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15 Essentials For A Hunting Day Pack

When you’re out in the bush and all you have to rely on for survival is what is in your hunting pack, you really want to bring what is necessary. Especially, without carrying extra weight. If you’re hiking for hours, your body will get fatigued by the end of the day. Add a 15-pound hunting pack (and possibly coupled with 10,000 ft elevation) that you’re not used to carrying, you’re going to wish you had spent more time exercising and preparing for your hunt.

Our Factor Equipment team has always been a group of avid hunters. However, we all have different opinions about what the most important items for our day hunt packs are. So, we decided to get together and write out a list of the most important items that we never leave the hunting lodge without.

Many hunters determine what they need in their day hunt packs just through trial and error over the years. The best way to figure out what you need is to get out there in the field and experience the tribulations of being a hunter. However, if you are new to the hunting sphere or taking your kids hunting for the first time (this was a great refresher for us since our kids are starting to be old enough now, too), we understand you might not know what to carry in your day packs. So, whether you’re a seasoned or novice hunter, here is what you will find in the hunting day packs of every Factor Equipment team member:

mizpah 300 hunting flashlight beam

Water

There are many things you need for survival, but water is definitely the most important one. All of us at Factor Equipment agreed that water was the most important item to carry in your hunting day pack. You should always save the majority of the weight in your pack for water. We suggest putting your water supply in a bladder to minimize the amount of space it takes up in your pack. Another alternative is platypus collapsibles that you can put in the bottom of your pack as backups.

First Aid Kit

Whether you get a blister on your heel from your boots, get into a fight with a cactus or cut yourself with your knife, you should carry a small first aid kit in your hunting pack. It can be as simple as two or three small, medium, and large band-aids, antibacterial cream, hand sanitizer, paracord and anti-itch cream. You want to carry enough with you to keep yourself comfortable.

Rain Gear

You want to make sure that your rain gear is actually a material that will wick away any moisture. Especially, if you’re hunting on a snowy mountainside and run the risk of your layering system getting soaked. That’s when hypothermia could become a potential problem, and you’ll have to cut your hunt short. Sometimes, you can even set up a regular tarp overhead while you glass a canyon and wait for the rain to dissipate.

Headlamp

When you need your hands free to dress an animal in the dark, a good headlamp is always a good resource to have. Find one that has a long runtime for longer hikes back, and alert mode settings like strobe and SOS for emergency situations. Several of today’s headlamps are so lightweight, you won’t even notice you are wearing it or that it’s even in your pack.

Food/Snacks

When you’re hiking all day, you tend to get pretty hungry. Many hunters like to carry mixed nuts in their bag and other hunters swear by their jetboils for heating up prepackaged freeze-dried food. If you want to limit your weight, mixed nuts, any kind of jerky, and high-calorie protein bars are probably the method you want to take. However, if you have another pound or pound and a half to spare in your day pack, a jetboil and your favorite prepackaged freeze-dried meal is a great option as well.

Knife

A good field dressing knife is pretty important to any hunter’s daypack.  Make sure you have a sharp, strong blade while you’re hunting. Factor Equipment’s Hardened Knife was durably handcrafted specifically for any active outdoorsman. It has a convenient drop-point blade that makes for a fast and easy cleanup.

hardened hunting knife

Rubber Gloves

It’s always a safe bet to wear rubber gloves while field dressing any animal. You never know what bacteria or parasites an animal might have. If you have even the smallest scrape on your hand and then dressed your animal without gloves on, you could potentially become very sick. Throw two or three pairs of rubber gloves in your bag just to be sure you have an extra in case one goes missing.

Trash bags/ Game Bags

Trash bags can always get the job done when packing out game. However, if you’re packing out anything larger than a whitetail, it would be worth investing in game bags. Trash bags are more likely to tear when they’re filled with heavy pieces of meat. Game bags can be reusable and overall are much easier to use.

