Ultimate Hunting Survival Kit: 20 Essential Items

Hunters have enough stuff to carry around without adding a large hunting survival kit to their gear. It’s not uncommon for hunters to get lost or injured. And having an emergency kit on hand when the unthinkable happens makes good sense. But it also makes sense to carry a survival gear kit that’s small in size. It only has to be large enough to carry a small first aid kit and some essential survival tools.

Even something as common as a blister can be devastating. Imagine hiking a couple miles from camp and then getting a blister that’s so bad you can’t hike back to camp. Spending the night in the middle of nowhere, because you’re unable to get back to your group, does not make for a fun hunting trip.

A Hunter’s Ultimate Survival Pack

But what happens when you end up with something worse than a blister? What happens when you sprain or break an ankle? Or get lost? Or have an even bigger problem? You’ll need more than a band-aid. You’ll want a hunter’s ultimate survival kit. And the way to come up with the most effective survival bag is to plan ahead. Think of all the potential problems that could befall you.

What types of injuries or circumstances would make it necessary to spend a night or two in the forest? What type of weather might you need protection from? If lost, could you make it possible for searchers to find you? Coming up with answers to these questions will help you decide what to pack in your hunting survival kit. << Check Out Prices for Hunting Survival Packs on Amazon

Essential Wilderness Survival Gear

One season, a friend of mine, Max, shot an elk that was higher up the mountain than he was. The elk dropped immediately, but then rolled down the mountain until it hit Max. As they both tumbled down the mountain, they didn’t stop until the elk had pinned Max, up against a tree. Max’s hands were also pinned underneath the 800 pound elk. Max was in a very awkward position, but eventually managed to free one of his hands. Fortunately, he had a small knife with him.

Max was afraid that if he couldn’t get out from under the elk before nightfall, he could easily become a bear’s dinner. With his free hand and small knife he began cutting off one small piece of elk at a time. Eventually, he managed to whittle down that elk until it was light enough for him to pull himself out from underneath. If he hadn’t had that small knife, he probably never would have been able to free himself. Having a good hunting survival kit, even a small one, can come in handy when disaster strikes.

How to Build Your Own Survival Kit

Coming up with a small case or bag to keep your survival gear in is easy. Your minimalist survival kit can be contained in an Altoids tin, a woman’s makeup bag, or any other small bag. Building a survival kit that will include the most important items requires some thought. Here are some items you might consider adding to your mini bug out bag.

Essential Survival Hunting Gear if You Get Lost

Including a local map and compass can help keep you from getting lost in the first place. But if you do get lost, you’ll want some gear that will help you get found. Maybe all you need is a survival whistle. Once your group hears that whistle and realizes you’re in trouble, they can simply follow the sound. But what if you’re out of earshot?

A small mirror is another potential rescue tool. Reflecting light from the sun can signal your location to others, or to helicopters that might eventually come searching for you. However, on cloudy, overcast days, that might not be possible. A cell phone could possibly be the perfect thing if you were sure of having cell reception. But what if there was no reception?

Although it’s the most expensive way to go, a personal locator beacon is perhaps the most surefire method of giving others your location. Getting lost can become a life or death situation. So a PLB (personal locator beacon) is well worth the cost if it can save your life.

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First Aid Emergency Essentials

At a bare minimum, bandages, gauze strips, and tape should be included in your wilderness survival bag. This is enough for small cuts and scrapes. For larger cuts you’ll want to add some QuikClot Advanced Clotting Gauze. For suturing large cuts, a good skin stapler is usually much better than a suture kit.

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A sprained ankle can be wrapped with athletic tape or ACE Bandage. Pain medication is another good item to have on hand. Whether it’s a headache, sprained ankle, or other painful problem, relief can be had with some simple pain medication.

Miscellaneous Hunting Survival Gear

Another essential survival item is a quality survival knife. A strong, durable knife can be hung on a belt, making it easy to carry. Plus, it will come in handy if you ever have an elk pin you down. A small foldable knife can also be included in your mini survival pack.

Other important survival gear includes wind resistant and waterproof matches, water purification tablets, mini LED flashlight, Mylar blanket for warmth, paracord bracelet, saber card, safety pins, paper clips, rolled up piece of duct tape, and ChapStick. Depending on where you’re hunting, it may also be handy to pack some fishing line, hooks, and weights. If you’re lost and in need of food, fishing supplies might be just what you need.

Those who plan ahead have a much better chance at survival than those who don’t.