Backpack Essentials

In another post someone mentioned watching out for fire ants and taking liquid benadryl for an allergic reaction. I'm glad they are safe. It made me think though, that while I do bring liquid benadryl with me on any hunt(I'm not allergic to anything that I've run across yet, but you never know right?),I only just recently added a snake bite kit. I also don't keep much in the way of first aid on me when I go out (I know stupid, especially considering I've got a massive first aid kit, probably with enough supplies to let me perform simple surgery).

So, I think input from everyone would be great on this: What should you absolutely keep on your person, say in a backpack, while out and about?

I keep liquid benadryl, a couple knife sharpeners, a fire starter, a good multi-purpose knife, a killing knife(long sturdy blade, good stabbing tip, slides into something living like a hot knife through butter), a snake bite kit, a roll of toilet paper, a trash bag, a bottle of water, and extra rounds for whichever gun(s) I am carrying.

Keep in mind I try to make sure I ALWAYS have a family member with me, and thats just what I take on my person when I'm hiking any distance away from my vehicle, which is where I keep most everything else.

Zip ties

For me, an extra pair of reading glasses. If my main pair get broke, I'm blind.
A small roll of duct tape is helpful too.

I guess it really depends on what your mission in the woods is that day. A hunting pack would be different for me than a scouting pack.

Other than what you have already mentioned I always have:
A small compact mirror (for getting things out of my eye)
Alcohol prep pads
Triple antibiotic ointment
Bandaids/gauze
Acetomenophen
Para cord
Orange flagging tape (mark blood trails or the way in and out of a area)
Baby wipes
Multi tool (if its not on my belt)
One of those emergency mylar type blankets (weighs maybe a ounce and could save your life)

That's just off the top of my head. I will probably think of others later but those are in my pack no matter what the mission in the woods is that day.

Try putting your duct tape on a Bic lighter to eliminate the bulky roll.

match safe i have carried for 20 years
knife
leatherman or swiss army
goal zero or other back up for phone
leafy camo suit
gloves work
rubber gloves for gutting
binos
ammo for the 3 rifles that make the travel team that year
mouth varmint call
pen
zip ties or string
wound super glue
coffee thermos
water bottle
small flask of Basil Haydens

if its cold ther are well lamont cold weather work gloves
and a frog tog jacket


and toilet paper

Snake bite kits aren't really recommended anymore. They don't really help get out venom and cutting in someone just makes it worse. The best thing is get them to the emergency room ASAP. Rattler venom isn't a neurotoxin. Do some research online.

The only item I carry in addition to the above is several packets of the blood coagulant powder. You never know when that might be handy.

A constricting band (not a tourniquet those block arterial flow) proximal to the bite (toward the heart) and hight flow gasoline or diesel to an emergency department with anti-venom. That may involve a helicopter depending on your location in the state. Pit Vipers are a hemotoxin and therefore clot blood extremely fast. A bite will cause major localized damage and can also be very cardiac toxic due to embolisms the may break free and flow to the coronary arteries.

Bad spelling is my fault. I didn't copy and paste this.

I hunt 3000 acres. I may regret it one day but I dont carry a whole lot more than I would on any other day.

Pocket knife
couple bottles of water, a granola bar, and some extra rifle shells thrown in my coat pocket.

I, like the majority of people in Texas park my diesel 4x4 pickup, walk a half mile to my heated blind. Climb up and get comfortable.

If im out working or filling feeders, I keep a cheap shotgun with buckshot in the jeep and a cooler of water.

Ill take my chances on the survival kits.

By the looks of it I don't have nearly enough stuff in my pack!!! I guess I'm guilty of going as light and lean as possible. A big load to me is a piece of rope, extra gloves, matches, water, and a few candy bars, knife on my belt and maybe binoculars around my neck that's it... Unless it's a hike-in drop camp at timber line and then obviously it's a whole new ball game. At that point I have a specific set of gear that includes many of the things listed above and keeps my load well under 50 lbs including tent and food depending on the days expected to be out plus rifle. I guess I should pin a note to my coat like Hatchet Jack in the movie Jeremiah Johnson just in case someone finds me frozen to a tree! And then I will let them take claim to my 300WM!

Flashlight, headlamp, rain jacket and granola bars and a few other things. Right now I even have iodine tablets.

Kinda depends on what I'm doing...If I'm hunting I wear a vest which contains binocs, range finder,flashlight, first aid kit and revolver. Working... like filling feeders, repairing fence...water and a larger first aid kit. I always have a Sawyer Snake bite and Sting kit with me...haven't used it for a snake bite yet but works great on bee and wasp stings.

light rain jacket.

The snake bite kit doesn't say to cut anymore, mainly is just used for suction, to get what you can out. There is the turniquet in there as well, but I also know that they have decided use of those just makes some problems way worse, and it is discouraged now.

The snake bite kit is a requirement for hunting the area thoughIt's in the paperwork.

