What doesn't go in a hunter's pack? Like the lunch boxes that head to a million job sites every morning, the items contained in a hunting pack vary with personal tastes. Hunters who take a stand for a few hours in the morning or evening can obviously get by with less gear than the fellow who hunts from dawn to dark. Still there are some essential items, and not all of them obvious, that belong in a hunting pack.
Certain items in a hunter's pack are handy, others a welcome luxury, and still others absolute necessities. A compass, map, first-aid kit, and matches are basic survival items every hunter should carry in the field. Never venture into the outdoors without these items stowed on your person or in a pack.
Cover and matrix scents should be a part of every deer hunter's field gear. Cover scents are designed to help hide human odor not eliminate it. There's no substitute for keeping the wind in your face, but various cover scents can be useful when the wind swirls or if game approaches from an unexpected direction.
Matrix or sex scents are powerful deer hunting tools when used properly. The week or two just prior to the rut is the most effective time to use matrix-type scents. During this period, bucks charged up with a dose of their own male hormones pound the pavement looking for does. Ironically, in most cases does haven't entered their estrus cycle or become receptive to bucks yet. All charged up and no date in sight, matrix scents lure in pre-rut bucks like bears to honey.
Once the rut actually begins, bottled sex scents must compete with the real thing. It's nearly impossible to lure a dominate buck away from a receptive doe, no matter how or when matrix scent is used. However, matrix scents may lure in subordinate bucks who are looking for action.
Considered a luxury item by many hunters, hand-held GPS units are finding their way into a growing number of hunting packs. Last fall I purchased an Eagle AccuNav Sport GPS unit for use on a Labrador caribou hunt. A unit that's roughly the size of a box of .30-06 shells offers all the navigation features of the full-sized GPS units designed for fishing boats.
It didn't take long to discover that with the help of the GPS plotter screen I could navigate in wilderness country with confidence. Back home I used the AccuNav Sport to find my way into bow stands in the pre-dawn darkness and to scout remote areas other hunters avoid.
When shopping for a hand-held GPS unit look for machines that monitor three to five satellite stations. Units that operate off a single satellite station can't offer the accuracy and repeatability of GPS receivers that monitor and constantly update information from multiple satellite.
The next step in portable GPS technology looms close and is known as Global Mapping. Global Map GPS units accept computerized map cartridges that enable the hunter to see the topographical features of his hunting area and his exact location on that map! By simply using a zoom feature, the hunter can see important physical features such as creeks, forest trails, roads , and such.
The ultimate portable navigation system, Lowrance Electronics expects to introduce a portable GPS unit complete with global mapping capabilities by late fall. The cost of hand-held GPS units ranges from around $200 to upwards of $600. Gradually the price of these navigation aids will come down. Smaller and less expensive computer chips, or what are referred to as GPS engines, are just around the corner.
A growing number of hunters also carry a portable VHF band radio. The range on these radios varies from about one mile to five miles or more depending on the topography. Several models feature head sets that allow hunters to communicate silently.
A 35mm camera should be a part of every hunter's field gear. Some viewfinder models are smaller than a pack of smokes and capable of taking excellent prints or slides. Pick a model that has a built-in flash unit, because many of the photo opportunities will take place during low-light periods.
Carbohydrates such as granola bars or dried fruits are the perfect snack foods for long days in the field. These foods provide quick energy without robbing the hunter of stamina as candy and sugar-based foods can do. A couple granola bars or a ziplock bag full of dried fruit can take a hunter a long ways and these items weigh next to nothing.
A plastic bottle filled with water, fruit juice, or a sports drink should also be included if the hunt will last more than a couple hours. Many of the new packs on the market feature a built-in water bottle for convenience.
Some items are a no-brainer. A mini-flashlight with a fresh set of alkaline batteries stays in my pack at all times. I also carry an extra set of batteries and a spare bulb in my truck and have needed these items more times than I care to remember.
Nuts, bolts, screws, and other hardware common to bows and firearms have a nasty habit of working lose at the worst possible times. A lose screw on a quiver can be noisy and annoying. A lose screw on an arrow rest or sight will almost certainly cause a miss or worse yet a wounding shot. I carry a folding set of hex wrenches and one of the multi-tool pliers such as those produced by Leatherman and Gerber. These two compact tools include a knife, pliers, hex wrenches, screw drivers, file, and other essentials capable of handling most emergency field repairs.
A good folding or sheath knife is also an item for the hunter's pack. Brands and styles aside, a deer hunter's knife should feature a locking or fixed blade, a sharp edge, and a blade big enough for the task.
The thin, plastic, elbow-length gloves veterinarians use are handy when it's time to field dress downed game. These plastic gloves slide right over heavy clothing, keeping the hunter's hands and his jacket clean.
I also carry a few baby wipes folded up and slipped into a ziplock plastic bag. A necessity for cleaning hands or a bloody knife, wipes are also useful for cleaning away excess blood around the mouth or wound before snapping a few photographs of the animal for the scrapbook.
A short length of nylon rope makes the chore of dragging out downed game easier. Thin rope such as parachute cord also doubles as a handy survival item for securing a shelter and millions of other uses.
The day I first tried a stretch-style face net is the last time I painted my face with greasy camo make-up. Every bow hunter should use some device to cover his or her face. Whether you use a head net, bandanna, mask, or camo make-up is a personal choice, but these items must be packed on every hunting trip.
A spare pair of gloves is another personal item that isn't missed until the need arises. I've found the wool knit gloves with rubber grippers are form fitting and provide a good grip and adequate warmth in all but the coldest temperatures.
Firearm hunters should pack a few rounds of spare ammunition in a container that prevents the brass from rattling. Those who hunt with black powder will need a whole list of related accessories including speed loaders, capping tool, ball starter, patches, and such.
Several sheets of toilet paper stored in a ziplock bag may be the most appreciated item in a hunting pack. Loaning this item to a hunting partner is a guarantee that you'll need it before returning to camp and I don't mean to blow your nose.
A grunt call is another personal item. There are almost as many grunt calls on the market as hunters who use them. Pick out a call and keep it handy. The sound of the call is much less important than when and how it's used.
I'd be lost without a set of binoculars in the field. Quality optics add a dimension to hunting that can't be overstated. Purchase the best-quality binoculars you can afford and keep this frequently used item stored in a pouch or compartment of the pack that's easy to access.
When actually hunting, get in the habit of keeping binoculars stowed in a handy pocket or tucked inside a jacket neckline. Hanging binoculars around your neck is fine for firearm hunting, but it has cost more than one bowhunter an animal when the strap or binocular itself accidentally interferes with the release of the bowstring.
Stocking a fanny or day pack is a great way to mentally prepare for a hunt and to make absolutely sure essential items are within reach when needed. There's no substitute for going prepared and a personal day or fanny pack is the best way to keep important and personal hunting items dry, protected, and most of all handy.
Bowhunters who shoot using a mechanical release aid should get in the habit of carrying a spare. If a release is lost or broken, the hunt comes to a screeching halt. A spare release is especially important on fly-in or wilderness hunts where it would be impossible, not just inconvenient, to replace this critical piece of bow hunting gear.
Any deer hunter worth his wool socks checks the wind direction frequently. A neat device for testing wind direction is the Wind Check produced by the Bohning Company. The Wind Check is a plastic squeeze bottle with an odorless powder that when squeezed emits a small puff into the air. Small enough to fit in a shirt pocket, one filling lasts a season or two and clearly shows even the slightest air currents.
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