Re: Which Hunting Pack?
My needs are simple, my means simpler, I don't cover lots of ground anymore due to the heart condition, my concentraion tends to center on the contents rather than the wrapper.
Old man's contents:
Empty 1 liter saline bottle (for urine, no scent telltales)
Dried apples, beef jerky snacks
Apple Juice
Several long hanks of camo 550 cord
Dozen 1" ID steel rings, 5 or 6 screw lock snap link thingies
Spare new, sharp utility knife blades for my folder
Elbow length plastic cow inseminator gloves, at least five pairs
Heavy clear plastic 55gal bags
Bright International orange 55gal plastic bags
Half dozen tall kitchen trash bags (for relining packs, putting on over socks under shoes in case of deep water, etc.)
Spare sets of dry warm gloves and socks
One set of white/gray/black oversize camo BDU's for add'l warmth and overshell camo change in case of snow
Several Warm watch caps, including at least one white
Metal match, compass, climber's thermometer
Small sealed packs of tinder
A fairly significant addition to ammo supply, mainly for signalling
Fairly good first aid kit, supplemented with Duck tape, Kotex and tampons, etc, to cope with bleeding incidents
Several flattened wire coathangers, slipjoint pliers.
This is all from memory, and there are undoubtedly other small items which find their way in as they occur to me.
The point here is to provide for basic needs, and provide maximum flexibility for contingencies involving staying warm, dry, and hydrated, some nourishment to allow the body to continue to generate warmth, dressing game, providing contingency shelter, dragging, hoisting, safety harness, descending, and passive stationary signalling.
My actual packs are camo items, Red Head brand from Bass Pro. A medium sized frameless day pack, a hunter fanny pack and a belt that consists mainly of a warm hand muff, and another belt that supports a 1" insulated camo seat cushion. All carrying compartments are double lined with oversize plastic bags as a water shielding measure. Bags are cheap, contents can be life-or-death.
My hunting these days is mainly more stationary, usually up in a stand, and the season features temps in the teens and wind chills that go subzero for days on end. Obviously I carry a cellphone, and the entire family knows that if I ever get cut off, I will listen for five minutes on the hour, during waking hours. I keep the phone in an inside pocket, not too close to my Pacemaker/Defib implant.
Large plastic bags, partially inflated and sealed can provide significant primary heat insulation. A few more, opened up and joined with duck tape, can be fashioned into emergency shelter; then there's ground cover sheets. Placing stones, etc in the corners, can allow 550 cord to be tightly tied to entrap the stones, forming line anchors, and can then be staked/tied out to form tent lines, tarp tiedowns, etc., without needing to put any holes into the plastic sheeting. Steel rings can be used as rudimentary pulleys, to permit fabricating something like a block and tackle. If you understand the engineering priciples behind basic pioneering, survival becomes a matter of skill, and is greatly enhanced by providing ample, simple basic materials.
Greg
