The Gear You Can and Can't Live Without

[Rookie Hunter]

Hi All,

For hunters, gear helps us stay comfortable, dry, effective, and in some cases alive. Mike and I will be recording a gear/bag dump podcast episode soon. We're curious to hear from the hunting community: what gear can and can't you live without? (not including firearms). Please include brands or models if you like.

Please provide your comments/suggestions and we'll read our top picks on the next episode!

[monasheemountainman]

my boots, packs (day or multi day depending obviously) water container, jet boil, sharp knife, arse wipe, lighter, ammo, game bags

[Stormy]

my boots, packs (day or multi day depending obviously) water container, jet boil, sharp knife, arse wipe, lighter, ammo, game bags

Add to that list a satellite communication device Spot / inreach or phone - so that emergency services can haul your ass out in an emergency.....

[wideopenthrottle]

in/at camp or while away for a day (or longer) hunt makes a big difference...for a regular day hunt I carry a day pack with small tarp, spare socks, water, spare ammo, some food and usually 1 or 2 beer...Also spare mini gloves, spare hat, spare compass/gps, spare flagging tape, and maybe some extra rope besides what I always carry on my belt....

on my belt I always carry 2 knives ( a folding buck and a leatherman) and if in grizz country my larger Kabar... a mini-mag light, 20 feet of 5mil kernmantle rope, and my emergency pouch inc: strong pair rubber gloves (asswipe in one and papertowel in the other), small firstaid kit (including steri-strips and roll of white tape etc), small survival kit (inc a couple of nails, snare wire, fishing line/lures, fire starter sparker, oxo cubes, small pouch of sterilized water etc) also spare flashlight (tape over battery terminals so it doesn't accidentally get turned on), sharpie pen, waterproof paper, spare flagging tape, couple of liver/heart bags

around my neck I have compass (always goes on while getting dressed in the morning), binos and often a game call.

[PressurePoint]

my boots, packs (day or multi day depending obviously) water container, jet boil, sharp knife, arse wipe, lighter, ammo, game bags

Two thumbs up. The more and more I hunt the less I take. Two sharp knifes, jet boil, life straw, flint, and some sewchers from the hospital (the needles that come with the thread attached) and my KUIU guide pants/jacket and some rain gear. Oh and that thing called a rifle.....

[HarryToolips]

Compass and a porn mag...

[warnniklz]

Sunglasses... hands down. Had to think about it, pack, boots, rifle, optics and knife are obvious choices. But I always have sunnys with me. In the winter, the glare off the snow is brutal if the sun is out. In the summer... the sun obviously. I hate road hunting and shooting with them on. But Hiking... sunglasses are a must have for me. Even though they aren't something I think I have to have.

[scuba]

Gotta have good boots, good optics and a gun that shoots straight

[monasheemountainman]

Sunglasses... hands down. Had to think about it, pack, boots, rifle, optics and knife are obvious choices. But I always have sunnys with me. In the winter, the glare off the snow is brutal if the sun is out. In the summer... the sun obviously. I hate road hunting and shooting with them on. But Hiking... sunglasses are a must have for me. Even though they aren't something I think I have to have.

good one...often looked past but handy as hell..keeps shit outta your eyes too, bugs twigs etc

[FortBoy]

only thing i can add that hasnt been mentioned is my bio lite stove! have been using it for every meal in the woods for the last 3 years, no gas, no propane, just a handy lil wood stove with a turbine that will cook /boil up anything you need. charged up my gps and anything else with a usb charger.

[two-feet]

Good boots, knife, lighter, flagging tape.

[ssor77]

Rubber raingear, tp, knife, lighter

[albravo2]

hiking poles.
leatherman wave.

[Squamch]

Life straw.
a little pill bottle with Motrin, benedryl, and reactine.
epipen (one of my hunting partners is VERY allergic to bees, if he gets stung he gets the pen, followed by a couple benedryl).
Dry socks and shoes in the truck.
A small pot and a jetboil. After gutting and skinning, it's nice to wash your hands with warm water.

[TreeStandMan]

After my rifle, ammo and boots, the next most important thing is toilet paper, because wiping with a pinecone is for the bears, not the hunter.

