What is in your survival pack and why

[kodiakfisher]

Here is the catch everything you list has to have two uses.

I always have a couple packages of vacumm sealed toilet paper. The first use should be obvious the second as fire starter.

I also carry some surgical tubing, for getting water from cracks in rocks and for medical emergencys, I could also make a sling shot if bored. The surgical tubing also makes a great tube for guiding air into a fire to help get it started.

This should get the list going

Kodiakfisher

[baltz526]

firstaid kit for self repair and repairing others. then a larger kit in camp.

[cwh]

I am thinking about making up a few of these for people in hunting camp:
http://www.equipped.org/drperskit.htm

So small there is no excuse for not having it with you, yet useful.

For myself, I carry a good space blanket, (takes up about TP roll amount of space, but if I have to use it, I want it to be good) commercial fire starters, waterproof matches, lighter, compass (thanks to baltz), spare batteries for the flashlight and GPS, and a backup LED headlamp. I will be adding a small first aid kit too. I always have a couple knives on me, and one always stays in the pack.

Basically, I want to be able to have what I need to make it back to camp in the middle of the night, and if that doesn't work out, spend the night out. I should probably add some food to that too.

[ehunter]

My hunting kit consist of water treatment tablets, small first aid kit, a good space blanket, flint and matches, a film canister with lint in it for fire starting. I also carry a small light stick and a small candle. A signal mirror that works for putting on camo. A small tube tent Orange for signaling and staying dry. A small pull chain for cutting though wood or bone. Also I carry small hand cleaning alcholol bottle that works great for starting fires and cleaning the hands. All this weighs less than a pound. If I am backpacking I have a little different kit.


I also have a compass a GPS radio and 2 knifes small croc stick always take water. I always have some jerky and dried fruit and power bars. Light weight tiki head lamp and a couple of extra batteries. I carry some toilet paper. Plus misc hunting stuff.

Head lamps a way better than the little flash lights for walking in the dark or for skinning or cutting a animal up in the dark.

Here is another thing back when my boys where in scouts we spent 3 summers doing a survival night making a shelter ect so that if some thing did happen they were used to doing it and did not seem such a big deal. Practice helps for the comfort zone.

[alaskan]

small first aid kit-- obvious reasons.
vac. packed matches, multiple packs, 4-5 matches per pack.
Vac packed emergency foods, jerky, trail mix.
space blankets-- signal device, shelter, keeps meat clean.
parachute cord--so many uses, I couldn't leave home without it.
Duct tape-- see above.
Compass/map-- gets me home, sometimes gets me game.
Whistle-- signal friends when game is down, If I get lost.
wool hat/extra socks--
All this fits in a small fanny pack that I never leave camp without. I used to use a backpack, but found I'd leave it at the 4 wheeler when I was going on a stalk, or just a sneak and peek and never had it with me if I needed it so I switched.

[ehunter]

Great point it doesn't do us any good if we don't have it....

[bigwhite]

If you havent tried it - NUSKIN (spelled wrong I am sure)

My lab cut his paw a few weeks back pretty bad and I called my vet - who suggested covering with nuskin every 12 hrs or so till healed - works great!

I have used it on myself now a few times and I will put it in my pack from now on.

Covers/seals the wound
Disinfectant
stops the bleeding
hurts like crazy but worth it to me if I am 5 miles out of nowhere

[ehunter]

I used some of that last week on a bad scrape man that stuff stings...works good after the pain wears off... :grin:

[Hunt'nFish]

I carry all the same stuff.....
Except I also carry a eye drops bottle of bleach for water purification. (1drop treats a gallon)

And I carry a some Vicodin pain meds...... just in case I twist an ankle, bust a leg, or run a stick through myself. Half of surviving is mental, and pain meds help maintain control inspite of severe pain.

And I have a rule that all electronic in my pack take AA batteries. This way I can switch batteries from lights to radio/gps/etc as I see fit. I wish my rangefinder took AA but it's 9V.

I'm also a big believer in LED headlamps. Yes, not very bright but bright enough to find your way around in the dark. Minimag light gobble up the power and kill batteries. I only use them when i need too, otherwise they are backups/spare battery holders.

I also always carry dried fruit and jerky. 2 pack of sugared Kool-Aid for liquid energy, energy bars, and a pint of Brandy for kill celebration as well as survival.

And of course as a smoker.....2 packs and 6 lighters (bics, zipo, and windproof!) :grin:
I can always start a fire.... (that was for the benefit of the forest fire phobics)
Seriously though, common sense prevails.

And I always carry a map of the area....I'm sure someone has mentioned that.

