Better being Safe than Sorry when out in the Deer Woods
If you are like me you try to get out in the deer woods as much as possible. To me it is a place to go and catch my breath from the day to day hussle and bussle. Most of us don’t realize that anything can happen at any time whether you are prepared or not and whether you are a mile from home or a thousand miles from home.
When I go hunting I always carry a few items in my back pack and the most important is a first aid kit. I bought this one pictured below from Bass Pro Shops for just $12.99 and it offers different size kits according to how long you will be in the field.
- Contents:
- One - Povidone iodine ointment
- Six - Antiseptic towelettes
- One - Green soap sponge
- Four - Ibuprofen tablets
- Four - Acetaminophen tablets
- Two - Decongestant tablets
- One - Sting relief
- Two - Antibiotic ointment
- One - Tincture of benzoin
- Six - Adhesive bandages 1″ x 3″
- Five - Mini bandages
- Two - Knuckle bandages
- Two - 2″ x 3″ non-stick pads
- Six - 3″ x 3″ gauze pads
- Two - Sterile wound closure
- One - Adhesive taps 1/2″ x 10 yards
- One - Gauze roll 2″ x 5 yards
- One - Moleskin 2″ x 3″
- Tweezers
- Resealable bag
- Pair nitrile gloves
- First aid booklet
A flash light is another item that I always take with me. I prefer a mini-mag from Maglite which only takes 2 “AA” batteries. It is light and is just enough light to see what you need to, it does not take up a lot of space. These are very inexpensive and can be purchased anywhere, even at hardware stores.
Another item which is good to have is a compass and/or gps. For a compass I would recommend a Lensatic compass like this one below. You can get one right from Cabela’s for just $14.99, it is easy to read and gives you a way to line up a distant object to keep track of in the direction you need to go.
If you want a GPS this one is made by Garmin and is very user friendly and can be purchased from Walmart for just $90.00 which is the one I decided on for my trip to the northwoods of Maine this coming November.
Plus there are a few other items that will fit in your backpack like for instance,
1. - bottled water, to keep you hydrated
2. - surveyors tape, for marking your trail and/or leaving sign posts for other people follow.
3. - snacks, to keep your energy up
4. - cell phone, no explanation needed
5. - knife, can be used in a lot of different ways
6.- rain gear, usually folded in a nice zip lock bag
It never hurts to be better safe than sorry and it doesn’t take much than a back pack to carry a few items in.
Sounds like you’ve got a good safety and survival kit there. Posts like these are always a good reminder for this time of year.
October 1st, 2007 at 10:53 am
Thanks Kristine,
Isn’t it funny how we tend to use our heads more as we get older than we did when we were younger.
October 1st, 2007 at 11:06 am
Yes, good suggestions. However, I encourage you and your readers to shop anywhere but Wal-Mart. It’s amazing how far the company will go to make a profit and that includes pressuring Chinese suppliers to cut costs, which often equates to looking the other way when it comes to safety. I think the company is obligated to ensure the products it sells are safe for consumers.
Happy Hunting!
October 1st, 2007 at 11:31 am
Mark, thanks for your comment and I will keep it in mind. Personally I have had no problems dealing with Walmart as far as ensuring any products. Usually before I spend any amount of money on something especially when it come to safety I will do research first.
Thankyou again for your comment and opinion, it is noted.
October 1st, 2007 at 1:43 pm