Recovery Kit

[JPH]

My habit is to exit the stand after shooting a deer and return to my vehicle in order to gather the supplies I will need for the tracking and recovery. This gives the deer time to bed and bleed out if needed and it gives me time to collect myself both mentally and physically. To this end I have thrown together a homemade "recovery kit" that holds all the things I do not carry to the stand but will need for this vital phase of the hunt.

Allow me to share what I have in the kit (and why):

- An orange sports backpack (brightly colored, light and cheap)
- Bright paper streamer material (marking the blood trail)
- A small water bottle (hydration and cleanup)
- Rubber gloves (field dressing)
- A knife and bone saw (field dressing)
- Cloth towel (cleanup)
- Digital camera and tripod (preserving the moment)  
- A "Pelican Super Saber" flashlight (IMO, the best flashlight for blood tracking)
- Homemade deer drag strap (see  http://forum.deeranddeerhunting.com/tm. ... ey=&#56036 )

So, what did I leave out? Any ideas?

[msbadger]

That's a great idea...thanks for sharing[;)]

[Jslotter]

Thats about all you need. I have a handful of chem-lights in my recovery kit, you never when you need them. and about 100 feet of 550 cord.

[Woods Walker]

So, what did I leave out? Any ideas?

BEER!!!! (Or a reasonable facsimile thereof) You do celebrate, don't you? [;)] In Europe you'd also bring a corkscrew, because toasting the animal at the site of the kill is definately part of their hunting tradition, and who am I to go against tradition?

[Patriot]

I essentially carry the same stuff, but in my backpack. 
 
Maybe add spare batteries to the stash.

[JPH]

ORIGINAL: Woods Walker

So, what did I leave out? Any ideas?

BEER!!!! (Or a reasonable facsimile thereof) You do celebrate, don't you?

Ah yes! But in most cases, I also have to drive home. You may recall that I bone my deer out right away and "age" the meat in a cooler. By tradition, I celebrate with spirituous refreshment as I butcher. This has resulted in a few nicks but I still have 10 fingers.  

[Cut N Run]

I use a smaller & similar tracking kit that I carry in my hunting pack. I use that surveyors tape that I have rolled up into small rolls, then stapled the end into the roll so I can carry a half dozen that don't take up as much space as a sharpie marker. I also use toilet paper as a marker if necessary. Water, a knife, and paper towels are always in my pack, as are orange reflective strips that have a clip on one end to hang on limbs & can be seen day or night. Some of the places I hunt are a long ways from the vehicle and not worth the walk all the way back & forth. A radio or phone is part of my gear as well incase I need help.

Jim

[Woods Walker]

There is one thing I would add, although your orange backpack might be able to do double duty.....

I also have blaze orange bandanas that I carry. I use one to tie in the tree or brush that's above where I'll be gutting the deer (especially during firearm season....my vest in ON me).

The other I lay out on the ground right where I'll be working fro me to set the tools I'll be using on, so that I don't have to spend another 1/2 hour or so shuffling through the leaves to find the knife I can't find!!!! [&:]

[DoeEyed]

Instead of the towel I carry individual packs of Wet Ones antibacterial wipes. 

[DoeEyed]

WW, the orange bandanas are a great idea! Adding to the list....