whats in your pack??

[ICEMAN]

I have one pack I carry most all of the season. If I am solo hunting it is loaded to the gills with alot of survival type stuff. I am too embarrassed to list it all, it is big. If I have others nearby who would come looking for me, I carry less.

One of the most important items I think guys should carry in their pack is a foam pad, like a pad you place under your sleeping bag when camping. The reason I say this, is because I have read many a story, a guy goes down with a fractured leg bone, or similar. Even in mildly cool weather, you are now at risk for hypothermia if you cannot get off the ground, pretty quick too. If you cannot move around, make fire, etc...you are going to die right there from the cold. I have a kids foam sleeping pad (which i trimmed for width so it fits perfectly inside my pack) and carry it at all times. If I go down, I can get this out, with my survival bivy and have a bettter chance at surviving than without. It does not add too much weight, and it firms up the sides of my pack. Bulks up the pack a bit though...

[edmondshunter]

Good point Iceman!!

 I carry the same thing, I made mine from my old ridge rest pad.  I usually put it between my pack and my back. Takes up less room, easy access, plus pads those pointy little corners that always find there way to the backside of my pack.

The one thing I forgot on my list was a wide mouth plastic bottle, dont think I need to explain

[GreenHunter]

Great lists.  Has anyone used fine sandpaper instead of a sharpening stone?  It would be lighter and could be used as tinder if needed.  I was just wondering it anyone has tried that.

[addicted]

bringing that post back from the dead

havent tried it. there are some pretty small (pen) sharpeners out there and it would prolly be hard to keep the correct angle across the blade with a piece of paper.  20 degrees for a fine cooking edge 25 degrees for a tougher/longer lasting hunting edge, and ive generally heard 23 degrees for a general goal.

the paper is a good idea though. especially if there is something to could clamp it to make it rigid. i dunno if it is actually strong enough to sharpen a hard quality blade.

[Skinner]

Not much in my pack but in my horses pack: beer, elk steak, chicken breasts, deer steak, cheese dogs, camp chairs, beer,  ice, coca-cola, you get the gist!!   Otherwise the essentials to make it through the night in case I can't make it back.  Emergency blanket is one I added for the nov. Idaho adventure.  A couple friends used theirs 2 years ago when they stayed out all night.  Oh and some Ibuproferen 800's do wonders!

[rasbo]

parachute cord 50 ft,socks,lighter,fritos in a zip lock bag dont laugh fritos are very good fire starters and you can eat then,lint from the dryer also.3 knives,headlamp batteries,tp of course,gloves,hydra pack which I love. compass ,bandanas.granola bars,small folding saw which I use alot.50 light gathering tacks they are cheap and for comming and going in the dark they are awesome.that seems like alot but it doesnt weigh nuch.

[YukonMud]

I tend to carry a little to much, at least that's what my hunting buddy's say, but I would rather be safe than sorry.  And almost all of it has been covered earlier in this thread, accept one item.

A bore snake.
And it has come in handy at least once.

[Alchase]

50 light gathering tacks they are cheap and for coming and going in the dark they are awesome.

There is a new one? what are "light Gathering tacks"?
Tip: if you use Fritoes as a fire starter, ensure they are stale first.
I ate mine, now I use cotton balls covered with Vaseline......no worries about eating that fire starter.

Hydro unit: Since I started using a hydro unit I seem to drink two to three times the water that I use to with a water bottle/canteen. Sucking it through a tube just does not seem to quench my thirst like drinking out of a bottle

[WAcoyotehunter]

some twine, 2 qt water bottles, lots of candy bars and dried fruit, matches, lighter, game bags, knife, small saw, sharpener, headlamp, space blanket, a few bandages and gauze, maps, TP, cell phone(off), wallet w/ licenses and some cash, lightweight rain/wind jacket, battery's for the lamp, a few tools for the bow, and a pill bottle with a mixed bag of pills...antacid, advil, tylenol, excedrin...

[Aperson]

okay so i'm 17, and can't carry a side arm(desides my knife), what should i bring with me for protection?

[ICEMAN]

Modern rifle season?

[Tony 270WSM]

After 15 years of hunting I finally got a first aid kit 

Nice size, lot of bandages, wrap, space blanket, burn cream, itch cream... just hope I will continue to not need it.

[Aperson]

Modern rifle season?

yea, modern firearm, but i'd rather not have to use a big gun on someone, or something that i don't intend to kill.

[ICEMAN]

Modern rifle season?

yea, modern firearm, but i'd rather not have to use a big gun on someone, or something that i don't intend to kill.

If you ever need to shoot someone or something, I hope like hell you intend to kill. Not many folks are skilled enough to "just wound" something.

Is this what you are talking about, defending yourself from someone?

[Aperson]

yea, but if i can avoid it, i hope i can...But, eitherwise, as long as i have fun out there, it's a successful hunt(thats what i was told in my hunters ed class).