The Gun Counter

I'm going to put together a trial product for a guy who runs some modest hunting courses. Most of these "everything-in-a-bag" kits turn out to be 90% crap, so he'd like something he'd feel comfortable for passing along to his students.

I have some ideas, of course, but I'd appreciate what you say, too. Have you seen hunters you were worried about once they stepped beyond the first tree? Have you read stories about hunters being lost and thought, "If only that guy..."? Please chime in, especially guys who have done S&R, E&E. For the moment, we'll assume this is hunting in moderate woodlands with some open clearings, a few rocky streams, night-time temps in the 30s, daytime temps in the 80s, from dry in the summer to heavy rainfall in the winter, and some dense fog depending on the time and season.

Scenario: Lost Hiker
Primary Goal: getting found/rescued
Secondary Goal: not dying before getting found
Concerns: package being too bulky, heavy, expensive

Space blanket
fire starting gear
whistle
mirror
something to read
water
granola bars and a twinkie (they never go bad?)
flashlight


This is assuming you can't provide a sat phone/SPOT/GPS etc.

I'd replace the space blanket with a survival bag in bright orange. It's easier to get into, and more comfortable as well as very visible.
I'd also add a small emergency camping stove, some extra water and something to mix with the water to make a hot drink. And a cup to drink it in. It takes minimal skills to heat water in a campstove, mix the drink and climb inside a survival bag to drink it, and it will keep a person warm from the inside for hours.
Oh, and I'd add an instructional sheet on laminated paper showing how to do that, just in case the person in question lack those skills.

Multi-tool.

Pistol if in bear/bandito country. It would depend on what is legally allowed. My preference would be a .357 revolver.

Something to attract attention such as a mirror, small flares, etc.

Reversible jacket in order to stand out or conceal oneself as the situation requires.

I've noticed in many of the lists of the Hiker's 10 Essentials is the distinct lack of a good, loud, whistle. Plastic police whistles are cheap, but don't last very long, but they're also easier on the teeth than a good metal police whistle (but you can get rubber teeth guard to put over it). Regardless, it's certainly worth the minimal investment in getting a few of them and putting one in each carry bag you take into the field.

You can't shout very long before becoming hoarse - and a human voice doesn't carry very far, but you can blow an ear-splitting police whistle for hours that'll penetrate all kinds of foliage and vehicles with its sound. And you know how much better sound travels at night, imagine how well that whistle sound will carry at night.

Why such a basic signaling device is not included is beyond me.

You need lightweight, compact items that may be used for multiple purposes such as a Space Blanket which can also be laid out as an aerial signal device, and can also be used to reflect heat from a small fire or stove back to you instead of losing the heat into the night. Folded up aluminum foil can act as the same thing for a stove. It can also be used to reflect light by putting the light source in the middle and trying to form a mirror around it pointed into the sky.

There are TONS of little tips like these if you look and/or just sit and think about them. The FIRST (and most important) rule is to NOT PANIC so you can think straight.

+1 on space blanket due to it's versatility. Combined with a poncho (another good item that is very versatile) you have a wide variety of shelter, signaling and clothing options.

Another +1 on whistles. Once was with a scout troop hike when one of the younger ones got separated. I cut cross country while others circled each way along the trail he was probably on. I was able to hear his whistle 5-10 minutes before I got within easy shouting distance and was able to home in on him. (He found an open spot on the trail, sat his ass down and started blowing his SOS on his whistle every couple of minutes. Smart kid.)

Pocket Knife

Multiple fire starting options for warmth, cooking and signaling. I carry kitchen matches in a waterproof container, a magnesium bar with a steel insert (shave off slices of magnesium and use knife and steel to make sparks), and a small lighter.

Foldable water bag and water purification tablets. I think pocket drinking tube filters have dropped in price, but haven't priced them recently.

Mirror and small LED flashlight. Maybe a wind up type.

Basic first aid kit.

To prioritize items remember: You'll bleed to death, before you freeze to death, before you die of dehydration, before you starve to death.

I would include some allergy pills - never know when someone might find out he's allergic to ground hornets, even though bees have been fine, etc. Also, some anti-diaherrea pills and some electrolyte powder. And, a GPS EPIRB, but that depends on how truly lost you intend to get.

Aglifter wrote: And, a GPS EPIRB, but that depends on how truly lost you intend to get.

I thought of mentioning that, but the price would be prohibitive for any but a really high end kit.

Providing them as a rental might be an idea.

My poor man's version is a GPS and an APRS capable radio, which can transmit your location (and an emergency beacon) via satellite or the ISS to internet websites. However, you need to have an Amateur Radio license to go this route.

For the most part, anyone with a radio can be located using triangulation gear as long as they're in the bands that can be searched and used to communicate. Simply breaking squelch and doing a long count can get a good fix from a couple of airborne search units.

Of course, the cost of EPIRBS keep coming down as time goes on and things continue to get cheaper. You got models like this one, which cost a couple hundred bucks and almost fit inside a shirt pocket.



Unfortunately, one of the BIG PROBLEMS with these devices is like burglar alarms - well over 90% of them are FALSE ALARMS. But they MUST respond to each one as if it's a valid alarm until they know otherwise.

Familiarize yourself with this article from Wiki, it's tell you a lot of info about the devices.

For the old analog devices, in 2006:
98.5% of alerts detected are false (2006)

For the devices in 406 MHz (digital) for 2006:
97.1% of all alerts are false alerts (2006)

And:

Personal locator beacons (PLBs)

Personal locator beacons operating on 406 MHz must be registered. PLBs should not be used in cases where normal emergency response exists.

Now, if I was going hunting a couple of days out from civilization, and did so on any kind of regular basis, I'd REALLY RECOMMEND investing in one of these devices because they can home in on your rear end from miles away to pinpoint where THAT BEACON IS (that's NOT necessarily the same thing as where the beacon is at), so you NEED to be aware of your equipment and what it does and even more importantly; what are the device's limitations!!"

+1 to two pieces in the space blanket/bag/poncho category. One is barely enough but two can make a huge difference. One to huddle in and another to act as a fire reflector.

Also add a length of para cord to the list.