Equipment Hacks

dmyers

AH veteran
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Sep 8, 2015
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Location
Canada
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Africa
3
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Namibia, Canada,
What are some of the best equipment hacks you have found useful in the bush or back in camp. I know duct tape is universally useful, but my last hunt was likely saved through the use of ShoeGoo to repair both my pairs of boots before they got unusable. I would not leave home without some sort of glue for footwear - and non-footwear “on the fly” repairs. I’d be interested to hear what other hunters have found handy for hunting or traveling to or from Africa- apart from the stuff you find on “What to bring” lists. So, what do you bring?
 
I take Equipment that is in good working order and not remotely in need of glue or tape!:ROFLMAO::):whistle:(y)
However, there are some things that I take two......small pocket flashlight, converter plugs, rifles and meds.
 
I take a spare scope sighted in and with QR mounts.
 
Well, speaking of glue, I have found Super Glue handy on several occassions for gluing myself shut as well as a giant gash on my dog’s head that really needed stitches, but a long, long way to the vet.
I usually have these items on my person when hunting:
Small head lamp and 2 spare AAA batteries
Mechanics gloves
Kuiu Guide Beenie
GPS
Havalon knife and spare blades
Compact, high intensity fire starter

Another thing I’ve taken to carrying in my pack while hunting is a nylon duffel bag just large enough to stow all the gear from the pack. It lets me unload the gear in my pack into the duffel bag and use the full capacity of my pack to haul meat or a cape and just carry the full duffel by hand. Sometimes saves a trip all the way back to retrieve gear that had to be left behind.
 
North America and Africa are two very different equipment lists. I never carry a pack in Africa. Big camera is in the truck - small one in my pocket. If it’s hot, a water bottle is in my pocket - I loathe camel backs. I have a knife, an extra five to ten rds of ammunition, and small flashlight. That is it. Over there, I am not carrying capes or horns and there is always someone ready to stow a jacket when it gets hot or hand it to me when it gets cold.

North America - particularly a wilderness hunt - is a totally different proposition.
 
Zip ties... 6-8 assorted sizes.

I also carry travel roll of duck tape, mini-multi tool with scissors and tweezer, plastic trash bag (5 gallon size)

But, assorted zip ties have come in really handy. Anything from securing a luggage zipper to temporarily securing the lock nut on an outboard prop after I dropped the cotter pin in the lake....
 
Barricade gun wipes and Zeiss lens wipes come in handy for light cleaning duties. On my person I carry 5 rounds of extra ammo and a pocket camera.
 
Spare socks. Some sort of a$$wipe. Sharp knife. Spare ammo. Water. Granola &/or chocolate bar.
 
Spare socks. Some sort of a$$wipe. Sharp knife. Spare ammo. Water. Granola &/or chocolate bar.

spare socks definitely if I will be hunting for the whole day, otherwise I change them when we break for lunch. Wet feet=blisters
 
When I was younger and fit,I always had shoe goo and 550 cord with me everywhere that was remotely related to the outside. Started that habit with Army SOF. Now days since some true genius invented headlamps, I either keep one in the truck or in a pocket when outdoors. Learned my lesson in November. Went out the day before gun season with my son. I was just in a blind looking for deer, not armed. He was on a small mountain top stand with his crossbow. We were about 1/2 mile or more apart. Right at dark, he stuck a 100-110 pound doe. He called me to come help him get the deer back to the truck. No 4 wheeler and NO LIGHT, neither of us, unbelievable. We both carry headlamps everywhere, but not this night, as we had no intention of being out there that late....or taking a deer. We finally got her to the truck in total darkness, pulled her up over a limb, skinned and quartered her. We will never forget a light again. Also fully agree with earlier posters, Africa vs U.S. There is always someone to assist you in Africa with everything!!!
 
I’ve got about 20’ of 550 cord, a small emergency med kit, and a small multi tool stuffed in a cargo pocket or in my pack any time I hit the woods.

The further I plan on being from the truck and/or camp, the more “stuff” for “oh shit” situations I carry..
 
Art, will that sling work with a 10lb gun?

Ridgewalker, as a mater of fact it does. I have one on an 11lb Ruger #1 in 416 Rigby and it works great.
 
I used to wear a khaki cotton scarf to protect my neck against the sun.
Easy to clean you sweat, can be used as an emergency dressing, as a shooting aid,....

FRANK

scarf.jpg
 
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What are some of the best equipment hacks you have found useful in the bush or back in camp. I know duct tape is universally useful, but my last hunt was likely saved through the use of ShoeGoo to repair both my pairs of boots before they got unusable. I would not leave home without some sort of glue for footwear - and non-footwear “on the fly” repairs. I’d be interested to hear what other hunters have found handy for hunting or traveling to or from Africa- apart from the stuff you find on “What to bring” lists. So, what do you bring?
Not particular to Africa, I would say these apply anywhere, but... a small (1 oz size) bag of dryer lint for lighting fires (the littlest spark will ignite this stuff), a spark tool (flint and steel or modern ferrocerium equivalent), map of the area and a compass, 20-50 feet (9-15m) of paracord, one of those super light packable emergency blankets (these are tremendously useful for a lot of things), a drag rope, small medical kit (that includes among other things: scissors, tweezers and painkillers), First aid book, nitrile gloves, water purification tablets or a lifestraw (if you have more room in your pack), All of these things are useful not only for their obvious uses but for a plethora of other things. I would say of everything, make sure you have everything you need to encompass the rule of 3. The more ingenuitive you are and the more you know about the area you hunt (it's animals, plants, topography and weather), the less you will need to haul around. If you are completely relying on your PH to save your butt if the **** hits the fan, remember, he is only human and you have a responsibilty to be prepared as well.

The rule of 3 is:
3 minutes without air
3 hours without shelter (this include heat aka fire)
3 days without water
3 weeks without food

My hunting pack contains everything I would need to find my way around and survive for a short time (up to a week) in the area I plan to hunt. I am not paranoid, my father was just a NYS Forest Ranger and spent a lot of time heading up and managing search and rescue operations for people that didn't bring everthing they might need because they "knew where they were". Some of them were carried out in black plastic bags or never found at all. All said and done, I carry about a 25lb pack plus rifle when hunting. It isn't too bad and you really get in shape quick! It is completely doable. Here is a pick of me dragging a deer out with my pack on. It really isn't that combersome.

2017-deer-jpg.213072


Thats just my coat and my hunting seat strapped to my pack but you get the idea. You don't need to be prepared for WWIII, but you should be prepared to survive until someone can find you or help you. Bringing basic tools or parts to make tools, is tremendously helpful. Especially if it gets cold at night. It gets brutal in the Adirondacks in winter so for late season hunting where the temperture never gets above 0F, I always have additional gear to try to stay warm.

Sorry that was a little long-winded.
 

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Good Tips! Thanks.
 

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