What's in your vest?

Besides the basics (lighter, bit of paracord, emergency blanket, etc., I also carry a life straw. Nice and light and God forbid, if I got lost I have unlimited water from any puddle, stream or pond.

I carry a knife, ziplock bags, plastic shopping bag, compass/gps, shot shells and a lucky snowshoe hares foot. Food/water and espresso at the car.

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Originally Posted by kickingfrog

On a side note, any good luck charms that you're willing to admit to?

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Yep, the pellets inside my cartridges. Some days those work, other days those are more attracted to trees trunks, branches, vacant spaces etc. :)

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Originally Posted by kickingfrog

On a side note, any good luck charms that you're willing to admit to? I don't necessarily have one but I have carried an empty shell from a memorable shot for a while afterwards. I do like the idea of keeping a feather (on purpose) in the vest and/or my hat. I do have tail feathers as book marks in each of my grouse books.

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yup, I do have a good luck charm that is always with me. His name is Tucker and i won't hunt without him.

This time of year: earplugs, a few shells, maybe a blank pistol, and a bunch of pigeon feathers.

Come fall, licence, shells, a granola bar, a homemade priest, and a bunch of twigs and leaves and feathers.

I don't carry much. I put in the stuff I think I'll need, depending where I'm going. The one permanent thing is a compass clipped to a strap, a legacy of the time I got lost. Knives and so on are in my pocketses or on my belt.

A compass ,knife, water, granola bar, cell phone, lighter, plastic bag, whistle, licence , map of area. And of course my dog or dogs.

Back in the day I had several little survival kits stashed away everywhere, but as the years passed I've stopped carrying them. Generally in the places I hunt now I'm never more than a few kms, and often much less, from my vehicle and I'm mostly in central Ontario. In part, having a cell phone has made me feel that the likelihood of spending a night in the bush less likely, and now that I've mellowed a bit as well I'm less likely to take some of the risks that I might have as a young man. Not saying that having some emergency stuff on hand isn't necessary (I do still have all that survival stuff in a pack that stays in the vehicle on every trip) just that I've become complacent and technology has changed things a little.

Edit to add:
I also have a gun sock that I bring as well if I'm hunting late in the day incase I end up out after legal light.

Personally, for ease of mobility, I try to prep all basic carry gear on my person to be lightweight as far as possible. Best to have essentials and not ever need any than need any and not have the stuff at hand.

In most areas, for example, the closest I hunt is Parry Sound, where mobile coverage isn't always available even on a clear logging trail. A simple incident perhaps such as a sprained ankle a mere 1000 yards away from a trail could become quite an unpleasant experience particularly if one is alone. The vehicle is parked usually 7-8kms away.

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Originally Posted by sharps4570

Personally, for ease of mobility, I try to prep all basic carry gear on my person to be lightweight as far as possible. Best to have essentials and not ever need any than need any and not have the stuff at hand.

In most areas, for example, the closest I hunt is Parry Sound, where mobile coverage isn't always available even on a clear logging trail. A simple incident perhaps such as a sprained ankle a mere 1000 yards away from a trail could become quite an unpleasant experience particularly if one is alone. The vehicle is parked usually 7-8kms away.

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well said!!

This is my first post on the forum. HoneyBee is my dog's name (GSP). I have a 4 year old son who is going to tread the trails with me this Fall and I'm really hoping he can turn into my good luck charm.....the dog knows I could use some luck, haha.