There are five things you must have on your person when you head out to the hills. If you want to go light and not take a pack because you are close to home, these are the items you should really have.
- #OnX maps – This is such an incredibly useful tool and be sure to save some offline maps before you go so you can still have detail when out of service. It’s so awesome to watch your progress as you’re making your way to your destination. Keeps you on track too. (And the plus of that is you have to have your phone with you for this must have so it’s an all in one and allows you that top of the world picture!)
- A knife. Pocket knife, big knife, machete; whatever your pleasure but it needs to be sharp and handy. Not just in case you get something and have to field dress it but in case that pesky kitty pounces or a bear happens along, you need your last means of self defense. I have considered strapping a machete to my leg just to be prepared for the brambles that my honey takes me in to, but currently I have my Gerber.
- Flagging. I always have some in a pocket because it seems the densest areas are near a road and in the dark or anytime really, if you are trying to get your bearings as to where you’re parked and where you came in, flagging is fabulous! If you do get something along the way, you’ll want to mark your trail to it also if you can’t pin it on #OnX. Someone else’s flagging saved my butt one time when I was out hunting alone before I got #OnX. If I hadn’t seen some flagging at the top of a ridge that had also been down by my Jeep, I would have ended up one or two fingers too far down the mountain and completely lost.
- Binoculars. If you have ever left the house without your binos and you’re at your destination and it’s too far to go back, you realize how incredibly important these are. You will only forget them once, I promise. I have a great pair of Vortex that my honey got me and they are necessary for sure. He just got me a bino bag too. Yes, he spoils me, and if you consider that to be one item, then all this fits in to it and you can pack more stuff!! Seriously, my bino bag has my binos (duh), two knives, replacement blades, flagging, range finder, TP, my phone and my license. All in one awesomeness!
- Last but not least, it is always a good plan to carry a bit of toilet paper. It doesn’t have to be a whole roll but just some wraps around the hand, stuck in a pocket and you are good to go. Not only for those calls of nature that could very well happen but for the mishap of falling off a log and getting your leg snagged in the process and you need a little first aid. Toilet paper and some flagging make a great makeshift bandage.
One thing I didn’t put on the list is a firearm. Some do, some don’t carry but for us it’s always on us. It’s just part of my wardrobe and on my belt always so I don’t consider it an additional item. If you want to leave out the toilet paper and add the firearm as the fifth item, well that’s completely up to you! Just make sure you go before you go!
Archery and Camo 