survival kit and I sometimes take other stuff too, but I tend to hunt goats and deer in rugged terrain and dense temperate rainforest. My survival kit is designed to give me a fighting chance on surviving the 2-3 days it might take for somebody to find me. As a matter of habit I take my survival kit even when I'm hunting in the scrub at the back of somebody's farm ..... I might fall and break my leg or dislocate my knee or something ..... could be as simple as breaking a boot lace. I sure would be annoyed if it happened and I didn't have my little kit handy.

Don't be scared off by the "what ifs" .... just prepare for the worst and expect the best.

Spinner

 

[Selfdfenz]

One thing I see missing in some packs is a fashlight and a spare set of batteries & spare bulb.

In areas new to me, I think having a partner you trust along for the day is one of the best "things" you can take hunting with you.

I always make sure someone knows where I went and when to expect me back, even if it's just a 30 minute armed hike to fill up a feeder.

S-

 

[Vick]

I guess it really depends on what kind of hunting I'm doing. If going away for a few days, I usually pack for a light camping trip+around the farm stuff:
small tent
water
rain coat/poncho
2-3 mre's
rope
knives, usually a k-bar and a couple of folders
fire making stuff ( matches, cotton balls/vasalene, mag bar)
etc

If just for the afternoon around the farm:
knife
poncho
ammo, I go overboard on this, I always have at least a box in my pack and keep 10 on the rifle ( stock cuff )
rope
blaze orange
snuff, VERY important
paperwork; license, I.D., etc
scents and/or calls
gloves
x-tra stocking hat
1st aid kit
needle and thread

A lot depends on time of year and where. Late in the season I pack in my coveralls and heavy outer clothing. Early in the season, I may just go in old bdu's and a t-shirt ( I love being a southerner ). I just started carrying a pack into the woods. I used to try to pack all mu junk into my pockets. I am finding it MUCH easier to pack in what I might need, and use or not.
One thing I will say is, don't be a bass pro/cabela's hunter. None of my stuff is "high class". It just works. Season after season, year after year. Old army field jacket, old bdu's, old back pack, etc. I know you won't be the fashion king of the hunt, but you will be just as warm, and you won't look like a pretentious d&^k. I never will forget a hog hunt last August. One of the guys came out looking like a Duck Head/Cabela's catalog. Not only did he not enjoy the hunt ( didn't see anything, got laughed at, didn't want to walk in the swamp, etc ), but his presence brought everyone else's spirits down. Kind of like trying not to cuss around the preacher; just don't feel right. Check some of the mil surp sights and stores. Pretty decent hunting clothes can be had very cheap, especially if you are a small guy. Also, don't get caught up in gadgets. I know a guy who thinks he can't hunt if he dosen't have 4 calls, 3 rattles, doe pee, fox pee, skunk pee, three pairs of boots, two changes of clothes, and a partidge in a pear tree. Stay warm, shoot animal, dress animal, drag animal home. Everything else is comfort gear.
OK, I'll shut up now.

 

[Smoke]

snuff, VERY important

Most definitely. How could I overlook that. My mistake.

Gun, Ammo, License, Snuff.

Smoke

p.s. - I figure I could survive for a day or two with a broke limb, or non fatal gunshot wound, but might expire if forced to go without my Copenhagen for a day. Danged vices.

 

[SteelyDan]

Lots of good suggestions, but the early recommendation for toilet paper seems to be getting "pooh-poohed." I strongly advise bringing some TP, and I will not explain why.

 

[dakotasin]

anybody who has cut the tops off their socks knows why...

 

[Amadeus]

strongly advise bringing some TP, and I will not explain why.

If you need to explain why then we have some hygene issues here at the High Road that may need to be dealt with.

 

[Leaky Waders]

it depends on wear your going and the game...

If you're hunting in your 'backyard' a place that you are very familiar with then you don't need that much...pretty much gun and go.

But, if you're hunting in a place that you don't know very well - well enough to walk out and in the dark without a flashlight, then I could see the need for the aforementioned items.

