31 Items for Your Hunting First Aid & Survival Kit
How To Build A Hunting Survival Kit For Challenging & Dangerous Situations
While hunting is a relatively safe activity, it’s important to be prepared. Having a first aid kit and survival kit is a proactive box to check. However, go shopping for a first aid kit and it’s just a bunch of band-aids you won’t use, creams that’ll dry out, and other things you won’t need.
The type of hunt, degree of risks, duration of the stay, and more, will impact the exact items included in a hunting first aid and survival kit, too. However, it’s wise to take items that can keep you alive for several days until help arrives.
All said, the following items are good to keep in mind for your hunting first aid and survival kit. (Note: Carrying all of this in a small pack won’t work. But having some or most on your person, and other items nearby at camp, is a good idea.)
Editor’s Note: This is not professional medical or survival advice. Consult with doctors and experts in relevant fields for professional expertise.
Hunting First Aid & Survival Kit Must-Haves
1. Antiseptic Wipes: Cuts or lacerations might need disinfecting. Antiseptic wipes can help with that effort. Cleaning wounds prior to bandaging is important for the sake of preventing infection.
2. Antibiotic Ointment: Likewise, in some instances, antibiotic ointment can be important, too. Treating cuts and other open wounds with this can keep a wound from becoming infected.
3. Waterproof Athletic or Medical Tape: Tape can come in handy for different reasons. Oftentimes, if need be, it can be used to wrap up cut fingers, lacerations on limbs, etc. It’s just further protection to keep out bacteria and debris.
4. Duct Tape: Most people know duct tape is useful for a lot of things. The possibilities really are endless. That said, a roll of tape should be in most kits.
5. Super Glue: Similarly, Super Glue can achieve similar effects as tape. It’s great for securing a lot of things. That said, it might even be applied over a closed wound to further seal it off.
6. Bandages (Big and Small): Small and large bandages are good to keep on hand. These might come in handy if you have any cuts that need covering and protecting while in the field.
7. Diarrhea Medication: Laugh all you want, but this is a smart thing to pack. You’ll wish you had—or be glad you did—when it’s running out the back end with a vengeance.
8. Pain Meds (Advil or Tylenol): A small pack of pain medication— such as Advil, Tylenol, etc. — can be handy in a pinch. It can eliminate minor pains (such as a headache) that could otherwise interrupt the hunt. It can even help manage pain from more serious injuries.
9. Cough Drops: Again, this might seem overkill, but people get sick. They have sore throats. Cough drops can soothe throat issues and might even save the hunt (a persistent cough is a surefire way to scare off a game animal).
10. Prescription Medication: Unless a doctor instructs otherwise, most people decide to take their regular prescription medication on their hunts.
11. Rubber Gloves: Handwashing isn’t possible in the backcountry. Therefore, bringing rubber gloves is a necessity. These come in handy whether administering first-aid to another hunter, processing a deer, etc.
12. Tourniquet: While unlikely, some hunters might face a dire situation where limb blood loss becomes a threat. Oftentimes, a tourniquet is the only means to stop the flow of blood until help arrives.
13. Tweezers: Barbs, stingers, thorns, and more, tweezers come in handy when removing objects from your skin. Keep these on hand to remove foreign objects.
14. Sewing Kit: Some choose to add a sewing kit to the list. This can be used for multiple things, including repairs to clothing, tents, etc. With the proper training, some might even use it for stitches.
15. Emergency Blanket: An emergency blanket comes in handy for those who must stay overnight in the field. This item helps hold heat closer to the body and might just save a life.
16. Emergency Poncho: Likewise, an emergency poncho can shield a person from the elements. It just might mean the difference in getting hypothermia, or not.
17. Fire Starter: A good fire starter (lighter, matches, etc.) is crucial. Fire is important for cooking food, purifying water, staying warm, signaling help, and more.
18. Lightweight Tent: A small, lightweight tent might not make it into smaller survival kits. But larger ones sometimes include this. It can provide short-term shelter for those in a pinch.
19. Map or GPS System: It’s always wise to keep a map or GPS system on hand. Furthermore, these should have satellite-based abilities to call for help, too. A Garmin inReach Mini 2 is an excellent choice.
20. Extra Power Banks: Whether for your phone, GPS system, or other important items, it’s smart to bring extra power banks. This provides the ability to recharge important devices.
21. Signal Mirror or Signal Flares: Those needing help will likely need something to make obvious their location. Oftentimes, signal mirrors or signal flares are the best ways to do this.
22. Whistle: Another useful signaling device is a whistle. It can help search and rescue personnel hone in on your location.
23. Extra Headlamp and Batteries: Good lights are also needed. Most choose a bright headlamp. Stash extra batteries with it, just in case these are needed.
24. Paracord: One of the most important items is paracord. This can be used for many different things, some of which apply to survival situations.
25. Knife: A good knife is vital, and it helps with many tasks in the field. Not having one, and maybe even extras, is a big mistake.
26. Compass and Map: If phones and GPS units fail, or eventually lose power, it’s smart to have an analog backup. That’s where a compass and map shine.
27. Extra Contacts/Glasses: Those who wear contacts or glasses should stash an extra set or two in the kit. This ensures a backup plan if the primary ones are lost, the glasses are broken or the lenses are torn.
28. Water Tablets and LifeStraw: You can go many days without food. That isn’t true for water. Pack some water-treatment tablets, and maybe even a LifeStraw, to plan for clean water consumption.
29. High-Energy, Non-Perishable Food: It’s also important to bring along compact, high-energy, non-perishable food items. Storing some of these can keep you fed if in the field for a while.
30. Fishing Line and Hooks: Keeping a long bit of fishing line, and some fishing hooks, is a good idea. These are small and make it possible to catch food in the event your food supply runs out.
31. A Metal Container: A metal container is the preferred item to contain all the selected first aid and survival kit items. This way, it can also double as a pot or pan, making it useful for boiling/purifying water, or even cooking. When not in use for that, it keeps everything nice, neat, and ready for deployment.
Thankfully, there are ready-to-go kits out there like the My Medic MYFAK Pro Universal First Aid Kit from MTN Ops which contains a wide variety of hydration and wound care equipment.
Regardless of the exact makeup of your first aid and survival kit, attune it to your needs. Choose items that fit within your carrying capacity, risk levels, and more. After all, assembling a proper kit just might save your life, or someone else’s.