Go Bags for the Woods

[bigbadjon]

One of the guys from 3rivers posted a thread about what to pack that didn't get a big following, which I thought was unfortunate. So do you guys carry a go bag that is just ready to hit the woods for a day or two? If so what are you packing? I'll get it started.

My go bag is a Badlands HTX, the tactical one not the current hunting model. With food and water it weighs 22 lbs. Strapped on the outside is a Camelback watee bottle carrier with a 32oz Wiggy stainless water bottle and 2 stainless canteen cups. Just under that I have a usmc pounch and cat tourniquet. In the bedroll straps I have a military buttpack with a poncho liner. In the main compartment I keep a biolite stove, which doubles as a charging station, in its stuff sack with a bit of emergency fire starter, a match case, a lighter, and a ferro rod. This is where I also keep a stocked first aid kit, based on a youtuber called skinnymedics recommendation. There are a pack of wet wipes for natures call or other clean up. I keep my brushknife, a 7 inch Marbles Trailmaker, in a Spec Ops sheath with a sharpening stone. Clipped to the edge of a pocket is a carbarized titanium skinning knife my brother made for me. In the water bladder compartment I carry a "printing tool" plus a spare magazine and a box of 30-30 ammo, in case it is rifle season. Lastly a flextone grunt tube. In the secondary compartment I carry a military poncho made by Wiggys. I carry a small roll of chartreuse bank line and severals pre cut and bundled lengths of heavy tarred bank line. I also have 6 mucket balls to make tie out points for the poncho. In the zippered pocket I carry flavored and caffeinated drink mixes, minute rice, seasoning, single serve spam, and/or etc for rations. The side pockets have a SOG multi tool and a Pine Ridge bow wrench set plus a bow stringer. I have a small fishing kit with the stuff I would need for bank sets. I carry a small survival kit with a wrist compass, a emergency whistle, a sail needle, and flagging tape. I have a folding fork and spoon in there to. I carry a headlamp in the pack and a flashlight on the shoulder strap. I believe that is all.
Just for explaination on some extras. This pack is ready to go at all times and I generally always have it with me, that's why it always has bow tools and rifle ammo regardless of season. I keep water in it at all times and shelf stable foods, both get rotated occasionally if I haven't used them.

[bigbadjon]

A quick note on something else. If you carry a pistol in your pack, make sure it is in a holster so you can switch to your belt in the wilderness. There has been much talk about the recent bear attack and the outcome may have been different had a weapon been more quickly accessed.

[ausjim]

I use a 35L hiking pack for 1-2 night trips.

Jetboil
Lightweight tarp with ties
Sleeping bag in bivouac bag
3/4 inflatable mattress
Spare knife
Spare lighter
Food (I like noodles or couscous.. add water and preflavoured)
As much water as I can carry (not easy to find in Australia)

Jim




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[bigbadjon]

No flashlight?

[ausjim]

Some things I like to keep on me, regardless of the excursion. Compass, small folding knife, head torch, lighter.

There are few things more frustrating than stumbling around in the dark looking for your pack


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[Sam McMichael]

Almost all my hunting is done close to my son's house or to my truck, so I don't carry my go-bag to the stand. I keep it in my truck. I take a snake bite kit and some very basic first aid stuff to the stand. Due to the small plot that I own (with specific landmarks on all sides), getting lost is not an issue. For safety, my phone is probably my best resource. Plus, and most importantly, I always tell somebody exactly which stand I am going to hunt.

[bigbadjon]

I know a lot of guys hunt in your backyards, and that is cool. But if you aren't discussing your go bags it isn't adding to the discussion.

[Terry Green]

A lot a lot even though I'm not quite in my backyard most the time, however, when I go into the wilderness sometimes alone sometimes not, I do carry it back to take care of myself just in case because I go deep sometimes. That's where these threads always or educational.

[Roy from Pa]

I hunt 300 yards from the house and my go bag always goes along.

I could need it 300 yards from the house or 3 miles from the house.

Same difference.

[Orion]

Hmmmm.  Go bag.  Never heard it called that.  When I'm packed in on Western hunts, I wear a day pack with the gear required to dismantle and elk and stay out overnight if necessary. Also carry a day pack on day hunts closer to home, but less stuff in it.  Regardless, either contains what I need to get a critter out and/or stay over a night if necessary.  If I want to pack in for a 2-3 or longer day hunt, I carry a larger bag with more stuff.

Regardless, I construct each bag for the occasion. I have it ready to go for that kind of hunt, but i don't have it in my truck year round or even months or weeks on end during the hunting season, because my needs change.

[GCook]

I know a lot of guys hunt in your backyards, and that is cool. But if you aren't discussing your go bags it isn't adding to the discussion.

Well Jon you didn't specify if we were hunting our 2000 acre lease, our 200 acre ranch or 200,000 acres of BLM.  I have a bug out bag in case the shtf.  I have an Osprey pack set up for light weight packing in should I decide to go hunt in the Rockies.  But I hunt 3 different states for whitetail on an annual basis and frankly don't see the need for a "go bag".  I have day packs that I carry a jacket in so I don't get to warm going to stand.  I have cover scent and a range finder.  But most stuff I don't need.  I hunt farm and ranch country.  You aren't going to get lost because the fence line will get you back to where you know.  My cell phone has signal where I hunt.  I know the land and landscape intimately where I hunt.
A "go bag" is just extra baggage that I don't need for the majority of my hunting needs. 
The rest I made sure I at least have my ten essentials.
https://scoutingmagazine.org/2013/02/the-10-essentials/

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[bigbadjon]

I don't quite get you... if you carry your ten essentials and the gear you need in a day pack and you just keep it ready to go, then you do have a go bag. You just may carry different stuff than me.

As far as specifying the situation, it doesn't really matter. If you carry a go bag then chime in.