Solo Hunters who go hunting and don’t come back are rare, but stories like this one from the BC Hunting Blog about missing hunter Tom Leonard make you pause when you contemplate a solo venture.

Emergency plan – Leave this with someone at home, or the base camp if you are spiking out alone.  The info necessary includes:

  • When You plan to return, and especially, when they should begin to worry.  On a weekend hunt I tell my wife, that I will contact her with a status report by midnight sunday night.  After that, she can call the Search and Rescue.
  • Where  you are going.  I leave a map with the name and trailhead I’m going in at.  I also circle the approximate area I will be hunting, and I don’t go beyond that since any search attempts will concentrate on those areas.  I  leave her a copy of the National Forest map with the locations marked of where I will park my truck, and if I am exiting a different location, where that will be.
  • How Long You will be gone.  How long you will have supplies for. How long to wait before your contact should start to worry.
  • Who to contact if the contact does not hear from you.  That would include the local Sheriff’s department (who coordinate the S&R efforts), The District Ranger station, and other people who are familiar withthe area and would know where I would be hunting and perhaps hurt. 

Emergency supplies -

Should be on your person.  Not on your horse or in your pack.  It is too easy to drop your pack for a stalk and end up a mile away from shelter and first aid supplies.  Likewise, if your horse dumps you and runs off to the trailhead, you don’t want to be afoot, unarmed with no way to make a fire, or shelter yourself

  • Fire Supplies Not only for staying warm, but signalling for help from passing aircraft, and search parties.  a column of smoke will catch the eye for miles on a clear day. 
    Fire starter – Fire sticks, or cotton balls soaked in Vaselline, pine pitch knots,
    Matches – Strike anywhere, waterproof
    Waterproof Matchcase with whistle, compass, mirror and flint
    One of the waterproof match case designs available
    My choice of Lighter is the Cabelas all weather model. Wind-proof ignition features a Piezo-electronic ignition system with a unique coil design that relights itself. It worked great elk hunting at 9000 feet elevation
  • Flint and Steel or other sparking firestarter 
    When Matches are wet, and the lighter won't work, a flint and steel is the only other option
  • Candle
  • A Kotex pad – This can stop bleeding and also will serve as tinder for fire starting.
  • Space blanket -
    A space blanket that will work in a pinch
  • Duct Tape – a milion uses and counting. 
  • Parachute cord
  • A knife with a sturdy blade
  • Parachute cord can be used for a variety of uses
    Other Items that make an unexpected night out more bearable
  • water treatment drops
  • high energy bars

All of these Items can be put in a fanny pack or in a lightweight vest. Some people store their emergency kit in a Nalgene container.

 

Primos makes vests for both rifle hunters and archery hunters that have numerous pockets to keep survival materials in.  REMEMBER ON YOUR PERSON!  It could save your life.

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