absolute essentials - what's your pack include?

[outwardjourney]

What does everyone consider their absolute essentials?

I am putting together a backpack to go with me on my digs. Just got my ACE 250 delivered yesterday along with a pin pointer.

Just trying to figure out what else I should be investing in that are absolute essentials. What do you guys pack on/for your hunts??

[ohiochris]

For an average outing to a park , school , etc. ....detector, digger , and extra batteries if I think I may need them. Travel light , have less weight to carry....your feet , legs, and back will be glad you did. Less is more.

[grouser]

i always take a water bottle with me,,,,

[new jersey andy]

I hunt mostly in woods so the two essentials I have are a flashlight and a pocket knife with a saw blade to cut through roots.

[outwardjourney]

Very cool. Yeah, less is more, I agree. I am putting together a dual purpose kit I think. Survival/hunting bag. Something I can grab in both instances. Lots of unexplored wooded areas, river banks, coastal areas.

Its good to see what everyone carries because I know a lot of people do different hunting grounds and methods. Kind of a mixed bag for me....

Thanks peeps!

[D14Rocks]

Here is my list to take on beach searches where I'll be going most.

Detector
Find Bag
Scoop
Water
painkillers (Bad Shoulder)
9mm ( Bum Protection)
Hat, sunscreen, sunglasses. (Sun Protection)

[Captain Morgan]

there are a lot of variables.

If I'm going to a city park, I'm not carrying water or a knife with me.

If I'm not hunting after dark, I'm not taking a flashlight.

If it's December, I don't need mosquito repellent.

I think the bare essentials for a backpack will be your detector, pin-pointer, digging tools, copies of any permits or emails for authorization, camera phone.

Spare batteries can stay in the truck on the charger. A little tub of "other stuff" can also stay in the truck. I don't need to take a scrub brush WITH me to the park, I can leave it in the tub. I carry in my pathfinder some gloves, knee pads, repellent etc and just use them as needed.

[ftgokie]

I am new to this but here is what I will take when I am going to be detecting for more than an hr or so;

Detector
Small AA led maglight
Pouch for trash and my keepers
Digging knife
comfortable gloves
Camelback filled with water
Boonie hat.
Bug Spray
Cell phone

[outwardjourney]

Not a lot of tot lots here for me to get lost in. As I am looking at all these lists I am finding some essential items I would definitely need for wooded areas. It's those simple things that are often over looked that you wish you never left home without. Gloves came to mind... I would definitely need gloves. And of course here in Texas it's killer mosquito season year round so that's a big 'don't forget' on the bug spray!!

[Gorgar]

A long with the usual things. My top priorities from practice this first summer is to have portable first aid kit with extra paper towels and large bandades in it; Good comfortable knee pad, I thing Meguire makes it; 1 foot square cloth to dig dirt on to fill holes and to swat misqutoes as needed; ALWAYS spare batteries; and Don;t get too deep into the woods. You have to remember you got to get back out!

[Elbie]

I keep it simple:

Detector
Lesche
Pinpointer
Find bag

I think lighter is better

[grouser]

For me,,,simple is best,,,by that I mean put it all in a bag that you can grab and not have to worry about if you got everything. You can always lighten the load when you leave the car for your hunt,,,but if you have to make up your mind what to take before you even leave your sure to forget something. And here is my other tid bit of advice. When you're out hunting, and you find that you need an item and don't have it, be sure to put one in the bag for next time.It is better to have it in the field and not need it than to need it and not have it. Even if you leave certain things in the car they are not that far away if ya need them,,closer than if you left them at the house....JMHO

[Ohio Digger]

For me:

Detector
Gloves
Knee pads (if they're sore from the previous hunt, I prefer not using them)
Cell phone
Finds pouch

In the truck:
Extra pair of gloves
Extra batteries

[Silversmith45]

What ever you take with you, if you don't use it the first couple of times, leave it in your car.

[mcdoogal]

My back pack is used for backup and survival supplies:

Extra headphones
Batteries
extra pin pointer
extra digger
knee pads
Head mount flashlight
magnifying glass
brass brush
small 1st aid kit
sun screen
insect reppelant
2 water bottles
2 packages of peanutbutter crackers
compass
Bic cigarette lighter
toilett paper
cloth hand towel

On me I carry a cell phone (with camera), finds pouch (army pistol belt with leather nail pouch), pinpinter, hand digger (bayonett), small shovel, a pocket knife, a hat and a .40 caliber Glock. Oh, and a detecter. Depending on the site to be hunted, I may leave the backpack in the truck, but it is awlays with me on the trip when I go MD-ing. I have used all of the items at one time or another except the compass. It sounds like a lot of stuff but I really like having it available if/when needed and the weight is negligable verses the inconvience of not having the items hen needed. It works for me.

[-lecroix-]

Originally Posted by Silversmith45

What ever you take with you, if you don't use it the first couple of times, leave it in your car.

best. advice. ever!

i find that if I can't carry it in the pockets of my cargo shorts, then I don't need it.

[Captain Morgan]

My current spare packpack isnt really large enough for my XLT to fit in without tearing the bottom out soon.

So in addition to searching for a sturdy BP that can handle 2 detectors and related tools, I want to find some vest or belt that will hold my cell phone and various small items, coins, small pocket knife, stun gun etc.

Hunting or fishing jacket\vest?

[outwardjourney]

I work in TV/Film production. By habit I've learned to over pack because it's that murphy's law that kicks you in the rear every time. The minute you don't pack it, you're doomed to murphy. In my line of work I pack it all. But I'll of course take with me in the hunting grounds only what I need.

For sure some GREAT ideas!!


Captain Morgan, I have seen vests and such online at like REI, and Bass Pro Shop that have the carbiner clips and pockets.

[TimC]

All of the above is great and needed, but never ever forget a small first aid kit.

[Spm673 (The Jersey Digger)]

Originally Posted by mcdoogal

My back pack is used for backup and survival supplies:

Extra headphones
Batteries
extra pin pointer
extra digger
knee pads
Head mount flashlight
magnifying glass
brass brush
small 1st aid kit
sun screen
insect reppelant
2 water bottles
2 packages of peanutbutter crackers
compass
Bic cigarette lighter
toilett paper
cloth hand towel

On me I carry a cell phone (with camera), finds pouch (army pistol belt with leather nail pouch), pinpinter, hand digger (bayonett), small shovel, a pocket knife, a hat and a .40 caliber Glock. Oh, and a detecter. Depending on the site to be hunted, I may leave the backpack in the truck, but it is awlays with me on the trip when I go MD-ing. I have used all of the items at one time or another except the compass. It sounds like a lot of stuff but I really like having it available if/when needed and the weight is negligable verses the inconvience of not having the items hen needed. It works for me.

What have you used the glock for?
I take along...
Detector
shovel
garden shovel
gloves
smokes
bottles of water
I wear cargo shorts with pockets on each side. One for trash and the other with a ziploc for goods.