The Essentials

Take these essential survival items in your pack on every outdoor outing.

• Map & Compass and/or GPS

• Sunglasses & Sunscreen

• Extra clothing & Raingear

• Flashlight or headlamp, spare batteries

• First aid supplies and knowledge

• Firestarter and matches and/or lighter

• Knife

• Extra food

• Emergency shelter/tarp

• Repair kit and tools

• Whistle and signaling mirror

• Water and a way to purify it

Geocaching

Besides the above list of essentials, it's a good idea to take geocaching:

• Pen/pencil for signing logs

• Trade items

• Bug repellent

• Charged cell phone

• Tweezers for extracting log paper from tiny cache containers

• Multi-tool

• Spare GPS receiver batteries

• Cash (for lunch, snacks, emergencies)

• List of caches to find

• Map of your search area

• Change of shoes/socks

• Hiking stick (for turning over logs)

• Cap with brim for eye protection from branches

• Toilet paper (you never know)

 

Turkey Hunting

Besides the list of essentials, take these items when you go turkey hunting:

• License

• Camo clothing

• Camo headnet or makeup

• Turkey vest

• Waterproof boots

• Locator calls

• Box call

• Extra chalk

• Friction call

• Diaphragm calls

• Gun, gun rest, choke tube

• #4, 5, or 6 shot

• Camo tape or gun sock

• Jake/hen decoys

• Portable hunting blind

• Bunsaver or other seat

• Blaze orange vest

Canoeing/Kayaking

Besides the above list of essentials, the following are not only helpful, but in some cases are required by law:

• Bailing bucket or sponge

• Throwable rescue device

• Signaling device (air horn or whistle)

• PFD (life jacket) for each person

• Painters (ropes to tie boat to shore)

• Paddle and spare paddle

• Sunscreen & sunglasses

• Wide-brimmed hat

• Fishing gear, if desired, & license

• Trash bag for collecting trash or snagged, abandoned fishing gear

• Binoculars

• Water and snacks

Metal Detecting

If searching remote areas, take the essentials listed above.  The following are also a good idea:

• Metal Detector

• Spare batteries

• Trowel

• Cotton ball lined film canister for small items and jewelry

• Screwdriver for probing the ground

• Headphones

• Pinpointer

• Container for finds

• Sieve for sifting loose dirt/gravel

• Map of search area

• Written permission to search area, if needed

• Foam pad or knee pads to kneel on

• Gloves

Morel Mushroom Hunting

Morels are found in the woods. Carry the essentials listed above, plus the following:

• Mesh bag to carry morels in

• Folding knife to cut morels

• Stiff-brimmed cap to protect eyes from branches

• Drinking water

• Compass or GPS to find your way back to your car or starting point

• Raincoat

• Bug repellent

• Wear long pants and long sleeves to protect skin from thorns, cuts

• Two-way radios if searching with a group 

Camping

In addition to the 10 Essentials listed above, it's a good idea to take the following:

• Tent

• Sleeping bag

• Sleeping pad (comfort & insulation)

• Drinking water container

• Toilet paper

• Flashlight or headlamp and batteries

• Comfortable shoes to wear in camp

• Warm clothes, just in case

• Camp chair

• Cookset

• Cooking and eating utensils

• Plates, bowls, cups

• Food

• Insect repellent

• Clean, dry clothes to sleep in

• Cap (for warmth and "bed head"

• Firewood and/or stove and fuel

• Matches

• Means to carry water to put out fire

• Options: Field guides, other books, star charts, playing cards, Frisbee, football, games to play in the tent if it rains, snacks, emergency weather radio