[caddisguy]

Can't do without a knife (usually bring 2 folding knives, along with a leatherman and a barracuda with replaceable blades), game bags, compass, bone saw kit, lighters, candles, lifestraw, headlamps, shooting stick, bum pad for sitting, flagging tape, rope. I was given a SPOT for Christmas, so I'll be packing that around too.

I have also really become fond of those disposable electronic cigarettes (the ones you can by in different flavors are the pharmacy which do not contain nicotine) ... they are excellent for testing the wind/thermals.

For my trailcam circuit, I can't do without my tablet and usb <-> minisd card reader... that said, my hunting efforts and trailcam enjoyment are two separate hobbies for the most part.

As others said, TP is huge... won't venture far without it.

Gear I can live without? Well, I often hunt in thick / steep areas where I'm lucky to see more than 30 yards, so on many hunts if I know for certain I will not need them, I ditch the binos. I prefer to have a tarp, but don't always bring one. Calls / rattle bags and stuff like that sometimes get left behind. I love to bring a camera or two to record the memories, but sometimes those get left behind as well.

[scoutlt1]

Compass and a porn mag...


You hunt solo too huh?

[BCBear]

zap straps are gold when you need one!

[moosinaround]

My leatherman, my buck hunting knife, my diamond sharpener, my magnesium fire stick, a jug of water, my scarpas, and my 300 win mag. Moosin

[RiverRunner]

Merino wool buff …...(neck gaiter/scarf like thingy)

…and all the other usual items one needs to exist and hunt properly.

But that buff is a very appreciated luxury item.

[HarryToolips]

After my rifle, ammo and boots, the next most important thing is toilet paper, because wiping with a pinecone is for the bears, not the hunter.
Mullen works well as asswipe, as does cdn tire money, if you forget tp....as does moss and grass..and snow in the winter..
And on a side note, my life straw is fudged, so I continue to do what I've always done, drink without purifying..I just pick my water sources..examples: water coming out of the rocks on a hillside, I know the earth has filtered it..or, this time of year, I know there's so much runoff I'm not too concerned about the streams coming from a stagnant water source that has giardia or crypto..or in the winter, everybody says don't eat snow, I say pick your time- I eat it while I'm working hard snowshoeing, so I don't have to worry about it bringing down my core temperature, in fact it helps me to not sweat too much...it all works for me..

[shortrange]

A hat. It rains a lot. Decent boots. And snacks. I usually load an audio book on my phone so I don't get bored sitting still waiting for the buck... Word of advice to new hunters: Get out of the truck. The animals aren't living on the road.

[Rookie Hunter]

Great tips guys. Keep it coming!

[Dougielightning]

Binoculars single most important for me, two many friends have been scoped before and with all the species we hunt and restrictions, points, sex etc, I find binos the most helpful tool for enjoying the woods. This and I hunt a lot with my 14 year old daughter and it helps youngsters see more and identify more making the trip more rewarding

[Chopper]

I don't EVER leave home with out a survival kit ...

Cast iron frying pan, stick of butter, and a container of Montreal Steak Spice ...

[Treed]

While I'm hunting what goes in my pack is: Binos, two knives, sharpener, compass, first aid kit and basic survival gear, tarp, headlamp, map, firestarter, plastic bags (meat comes off the bones into the pack), zap strap, duct tape around my water bottle, spare batteries, flagging tape, 50 ft paracord. Water bottle gets filled as I go. Moss, grass, vanilla leaf (three ply leaves) and mullein (totally agree on this one - so soft!) are my tp.

[SR80]

Small sil tarp with cordage and a couple pegs, my tripod and bino adapter for the tripod. And a good backpack!:wink:

[Rookie Hunter]

I make sure to always bring a Lens Pen. It's sold at most camera stores but will quickly clean your binoculars and scope lenses in bad conditions.

[allan]

Bear spray on a drop leg holster! so I can wear my pack(s) comfortably and never leave my spray attached to bag when I take it off.
I hunt archery, I've had it out twice, once for charging grizz, once for a pair of Cougars that wanted to eat me. never had to deploy spray. But when your pack is 10 ft away when mr predator shows up and you don't have your bear spray close its a bad feeling!!

