A clean backpack advised before hunting season

This is the second of a two-part series about exploring the hunting backpack.

The backpack carried on a hunting trip must be cleaned at least once a year, which should be before the beginning of the hunting season. This is because the items in the backpack may be used in a survival situation and become a matter of life and death.

No one plans to become lost. Such a condition simply happens, usually because of bad decisions or improper planning. Having a properly supplied backpack will make the situation livable; the active word being livable.

Imagine becoming lost and, upon opening the backpack, finding the fire-making tools missing. They were used to start a campfire in May and placed in the travel trailer, not back in the backpack. Now what? Yes cleaning/checking the pack is a pre-hunt necessity.

Today we will continue looking through my hunting pack; an inexpensive with four compartments. The pockets begin with a small one at the back, gaining in size toward the shoulder straps.

We now enter the third pocket, second to the largest. The first item is a survival whistle. It has a lanyard or cord of braided nylon, which is wrapped around the tool and secured with a rubber band. This cord is not super strong, but useable for small projects in a survival situation.

The whistle is at one end and creates a shrill sound. A piece of paper towel placed in the top air hole will prevent the small ball inside from making noise when not in use.

There is a compass at the other end which is useless. The compass end has a waterproof compartment for storing matches. The matches won't move or make noise when backed tight. A small mirror is at the top of the match compartment, measuring one inch in diameter. Not sure of the purpose of this piece, as the size makes it ineffective.

There is one large paper shop towel, with evidence of last-year's deer blood on it. It has been replaced and five more added. Several pieces of string were found. These are used to secure a notched hunting tag to the animal.

Eight different sizes and types of air-activated warmers were found. All were checked and seem to be functional. If they were hard, it would be apparent air, somehow, had entered the package and activated the warmer.

Eight AA batteries were found. These are used in the GPS and hand-held radios. They will be replaced with new ones. The old ones will not be thrown away, but used in items around the house.

Next is an old space blanket, the kind with a shinny skin on one side, similar to aluminum foil. I have had this item for many years and consider it a necessity. A friend became cold one time on a hike and used this tool to retain body heat. This item would serve as my sleeping bag if needing to spend a night in the wilderness.

The next item is a quick-cover poncho. It is old, but still pliable. I have newer ponchos of the same type and plan to replace this one.

A diamond knife sharpener is next. This tool was used for years to sharpen my flints used on my flintlock rifle. It is an excellent knife sharpener.

The last item in this compartment is a rubber band. Note there are many rubber bands in my pack. These tools become useful in many ways when in the Great Outdoors. It will be replaced.

The largest pocket contains many items. The first item to be removed is another knife sharpener. Yes, this makes four altogether in the pack. Consider the pack to be my storage area for knife sharpeners. If going on a long hunt in unfamiliar territory, all would be removed except one.

My Sawyer First Aid pouch has been in the pack for over 15 years, maybe longer. It contains a multitude of first aid items, such as: Band aids of various sizes and shapes, insect repellent towelettes, a sewing needle, safety pins, alcohol swabs, rubber gloves, antibiotic ointment, tweezers and headache relief-tablets.

The next item is a small Gerber hatchet. It still has elk blood on it, making me a bit ashamed for not cleaning it sooner.

A Buck Light, a small flashlight made by the Buck Knife Company. It still works, so I won't change the batteries now, but will make sure to have spare batteries in the pack.

Two more headlamps are next, followed by shoulder-length field dressing gloves. Many deer and elk have been dressed with these hands uncovered, but I have taken to using gloves when I think about it.

A deck of cards is next, along with a book titled, "The Pocket Survival Guide." This is in the book for times when talking to groups about survival. The idea is to have the survival guide available as something to read when lost. The cards are available to play solitaire until help arrived. The book and cards may be left in the vehicle if headed into the mountains around Colville just because I might not want the extra weight.

Two more Buck Knives are followed by a Garmin GPS and another knife sharpener. The GPS has a card installed from Hunt GPS Maps. This card has all of the Game Management Units indicated, as well as landowners; important information for hunters.

The dirt has been shaken out of the backpack, batteries replaced and other items replenished.

This pack contains many more duplicate items than necessary for a day hunt. It is actually a storage container for Buck Knives, head lamps, knife sharpeners and hand warmers.

The pack is taken along on most out-of-town trips. The items inside might come in handy in certain situations, such as when happening upon an accident scene.

A well-stocked hunting pack might become the difference between life and death. Enough said.