Your day pack

[toad429]

This comming weekend is the opening of wisconsin gun deer season, and I will be going on my first hunt, somewhat alone. I will have someone with me, but I want to try and do all that I can myself. (long story, don't ask. Mr. pride and independance) My question to you, is what should I put in my pack, daypack. What are the "essential items", the things you don't want to leave home without. I'm not going into any deep wooded area, and not far from home. The terrain isn't to tough. Climate concerns would probably be limited to the weather, might be cold, maybe some light snow. What are the things that you like to have on hand? Thanks

[The Terminator]

Not knowing how you know your terrain, and how far out you will be, here are a few things that I would consider, the same as when I go on a day hike with my Scouts.

Some type of emergancy food such as food bars or something of the like.

Water, and a water filter.

Matches, and a backup type of fire starter. Cotton balls dipped in vaseline make an excellent fire starter.

A compass and a gps for hiking. A small foldable map.

A knife, and a good led flashlight. Don't forget a change of batteries.

Some 505 cord to help make a splint if you need one.

A mirror or metal tin with a reflective surface.

A small, basic first aid kit, with pain reliever, mole skin, and a couple of pairs of sox.

A space blanket, and a Coglin's tube tent. The tent is bright orange, and can serve as a signal device if you need it.

I also have an extra pair of reading glasses and a plastic Air Force survival guide booklet. If you get lost or caught out in the weather, sometimes just reading this booklet can calm your nerves and help you to settle down.

I keep these items in a bug out bag, at all times, in my vehicle.

Minus the water, this all is actually very light, and can fit in a fanny pack. You may actually need much less than I have listed, depending on your specific circumstance. Best - Ted

[gordo_gun_guy]

Are you going on public or private land? If public, and on opening day of modern season, bring something comfy to sit on and a thermos of coffee/hot chocolate. Go in early, sit, and let the hoards push the deer to you....

Also, think positive and remember to bring what you need to get your deer home--gloves for gutting if you're a germaphobe....a folded piece of plastic tarp makes a nice drag and keeps your truck clean....

Have Fun!

[hogdogs]

bottle of water (empty gets re-filled outta our creeks.
Snacks
ammo
headlight
clean rags
that is about it...
Brent

[Buzzcook]

I'm usually less than 3 miles from from habitation and less than 100yds from a vehicle. So I don't pack as much now as I used to.

A fanny pack with a small first aid kit, my skinning gear (rope, knife, gloves, garage bags etc), an orange pancho (got caught too many times in the rain to forget that), compass and flashlight. The last two are vestigial and don't get used much now.
I also carry a couple of sandwiches and a thermos.

[scottycoyote]

i put my stuff in stuff sacks (you can get a nice 3 pack cheap at wallyworld for $10) and label them, then i just grab the stuff sack i need depending on where im going. For instance i have a survival sack (fire,water pur, signal, etc), i have a first aid stuff, a cooking stuff, etc. I also put all my cleaning/gutting into one sack (wyoming knife, gloves, drag rope, etc). So depending on where im going and for how long, i grab the stuff sacks i need and put em in the pack and off i go. Of course you need a water bottle or bladder......flashlight, compass/gps....etc. Id recommend buying a couple small survival kits (or make your own, like the altoids tin kits), and put one in all your packs just so you have one in case.

[jimbo_4]

What you take is usually based on your own experience, some would probably scoff at what I take and I may say certain things other bring just aren't necessary. Personally,
1. Range finder, this way I KNOW what is too far away to shoot, or if I can compensate to make the shot.
2. Cell Phone, an unforeseen emergency it's a must! But if someone calls, make sure the ringer, and all other sounds are off. Plus if you have the web you have access to all kinds of reading material to help keep you from falling asleep and missing that deer.
3. My pistol, I just never leave home without it.
4. Some water, but I refill mine with something else, not creek water! When you gotta go, you gotta go, and you don't leave your scent doing it.
5. Knife, usually my K-Bar, I have a smaller buck for the messy part. But I'll get that and the deer cart from the car after the shot. Gives the deer a chance to bleed out somewhere before I start tracking.
6. Some sort of quiet snack.... Which I usually forget and just sit there wishing I had some trail mix or sour peaches.
7. Finally a flashlight, more so other hunters know where I'm at.

[rem870hunter]

when i carried a pack while out of state hunting, from what i can recall i had in it........

