Tools for Marking my Pack and Bloodtrails

[Ryan Sanpei]

Aloha Gang,

Here's a quick video about the tools I use and why I mark my pack and blood trails.

Please click on link below to view video.
   http://rysanpei.blogspot.com/2015/06/marking-my-pack-and-blood-trails.html

[awbowman]

I use strips of toilet paper.  Degrades in a couple of rains

[Ryan Sanpei]

I've used toilet paper too but in the areas I hunt, it often rains and the winds can be blistery. I've lost my tp marks a couple times. Plus during the hot months, I sweat so much that I can't leave them in my pocket all day long, they start to deteriorate.

I don't leave these in the field either. I'll always retrieve it.

[awbowman]

Originally posted by awbowman:
I use strips of toilet paper along with route on GPS. Paper degrades in a couple of rains

[awbowman]

Originally posted by awbowman:
I use strips of toilet paper.  Degrades in a couple of rains if I miss picking up s couple.

[awbowman]

Nice video though

[Dorado]

I've always used trail marking tape and tied it to whatever I could with a slip-knot. It holds tight and comes untied with a pull. I'll dispose of the excess later or if I have a long piece reuse it.

[SELFBOW19953]

TP is great, until you wave a length of it-flashing white-during gun season. Deer tails wave white and so does TP.  "I'm tellin' you son, it ain't no fun staring straight down a 44"!!!!  I no longer use TP, I use surveyor's tape.

[ChuckC]

I tend to use longer pieces and reuse them after retrieval.  Wish I could say I never need them cause everything falls within sight, but, alas. .
ChuckC

[Roadkill]

I use a bundle of yarn.  Cut a series of 24 inch pieces,  20 or so. Fold that bundle in half and then wrap a another piece around the fold to form a donut to tie on your pack or quiver.  Call them pony tails.  When on a blood trail, simply pull a strand out and wrap on a branch. Discreet way of marking a blood trail.  Easy seen to determine a line of travel.During tournament season, I use them as self-cleaning device to wipe dust and dirt off missed shots! Yep, miss a lot....  If I were back east, I would tie on e on a branch with scent to attract and mark ranges.

[tracker12]

Good tips.  By the way what app are you using on your iPhone.

[Sam McMichael]

I use orange marking tape. I tried yellow tape, but I found out that in the dark with only a flashlight for illumination, yellow just does not show up for me.

[Zbone]

Roadkill - Cool tip, ya have a photo of the donut you carry?

Thanks....

[DarkTimber]

Great tip Ryan!

2 years ago I killed an elk in the afternoon. After boning him out and putting him in game bags I carried one load out with me and marked the other 3 bags with toilet paper and in my GPS. I came back the next morning with my brother to finish packing him out and even with him marked, it took me an hour and a half to find him.  He died in thick new growth aspens and the toilet paper just didn't stand out and the GPS could only get me within about 100 yds with the thick canopy.  We laugh about it now but my brother was getting pretty frustrated with me at the time.  If I hadn't packed the first load out the night before I don't think he would have believed I killed a bull at all.

Another time about 4 years ago I was stalking a mule deer above timberline.  When I was about 200 yds out I took my boots off and set them on a big rock.  I figured they'd be easy to find with no trees around.  2 hrs later after the stalk, I went back to get them and I'd have been embarrassed if anyone was around to see how long it took me to find them.  I was starting to think I'd be packing out bare footed.  

I think your tip might have saved me a little time and frustration in both situations.

[TxAg]

Thanks  I enjoy all your videos

[mj seratt]

I always use colored (not white) tp.  Also, I carry it in a ziplock bag, in case of rain or sweat.

[Fletcher]

I use white tp.  Once mine is colored I don't use it again.

[Ryan Sanpei]

Originally posted by tracker12:
Good tips.  By the way what app are you using on your iPhone.

Thank you!

I'm using the hunt app by onXmaps. They have some listed on the St. Judes auction.  http://auction1.tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=207;t=000107

[Ryan Sanpei]

Originally posted by DarkTimber:
Great tip Ryan!

2 years ago I killed an elk in the afternoon. After boning him out and putting him in game bags I carried one load out with me and marked the other 3 bags with toilet paper and in my GPS. I came back the next morning with my brother to finish packing him out and even with him marked, it took me an hour and a half to find him.  He died in thick new growth aspens and the toilet paper just didn't stand out and the GPS could only get me within about 100 yds with the thick canopy.  We laugh about it now but my brother was getting pretty frustrated with me at the time.  If I hadn't packed the first load out the night before I don't think he would have believed I killed a bull at all.

Another time about 4 years ago I was stalking a mule deer above timberline.  When I was about 200 yds out I took my boots off and set them on a big rock.  I figured they'd be easy to find with no trees around.  2 hrs later after the stalk, I went back to get them and I'd have been embarrassed if anyone was around to see how long it took me to find them.  I was starting to think I'd be packing out bare footed.  

I think your tip might have saved me a little time and frustration in both situations.

Thank you Aaron.

Yeah, I had one too many "uh oh"s in the field... LOL! The one "flag" in my pocket comes with me on every trip. I also have some extra small rolls in my pack.

[Ryan Sanpei]

Thank you for the additional kind words. This may not be for everyone, but I just wanted to share as it's been a great tool for me.

Aloha!
Ryan