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Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: Tatorbones on June 24, 2012, 04:20:00 PM

Title: First year in the field. help Please whats the essentials
Post by: Tatorbones on June 24, 2012, 04:20:00 PM
What are things that every Long bow hunter needs in the field with them no matter what situation? Or where you are hunting.
Title: Re: First year in the field. help Please whats the essentials
Post by: bk_tradguy88 on June 24, 2012, 04:30:00 PM
I carry bow, arrows, glove, quiver, armguard only if layering clothes, knife, grunt call if deer hunting, surefire flashlight, bottle of water, and a thermacell if it's mosquito season. That's usually all.
B
Title: Re: First year in the field. help Please whats the essentials
Post by: buckeye_hunter on June 24, 2012, 04:36:00 PM
Toiloet paper.

For two reasons;
1. The obvious reason
2. Trail marker if blood trailing a long distance. Also can mark your trail if you are lost.
Title: Re: First year in the field. help Please whats the essentials
Post by: Grizzbear on June 24, 2012, 06:44:00 PM
Bow arrows knife water
Title: Re: First year in the field. help Please whats the essentials
Post by: Sam McMichael on June 24, 2012, 07:05:00 PM
map & compass or GPS if not on familiar ground. Snack food - I am diabetic with a tendency for blood sugar drops if I get empty. Water if I am going to be on unfamiliar hunt site or out for an extended time. Cell phone if in an area that I know gets service but kept turned off unless I need to make an emergency call. Extra tab,arm guard,gloves, face mask, knife. I have had to climb out of too many stands when I drop the only item of this type I have with me. Often a pee bottle, like I said, I am diabetic which causes you to pee like a racehorse. Toilet paper ALWAYS.Snakeboots if there is any chance at all they are out. Extra bow string.In short, my haversack is a horn of plenty.
Title: Re: First year in the field. help Please whats the essentials
Post by: ChrisM on June 24, 2012, 07:15:00 PM
Quote
Originally posted by buckeye_hunter:
Toiloet paper.

For two reasons;
1. The obvious reason
2. Trail marker if blood trailing a long distance. Also can mark your trail if you are lost.
This item is just belw bow ad arrow on my list.
Title: Re: First year in the field. help Please whats the essentials
Post by: straitera on June 24, 2012, 07:15:00 PM
Pack w/essentials including & especially compass, water, knife, +/or whatever else this particular hunt may require.
Title: Re: First year in the field. help Please whats the essentials
Post by: el greco on June 24, 2012, 07:20:00 PM
compass,map,hunting liscence,cellphone,small first aid kit,small snack and water,flashlight,knife,black garbage bag,game call,thermacell,wind indicator dust,extra string,face mask(in case of severe mosquito attack),a few yards of thin rope.All of the above can fit in a small funny pack.
Title: Re: First year in the field. help Please whats the essentials
Post by: Brianlocal3 on June 24, 2012, 07:25:00 PM
I hunt such small tracts of land it's a bow arrows glove, armfuard, knive, rope , drinks, and toilet paper.
Title: Re: First year in the field. help Please whats the essentials
Post by: Looper on June 24, 2012, 07:35:00 PM
To be honest, it's difficult to say conclusively what you'll need. We all hunt differently, in varying locals, and have different comfort levels. When I first started, I took scarcely more than my bow, a quiver full of arrows tipped with sharp broadheads, my glove, a knife, and a canteen. Heck, I didn't even wear camo, just plaid shirts and army surplus pants. I was fairly successful, too.

There's nothing wrong at all with starting out with the bare minimum and finding out what you'll need through trial and error.

My barebones list (aside from basic clothing, headwear, and footwear):

my bow
6 arrows tipped with razor sharp broadheads
quiver of some sort
glove and armguard
a 3-4" knife
6" file
some toilet paper
bug dope
canteen
some sort of food bar and an orange
topo map
compass
flint and steel
foam pad

Such a basic setup allows me to be mobile and unencumbered. Everything fits on my belt and the pouches of my cargo pants.

Today, my "kit" is a little more developed, but is still pretty simple. The basics are still present, but I added a few items that increase my comfort level. I continue to hunt like I did when I started out, which is off the ground using natural cover.

My Extended Kit (Additions to my barebones kit):

Waldrop Pac Seat with a small attached fanny pack
3'x5' piece of burlap or a Bush-n-a-Bag
thermocell
Garmin Rino 655T (for communication when I'm hunting with a partner or if I'm in an area with no cell reception)
GameSled (if I'm hunting more than 1/2 mile from my vehicle)
Butt-out tool
Leupold Yosemite 6x30 binos
small pair of limb pruners
machete (if I'm hunting in an area of thick briars or poison ivy)
camera
cell phone
8' of light rope
a few pairs of light rubber gloves
iodine tablets
lightweight water filter
a grunt call
a few scent attractants
more food

I typically take most of the Extended Kit with me when I do all day hunts in remote areas. The Waldrop Pac Seat makes hauling everything around a breeze and can double as a pack frame if need be. It's also a pretty comfortable place to sit.