50' of paracord, 4'x8' piece of water proof material blaze orange in color,heat tab stove with plenty of heat tabs,extra pr or 2 of socks, pair of heavier gloves,20 rounds of rifle or shotgun ammunition, 50 rounds of .22 lr or 20 .38 spl., 1 whistle, 1 compass, signal mirror, half of heavy wool blanket, 1 or 2 qts of water,candy bars, 1 or 2 MRE's 1/2 roll toilet tissue,2 rolls surveyors tape red or yellow.

local hunting,

i pretty much carry what i may need in my trouser and shirt pockets, paracord,pencil flares and launcher, 2 compasses,2 whistles,1/2 roll toilet tissue, a few extra shotshells, matches,zippo lighter, extra gloves. i ususally don't go far fome vehicle and i always have my cell phone with me. trouble is when i don't want to be bothered with a call. i get bothered, so i turn the ringer off.:D

[Rmart30]

when I hit the woods its 99% by myself so i try to be prepared even though Im usually less than 1 mile from where I parked.

My winter hunting day pack list, small led flashlight w/fresh batteries.

Small first aid kit,emergency blanket, 2 lighters and cottonballs with vaseline, 30' 1/4" rope, snacks in ziplock bag, 1 bottle of water, small water purifier, 1 full reload of ammo for whichever gun im using that day.
1 empty largemouthed gatoraid bottle so if nature calls while im in the tree stand.
The largemouthed bottle holds the rope,lighters,baggie of cottonballs and ammo to save space and keep them dry. Toilet paper in ziploc baggy.


2 emergency whistles , I keep one clipped to my jacket at all times and another in my pack....
2 pairs of gloves, 1 pair heavy, 1 light weight , a lightweight full face mask and a orange beanie.

I usually dont carry my wallet hunting so I keep xerox copies of my drivers license and hunting license in a small aspirin bottle along with a $20 bill just in case.

[phil mcwilliam]

My general deer hunting day pack contains- ammo, knife & sharpener, compass, torch, lighter, gaffa tape, asprin, toilet paper ,gatorade, museli/chocolate bars ,plastic garbage bag(for meat), leatherman, map ,gps , radio, sunscreen/insect repellant,some cash & my hunting licence.

[Stiofan]

LOL on the cell phones. Most of us around here are so far from a signal when driving into the national forest, that there is no way we'll get one when we hike in further. ;)

[Madcapper]

Dont forget the book!

[Kreyzhorse]

I don't hunt too far from my truck, but here is what I pack in mine.

Water
Extra Gloves
Knit Hat
Rain Poncho (cheapo)
Small First Aid kit (people get cut cleaning game)
Topo GPS
Weather Band 2-Way Radio
Flashlight
Rope
Duct Tape
Knife Sharpener
Range Finder
Thermos with hot coffee/tea

[fbrown333@suddenlink]

I carry the following;
hooks, line,sinkers-50' rope-40' of para cord-small pad to sit on-space blanket-matches-magnesium fire starter-spare knife-sharpening stone-bottles of water disposable towels(to clean up after the kill)-zip lock bags and a trash bag(emergency poncho)-deer drag(rope)-spare ammo-pen/paper-flashlight-w/xtra batteries(minimag)-small folding saw-warm hat-spare orange vest-pistol w/ammo(don't leave home with out it)-multi tool. When I go hunting I am gone for the day so I have something to eat and drink plus an mre just in case.

I grew up out in the Pacific northwest and it is hard to break old habits. My brother in law always laughed at me for having so much (junk) as he called it until his sights fell off his rifle in the woods one day and I fixed it on the spot:D . It is very hilly where I hunt so the rope gets used often. Better to have it and not need it! Than to need it and not have it.

[AUG]

I am a hunting noob so forgive me if this is stupid but......

Would the smell of the coffee not scare off every deer in the area?

I would love to take a thermos with me in a few weeks but I was under the impression that ' human smells' would spook the deer.

[crowbeaner]

My fanny pack contains a new spool of clothesline, extra knife, an 8" length of wood dowel for the drag rope, space blanket, surgical gloves for the gutting, alcohol wipes, bandaids of various sizes, fire making stuff, small Garrity rubber flashlight and 4 extra AA batteries, extra compass, map page if needed, trail mix, water purifying tablets, extra ammo, and an el cheapo poncho. My kid laughs at me, but I've spent more than a couple nights in the woods, so I just wait until he's cold and hand him the space blanket. He's learning.

[Major Dave (retired)]

jimbo4,

I can't seem to find "quiet snacks", because everything I consider either has noisy packaging (makes noise in my pocket when I stalk, and even more noise when I get hungry and open the package), or noisy when I chomp down on it, or both.

So what "silent/quiet" snacks have you found to be available?

