Clear alcohols are for rich women on diets...
For my quick trips:
First-Aid Kit - horse wraps (self-adhesive, can double as tourniquet, cheap), abd pad, small bleed pads, tape, gloves, epi.
Reflective emergency bivy (used it overnight at 7500', woke up warm and rested if a little wet from condensation), doubles as emergency signal device
Map, compass, GPS, Phone for pictures
Jet lighter, vaseline'd cotton balls
Headlamp & handheld torch (handheld better for tracking)
Spare AAs
Flagging tape
3L H20 bladder, +life straw if I'm in dry areas, love to get a Sawyer Squeeze as above (1M litre rated filter)
Snacks - trail mix, dried fruit, dark chocolate, protein bar
3 spare rounds
Knife with gut hook, whet stone
Game bags
TP in bag
Multitool
Zip ties (pooper, bags, improv backpack repair)
2 x orange contractor garbage bags
100' cordage
Small cable saw
Bino's (just got a chest harness)
Clothing layers as needed, warm gloves
That fits in my 18L pack with a bit of space remaining for last minute choices.
Jetboil with a couple packs of Mr Noodles, a box of KD, Starbucks vias coffee packets, 2 celebratory beers, ziplock bags for grouse....
InReach
head lamp
RR Radio
Small first aid kit
Havalon and buck knife
game bags
1L water
Few protein bars
lighter
4x5 tarp
Baby wipes
compass
50ft paracord
extra ammo
bear spray (on pack belt)
Maybe a few other things depending on season/weather conditions
5.11 Rush 72 Backpack
Cabelas packable rain gear top and bottoms
Cabelas ball cap
Some cool green army surplus gloves
x2 9'x12' dollar store plastic drop sheets
SOL emergency blanket
Cabelas Koola Buck game bags
scalpel handle and blades
25' length 3/8" yellow poly rope
Leatherman Surge and Bit Kit
ESEE 4-HM fixed blade and leather sheath
Bahco Laplander folding saw
Possibles pouch/survival kit
Primus stove
Small MSR fuel can
GSI aluminium cup
Instant coffee
Instant oatmeal
Snickers bars
Sawyer Mini water filter
TP and small hand sanitizer
Flagging tape
electrical tape
Crossbow stuff if applicable
Rifle stuff if applicable
Possibles Pouch/Survival Kit Contents
Altoids tin fire kit - ferro rod, bic lighter, small magnifying glass, tinder quicks, Vaseline cotton balls, char cloth
Small fishing kit - braided line wrapped around small foam float, flouro wrapped around small foam float, gear for Carolina rig, small flies, small eye screws for line guides on a stick
50' 550 cord
Small first aid kit, mostly for blisters, small band aids, pain killers and caffeine pills
signal mirror
sail cloth needle
Pics of family
compass
bandanna
small roll of gorilla tape
GPS
Headlamp
Extra batts for GPS and Headlamp
32 ounce plastic WhirlPak bag
water treatment tablets
SOL emergency blanket
Cold weather would change and add a few items. Right now with crossbow stuff it weighs exactly 25 pounds. Some stuff comes out of the pack/possibles pouch, and goes into the pockets or onto the belt. The pack expands pretty good,the only things in the main compartment are the rain gear and the possibles pouch, lots of room for meat and lots of molle webbing on the outside to tie onto if needed.
If you're hiking/hunting in an area with water - go buy yourself a lifestraw. They're only 26 bucks and they weigh very little.
Every bit of weight counts.
Some rope, small first aid kit that has a tiny 6' silnylon tarp in it (I usually use it as a bag for packing out organs), some lighters and matches, a hemostat, flashlight/headlamp, a small water bottle with water purifiers in case I need extra water for hauling out, food if I will be out all day, and extra clothes if it is looking cold and rainy. I like to keep it pretty light and easy to pack.
Too much when I don't need it.
Not enough when I do.
No one on their death bed ever said; I should have spent more time at work.