Survival Blanket

No matter what type of hunting you’re doing, you should always have a survival blanket in your hunting pack. They weigh almost nothing and they hardly take up any space. If you end up tracking an animal late into the night and have to post up camp, you’ll be happy that you had it. 

Rangefinder

A rangefinder is small and fairly lightweight. It’s important to carry a rangefinder with you when you’re hunting. because you want to make sure that you can make an ethical shot. If you know you can’t make a 700-yard shot, but you see a trophy elk through your binos, then that would be an irresponsible shot to take and you could potentially wound that elk.

Flashlight

On the off chance that you might have to track an animal that you shot as sunset quickly approaches, there is a good chance that you could be tracking that animal well into the night. It’s a good idea to have a great flashlight with 300+ lumens such as the Factor Equipment Mizpah 300 to ensure that you can see what is around you or in your path.

Baby Wipes

Baby wipes could be used for any number of things whether you have to go to the bathroom out in the woods, get mud and dirt off your hands before you eat, wipe any blood off of you after field dressing an animal, get the sweat off your face after a long day of hiking, clean your knife off, etc.

Fire Starter & Lighter

It’s always smart to carry a lighter because you never know what you might need it for. Whether you need to start a fire because the sunset while you were tracking an animal and you decided to post-camp for the night, you are hurt and need to call attention to yourself, you need to burn the end of some paracord to solidify a knot, etc.

Game Call 

After everything is in your bag, it’s a good idea to put your game call in last. That way, you can easily get to it without making too much noise if you see a nice bull or buck not too far away from where you are hiking.

Hunting License

Put your hunting license in a plastic bag to protect it from the elements. The last thing you want is to cross by a game warden and your hunting license to be illegible because it got wet.

 

 

What are some of your favorite items to throw in your hunting day pack? Be sure to leave them in the comments below!

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55 Comments

  1. John Linchon

    It’s very effective article for all of the hunter. It important factor that hunting license. Hunting license is very emergency before hunting. Without license you can not permit for hunting in anywhere.

  2. Jack Alimi

    Than you very much for this good resources.

  3. McCarthy at KnifeSherpnerGuy

    It’s amazing .This blog will benefit many of those who love to hunting.Because there’s a lot to learn from here.I have bookmarked this blog to show my brother.Cause he loves hunting.And I think that hunting is impossible without knife.

  4. Michael hunt

    I was putting together a new day bag for hunting, i hunt Kentucky, west Virginia & ohio every year, i had some stuff already but just wanted to see what everyone else was using. It helped out a lot thanks for your in put….

  5. Alexander Nester

    Alway pack a compass. Probably would be something that should be added to this essentials list. Overall very well written article though. Thank you.

  6. AC Marks

    Nice article, would suggest adding 25 ft min of paracord, very light and many uses including rigging the tarp mentioned above. I’m in BC so carry bear spray for close encounters where a scoped rifle would be hard to use for defense. If showers in forecast, don’t laugh but a small collapsible umbrella is very light and can be used to wait out rain and faster than setting up a tarp.

  7. Ridley Fitzgerald

    Thanks for the great tips for hunting here. My cousins all want to go and hunt cougars this year, and they want me to come. I’m no novice to being outside, but it never hurts to get some tips on preparation. Adding a small first aid kit to my pack is probably smart because my cousins won’t think of that.

  8. Suhana Morgan

    This is the essential tools for the hunter. It must be helpful to protect myself. What the great idea maker you are? I am very pleased with your hard work. Your hacking technique inspires me more to decor my backpack. I got fantastic to keep sandals in your backpack just oww. Please do not stop, keep it up. Please post this awesome blog after some days.

  9. David Jones

    I always pack a role of electrical tape, better than a band-aid and will still stick even when wet. Gets you back to the house every time.

  10. Review Tent

    Suhana Morgan, I agree with you, its really very important and beneficial tips. thanks, dear owner.

