Your Guide To Emergency Hunting Equipment

Hunting can be fun, productive, and challenging. There are a lot of dangers out in the woods that have nothing to do with wild animals. The key is to stay safe while hunting. I’ll provide you with some tips on how to prepare for a safe hunting trip.

A Compass

This should be automatic but you’d be surprised how many people don’t take a compass with them when hunting. Grab yourself a decent compass before going into the woods. If you’re not really familiar with compasses, get a digital compass.

A GPS System

What good is a compass if you don’t really know how to use it? It’s a good idea to have a GPS system with you when you go hunting. Some mountain ranges are so large and so remote, if you get lost, no one will EVER find you. It’s not really important what kind of GPS system you have with you. Even if you’re miles off the road, it can at least point you in the direction of the nearest road or highway and that can be very helpful.

A Map

Many game reserves for example have detailed maps of the terrain. These maps can be a valuable asset when you’re in the woods. They can point you to great spots and keep you from getting lost.

A Rain Coat

Just because “Dan The Weather Man” on channel six called for no precipitation does not mean that nature cannot strike. Be prepared for foul weather no matter what the forecast says. The last thing you need is to be soaking wet and walking around in the woods.

A First Aid Kit

Bring a first aid kit with you. A good sized one. It’s best to get a tackle box and make your own first aid kit. It should contain two to four ace wraps, an array of bundles of gauze pads in different sizes, some band aids of different sizes, about three rolls of two inch gauze and three rolls of four inch gauze, some bandage tape, some tweezers, a sharp knife or scalpel, and some triple antibiotic ointment. It wouldn’t hurt to take a first aid course before you go hunting too. You can’t be too safe.

Fire

What if you get lost. What if despite your compass and your four hundred dollar top of the line GPS system, you get lost in the woods? You may need to spend the night in the woods. If people start looking for you, it would help if you are near some smoke from a fire you build. Bring some matches. The kind of matches that you can strike on a rock and light. Also, bring a couple of lighters in case your matches get wet.

A Knife And A Saw

The chances are good that you’ll need to cut something while out in the woods. If you shoot an animal, you may have to gut it, if you end up getting stranded, you may have to build a shelter. Both a knife and a saw will come in handy in many ways when you’re out in the woods and hunting.

Marker Tape

Get some marker tape to keep you from getting lost and to keep track of where you’ve been. Many people get lost in the woods during hunting season. Don’t become one of them.

A Long Rope

Trust me, if you don’t have a long rope, you’ll encounter a time when you wish you had one. A long rope can come in very handy while hunting for so many things.

Blankets and A Jacket

Just because it’s seventy four degrees in town doesn’t mean it’s not colder up in the higher elevations. The wind is likely blowing harder on the mountain too. A night time, the temperature on a mountain can drop quite a bit. If you plan on staying up on the mountain over night take a coat with you and some blankets. If you don’t plan on spending the night on the mountain, bring a coat and some blankets in case you end up staying there.

A Cell Phone and Cellular Antenna

You may not figure that you’ll get any signal on the mountain but being elevated can help your signal. Have a cellular antenna with you as well to boost your signal. They really work well.

Adequate Food and Water

The last thing you want is to go hungry. Make sure you bring enough food and water with you to keep yourself from getting dehydrated and/or hungry.

With all of these items, you should be able to have a safe and fun hunting trip. Good luck out there and be safe!