[jimbo_4]

Hey Dave, I usually get those gummy peach flavored rings, just put them in something else other than the pack they came in. The gummy rings aren't terribly great for you, but they are good! Jerky sausage is good too, I usually just put them in a ziploc bag and leave the bag open in my pocket and just reach down and grab one.
As far as "human like" smells as far as coffee, I personally don't believe deer have that kind of association in their thought process. I think you, your oder, your sweat is what they smell. The fact that you ARE human and you will always smell like it. The coffee may help cover that, who knows! I bring coffee, and I've sat in the open and still had deer come around. Some may disagree on that though, but that's just my .02.

[johnnypi45]

It's been awhile since i've been out, but normally i don't venture too far from the truck. That being said, i don't want to have to trudge back and forth from the thing every 5 min either. Normally, i get to the field and woods i hunt long before sunrise. Drink my coffee and eat my donuts (i know it's not exactly the most healthy or thought out hunting breakfast, as it's all sugary carbs, but it's a family tradition, so that's how i roll) in the car and think about the areas of the land i'm going to stalk. Grab at least one can of dip, a bottle for said tobacco indulgence, check through my field cleaning bag (skinning knife, smaller knife for hard to reach areas, tarp, rope, extra tarp, etc.) Grab at least one, normally two, extra cylinders worth of ammo, make sure my orange vest is good to go, pistol's secure, camel back on, and i'm normally on my way.

Petey

[GreyOne]

Food and Drink- apple, jerky, a cloth bag of trail mix, etc.,
with a canteen or water bottle (thermos w/ hot drink is a good extra in cold weather).

Clothing/ comfort- gloves, knit cap, poncho, bug repellent,
sun screen, small first aid kit, spare socks, bandana.

Emergency gear- matches, candle, tarp or tube tent, map, compass (gps is nice, but compass is more important), radio (FRS) is nice, but not necessary.

Hunt gear- knife, rope, trash bag for meat, binoculars, camo cloth if needed for temporary blind.

[dragonfire]

Rifle,ammo,knife,coffee,snacks,book,and cell phone on vibrate.

[peetzakilla]

I hunt in an area that is surrounded by a group of roads in what looks like a giant "longbow". I am less than a mile from a roadway in every direction. My pack includes nothing beyond expected needs. Knife, headlamp, drag rope, spare ammo, gloves, cell on "one beep" (vibrate is too loud:rolleyes:), 2-way radio and, of course, my Butt-Out:D.

[Swampghost]

My hunting is so much different from most of yours that my pack(s) would not apply. They vary by use; place, stand, stalk, airboat/buggie, camp or on my own for a few days.

Always GatorAde or sports drinks, some meal replacements (shake, bars), M&M's, small binoc's, ammo reload, orange vest, small bug spray, vinyl gloves, SuperGlue, 100' 1/8" braided nylon line, a handfull of 14" tywraps, cheapie Coleman poncho and blanket.

On person; Swiss Army knife, game knife, machete, rifle or shotgun, pistol & xtra clip, Zippo and waterproof matches, SS signal mirror, low light glasses, small bug spray, folding money, ID (license, DL), camo makeup kit, mini bang stick.

[hogdogs]

When you use the rear sight tang to hold your cigarette so you can look thru your scope you tend to pass off that whole foreign scent thing. Grampa taught me that unknowingly. He also coughed his way thru the Benson&Hedges and shot amazingly well with a snoot full of peppermint scnapps. And drank coffee in the woods too. I think most products to mask our presence, be it sight or scent are mostly feel good for the buyer and real feel good for the seller...
Brent

[MeekAndMild]

Today's day pack:

Compact binoculars, folding knife, cell phone, apple, 2 cans of Sprite Zero, detachable 5 round magazine, 5 rounds of ammo, mittens, paperback book (After the King: Stories In Honor of J.R.R. Tolkien), buck grunt call, doe bleat call, scope caps, ball point pen, I think that's all. :D

[hogdogs]

One heck of a safety devise is a large blaze orange bandanna. Can be tied above you in a public woods or tied to a stick to wave to rescuers if you are injured and down, cut into bits to mark a trail etc... Me and a buddy bought 2 cuz we were cheap last year and all that was left at BPS was them "DEE-LUX" models. O folded them in quarter and cut out the center making a mini poncho that was legal.
Brent

[johnwilliamson062]

wow, and I was just going to take a side arm, a nalgene, and a key ring multi tool. Buddy brings the knife instead of a multi-tool. Tarp in truck.
First year, so maybe the other guy is going to have a full pack and I just don't know it.