[Weatherby Fan]

Aside from a rifle I'm comfortable with, my Leica 10x42 binoculars are at the top of the list........I could leave my gun at home and still have fun hunting as long as I have my binos !

Things I must have along....

Jetboil stove
Outdoor edge replaceable blade knife
Spectra twine & rope
Wyoming saw
Toilet paper
food&water
cel phone or camera

[.264winmag]

Headlamp with lithium batteries

[Rookie Hunter]

Merino wool buff …...(neck gaiter/scarf like thingy)

…and all the other usual items one needs to exist and hunt properly.

But that buff is a very appreciated luxury item.

Totally agree. I always have my merino wool buff! The warm factor provided by such a small item is pretty impressive.

[Barracuda]

toilet paper or a long sleeved shirt :lol:

[decker9]

The only other thing I can think of that hasent been mentioned I don't think is my phone skope setup, both in the mountains or in the pickup.
Best boots and pack you can afford. Brand wise I'm still in the air with boots, but my Kifaru DT1 is the first thing I grab before the start of packing for any trip. By far the best investment iv ever made to my packing gear.

[taxidermy man]

A few things i carry would be the following brass snare wire,50mw green laser pointer(incase you get lost you can shine it in the night sky and people can see it),a fixed blade knife,fenix pd35 960lumen flashlight(highly recommended flashlight)
,a handheld walkie talkie(if your in a group).

[NorBC]

A fresh tin of Copenhagen

[Steelwheels]

a porn mag...

Where does one find one these days..:confused:

I'm not that keen of Selfies..

[warnniklz]

A fresh tin of Copenhagen

I was thinking the same... trying to figure if Copenhagen is part of the gear or same category as coffee. Either way, it's essential.

[floden]

This is a great list- looking forward to your video.
I won't repeat everything else here but will add that I always carry multiple lighters and flint.
Those go In my pockets and in the pack separately. Then I make sure to grab a bit of birch bark as I'm walking and tuck it away.

I have a wallet that is only for hunting and fishing licenses etc. in that goes an extra 20 bucks ( I suck at poker, so....)

on a paracord loop is my old Swiss Army knife. I tie that through a belt loop so it's always at hand.

I swap out out my boot laces for paracord. Never had to use it but it's a zero cost on weight.

my binocs are a must have and they are on a bino buddy to save my neck.

great post thanks!

[warnniklz]

The opening is 30 seconds long... but here's a video explaining paracord vs just plain nylon


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uXSHiIytZU&nohtml5=False

[nature girl]

Besides the gun, ammo and a knife I have to have my camera.

[Rookie Hunter]

Can't forget electricians tape for the gun barrel.

[Lastcar]

Good binos, good bino harness and good tripod. If I have learned anything in my first few years. Being able to see S^&T matters.

Being able to be comfortable carrying and using your S*&T you use to see S$%T matters more.

Cause if bringing and using the S&%T you use to see S#$T isn't comfortable you won't put in the time trying to see S%^T.

Hunting seems to go a lot better when you see things. Well...theoretically...I am still working on proving this theory consistently. But sure seems to work for others.

Specifically in my case:

Zeiss Conquest HD 10x42
Alaska Guide Creations bino harness
Sirui T-025x tripod and Manfrotto ball head

[Singleshotneeded]

Meopta HD 10X42 binos, Alaskan Guide SV-30 buck knife with guthook, water bag with spout, TP, lighter, thermos of hot java, merino wool base layer, rope.

[gmachine19]

My pillow and a warm sleeping bag

[luger]

Ice breaker merino wool and a down vest

[SR80]

Good binos, good bino harness and good tripod. If I have learned anything in my first few years. Being able to see S^&T matters.

Being able to be comfortable carrying and using your S*&T you use to see S$%T matters more.

Cause if bringing and using the S&%T you use to see S#$T isn't comfortable you won't put in the time trying to see S%^T.

Hunting seems to go a lot better when you see things. Well...theoretically...I am still working on proving this theory consistently. But sure seems to work for others.

Specifically in my case:

Zeiss Conquest HD 10x42
Alaska Guide Creations bino harness
Sirui T-025x tripod and Manfrotto ball head

you swear a lot

[BgBlkDg]

Yeah, but he has asked that we do some shooting together at Mission and I am sure that my laidback, gentle, soft personality will influence him to cease such behaviour.