In addition, I keep a cooler in the truck w/ some ice so I can chill the game once it's gathered.

V/R,
L.W.

PS Some TP in the hand is better than two leaves in the bush

 

[Dr.Rob]

I carry more stuff than most, but then again i once got stuck in a sideways blowing blizzard and it was so wet and cold that the MAP wouldn't burn. TP wouldn't burn. I was making a shelter when the cavalry arrived.

You should always have a little food.. thanks to the Atkins craze HIGH CARBO food is scarce. Pack a snickers bar, jerky, gorp whatever. Don't snack on it... its there for emergencies.

Take dry socks. An extra pair of socks can really make your day when you step in a creek up to your kness or break through ice on a beaver pond you didn't know was there.

TP has so many uses you should always have some.

Rubber gloves.. not a bad idea during field dressing, they take up so little room you'll forget you have them.. which is why my class ring gets soaked in blood every time...

OK so parachute cord. 50 feet of it.. a zillion uses and some of them quite ingenious.

Lighter AND matches, the waterproof kind.

Plastic whistle.

Cyalume light stick... usesless for heat but can be used to mark your location at night if you can't get a fire going.

Mini first aid kit.. leave the ace bandage at home and pack a roll of sports tape. Works wonders on sprained ankles. Bandana, asprin, needle and thread, new skin or superglue.

I carry several knives and a little bone saw I got at the supermarket with a couple of blades.. one for bone, one for wood.

Flashlight, new batteries go in before I leave home, new battries as spares.

Disposable space blanket.. if you ever NEED it you'll love it. Again, don't open it/play with it unless you need it. They don't last much past a single use and tear easily in the wind.

Map and compass... while others fiddle with GPS I'm not a big fan of it.

Dress in layers, make sure you can vent excess heat, and button up when it gets cold.

a small rucksack or fanny pack to keep it in.

I like the Camelback canteen... easy to pack, takes up little room, doesn't slosh/make noise.

Spare glasses if you have them. Busting your glasses in the bush is a scary experience.

 

[scotjute]

It depend on where you're going, what you're after, and time of year.
Normally wear boots, kaki/camo/dark colored clothes, camo hat/cap, cotton camo gloves, and bring 5-10 rounds ammo, pocket knife, sheath knife, wrist-watch, gun, flashlight. If deer hunting - have rope, pulley, hatchet, saw, etc. in the truck.
If warm weather - may carry water, insect repellent.
If wet weather - cover for gun, water-resistant gear, dry-cleaner plastic bag to sit on (the plastic doesn't make noise).
IF cold - better gloves/coat/socks/scarf.

 

[BigG]

Amadeus: "Can always use a bit of rope." /Boondock Saints

 

[Newt]

Smoke,

You sound like my ALL of my hunting buddies (including me). Gun, Ammo, License, and most importantly SNUFF!

Seriously, I do take all of the above, but I try to take other stuff too. I try to take TP (sometimes forget it, but I rarely need it). A knife is always good to take with, and maybe something to snack on too.

 

[TallPine]

Gee, I don't want to have to drag my deer THAT far back to the truck

(to need that much stuff)

 

[Smoke]

There are really some interesting replies here.

Do you guys really carry all this gear every time you go out?

I think a "Basic, basic, basic kit" denotes the bare minimum you would take. So we can rule out a week long trip in the upper Rockies stalking Elk as you would need more than the basics.

I'm kinda interested here, lets say you're going to familier country just for the afternoon/evening. Fair weather, expect to be home by dark.

Bare minimum?

Gun, ammo, license, snuff.

Smoke

 

[Amadeus]

Smoke's got it right. He nailed it in fact.

I should have labeled this "Basic beginner's kit".

I can imagine gearing up for a week or even a weekend. But for someone like myself who is interested in getting into hunting and wants to start with a basic basic kit that will allow me to do a couple of day trips into the hills around Southern California what is necessary gear for a basic beginner's kit?