  11. Jacqueline Skrivanek

    It is a must have… a baggie for trash & another baggie with toilet paper. MARKING TAPE (survey tape) is a must in my backpack along with the compass. Each hunter in my family has a different color in case we are out spot and stalking. Others in the party can help locate you. Also, we take walkie talkies since our phones almost never work in the hunting areas. Safe hunting!

    1. Charlie Smith

      Right! Everything you said, Jacqueline. And a tea pail. You all forgot a tea pail, I put; tea bags, fast food; salt and pepper packets, premixed bannock, a spoon, spare lighter, fire starter with a needle and thread stuck in it, and dehydrated food of some kind in the tea pail, (my new one is a German Mess Kit). A tea pail is about the last thing I would leave out, lots of water around if you have some way to boil it!

  12. Taylor Bishop

    Thanks for explaining what would be needed for hunting day. it’s good to know that you should be sure to bring your hunting license in your bag to protect it. It also seems important to try to have it on your person at all times in case you ever need to show it.

  13. Stefan Bradley

    It’s good to know that you should bring a knife whenever you go on a hunting trip. My uncle and I want to go hunting this summer. I hope that we can find the necessary supplies before we go on our trip.

  14. Sam Gibson

    My brothers and I are hoping to get a last-minute elk hunt in before the season ends. I appreciate how you mentioned that you’ll want good rain gear that can wick away moisture to prevent you from getting soaked. We’re hoping to find a good place where we can buy some quality hunting gear and clothes to make sure we stay warm, dry, and happy.

  15. ERIC KROLL

    I think a bow or rifle might come in handy

  16. Brian Howell

    I always take a small bottle of super glue. It is great to patch up a cut or use as second skin.

    1. Dennis Bailey

      i do the same thing

  17. Helen Smith @UmbrellaWiki

    I love your post you have shared here on your site. I would like to share it with my friends on all my social media accounts. Thanks for writing such an informative content.

  18. Alan

    Wonderful article, it gives one pause for thought. I always include several feet of climbing rope for the field dressing should my hunt be successful. I also include my GPS unit, especially when I’m hunting new territory. It might prove difficult finding my way in the dark. If you require special medication, be sure to include it so you can tend to yourself should you be delayed returning to camp.

  19. Adam James

    I think you miss one thing that is hunting day pack to keep these these gear safe and secure 🙂

  20. Angela

    This is wonderful post. This post describe beautifully, what is the need for hunting?. Thank you for the post.

  21. Jane

    it is best list for the hunting. This post explain beautifully this issue. Thank you for sharing this issue.

  22. google dorks

    I think a bow or rifle might come in handy

  23. Bella

    This is very effective issue for the hunting All the tools is very essential for the for hunting. Thank you for informative post..

  24. Cabot Lord

    Folding Hiking polls, for us older guys getting up and down elevation rocks, mud etc. and I need a bow sling

  25. High School Backpacks

    I am totally new to go hunting. So I check all over the internet to pick some information about hunting. And you show us. And you show us 15 essentials that’s help us a lot for the hunting day. Many many thanks for sharing.

  26. JaeLee

    I take most of these things but also take a compass, extra batteries (for flashlight and gps) and I print out a copy of a map of the area I am hunting if I am able to.

    I also take extra ammo for my concealed carry and if it is rifle season then extra for my hunting rifle. Before I got my concealed permit that allows me to carry a pistol while archery hunting- I kept a small whistle in my pack. If you were in an emergency and cellphones not an option – you need something to signal for distress that takes little energy/effort that can be heard long distances.

    Extra hats and extra safety orange are also in my pack. They are all light weight but have come in handy for me in the past- I haven’t had to struggle to take my orange off to throw on rain gear – just put the rain gear on then the extra orange vest!

