Anyone who has hunted elk knows how challenging, frustrating, physically demanding and even painful it can be. Still, hunting moose can be addictive. A person can easily become obsessed, to the point of being so engrossed in the hunt that they may not realize how far they have gone, what time it is, or be sure where they are. Here, we'll discuss how these and other factors can combine to negatively affect your survival, and the gear you should always have on hand to ensure you survive your hunt.
Imagine this situation, you and your partner are hunting elk in the Rocky Mountains. After a long day of hiking with a #30 pack, he returns to the truck in the early afternoon. Wow! What a relief to finally have a weight off my shoulders!
You see a small herd of elk and two bulls in the truck on the way back to camp. These moose are traveling so you need to quickly move to a point 100 meters away to shoot. He has a knife in his pocket or belt, and extra cartridges in his pocket. Oh! Grab a rangefinder, shooting stick, and binoculars. We just go there and that's all we need...
You arrive at your destination just in time to see the last moose disappear into the woods. You realize the trees are open only a few hundred yards in the direction you're going, and there's a little "spur" ridge extending from the one you're on that looks like a good spot to shoot. You get there and they're in range, but the trees are too thick for a clear shot, or there's a cow in the way. There's an hour of daylight left, so keep following, making sure you'll eventually get a chance. The next thing you know, you've lost the moose and it's dark. Oops, I forgot to bring the light. In fact, you had no lighter or starter, no water, no food, and you were just wearing a simple hoodie. It's okay, the truck is here. You walk and walk, tripping over sticks and stones. Now it is completely dark and you finally admit that you are not sure where the truck is.
Moose have a way of confusing the hunter, clouding their judgment and leading them astray. Just like the Mermaids and Pied Pipers from Sailor Legends. It is easy to find yourself in this situation. In this case, the hunter spent a long, cold, sleepless night and found his way back to the truck the next morning, unused. This is most likely a fatal error.
Here's what you can do to make sure you survive your next moose hunt; You should have some type of small accessory bag, whether it's a fanny pack/belly pack, a small shoulder bag, or a backpack. Many "modular" type backpacks have a detachable small backpack. This is an ideal system that makes it easy to ensure you have the basic necessities to survive through the night in one place. The bag should be small, or you can choose not to carry it. No matter how long you plan to be away from your truck or camera, take it with you, your life may depend on it.
Basic survival gear and supplies this kit should include:
Cigar or cigarette lighter and magnesium lighting tool. Fire starter materials or offerings are fine, but optional.
LED headlights and an extra set of batteries. It's also a good idea to carry a small flashlight like a minimag in your belt holster.
A bottle of water and a straw or filter cartridge.
A 4' x 6' or larger piece of medium to heavy black plastic. This can be used to make a shed or shelter from wind, rain or snow, or as a "ground" cloth. It also does a good job of keeping pine needles and dirt out of the meat when elk is deboned in the field.
Compass and/or GPS. A compass is more suitable for this small backpack, but if you choose GPS, be sure to bring 2 extra batteries.
A very small pocket first aid kit. Some of them even contain compasses and other tools.
Paracord - 10 foot minimum. Paracord has many uses and is therefore a must.
A few granola bars or a small bag of trail mix are recommended, but not strictly necessary. You can go a few days without eating if necessary.
Lastly, a zippered sandwich bag with some tissues inside. These will be used for toilet paper, cleaning bloody hands and arms, general fire starters and wound dressings. Unlike toilet paper, paper towels continue to work when wet.
As long as you dress decently and carry a knife in your pocket or belt like most hunters do, that's all the survival gear one needs to survive in relative comfort in the short term.
There are many moose hunting scenarios that could result in your death if you are not prepared. If you have a small backpack with this basic list of survival gear, you're more likely to grab that bull quickly, and having it with you will almost guarantee that you'll survive the cold for two nights. Most of the time, you are either forced to spend the night or just choose to continue hunting during the day.
Pack smart, hunt smart, hunt hard. Above all, please enjoy your precious time in the elk forest without worry and trust that you are ready for the majestic and enchanting adventure "Spirit of the Forest".