As is well known, I am a mellow old fellow and spread cheer and "tolerance" far and wide, so, there is hope.

[swampthing]

Yeah, but he has asked that we do some shooting together at Mission and I am sure that my laidback, gentle, soft personality will influence him to cease such behaviour.

As is well known, I am a mellow old fellow and spread cheer and "tolerance" far and wide, so, there is hope.

I picture you bitch slappin young dudes for wearing their hat backwards!!

[Walksalot]

The three basics for survival are food, clothing and shelter. After that it is what you feel comfortable with. Some power bars, water bottle( a few wraps of duct tape), an extra t shirt and socks, a ground sheet and a couple of space blankets, a navigational device and the knowledge to operate it, a personal locator beacon, extra batteries, first aid kit and a knowledge of first aid, a knife and sharpener, a folding pruning saw(also good for removing antlers from a skull), a small stove of some description and metal pot of some description( I throw in a couple of packages of Mr Noodles), fire starter, rope of some description, flagging tape(pull it when you are done).
Now we will go hunting. Rifle, extra cartridges, binoculars( I won't hunt with a person who does not carry binoculars), good boots, good clothing(cotton kills), gloves, an idea of the lay of the land and most important of all some good common sense. The amount of gear you carry is determined by the animals you hunt as a sheep or goat hunter will probably have a spotting scope.
Once you have your pack complete to your satisfaction do an over nighter with just your pack and you will soon see what is missing. Some things in your pack you will probably never use but when you are in a survival situation it all adds to your piece of mind the knowledge that you are prepared for a survival situation. Remember, at the on set of a survival situation it Is your God given right to have an increased heart rate until a cooler head prevales.
Oh I forgot the most important thing. A piece of paper left on the counter in your house with the corner of the world you are hunting or hiking in.
In my years with Search and Rescue it always astounded me how ill prepared some people were for a survival situation. IT WILL NOT HAPPEN TO ME, ya right!

[wideopenthrottle]

The three basics for survival are food, clothing and shelter. After that it is what you feel comfortable with. Some power bars, water bottle( a few wraps of duct tape), an extra t shirt and socks, a ground sheet and a couple of space blankets, a navigational device and the knowledge to operate it, a personal locator beacon, extra batteries, first aid kit and a knowledge of first aid, a knife and sharpener, a folding pruning saw(also good for removing antlers from a skull), a small stove of some description and metal pot of some description( I throw in a couple of packages of Mr Noodles), fire starter, rope of some description, flagging tape(pull it when you are done).
Now we will go hunting. Rifle, extra cartridges, binoculars( I won't hunt with a person who does not carry binoculars), good boots, good clothing(cotton kills), gloves, an idea of the lay of the land and most important of all some good common sense. The amount of gear you carry is determined by the animals you hunt as a sheep or goat hunter will probably have a spotting scope.
Once you have your pack complete to your satisfaction do an over nighter with just your pack and you will soon see what is missing. Some things in your pack you will probably never use but when you are in a survival situation it all adds to your piece of mind the knowledge that you are prepared for a survival situation. Remember, at the on set of a survival situation it Is your God given right to have an increased heart rate until a cooler head prevales.
Oh I forgot the most important thing. A piece of paper left on the counter in your house with the corner of the world you are hunting or hiking in.
In my years with Search and Rescue it always astounded me how ill prepared some people were for a survival situation. IT WILL NOT HAPPEN TO ME, ya right!

I m good with all that except the binos part..fully half of my hunts have poor to non existent visibility for bino's so they are completely useless in those situations..i rely on my ability to be a really good sneak...for half or more of my deer taken I did not even need a scope I was so close..recognizing primo territory and adjusting your stalking speed is crucial as well as stopping and doing a thorough scan every few steps is what is needed in the thick stuff...binos in theses circumstances are just a pain in the butt especially if you have to bob and weave a lot through brush...they are super important if you have mostly more than 100 yards visibility though...I know you are trying to make a point but binos are not a "make or break" for me to hunt with someone

[358jess]

Haven't seen it yet but for anyone else with little ones in diapers at home baby wipes work great for cleaning hands after field dressing. Usually have a pack under truck seat be it for bear blood or exploding diaper.

