What to Bring to the Field

You're ready to head out to the field to hunt, but what do you bring with you? Well, obviously you want to bring your bow and gun, even extra arrows or ammunition, but do you bring anything else? Depending on how much you're willing and able to carry, I personally would say yes.

When I go out to hunt there is always a few things I take out with me in addition to myself and my gun. I will take out a seat, since i don't hunt out of a tree stand, a hunting blind, and a backpack full of useful items.

The seat I take out with me is a small and simple three legged chair that keeps me off of the cold wet ground and prevents me from making excessive noise on the ground with leaves and twigs. This seat usually fits in my backpack but if not, it does have a strap that i can attach to my bag if needed.

A hunting blind, although not necessary, can be a huge perk. This is basically a pop up tent that is camouflaged and allows you to sit inside. It has windows that has zippers or velcro to be lowered in the direction towards the field or where you intend to shoot a deer. The perks of a hunting blind include warmth on windy or cold days, noice reduction, and best of all coverage from any movement you make within the blind. If you're not able to carry out a hunting blind or do not have anywhere to set one up, the next best thing to take out with you is a camouflaged, burlap sac type material, that allows you to see through the holes and pin up around you to provide partial coverage and warmth.

Lastly, I carry a backpack that is camouflaged and chalk full of useful tools and things i deem necessary in the field. This includes items such as:

• Hunting knives,
•  For gutting a deer or removing tree branches in the way
• Hand warmers
• Extra ammo
• Extra clothing, gloves, or a stalking cap
• First aid kit and small survival kit if you're caught in a bad situation
• Portable battery pack to recharge a phone
• You never know if you need to call for help or share your location with someone
• Thermos of hot water, tea, or coffee to keep you warm
• Water bottle
• Flashlight
• Zip ties
• Useful for attaching deer tag to deer once shot
• Map of the area
• Pen and Paper
• GPS if available
• Compas 
• Trail markers
• Useful for when you're alone in the field and helps lead people to your location
• Can also be used mark blood spots when you're searching for a deer you shot
• Plastic bags
• Can place guts of the deer in bag and not just leave in field
• pack with ice or snow to place in the deer to keep meat cold and fresh
• Latex gloves 
• If you're worried about diseases when gutting a deer and don't want blood on your hands
• Deer calls
• Scent-a-way spray bottle

These are in no particular order and may be added to or taken away depending on the type of hunt I'm on. If i'm taking a multiple day trip, i may have a bigger bag with a sleeping bag, food, and fire starters to make my life easier. As said earlier, I find these items necessary for a hunt, however, others might choose more or less. The overall goal is to finish your hunt with a deer so whatever you need to achieve that goal, go with that and overall have fun.