Ask most any hunter about the essential gear they tote to the woods each hunting season and you’ll like hear about gear such as the bow, arrows, and broadheads. But rarely will you hear about the tools that could save your life. We usually don’t think about such tools until we need them.
The reality is, these are the tools that should be at the top of our list. They are must-have gear items that really shouldn’t hit the woods without. Here’s a look at 7 tools that could save your life this season.
Tourniquet
One of the most overlooked tools in the hunter’s pack is a tourniquet. Few hunters carry one, but every hunter should. Think about it. We’re working with a quiver full of broadheads, gutting critters with a knife, climbing in and out of trees, and racing around the farm in a truck or ATV. It’s not a matter of if, but when, something will go wrong. Snake Staff Systems makes a small everyday carry style of tourniquet that’s easy to pack so you always have it in your pocket.
Price – $31.99
Garmin inReach Mini 2
Another life-saving tool that’ll get you back home, even when things get ugly in the backcountry, is the Garmin inReach Mini 2. It’s small and super compact, yet it’s packed with plenty of features and performance to keep you communicating with family back home, or rescue crews should an emergency arise. It’s your ultimate connection for communication when you don’t have a cell phone signal.
Price – $399
Lifeline
More and more hunters are wearing a treestand harness to the woods these days, but unless those hunters are also utilizing a Lifeline rope, they still run a considerable risk of injury or death from a treestand accident. The Lifeline from Hunter Safety System was designed to keep you safely connected from the ground up. You will be safely anchored from the time your feet leave the ground until you return again. Most accidents happen on the ascent or descent from the treestand. The Lifeline eliminates this risk. So, stay safe this season with with a Lifeline at every treestand.
Price – $39.99
Rocky Talkie Radio
The Rocky Talkie Mountain Radio is your answer to staying connected with your family or hunting buddies, even when your cell signal won’t allow for a call or text. As the name implies, these beefy walkie talkies were built for communication, even in the rugged mountains of Colorado. It’s a license-free radio designed rugged adventure when communication is critical. It’s built with a specialized lithium-ion battery that delivers over 4 days of battery life, even in very cold conditions (-20F). It has a shatterproof LED screen and thermoplastic protective covering and secures to your backpack or harness using an ultra-light carabiner and back-up leash.
Price – $110
Leatherman
You can pretty much save the world with a Leatherman. Or, at least get yourself out of a serious pinch while hunting, if you have a Leatherman tucked in your pocket. From gutting deer, to building emergency shelter and fire starter, the Leatherman is a truly a survival tool no hunter should be without. The Leatherman Free P4 is hard to beat and has all the tools to help you survive an ugly situation in the woods.
Price – $149
Cell Phone
One of the greatest lifesaving tools you’ll ever carry is your smartphone. From calling for emergency personnel, to navigating your way out of a lost situation, your phone can prove priceless when you get yourself in a bad situation. Most of them even have a flashlight built in. Use an app that allows family or friends to know your exact location while in the field. The phone is truly a survival tool you won’t want to leave home without. Just make sure you keep it fully charged and have a power charger when it does finally run out of juice.
SmartWatch
When all else fails, the watch on your wrist could be just what it takes to save your life. Today’s high-tech watch options are built with GPS and mapping opps to get you out of the woods when you find yourself turned around. They’re also a great tool for the hunter with heart issues, providing updates and alerts on your heart rate and activity. The Garmin Instinct 2X is solar powered to always keep you in the game, and even features a built-in flashlight to guide you when darkness falls. And its Tracback Routing feature always gets you back to where you want to end up.
Price – $499
Be prepared this hunting season with the tools that could save your life. Remember, they only work if you have them in your pack! So don’t leave home without the tools mentioned above and any others that you’ll rely on in when things go south.