[Walksalot]

[QUOTE=wideopenthrottle;1771611]I m good with all that except the binos part..fully half of my hunts have poor to non existent visibility for bino's so they are completely useless in those situations..i rely on my ability to be a really good sneak...for half or more of my deer taken I did not even need a scope I was so close..recognizing primo territory and adjusting your stalking speed is crucial as well as stopping and doing a thorough scan every few steps is what is needed in the thick stuff...binos in theses circumstances are just a pain in the butt especially if you have to bob and weave a lot through brush...they are super important if you have mostly more than 100 yards visibility though...I know you are trying to make a point but binos are not a "make or break" for me to hunt with someone[/QUOTE

On the binos issue I must stand my ground. I too hunt the bush and the majority of my animals have been taken at 50 yds or less. I find the binos very helpful in thicker bush to simply scan the surrounding area and more than once have picked out an animal either feeding or bedded down. More than once I have sacrificed the early morning hunt to go back to the truck because I have forgotten my binoculars. I use a scope mounted rifle and the rifle only comes to my shoulder when I have positively identified my target. I have lost some opportunities on some animals because my binos go up before my rifle but to me that is not a bad thing. I think binos are crucial on a hunt where one must make certain of a number of points on the antler. I watched a scenario play out which ended with my son shooting a buck. I watched him keeping track of the buck with his binoculars as the buck made its way to his position . He kept track of the deer with his binos and the rifle only came forward when he decided it was time to make the shot and that was at 30 yards. When I asked him why he let the deer get so close his answer was that he waited until he knew where the bullet would strike in case of a miss. Be sure of your target and beyond.

[TreeStandMan]

This:


On the binos issue I must stand my ground. I too hunt the bush and the majority of my animals have been taken at 50 yds or less. I find the binos very helpful in thicker bush to simply scan the surrounding area and more than once have picked out an animal either feeding or bedded down. More than once I have sacrificed the early morning hunt to go back to the truck because I have forgotten my binoculars. I use a scope mounted rifle and the rifle only comes to my shoulder when I have positively identified my target. I have lost some opportunities on some animals because my binos go up before my rifle but to me that is not a bad thing. I think binos are crucial on a hunt where one must make certain of a number of points on the antler. I watched a scenario play out which ended with my son shooting a buck. I watched him keeping track of the buck with his binoculars as the buck made its way to his position . He kept track of the deer with his binos and the rifle only came forward when he decided it was time to make the shot and that was at 30 yards. When I asked him why he let the deer get so close his answer was that he waited until he knew where the bullet would strike in case of a miss. Be sure of your target and beyond.

You should be very proud of your son. Clearly you trained him right.

[Lastcar]

Yeah, but he has asked that we do some shooting together at Mission and I am sure that my laidback, gentle, soft personality will influence him to cease such behaviour.

As is well known, I am a mellow old fellow and spread cheer and "tolerance" far and wide, so, there is hope.

I was just warming up for our day at the range! We got duped by the weather all week!

[Walksalot]

This:


You should be very proud of your son. Clearly you trained him right.

Thank you for saying that, I am proud of him.

[RiverOtter]

Aside from boots, clothing, rifle, bins and pack.

Lighters(Never less than 2)
Wet Fire cubes, at least 2
Start My Fire flint stick
A few small squares of old inner tube(Amazing for keeping a fire going when forced to use wet/damp wood)
Sil-tarp or similar with pre attached guyline rope and tensioners
1, preferably 2 heavy duty black garbage bags. Make great ponchos, ground covers or a water/wind proof sleeping bag in a pinch
Rite in the Rain note book with pencil. Pencil makes a great duct tape holder
1 compression pad or better yet, a small first aid kit with a few bandages, gauze pads, safety pins, zap straps etc.
Small zip-loc bag of baby wipes with extra isopropyl alcohol added. Aside the obvious use, they an clean up around wounds
Toilet paper, double bagged.
Merino toque and buff
UV chap stick, because dry cracked lips suck
Light weight leather gloves. If you're forced to gather wood, make a shelter and possibly heat rocks to help heat without CO, you'll welcome them.
Knife(regular and Havalon with spare blades)
Small folding saw
LED headlamp. Super important for a night out and can signal for help from a great distance
Delorme In Reach, so I can rest easier, knowing my family isn't expecting me home that night
Lately I've also been tucking a Sam Splint in my pack as well, because they are sooo versatile and weight hardly anything

Prolly forgetting some stuff, but the basics are covered.