Oh and always a 45 pistol. (for signaling of course.)
Honest, I'm not afraid of the big bad wolf or those cute kitty cats.
Hunt'nFish

[nitrobass]

I've mentioned it before..but...and especially if you archery hunt

Carry a couple of kotex pads in your pack. Very functional, even if they are a bit socially unacceptable

[Limbhanger]

Carry a couple of kotex pads in your pack.

One use for these would be to secretly stick a few here and there on your partner's back if he starts getting grumpy after a few days in the back country. :grin:

[ehunter]

Limbhanger who are you refering too :

[baltz526]

pack inventory: firstaid kit,minimag light, led mini mag, aa batteries, frs radio, space blanket, flaging tape, fire starters, waterproof matches, knife, saw, water, dried fruit, 1/8th" cord, rope, toilette paper doule ziplock bagged, shooting sticks, gps, compass. about 10lbs, including pack. just a little bigger than the can kit.

[lentz]

One thing that i haven't seen is a small stick candle. I have used them to start a fire. don't have to use up as many matches or your lighter. One other thing is antihistamines.

[Irish Pennant]

When I hunt the late season I'll toss in a coulpe road flares. When your hands are cold there still easy to light and they burn long and hot enough to get damp wood burning. You can also use them for signaling.

[Lured In]

I don't have a separate 'survival pack'. I have a medium sized internal frame pack that I can hunt out of for a day or more if needed.

Aside from the above mentioned items, I also carry a military como poncho for both a rain shelter while on stand and a tent should I need it. In addition to my knife/saw, I always carry a Gerber pack ax for splitting pelvic bones or wood should the need arise.

Full Contents of pack
1. ~60oz hydration bladder
2. First aid kit with two lightweight space blankets
3. Signal Mirror/Whistle
4. Maps/compass/GPS and spare batteries
5. Headlamp
6. Pack Ax and knife
7. Collapsable stool for stand hunting
8. Military poncho
9. Extra pair of gloves
10. Vasaline soaked cotton balls for fire starter (in film can)
11. Energy bars
12. Sealed matches and lighter
13. Rope

It might seem like a lot, but the water weighs more than anything else. I probably could get by with a lot less, but I don't have to worry about being able to survive a night or two. Plus the pack allows me to have room to shed layers if it gets to warm or vice versa.

[baltz526]

this is too important of topic to fade away.

[ehunter]

Ok this is not in my pack but is important to leave a general map of the area that your going with some one at home so they can find you in a emergency if they need to reach you. Also it is a good idea if your by your self to leave a general map in your truck so if you get hurt and don't return people know the general area to look for you.

There was a hunter that never returned in Kalamth falls did they every find him??????

[kodiakfisher]

I have two Orion skyblazer red aerial flares that I carry in my pack for signalling purposes and they can also be used to start a fire. They are about the size of a large cigar.

Before someone "flames" me these are for life and death situations and are intended as a last resort in the event I'm stuck in the trees somewhere and a Helicopter flys overhead and I feel I need to signal them at that time. It was actually a rescue swimmer for the Coast Gaurd in Kodiak, AK that gave me the idea. I have a radio, signal mirror and way to make fire/smoke, but depending on conditions a fire may be unwise and signal mirrors can be difficult to use during cloudy days. In Alaska somedays it can be downright difficult to get a fire started but that flare would be the perfect lifesaver for signalling purposes. I know a guy that carries a road flare for signalling and starting a fire if need be.

The warning is very clear that you should not fire these around trees or dry brush. "Flare is designed for burnout in air". I would be comfortable using these in the coast range in the morning there's generally lots of dew on the ground and in most places in Alaska I would have little if any concerns.

My brother works in the survival shop for the Air Force and sent me a strobe light that has an IR filter that shows up great on a helicopter IR radar. That strobe is pretty heavy compared to everything else in my pack, so I don't carry this if hunting with someone else.

Lastly I carry a whistle that while breathing will whistle I read a survival story where the person had gone into hypothermic shock and had the whistle in his mouth and the breathing made the whistle work that was heard by rescuers !

I also carry Qwik Clot that is used on the battle field this is used to stop traumatic bleeding like a cut of a major artery/vein. Will not work in all cases obviously like a carotid artery. I also carry a surgical suture kit, super glue (same stuff used in hospitals)but not approved by the FDA and much cheaper, many uses for these things.

[uhmw]

several cans of sardiens and trail mix one small fire starter stick w/ a small bic lighter extra gps battrys and a small hand held cb-waki talki. a space blanket and a large ace bandage wraped around a pocket first aid kit w/a swiss army knife or multi plyer. Its a very small package but its the min I would take in to the woods-when Im thinking straight.

