Anyone who has hunted elk knows how challenging, frustrating, physically demanding, and even painful it can be. However, moose hunting can be very addictive. One can easily become obsessed with the point where you are so focused on the hunt that you don’t realize how far you’ve gone, what time it is, and don’t know exactly where you are. Here we are going to discuss how these and other factors can come together to be detrimental to your survival, and the gear you should have with you at all times to ensure you survive your hunt.

Imagine this scenario; You and your friend are hunting elk in the Rocky Mountains. He returns to the truck early in the evening after walking all day with his 30# backpack. wow! What a relief to finally have that weight off my shoulders!

You are in the truck back to camp and you see a small gang of elk with two bulls in the group. These moose are traveling so you need to move quickly to get to a point 100 yards away to shoot. He has a knife in his pocket or on his belt, and extra cartridges in his pocket. Oh! Grab the rangefinder, shooting sticks, and binoculars. We just go there, this is all we need…

You arrive at the point just in time to see the last moose disappear into the woods. You notice the trees open up only a few hundred yards in the direction you’re going, and there’s a small ridge extending from the one you’re on that looks like a good spot to shoot. You get there, they’re in range, but the trees are too thick to get a clear shot or there’s a cow in the way. There’s an hour of daylight left, so keep following, just sure you’ll eventually get a chance. The next thing you know, you’ve lost the moose and it’s dark. Oops, I forgot to bring a light. In fact, you have no lighter or lighter, no water, no food, and you are wearing a light hoodie. It doesn’t matter, the truck is over here. You walk and walk, tripping over sticks and rocks. Now it’s pitch dark and you finally admit to yourself that you’re not sure where the truck is.

Moose have a way of mesmerizing a hunter, clouding his judgment and throwing him off track. Like the sirens of the seafaring tradition and the Pied Piper of Hamelin. It is easy to find yourself in this situation. In this case, the hunters manage to get through a very long, cold and sleepless night and find their way back to the truck the next morning, no worse off. This could easily have been a fatal error.

Here’s what you can do to make sure you survive your next moose hunt; You should have a small accessory pack of some sort, be it a waist/fanny pack, small shoulder, or backpack. Many “module” type packages feature a small detachable package. This is an ideal system that makes it easy to ensure you have your nighttime survival essentials all in one place. This package must be small, or you may choose not to bring it. Bring it no matter how short the distance or how long you plan to be from the truck or camera; your life may depend on it.

Essential Survival Equipment and Supplies This package should contain:

Cigar or cigarette lighter AND a magnesium tool to start a fire. Fire or tender starting material is good but optional.

LED headlamp and an extra set of batteries. It’s also a good idea to carry a small flashlight like a mini-mag in a belt holster.

A bottle of water and a straw or filter cartridge.

One 4’x6′ or larger sheet of medium to heavyweight black plastic. This can be used to make a shed or shelter from wind, rain or snow, or used as a “ground” cloth. It also works well for keeping pine needles and dirt off meat while deboning an elk in the field.

A compass and/or GPS. A compass is better suited for this small package, but if you choose a GPS, be sure to bring at least 2 extra sets of batteries.

A very small pocket first aid kit. Some of these will even contain a compass and other tools.

Paracord – 10′ minimum. Paracord has so many uses that it is a must have.

A couple of granola bars or small bags of nuts are recommended, but not absolutely necessary. You can go days without eating if necessary.

Lastly, a ziplock sandwich bag containing several sheets of paper towels. These will be used for toilet paper, cleaning bloody hands and arms, mediocre fire starting material, and wound dressings. Paper towels will still work if they are wet, unlike toilet paper.

As long as you’ve dressed appropriately and have a knife in your pocket or on your belt like most hunters do, this is all the survival gear one needs to survive in relative comfort in the short term.

There are many moose hunting scenarios that can lead to your demise if you are not prepared for them. If you have a small pack containing this short list of survival gear essentials, you’ll be much more likely to grab it in your rush to catch up with that bull, and having it all but guarantees you’ll survive a night or two below. most conditions, you are either forced to spend the night, or simply choose to do so to resume hunting when day comes.

Pack smart, hunt smart, hunt hard. and most of all, have fun and enjoy your precious time in the elk forest with no worries and sure that you are prepared to survive your adventure in search of the majestic and alluring “Forest Ghost”.