[nature girl]

I forgot to add I bought a tick key the other day and that definitely will be coming with me on all my hunts.

[brian]

There is a lot of gear that I can do without. Even things like head lamps and first aid kits can be left at home and I won't miss them much on an average hunt. I can still get out in the dark without a head lamp but won't be field dressing anything. My most used hunting tools are my GPS and compass. I use my GPS as a note taking device so it is usually loaded with data that I want to use on a current hunt and use the compass to compliment it. But even so if my GPS fails on a hunt which it has, then I usually just turn it off and simply hunt the land. So even it is non-essential. The compass is important to me, but still forgettable if I am in familiar areas. The one tool other than a sharp knife that I rely on is my Binos. They are the one tool I feel really hampered without having them. I get discouraged if I have to put them away because the conditions are too bad for keeping optics clear because I know my game spotting will be lessened. I feel naked if I accidentally leave them at home. They force me to slow down and absorb the landscape. They allow me to see much more than my eyes alone ever will. They are the must have hunting tool for me. But then again I still kill animals without using them, so even they are non essential compared to a good weapon and a sharp knife.

[SR80]

I m good with all that except the binos part..fully half of my hunts have poor to non existent visibility for bino's so they are completely useless in those situations..i rely on my ability to be a really good sneak...for half or more of my deer taken I did not even need a scope I was so close..recognizing primo territory and adjusting your stalking speed is crucial as well as stopping and doing a thorough scan every few steps is what is needed in the thick stuff...binos in theses circumstances are just a pain in the butt especially if you have to bob and weave a lot through brush...they are super important if you have mostly more than 100 yards visibility though...I know you are trying to make a point but binos are not a "make or break" for me to hunt with someone

I couldn't imagine going on a hunt, or even a hike without nockers. If you need a closer look at something do you just look through your rifle scope then? Not trying to start a pissin match, but I am just curious?

[wideopenthrottle]

I shoulder and look through my scope in a safe way on a regular basis as I feel this is an important hunting skill to have...otherwise I would rely on my eyes and stealth and the kind of season terrain...I do carry binos when they are going to be usefull for longer distance...if the bush is too thick for binos why have them...I carry them most of the time unless I know they will be useless...I just don't make it a "make or break for a hunting partner".......and yes you have trained your son well....

[Walksalot]

I shoulder and look through my scope in a safe way on a regular basis as I feel this is an important hunting skill to have...otherwise I would rely on my eyes and stealth and the kind of season terrain...I do carry binos when they are going to be usefull for longer distance...if the bush is too thick for binos why have them...I carry them most of the time unless I know they will be useless...I just don't make it a "make or break for a hunting partner".......and yes you have trained your son well....

When I was younger I had a hunter point his rifle at me and let me tell you I was never so scared. I was sitting beside a tree dressed in red and black Mackinaw hunting coat and hat. I remember putting my head behind the tree and still thinking he would shoot me through the guts. My dad asked me why I did not yell at him and I commented that I was so scared I did not say a word. After about 15 seconds, going on a life time, the guy quickly dropped his rifle and hurried away.

[RiverOtter]

When I was younger I had a hunter point his rifle at me and let me tell you I was never so scared. I was sitting beside a tree dressed in red and black Mackinaw hunting coat and hat. I remember putting my head behind the tree and still thinking he would shoot me through the guts. My dad asked me why I did not yell at him and I commented that I was so scared I did not say a word. After about 15 seconds, going on a life time, the guy quickly dropped his rifle and hurried away.
Had a similar experience up the Tuchodi a few years back, except I was with 3 other guys and we were in the wide open, inside 200 yards, so he knew we were human before he put his rifle up to see us looking back with bins. I was SOOO close to throwing up my rifle and returning in kind, but my conscience wouldn't let me. I was phucking pissed and let him know when we walked up to talk. He was apologetic, but in this day an age it should be a non issue, as bins can be super compact AND very affordable.