Aside from all of the stuff, the most important things to bring with you are basic woodsmanship skills and acceptable hunting accuracy. Learn to pattern game, use the wind to your advantage, and hide yourself effectively. Learn when to shoot and when to wait.

Now is the time to finalize your setup and begin a practice regimen. If you already have a decent and repeatable form, I'd recommend your practice sessions consist primarily of shooting one arrow at a time at targets of unknown distances. With consistent practice, your eye will become accustomed to seeing the arrow trajectory and your accuracy will greatly increase, especially in low light conditions.

Good luck this coming season.
Title: Re: First year in the field. help Please whats the essentials
Post by: ChuckC on June 25, 2012, 04:51:00 PM
Dan.  Quite literally, what is "essential" depends wholly upon where you will be and what you are faced with.  Walking around in woodlots of Wisconsin, I often take my bow, an arrow or two, and my license.  I always have a knife on me so I don't even count that.

Spending days afield in the mountains of the west requires much more thought.  A compass and map, some extra gear, some extra knowledge, and even more.

Spending a week or two alone in Alaska's outback wilderness. .  well, you get the picture.
ChuckC
Title: Re: First year in the field. help Please whats the essentials
Post by: texbow2 on June 25, 2012, 04:57:00 PM
A good book if I'm on a stand
Title: Re: First year in the field. help Please whats the essentials
Post by: Russ Clagett on June 25, 2012, 10:31:00 PM
A small copy of the Holy Bible...........after all, I'm in the place He made for me.
Title: Re: First year in the field. help Please whats the essentials
Post by: Tatorbones on June 26, 2012, 06:05:00 PM
guys thank you all for your tips and advice, I think any where I hunt it will only be a day hunt. Debating on mixing things up on my father in law and when we get to the lease head off into the woods with my tent and pack and not come back till its time to leave or I've shot something.
Title: Re: First year in the field. help Please whats the essentials
Post by: Frenchymanny on June 26, 2012, 06:16:00 PM
Crazy glue in small dollar store package.
Can fix almost anything with it.

Rain gear (I hate rain, love the snow)

F-Manny
Title: Re: First year in the field. help Please whats the essentials
Post by: Rob W. on June 26, 2012, 06:33:00 PM
(http://i1225.photobucket.com/albums/ee391/rjwalton8/100_2939-1.jpg)

The blue dry pack has toilet paper, batteries, extra shooting glove, chapstick, some cordage and hand sanitizer(after kill and fire starter). The red is a small survival kit with an upgraded compass, swiss buck knife and a spare bow string. The dry case is for my camera. For a possible overnight I subtract water bottle and add water filter and small backpackers tarp. The jerky is optional but reccomended.    :D
Title: Re: First year in the field. help Please whats the essentials
Post by: Terry Lightle on June 26, 2012, 07:02:00 PM
Broadheads that will shave!
Title: Re: First year in the field. help Please whats the essentials
Post by: meathead on June 26, 2012, 07:35:00 PM
I have only seen one person say binoculars.  I never leave home without mine.
Title: Re: First year in the field. help Please whats the essentials
Post by: rolltidehunter on June 26, 2012, 07:40:00 PM
dont put to much preasure on yourself to kill game. have fun!!! enjoy being there
Title: Re: First year in the field. help Please whats the essentials
Post by: 7 Lakes on June 26, 2012, 08:09:00 PM
Depends on where you are going.  

Next time back into Green's swamp, NC.  I'll have extra water, coffee, salt & pepper added to my regular list of.

Map, Compass, matches, knife, light, extra light, Mosquito repellent & TP.

Stuff everything in the Coffee pot & stick it in the back pack.

Nothing like having a few extras when you have to spend the night unexpectedly after trailing a doe through the poccosins.
Title: Re: First year in the field. help Please whats the essentials
Post by: Bjorn on June 26, 2012, 10:30:00 PM
There are some really good things mentioned-I would add a friend or two if possible.
Title: Re: First year in the field. help Please whats the essentials
Post by: Knotter on June 26, 2012, 10:59:00 PM
In your first year you may want to keep it simple.  You will be experiencing your hunt in an entirely new way.  There is no second chance at a first impression. I would hate to look back and have missed those awe inspiring moments fretting over equipment. Trad challenges you (and not you and all your leveraged technology).
You may encounter some pretty big changes in how you hunt- embrace them.
For me it's about working with what you have and making the most of it.

I don't go afield without these things:

1. The right mindset (entirely up to you)
2. the means to kill an animal as cleanly as possible
3. the means to deal with that eventuality to the best of your ability.
4. the means to get home
5. the means to live a night under the stars if you can't for some reason achieve # 4.
6. the means to deal with injury (basic)
7. Confidence in In your back pocket.


You will decide what else you need but you may want to learn why first. Then you will never forget that thing (whatever it is) again.