Quick clot bandages would be somthing I would very much like to add where do you get them? I hear they have become very handy on the battle feild.

[Limbhanger]

I hunt by myself a lot so.....Headlamp, water treatment pills, tinyflashlight, vac-sealed matches and firestarter, small first aid kit, compass, map, gps, rope, nylon string, orange marking ribbon, whistle, knives, sharpeners, small bone saw, alaska game bags,water bladder, superglue, 1 kitchen size garbage bag, 1 large black garbage bag, extra batteries, cheese sticks & granola bars, extra pr. socks, 1 extra tshirt tiny roll of ducktape, toilet paper, camera, video camera and lightweight tripod, additional ammo, lightweight drop cloth for meat work.

[MetalHead]

Ok here's my Survival kit. I carry this in my hunting pack which is a large fanny with shoulder harness.

2 small flares for fire starting (signaling)
1 stainless steal mirror
1 Epi pen and antihistamines
2 days worth of my medications
1 whistle
1 extra compass
1 LED headlamp/ extra batteries
1 space blanket
2 powerbars
1 can of sardines / smoked oysters
<font color="red">surgical sutures, cling, 4x4 squares, 2 slings, quikclot battle dressing, scalpel, forcepts, small bottle betadine, small bottle pain killers (percocet), assorted bandaids, latex gloves, all of this fits in the upper compartment of the pack </font>

Lower compartment is normal hunting needs
2 skinning knives
1 bone saw
1 sharpening sticks
1 small maglite
TP, parachute cord, quarter sacks, small flashlite, GPS, headlamp, water filter, spare batteries for (headlamp,GPS,radio,maglite) gloves, soxs, camo make-up, calls, lunch.

When pack is full with knife, water bottle attached it weighs 22 lbs.

[Salmo trutta]

Someone who has the time should go through this post and compile the "ultimate" list.

I don't know if anyone mentioned it but I also carry a Snakebite kit (if I am hunting out east especially antelope season)

A Wyoming Saw kit

Safety Pins

Extra pair of socks

Lightweight filtration bottle (squeeze type)

[kodiakfisher]

Ok here's my Survival kit. I carry this in my hunting pack which is a large fanny with shoulder harness.

2 small flares for fire starting (signaling)
1 stainless steal mirror
1 Epi pen and antihistamines
2 days worth of my medications
1 whistle
1 extra compass
1 LED headlamp/ extra batteries
1 space blanket
2 powerbars
1 can of sardines / smoked oysters
<font color="red">surgical sutures, cling, 4x4 squares, 2 slings, quikclot battle dressing, scalpel, forcepts, small bottle betadine, small bottle pain killers (percocet), assorted bandaids, latex gloves, all of this fits in the upper compartment of the pack </font>

Lower compartment is normal hunting needs
2 skinning knives
1 bone saw
1 sharpening sticks
1 small maglite
TP, parachute cord, quarter sacks, small flashlite, GPS, headlamp, water filter, spare batteries for (headlamp,GPS,radio,maglite) gloves, soxs, camo make-up, calls, lunch.

When pack is full with knife, water bottle attached it weighs 22 lbs.

MetalHead,

We could pick up each others pack and feel right at home, with the exception of a few small things epi pen (I assume your allergic to stings or such), I don't carry sardines or oysters. In addition to the above I carry a titanium cup and titanium fork. I also have some surgical tubing this would allow me to drop the tube down into rock cracks to get some water if needed, use as a straw for keeping coals hot to start a fire, and I can use it to stop some bleeding. I also carry a red tarp type survival ponch/blanket. I have used it as a small shelter does a good job of reflecting heat, also used for signaling (it's red on one side). I carry two survival blankets, vacumn seal them and they get really small, but one normally gets used as a drop cloth for meat. I also carry a black sharpie for writing bearing/heading info on flagging. One last thing I purchased at Columbia outlet store is a small camo set of rain pants, packs up supper small. Columbia has them in stock now. I have used the pants on more than one occasion for the quick squal that comes through, and have always been glad I had them!

Just weighed my Nimrod pack without the hydration bladder and I'm at 18 pounds with the hydration pack 72oz probably about 22-23lbs. The older I get the heavier it gets and the longer the hunt the heavier it feels!

Kodiakfisher

[MORGANCREW]

I have many of these same things HOWEVER I saw only LIMBHANGER was the only other one who carries SUPERGLUE. Im not shure why he carries it but I carry it for the sole purpose of why it was invented, to seal up cuts. Thats right it was invented durring the Vietnam war for a substitute for sutures.

[bajadan2000]

Aluminum foil
It is very light weight and has many potential uses:

Starting fires on snow or wet ground
folds into a drinking cup
for cooking emegency survival food
signal mirror
wrap hot stones inside (like a baked potato) for night heat or drying out boots or clothing.

