You’ve done your research, planned a trip, and are about to embark on your first ever backpack hunt. First off, let me say CONGRATS! You are in for a real treat. Backpack hunting truly is the whole package. It’s beyond hunting and a great opportunity to cut the cord of city life and embrace some adventure. These hunts are learning experiences, as you’ll find out. Each time we go out, we learn a little more about what to bring and what not to bring. These items will vary of course from person to person, but I promise you, you’ll be making modifications to your gear list sooner or later. It’s inevitable. Down below, I’ve listed 3 items that I’ve found incredibly valuable on backpack hunts. They are simple, cheap, and very useful both physically and mentally. These items are of course aside from stuff like boots, backpack, weapon, etc. I could add much more to this list, but these seemed to reach across the board in terms of general items you really want to consider checking out.
When I first started backpack hunting paracord was one of those things that seemed to be in every hunter’s pack. It was for good reason too, because this stuff can be used all sorts of ways. Paracord can be used to help process animals in the field, hang meat in trees, keep tents secure, and more. One of my favorite things I’ve used paracord for is actually making a laundry line inside of my shelter. Oftentimes, there are tiny loops up in the tops of shelters that will allow one to hang lights and such. Well, I like running paracord through them from one end to the other. On them, I’ll hang up my socks and undies. This is awesome because it frees up space on the inside of the shelter. Most of these backpacking tents are not giant, so space is usually limited. I’ve found this to be incredibly helpful. I’ll put on a pair of socks in the morning, and when I’m gone, the pair from the day before will be hanging on the line and drying out. The next day, I’ll switch em out and repeat the process through the whole hunt.
Having foot issues miles into the backcountry is some nasty business all the way around. When each step you take is a step you are dreading, that is a recipe for a bad experience and miserable hunt. For that reason, keeping something like leukotape in your pack is huge. This is an athletic type of tape that is fantastic for covering up hot spots and keeping blisters from going south quick. It stays on incredibly well and has a nice soft texture on the top of it that doesn’t snag. I’ve had the same leukotape on for a week straight with no issues. Sure, it was black instead of the normal brown color when I got home, but it kept me going strong. Leukotape can also be used to repair things in the field. Say you break a tent pole or tripod. This stuff is very strong and can likely help in a pinch to patch that gear up. On a recent coues deer hunt, one of our monopods broke for filming. We used leukotape to fix it and the filming went on for over a week more.
Ok, so this isn’t as functional as it is mental, but it’s important nonetheless I believe. Backpacking food can get boring, plain and simple. Eating the same thing every single day also has a way of wearing at someone. By having a specialty food item in each one of your food bags, you’ll keep the day fresh with some exciting snacks. My wife knows I’ll just throw the same food in my bags every day. Often though, she’ll sneak gummy bears, beef jerky, and pop tarts in my food though. When I get in the backcountry and see this stuff, I’m struck with an immediate smile. It’s the little things in the backcountry. Heather’s Choice Packaroons are another snack I salivate over on hunts. They are little coconut cookies basically. A healthy and delicious snack that makes a great dessert. Another food that’s always been something I look forward to is my midday coffee. It’s something that always seemed to lift my spirits and give me that recharge I needed for the evening. A drink mix is another way to spice things up. Drinking just water all of the time is great, but I will admit, it’s nice to swig back some wilderness athlete. I’ll do this usually with dinner and it’s a great way to cap off the night.
There ya have it. 3 things that I think everyone should have with them on a backpack hunt. As you go farther into your journey as a backpack hunter, you’ll absolutely learn your own tips and tricks along the way, and I think that’s awesome. It’s one of the beautiful things about backcountry hunting. There isn’t a one size fits all system. We can mold our systems to our styles and personalities alike. So, I say run with it. If you’re new to backpack hunting and looking to know more, I’d encourage you to check out a book I wrote called Becoming a Backpack Hunter. It is a from front to back look at backpack hunting for a beginner. It’ll take one from the point of they don’t even know if they want to backpack hunt, all the way to when you’re packing an animal out back to your vehicle. Find it on Amazon in both kindle and paperback formats. It’s spring bear season right now though, so I gotta run! Good luck to you all out there and stay safe.
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