General Categories > Hunting and Fishing
Essential hunting equipment
OnTheFly:
--- Quote from: Mudinyeri on November 04, 2010, 07:51:13 AM ---Are you looking for an excuse to buy gear or do you just want to go hunting? :)
If you just want to go hunting, your friends should be able to make ammo recommendations (as they will know the conditions). If you have warm clothes and the proper hunting license/permits/stamps, you're almost there. A little blaze orange never hurts for field hunting. You can find vests and caps at WalMart, as jlantzer said, about as cheaply as anywhere.
If you're looking for an excuse to buy gear on the other hand ....
--- End quote ---
Yes and no. ::) I don't want to go crazy, but I know that the right gear in any outdoor situation can make it a pleasant experience or, with the wrong equipment, an excruciating one.
Fly
joemerchant24:
Geez, Shawn, you sound like a paramedic or something...
He's right on, though. A small pocket aid kit can make all the difference in the world.
Mudinyeri:
A small FAK like the Adventure Medical Kits Trauma Pak is ideal: http://www.lapolicegear.com/amk-trauma-pak.html
None of your hunts sound like overnighters so that simplifies things. A good pack is a place to start. I sell Eberlestock packs. They're not cheap but they're VERY good. A pack like the Mini Me isn't terribly expensive but you can carry the essentials in it comfortably. Here's a link to the Eberlestock website: http://eberlestock.com/H1%20Mini-Me.htm I have a Mini Me myself. It's a great little hunting pack. It has a pull-out bird bag that can also be used to carry deer quarters. You can add a scabbard to carry your rifle if you want. My price is $99.00.
In addition to my hunting supplies I also usually throw the following in my pack:
- Heat Sheet Emergency Survival Blanket (get the one for one or two people)
- UCO Stormproof Matches in a waterproof container and some sort of tinder
- Some high-energy food like Clif Bars
- Water (the Mini Me has a 2 liter water bladder and an insulated hose to help keep it from freezing)
- Nitrile gloves - I use them for field dressing; it keeps my hands dry and clean so when I stick them back inside my gloves my gloves don't get all nasty
I also like to stay warm and dry when I hunt.
I use glove liners inside mittens that open up to expose your fingers. That way, I have good access to my trigger when I need it, but I don't have bare skin on cold metal and I can always close the mittens up to warm up my digits if I need to. I also have a pair of $12.00 waterproof gloves from Scheels (in their fishing department) that are life-savers in snow, sleet and freezing rain.
If it's really cold, I like a lightweight balaclava with a wool stocking cap on my head. I bought a good quality balaclava from one of the sporting good stores in town and a wool Jeep Cap from Cheaper than Dirt. That combination keeps the wind off my face and the heat in my head.
A 4 in 1 parka is a good idea. Make sure at least the outer layer is of quality waterproof material. I bought a new one this year made of the waterproof "suede" material. It's a lot quieter than the old Goretex stuff.
An old fashioned pair of Carhart insulated bibs is nice when it's really cold out too. If it's not that cold, make sure your pants are made of a sturdy fabric that will not be susceptible to briars and brambles. Cabela's carries their own brand of "Upland Jeans" that are relatively inexpensive ($20-$25) but have a nice sticker-proof front on them. Search Cabela's website for Roughneck Unlined Upland Jeans.
That brings us down to boots and socks. A good pair of boots is absolutely essential to hunting, like upland game birds, that has you walking all day long. I have a couple pair that I like. One pair, believe it or not, is intended for snow mobilers and sold under the Polaris brand. I think they're called Xtreme or something like that. The other pair is a pair of Sorels that I've owned for years. However, your feet may be very different from mine and these boots might be uncomfortable for you. Look for boots that have good arch support, sturdy soles, good tread, are waterproof and are made by a reputable company. I think Cabela's and Scheels both have "no questions asked" warranties on some of their boots - although, I had to answer a lot of questions and complain a bit at Scheels the last time I needed to exchange a pair of boots there.
Socks. I use a liner that wicks away sweat under a padded wool sock. Make sure you buy your boots big enough to accommodate your socks. Boots that are too tight will smash your socks and reduce the air-space that thick socks create - which is part of how they keep your feet warm.
Oh, if it's really really cold, I wear a mid-weight base layer like Under Armour Cold Gear. That stuff is like magic but you pay for it.
sjwsti:
--- Quote from: Mudinyeri on November 04, 2010, 06:01:30 PM ---A small FAK like the Adventure Medical Kits Trauma Pak is ideal: http://www.lapolicegear.com/amk-trauma-pak.html
--- End quote ---
Mudinyeri, great post. The proper gear makes all the difference.
But here`s something to consider. Hemostatics like QuikClot or Celox are great products but are only effective on specific types of injuries and must be used in a very specific way. If the bleeding is in an extremity a commercial tourniquet should be the first thing you use if your by yourself or bleeeding cannot be controlled with direct pressure within 30sec.
If the wound is in a part of the body that wont allow the use of a TK then hemostatics may be indicated. But in order for it to be effective you need to locate the exact source of the bleed. Simply pouring or packing this product into a hole may do little or nothing.
This is a subject that I cover at length in the Advanced Pistol Level 3 class that The Bullet Hole is now offering.
Mudinyeri:
--- Quote from: sjwsti on November 04, 2010, 06:32:16 PM ---
--- Quote from: Mudinyeri on November 04, 2010, 06:01:30 PM ---A small FAK like the Adventure Medical Kits Trauma Pak is ideal: http://www.lapolicegear.com/amk-trauma-pak.html
--- End quote ---
Mudinyeri, great post. The proper gear makes all the difference.
But here`s something to consider. Hemostatics like QuikClot or Celox are great products but are only effective on specific types of injuries and must be used in a very specific way. If the bleeding is in an extremity a commercial tourniquet should be the first thing you use if your by yourself or bleeeding cannot be controlled with direct pressure within 30sec.
If the wound is in a part of the body that wont allow the use of a TK then hemostatics may be indicated. But in order for it to be effective you need to locate the exact source of the bleed. Simply pouring or packing this product into a hole may do little or nothing.
This is a subject that I cover at length in the Advanced Pistol Level 3 class that The Bullet Hole is now offering.
--- End quote ---
Sounds like you're a pro. The Trauma Pak contains more than just the clotting agent. Here's the product description.
--- Quote ---The new Trauma Pak with QuikClot? includes trauma pads, sterile gauze, wraps and duct tape to secure dressings or improvise a seal for a sucking chest wound, non-latex gloves and bio-hazard disposal bag, and an instructional sheet with information on how to quickly diagnose and treat wounds.. A must have item for any hunter!
--- End quote ---
I'm thinking you could make a tourniquet from the duct tape and a stick.
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