Lighter
water proof matches
space blanket
compass
3 knives
small sharpening tool
compact saw
water bottles 2
trail mix snack
box of ammo
rubber gloves
parachute cord
2 pair of gloves
light compact cold weather cap
constricted cord folding shooting sticks
range finder
flash lights 2
fm band 25 mile range walky talkie
fluorescent marking tape
toilet paper
hand wipes


I can easily fit all this in my Cabelas half pack.

Binoculars
Fixed blade hunting knife
Bug spray
Sun block
First Aid Kit:

• Gauze pads
• Guaze wrap
• Benadryl
• Antiseptic wipes
• Antibiotic ointment
• bandaids
• Tweezers
• scissors
• tourniquet
• sting kit

Flashlight
toilet paper
trash bag
bottle of water
zip ties
duct tape
Para cord
work gloves
rubber gloves
sharpie marker

suture kit!

Plus some sardines, a pocket knife, and a pint of whiskey.

Things I carry that no one else has mentioned is Lens Wipes for my glasses, 2 ball point pens to fill out tags, extra game cam chips so I can do a swap when I get near a camera and various calls depending on what I am hunting. I always carry a varmint call.

the snake bit kits are considered my most experts as a big NO NO. I hunt in rattlebug country and have for years. Lots of research and talking to ER folks that see a fair amount of bad bites and they all say do nothing, no ice, to wrapping your belt between the bit and heart no nothing. Stay calm (if that is possible), keep your heart rate as low as possible and get to the ER.

Do what you will but most of the info I could gather says the kits do more damage than good.

Paracord is nice to have in your pack.
Get a Havalon and leave your "hunting" knife and stones in camp.

Zip tie

Pin

Phone if it will work where you are

water

Wet wipes in a baggie, no TP - wet wipes do double duty as needed.

LIP Balm is important to have too

Revolver with snake shot
TP
Water
Whistle
Compass
Flagging Tape
Fixed Blade Knife
Lighters (2)
Garbage Bag

This is almost identical to my list. May sound funny to some and may get a few laughs but I carry a couple of Tampax's as well. Work great to plug a large puncture/gunshot wound. Hope I never need them.

My truck is pretty much like my backpack, and here is what I keep in it.

22 mag pistol, with ammo
Tow strap
an MRE
couple bottles of water
toilet paper
tools
tweezers and bandaids
jumper cables
road flares......work great for lighting a fire on a windy beach or igniting damp wood

you might want to do some research on snake bite kits, DR.'s don't recommend using.

I think the Docs don't want you cutting on yourself or others...newer snakebite kits provide suction only. I guess the issue then is are you better off sucking out a little poison for 15 minutes vs getting in your vehicle and hauling arse to a hospital

Have to go through MSHA training every year and it includes a lot of first aid for trauma. The trainer told us and I'd heard this before in other classes that tourniquets can be life saving in the right application but don't plan on keeping anything in terms of legs or arms below where it is tied. This is pretty much what we were taught last year regarding snake bites.

If a snake bites you:

Call 911.
Remain calm.
Immobilize the bitten arm or leg, and stay as quiet as possible to keep the poison from spreading through your body.
Remove jewelry before you start to swell.
Position yourself, if possible, so that the bite is at or below the level of your heart.
Cleanse the wound, but don't flush it with water, and cover it with a clean, dry dressing.
Apply a splint to reduce movement of the affected area, but keep it loose enough so as not to restrict blood flow.
Don't use a tourniquet or apply ice.
Don't cut the wound or attempt to remove the venom.
Don't drink caffeine or alcohol.
Don't try to capture the snake, but try to remember its color and shape so you can describe it, which will help in your treatment.
Get to treatment as soon as possible.

I'm not tying off crap when it comes to a bite, I know that's a bad idea. I've got this kit strictly for the suction cups. If I remember correctly the start of the whole "Don't suck the poison out" started because of people using their mouths to do it, and any sores in the mouth just made the problem worse. I won't be doing any cutting either, as there is no need. Staying calm would be hard, not because the snakes bother me, they fascinate me. More because I'm sure to be pissed the snake ruined my hunting trip. Which means I'll likely be chasing and stomping something shortly after. Guess I'm a good candidate for being a snakebite casualty statistic.

sharp knife, steel wool or lint balls from a dryer, lighter, tampons

Unfortunately they are basically useless.

Great thread. In for later. Only thing I'll add is extra flashlight batteries.

If you have space left over I'd add a bottle of Lagavulin. Other than that pretty good list.

Not familiar with it. What is it?

Rain gear and skin out change of clothing, if you get wet in cold weather and wind you can get in real trouble fast. Synthetic or wool, synthetic compresses really small and is light, double bag it so you can be sure it stays dry.

If I'm hunting my place, everything I need is in a drybox in the stand or camp house. We're spoiled. One thing I'd advise everyone to have is a blood pressure cuff. It makes a good tourniquet and you can apply it yourself if your alone.

The 16 year old on the right is my favourite. Goes great around the fire at the end of the day.

I will give that a try. Thanks for the recommendation.