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Essential survival kit for moose hunting

Anyone who has hunted moose knows how challenging, frustrating, physically demanding, and even painful it can be. However, moose hunting can be very addictive. One can easily become obsessed to the point of being so focused on the hunt that they may not realize how far they have come, what time it is, and are not exactly sure where they are. Here we will discuss how these and other factors can come together to be detrimental to your survival, and what equipment you should carry with you at all times to ensure you survive your hunt.

Imagine this scenario; You and your friend are hunting elk in the Rocky Mountains. You return to the truck early in the evening after walking all day with your 30 # backpack. Woof! What a relief to finally be able to get that weight off my shoulders!

You are in the truck back to camp and you see a small band of elk with two bulls in the group. These moose are traveling so you need to move quickly to get to a point 100 meters away to shoot. You have a knife in your pocket or on your belt and extra cartridges in your pocket. Oh! Grab the rangefinder, the shooting poles, and the binoculars. We just go there, this is all we need …

You reach the point just in time to see the last moose disappear into the forest. Note that the trees open only a few hundred yards in the direction they are heading, and there is a small “spur” ridge extending from where you are that looks like a good place to shoot. You get there, they are within range, but the trees are too thick to get a clear shot or there is a cow in the way. There is an hour of daylight left, so keep following it, just sure that you will eventually have a chance. The next thing you know, you’ve lost the moose and it’s dark. Wow, forgot to bring a light. In fact, you have no cigarette lighter or cigarette lighter, no water, no food, and you have a lightweight hoodie. It doesn’t matter, the truck is like that. You walk and walk, tripping over sticks and rocks. Now it is completely dark and he finally admits that he is not sure where the truck is.

Moose have a way of mesmerizing a hunter, clouding his judgment and leading him astray. Like the mermaids of the seafaring tradition and the flute player. It’s easy to find yourself in this situation. In this case, the hunters get through a very long, cold, sleepless night and find their way back to the truck the next morning, no worse for wear and tear. This could easily have been a fatal mistake.

Here’s what you can do to make sure you survive your next moose hunt; You must have a small accessory pack of some sort, be it a waist / fanny pack, a small shoulder, or a backpack. Many “module” type packages have a small detachable package. This is an ideal system that makes it easy to make sure you have your basic overnight survival essentials all in one place. This package must be small or you can choose not to bring it. Take it with you no matter how long or how long you plan to be from the truck or camera; your life may depend on it.

Essential survival equipment and supplies, this package should contain:

Cigar or cigar lighter and magnesium fire-lighting tool. Fire starter or cuddly material is good but optional.

LED headlamp and an additional set of batteries. It is also a good idea to carry a small flashlight, such as a mini-mag, in your belt holster.

A bottle of water and a straw or filter cartridge.

One 4’x6 ‘or larger sheet of medium to heavyweight black plastic. This can be used to make a shed or shelter from wind, rain or snow, or it can be used as a “ground” cloth. It also works well for keeping pine needles and dirt out of meat while deboning an elk in the field.

A compass and / or GPS. A compass is more suitable for this small package, but if you choose a GPS, be sure to bring at least 2 extra sets of batteries.

A very small pocket first aid kit. Some of these will even contain a compass and other tools.

Paracord – minimum 10 ‘. Paracord has so many uses that it is a must.

A couple of granola bars or small bags of trail mix are recommended, but not absolutely necessary. You can go days without eating if necessary.

Lastly, a zip-lock sandwich bag containing several sheets of paper towels. These will be used for toilet paper, cleaning bloody hands and arms, mediocre fire-lighting material, and wound dressings. Paper towels still work if they are wet, unlike toilet paper.

As long as you’ve dressed appropriately and have a knife in your pocket or on your belt like most hunters do, this is all the survival gear one needs to survive in relative comfort for a short time.

There are many moose hunting scenarios that can lead to your demise if you are not prepared for them. If you have a small package containing this short list of survival gear essentials, you’ll be much more likely to grab it in your rush to catch up with that bull, and having it close by almost guarantees you’ll survive a night or two less. most conditions, whether you are forced to stay overnight or simply choose to do so to resume hunting at dawn.

Pack smart, hunt smart, hunt hard. and most of all, have fun and enjoy your precious time in the elk forest carefree and with the confidence that you are prepared to survive your adventure in pursuit of the majestic and alluring “Ghost of the Forest”.

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