1. Always have a plan and file it for someone behind that can follow up when you don’t show up on time. It often is a few hours and things are ok but when it’s a few days things start going south real fast.
2. Always take water and food. We never know when luck would give us a last minute shot and we will be out late tracking and doing the work that starts after the shot is taken. The average condition on the average human body requires water every third day. This is a person that is able to darn near go into a sleep and no work mode which is unlikely in a survivor mode. We sweat and burn calories by doing very little work at all. So remember take enough water…It could be your life in those extra canteens or water bottles. The extra weight you carry will be less as you survive……….so take water…..and drink…..

3. A basic first aid kit is a must. We each can come up with the items we want but consider a basic fishing rig if your in areas that could provide food from rivers or lakes. A twenty foot line and hook with a split shot is not noticed in your carry gear.

4. I like to go with 2 knives, one being a multi tool Leatherman and the other a real good mid sized heavy duty survival knife. I carry a leather handled pilot survival knife the Air Force issued me way back in 1985. Your the judge but think and use your what-if ideas to build your carry equipment.

5. If you have a CCW permit and/or the law permits I suggest a good 22 pistol. Mine is a Buckmark 4″ bull barrel. It is light weight and the 100 round I carry is hardly noticed. It could be my food getter and light security device should the main hunting rifle or bow get broken or become inop. A 22 can put a lot of small game on a fire and feed me for long periods of time.

6. I carry two bic lighters and water proof matches. Why both. Why not? I have been cold and uncomfortable enough in my life. I want to be able to build a heating, cooking and signal fire without trying the old stick and stone method. I have tried and must admit I am not nearly the woodsman many others are. If you have room stuff a wad of lint from the Kenmore into your mini fire kit too. Also a reminder if you can find Birch bark it is a great way to get a fire going. I won’t go any deeper on this.

7. A poncho can roll to almost nothing and acts as a shelter when constructed with branches, earth, rocks and what you can gather up. It can be used to stay dry but so many other uses as well. If your stranded or hunkered down you can come up with all sorts of things to use a poncho for.

8. A mini water filteration system is great if you can pack it in. I seldom do but know on hunts in areas that no other safe water resupply is available……..well folks it is a real nice item to have. Having drank water from an Alpine stream in Bavaria…well, let’s put it this way – It had the fresh flavor of the cows that likely added to the stream on higher elevations if you know what I mean. The tablets we added did little other than kill the stuff that could kill us. So in closing …….I remind me and us…..water is number one for survival…..without it we are short lived and will suffer the situation much worse than had we carried a way to stay hydrated.

Ok… last few ideas….. a couple of mini flashlight (LED) type that last a longer time, a signal mirror is light and works and by all means very important is a compass and GPS…. I should have noted it higher in the list because it is important should you have the ability to navigate out of what you got into I myself would. Stay put if you can’t but if your able to move and can do it safely…….I would. I feel that God helps those who help themselves is never more true.

OK………hope this might help in some small way to even one person…….

and again……….very happy to hear our brother hunters are safe and back home again. A+ in survival and field craft work guys……good job.

Welcome home, gentlemen.