[garyk]

Obviously, modifications have to be made for season, region, and maybe activity. However as a good and proven starting point, here's the "10 Essentials" recomended by our local mountaineering group the Mazamas (and others) for any outing.

whistle
fire starter &amp; waterproof matches
map
knife
compass
first aid kit
sun protection (lip balm, sunscreen and a hat)
extra clothing (hat, socks, gloves)
flashlight (with extra bulb and batteries)
extra food (Clif Bar)

My addition is a space blanket, or better, a space bivy sack.

[thresher]

Here is what i carry:
2 Quarts Water (Cant make water if there is none around)
1 Small Maglight
1 Container of waterproof matches
1 Knife
1 Army Flint Block (The ones with the Magnesum block)
Paper and a pencil
3 feet (or there abouts) of wire Wrapped around the pencil)
1 Reflector (Made from an old CD)
30 feet (Or there abouts) Or nylon Cord
3 Powerbars
1 Bag of trail mix
1 pack of gum
1 Map of the area im in (Water proofed if i was thinking ahead)
1 Compass

As for the space blanket thing. I always dress for the weather and then some. Its always easier to take clothing off however, you cant put clothing back on that you have never brought. Also if you make a good shelter that will help keep you warm aswell.

All the items i have mentioned above go with me in a back pack. That i also use as a day pack. So if i need anything else i just put it into the pack because there is lots of leftover space

O i almost forgot my first aid kit:
Clothing that im wearing:
Shirt (Im normally wearing 2): Can be cut into small pices and used to apply pressure to a wound. Or into two big triangle bandage. Then i can make a sling, splint a twisted ankle, etc...
Belt: Can be taken off and used to apply pressure to a wound aswell. Or worse if the need calls a turnoacate (sp?)
Boot Laces: Same as above.

Here is the importnat thing though. You SHOULD be out there with a buddy. So why not make him carry some stuff aswell.

[kodiakfisher]

Aluminum foil
It is very light weight and has many potential uses:

Starting fires on snow or wet ground
folds into a drinking cup
for cooking emegency survival food
signal mirror
wrap hot stones inside (like a baked potato) for night heat or drying out boots or clothing.

Bajadan,

Thanks for that post don't know why I never thought of that I can think of lots of uses for tin foil and yet I don't have any in my pack.

That is one of the most obvious and best suggestions I've gotten in years. Now that I think about it I have a titanium cup in my pack I guess that would serve most uses that tinfoil would but still a darn good idea.

Kodiakfisher

[bajadan2000]

titanium cup

Wow, I am out of date. Titanium cup vs. tinfoil.

This thread has me thinking about how much trips into the "wilderness" have changed since my first one over 50 years ago and what is needed to survive, now vs. then.

With a GPS, it is very difficult to get lost.

Signal mirrors replaced by personal EPIRBs that send a help message via satellite with your location if it has the built in GPS feature.

Super glue to patch up your wounds.

Huricane proof lighters vs. stick matches vs. rubbing two sticks together.

Plus there are a few more roads into the "wilderness" now vs. then to make the trip out a shorter one.


Nothing wrong with progress and replacing tinfoil with titanium, we have come a long way since the aluminum pack board was invented, my first pack board was made out of wood. Do not miss that rascal.

Time to rethink and update my survival pack.

[kodiakfisher]

Wow, I am out of date. Titanium cup vs. tinfoil...


Huricane proof lighters vs. stick matches vs. rubbing two sticks together...


Time to rethink and update my survival pack.

If you used to rub two sticks together and where able to start a fire I don't see why you need to update anything in your pack. Most cavemen wouldn't know what to do with all this new technology.

BajaDan maybe you could teach some of those "old school" techniques of surviving in the wilderness to some of use younger guys. We don't want to lose track of our wilderness survival heritage.

This is funny because the man I hunt elk with who is like a grandfather to me is going to be 70 this year. If you sit behind a desk all day you probably will not keep up with him in the woods. I think he carries some matches and a sandwhich and a knife into the woods with him. The matches are the back up system to rubbing sticks together. Last year I gave him a whistle that I think he "lost".


Kodiakfisher

[Rank Amateur]

He's probably like my old hunting partner, "What the heck do I need a whistle for, I have lips and if that fails I will blow on an empty shell case!!!!"

[kodiakfisher]

He's probably like my old hunting partner, "What the heck do I need a whistle for, I have lips and if that fails I will blow on an empty shell case!!!!"

Shell casings can be hard to come by during archery season!


Kodiakfisher

[sunshinefisherman]

Duct Tape, need I say more?