    One thing too I started when I was big into hiking (especially going off trails) at local state parks that I now do when hunting is an index card on my dash for incase of emergencies. I always put my name, cellphone number, emergency contact, and a generalized area where I plan on starting my hunt along with the date and time of departure and date/tine that I planned on returning. It’s best if your emergency contact is someone who has been out in the woods with you before- they will be able to give a bit of insight to how you think and react if something goes wrong. The date and times are important because then game wardens and law enforcement know how long you have been out and have truly been “missing”. Called me paranoid but I always try to plan for worse case scenarios. I have never gotten “lost” in the woods, but worry about being out alone and getting injured. There are always uncontrollable unforeseen circumstances- tree branches falling a day after a bad storm, slip and fall and hit your head, even severely sprained ankles. I have talked to a lot of game wardens that work out at our state parks and they have commented on my ICE cards and have started using the idea themselves when off-duty. They have had to do minor search and rescues and said it would have saved them a lot of time and energy to have a starting point since there are a lot of different trailheads to choose from at each parking spot.

  27. JaeLee

    I take most of these things but also take a compass, extra batteries (for flashlight and gps) and I print out a copy of a map of the area I am hunting if I am able to.

    I also take extra ammo for my concealed carry and if it is rifle season then extra for my hunting rifle. Before I got my concealed permit that allows me to carry a pistol while archery hunting- I kept a small whistle in my pack. If you were in an emergency and cellphones not an option – you need something to signal for distress that takes little energy/effort that can be heard long distances.

    Extra hats and extra safety orange are also in my pack. They are all light weight but have come in handy for me in the past- I haven’t had to struggle to take my orange off to throw on rain gear – just put the rain gear on then the extra orange vest!

    One thing too I started when I was big into hiking (especially going off trails) at local state parks that I now do when hunting is an index card on my dash for incase of emergencies. I always put my name, cellphone number, emergency contact, and a generalized area where I plan on starting my hunt along with the date and time of departure and date/tine that I planned on returning. It’s best if your emergency contact is someone who has been out in the woods with you before- they will be able to give a bit of insight to how you think and react if something goes wrong. The date and times are important because then game wardens and law enforcement know how long you have been out and have truly been “missing”. Called me paranoid but I always try to plan for worse case scenarios. I have never gotten “lost” in the woods, but worry about being out alone and getting injured. There are always uncontrollable unforeseen circumstances- tree branches falling a day after a bad storm, slip and fall and hit your head, even severely sprained ankles. I have talked to a lot of game wardens that work out at our state parks and they have commented on my ICE cards and have started using the idea themselves when off-duty. They have had to do minor search and rescues and said it would have saved them a lot of time and energy to have a starting point since there are a lot of different trailheads to choose from at each parking spot.

  28. Rebecca Gardner

    It’s good to know that baby wipes are good for cleaning everything from your face to your knife. My brother wants to find a hunting ranch since he thinks it’d be a fun way to get some time outdoors before the weather gets too cold. I’ll have to send him this packing list to make sure his hunting trip is as comfortable and convenient as possible!

  29. Brian Sorensen

    my uncle gave me a backup hunting knife to keep in my pack, i usually have my main knife on my belt for easy access. a secondary knife doesn’t add to much weight and it can help if the main one breaks or is too dull to do the job properly.

  30. Angela

    This is very smart and useful post. I appreciate this post. Thank you for the post.

  31. austin

    helps

  32. Jaidyn

    Dude this is so useful information I like to bring a nife 1 for protection 2 to butt the animal

  33. austin

    The way you have explained the essentials required for hunting are awesome.
    completely informative and explained very well.

  34. Gunnar

    NEVER use babywipes as toiletpaper. Babywipes takes a long time to be decomposed in nature. Just carry a little loo roll instead (can be used as tinder for a fire as well), or just use a leaf like real woodsmen 😉

  35. Lily Jan

    Really It’s amazing and nice information. This blog will benefit many of those who love hunting. Because there’s a lot to learn from here.I have bookmarked this blog to show my brother. Cause he loves hunting. And I think that hunting is impossible without a knife.

  36. LILY ROSE

    This is a very nice article, would suggest adding 25 ft min of paracord, very light and many uses including rigging the tarp mentioned above. I’m in BC so carry bear spray for close encounters where a scoped rifle would be hard to use for defense. If showers in the forecast, don’t laugh but a small collapsible umbrella is very light and can be used to wait out the rain and faster than setting up a tarp.