I didn't ask, as I really didn't want to hear the answer, but I guarantee he had a round in the pipe as he was sitting on a mineral lick......

To WOT, how would you feel if you had another hunter "confirm" you were human, via his/her scope, cause it was "too thick" for bins? Might be hard to relate to, until it happens maybe.

[wideopenthrottle]

There is never a time to point your rifle in an unsafe direction....simple as that...I shoulder and point at a stump on a hill at 50 yards on a regular basis, something/somewhere obviously not occupied by a human....shouldering your rifle and acquiring a target is an important skill...do you want to find out that you are very slow at it or your scope is covered in mud when a grizz is charging?

ps...in the terrain I am talking about I prolly wouldnt even have a scoped rifle....

[Murder]

Boonie Packer Safari SLing (keeps hands free for glassing etc)

[brian]

if the bush is too thick for binos why have them

I have found that bush is rarely too thick for binos. Its weird to scan an area with your eyes and see nothing then throw up your binos and a deer materializes. I hunt at close range in thick Vancouver island bush and I feel naked without my binos. My habit has been that I move too fast if I am not using binos. I see way more game slowing down and glassing regularly. Saying that my last two kills have been because I heard them before I saw them.

[Stone C. Killer]

I find my binos very helpful in most hunting circumstances and you will usually not far me from my spotter as well

[lemadil]

A map and compass too many count on the gps working but forget batteries or have no coverage. with this you need to take the time to learn how to read a paper map and use a compass that's not on your gps or smart phone

[srupp]

Hmmm my list of stuff that goes in a daypack..is simmilar to whats here..bog dog survival knife d2 steel..compass..fenix headlamp..2x81 mg asa ..jammer help..survival lighter..brunton flamless 100 mph lighter..survival blanket..small aluminum reflective sheet...etc etc...my first aid kit is limited because experience allows adaptation and improvisation. ..SPOT...the list is somewhat longer..

However what is the minimum must haves?
GPS...it is easy to get turned around..no guessing..GPS allows self rescue. .If you are able to get out..
SPOT or sat phone..or inreach..for those times where you can tell exactly where you are..Gps..and exactly where you may die without assistance..a signal fire or smoke may take several days if no one knows your missing. .time you may not have..

I always take my day pack..but wont consider going anywhre without GPS..and method of getting help
Srupp

[gamehunter6o]

As of two years ago, my thermal imager. Beats binoculars any day.

[Rookie Hunter]

Thanks for the responses all! Just a heads up, Episode 7 is hot of the press. Mike and I mentioned our top pics from this thread. Check it out here: http://www.therookiehunter.com/podcast

Our website is currently under construction but the podcasts are functional. You can also access via itunes per the signature below.

We would love to hear your feedback on the episode or the show in general!

[hookedonblacktails]

Boonie Packer Safari SLing (keeps hands free for glassing etc)

Yup, excellent piece of equipment, couldn't imagine hunting without one now.

[RiverRunner]

If you liked the merino buff option...
Here's another one of my favourites… The concept isn't new as a lot of clothing comes with these integrated into the sleeves already, but I prefer to have them separate.
Wristies!…
better than fingerless gloves IMHO. Keeps your wrists warm where the blood flow is closest to the skin… amazing dexterity… you can wear regular gloves over them…. and if you don't want them on, just slide your thumb out and push them up your sleeves, thus still keeping your wrists warm.
I love these things… my toddler will actually wear them too!

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a166/rodflyrod/Mobile%20Uploads/image_28.jpeg (http://s11.photobucket.com/user/rodflyrod/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_28.jpeg.html)

can be ordered at wristiess.com (no affiliation)

[RiverOtter]

Been converting worn out wool socks into those for years, they're awesome and cheap.

[wideopenthrottle]

I always carry about 5 pairs of the 99 cent mini gloves..the ones from army and navy last year were a bit bigger and better that the ones I have gotten from the dollar stores in the past..all I need down to about -10 ...when colder sometimes just for the shooting hand and a thicker glove on the left...can still pick up a dime off a hardwood floor while wearing them...