  37. Eli Richardson

    It’s great that you talked about how to prepare to go deer hunting. My dad finally accepted my uncle’s invitation to go hunting with him, so naturally, he dragged me along with him. That’s why I’m researching what I would need to go deer hunting, and I think your article will help me with it. I appreciate you helping me learn about taking the right equipment for a hunting day.

  38. Damins

    Hi LILY ROSE, I agree with you, it’s really amazing article that shared here, thanks the dear owner for this good post

  39. brock

    Thanks for the great and very useful information.

  40. Lily Safi

    Great post really all these things very important when someone going hunting. i read your post very informative for me.

  41. James

    Hunting is a wonderful source of enjoyment, but you can’t enjoy it if you don’t have all of the necessary items in your bag. Your guide is both entertaining and educational. Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts.

  42. Lily Jamal

    Really these are the essential tools for the hunter. I read your article very informative for me. It must be helpful to protect myself. What a great idea maker you are? I am very pleased with your hard work. Your hacking technique inspires me more to decor my backpack. I got fantastic to keep sandals in your backpack just oww. Please do not stop, keep it up. Please post this awesome blog after some days. Those how to want to go for hunting must read this article. Thanks

  43. Wyatt Baker

    This is very informative and useful you share, Thank you. And I want to share more like, for a backpack hunter pack weight is extremely important – for several reasons. The pack is one of the heavier pieces of gear percentage wise.

  44. LeBeau

    The number one concern that you have to think about is your comfort when you are going on hunting trips. You have to make sure that your bag is not heavy enough to bring on hikes while keeping all necessary things in. To help you out, this blog The Ultimate Hunting Gear Essentials will enumerate everything you need to bring for a hunting adventure. Here are the gear essentials you need to prepare.

  45. Juma Sing

    This is a great and Nice article, would suggest adding 25 ft min of paracord, very light, and many uses including rigging the tarp mentioned above. I’m in BC so carry bear spray for close encounters where a scoped rifle would be hard to use for defense. If showers are in the forecast, don’t laugh but a small collapsible umbrella is very light and can be used to wait out the rain and faster than setting up a tarp.

  46. Chance Cook

    I want to go hunting with my brother. I’ve never been before though. So thanks for the tip to bring a trash bag for the game.

  47. Billy Bobb

    I feel the flashlight is a target for the bad guy.
    Most people know the layout of there area better than the criminal. I know where I’m aiming and it will be the flashlight illuminated crook.

  48. ella

    Thank you for the information. YOu have done an amazing job on this. Really appreciatable

  49. Bagcottage

    I’ve been reading some of these comments with interest because I’m looking for a good wheeled backpack and couldn’t find anything suitable researching it until you mentioned the Doubletrack 28, which seems perfect for me. However, it seems to be sold out everywhere, I fear discontinued (why oh why do they stop making the best things??). I see it’s been a few months since you’ve been on here but you don’t happen to have any information about this backpack do you? To answer your question about Eastpak, no, they don’t have straps on any of their larger cases so they don’t compare to this North Face one. However, I do love Eastpak for their durability and functionality (and style). I have the 82L suitcase and love it, however, it is difficult to carry. Look forward to hearing from you if you are out there!
    Thanks

  50. Claire Masters

    Thanks for mentioning all these hunting essentials especially not forgetting to bring your license and putting it in a container that would prevent it from getting wet. I would understand how you might need a good utility bag to bring all of these essentials. Since my husband and I have been talking about trying this activity, will shirt to look for accessories that we would really need.

  51. Alice Carroll

    Thanks for the tip about about how I should also pack some first aid materials when it preparing a duck hunting bag. My uncle would like to go hunting with me soon so I’m interested in buying new gear. A new and larger bag would surely be good to have.

  52. jon mike

    hi this content is very nice and great full information. l love this content thank you so much writer?

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