New Outdoor Gear

     As the summer quickly passes, the time to start preparing for the upcoming hunting season has begun. Of course, one is never really relieved of the responsibility of their own preparedness when it comes to the outdoors,and I've been in the woods, dog training, shooting (a little), studying, and generally keeping my head in the game. But now the time has come to inventory my gear, acquire what I think I'll need, make my plans for the coming season, and start to address the issues I faced last season, so they wont be issues this year. This means, in some cases, new gear will be acquired.

     The biggest issue I encountered last year was my Setter, Austin, succumbing to cancer. This left me in a tricky situation, but the answer was found in a Springer Spaniel pup I've named Ginger. I'm not out of the woods, or back in them, as the case may be, yet. Ginger is still too young to accompany me afield, so my hunting season will see me walking up grouse, something I expect to be educational, and shooting over friend's dogs. Waterfowling in my canoe or john boat, and deer hunting are two other activities I expect to heavily be involved in, so I'll not be without something to do.

     As I've thought about the last few seasons, and some of the issues I faced, I decided I'd tackle one of the biggest issues that has been troubling me for a while; sweat. Even on a cold day, once I start moving, I sweat big time. The trouble here, as you all know, is that once I take a break I get a chill. Sometimes its quite hard to shake that chill once I start moving again too. I tried a fleece lined shirt last season, thinking that even if I soak the fleece with sweat it should stay warm. This worked to some degree, but wasn't exactly the answer I was looking for. As the shirt had no wind barrier, even a little breeze would cut right through, and cause a chill. I'm sure this shirt will see action on extremely cold days, but what I need is something breathable, and quick drying. Enter LL Bean. I've ordered two different breathable, quick drying shirts from LL Bean. One is the light weight ventilated shirt. This shirt might not be appropriate for later in the season, but I think layered with some technical sporting type of under garment which will allow the shirt to function as designed, I should be okay for a while.

    
     The other shirt I decided I'd try is the Northweave. This, too, is a breathable, quick drying shirt, but in the case of the Northweave, it's made of a heavier material. This shirt should carry me well into the fall, as it'll provide more warmth.

      In either case, I'll need to carry a sweater, or some other layer with me for the occasional break I take in the woods.

     Two other additions include a new knife, which I mentioned briefly a while ago, and a new survival bivy. I'd been feeling the need for a good fixed blade knife for some time. Often my folding knives end up buried in a vest, or pack, or not deployed quickly enough. Something I could wear on my hip, and deploy without removing a glove would be perfect. Not to mention that fixed blade knives are generally stronger.

     I decided to get a SOG Seal Pup. The knife isn't terribly big, so it's not awkward to carry, has a serrated section of the blade for sawing, or cutting line, and comes with a nylon sheath with an extra pocket on it. I use the extra pocket to hold a small LED flashlight I've had laying around the house. I still haven't had an opportunity to really use the knife in any fashion, so I still can't give any kind of review yet, but I think It'll see some action this week when I try my hand at a little bushcraft shelter building. Seal Pup

          The bivy I bought was an impulse buy. I was looking for a small, light weight, nylon tarp I could add to my survival kit, when I came across the bivy. It's made by SOL, and comes rolled in a small sack. It seems to be substantial enough to survive an unexpected night in the woods. It's small enough that I doubt I'll even notice the additional weight in my vest. Hopefully, I'll never have to use it, but if I do, hopefully it'll not be more than once. SOL Bivy

   I've got a lot more preparation to do, and more issues to tackle. But I've not yet decided how to address a few of them. When I decide, I'm sure It'll be fun, and hopefully educational. But most importantly, hopefully it'll be successful.

Field Test- Fire Starters

     In an effort to turn knowledge into experience, I decided I'd put my fire starting skills to the test. I'd recently bought a Swedish Fire Steel, to accompany my Doan Magnesium fire starter. I'd never used my Doan Magnesium starter, and kept it in my small survival kit. If it was ever deployed, it'd be in a rare Oh Shit! scenario. None the less, I had a nagging feeling in the back of my head that it's use wouldn't be anywhere near as easy as it's made to sound. I was right. Doan Magnesium fire starter.

     I ran two tests, on two days, under different conditions, and while the term "field test" sounds a bit romantic, I'll be honest and admit that the field was my back yard. Under the watchful eye of Ginger, my Springer Spaniel, and I simply attempted to light a small amount of kindling in my grill. Here's what I learned.

     Test one took place shortly after rain had dampened all my kindling, but survival isn't something for bluebird days, so I set forth. The first thing I discovered is that the magnesium bar doesn't shave flakes as easily as I had thought. To make it more difficult, controlling where the shavings goes is impossible. Magnesium burns very hot, but it burns rather quickly too, so it's necessary to have a sufficient pile of shavings. This is especially true if your tinder is damp, like mine was. Field test 1-FAIL.

     The next day, I decided I'd try again. This time I did a few things differently. To start with, I shaved a slightly larger pile of magnesium, and I shaved it on to a thick piece of paper, which allowed me to easily collect all the wayward shavings that didn't land in the pile. The other change I made was to use a single paper towel as well as some kindling to get a fire started. My justification was that I have seldom been in the outdoors without a paper product of some kind, be it a Dunkin Donuts napkin, or a roll of TP. The combination of paper towel, magnesium, and dry kindling had me fanning the flames of a small fire very quickly. It wasn't perfect, but if I'd needed a fire, I could have grown this one with a little work. Field test 2- PASS.

     Here are my conclusions:

* Magnesium will work, but make sure you've got a quality bar of magnesium

* If possible, shave the magnesium onto a large, smooth surface

* Make sure you have good, dry tinder, and lots of it. This is really what makes the fire start.

* While the Doan flint works well, the Swedish Fire Steel really throws a spark effortlessly.

Fire Steel-Scout

* Practice before you're in a situation where you really need a fire. I'll do this drill again.


     In addition to fire starting, I bought a new knife, too. I'd wanted a fixed blade knife for some time, and decided to get a SOG Seal Pup. I haven't field tested it, and don't intend to. Rather I'll just carry it, and see how it works out. When the appropriate time comes, I'll make a full report.

Best Case, Worst Case, Just in Case.

     Venturing abroad, into the woodlands, and thickets has become a way of life for me. These adventures have awakened in me senses, and feelings I seldom if ever experience when in the city, and partaking in everyday life. One thing I've cued in on more than any other, is a sense of self sufficiency. In the woods there are no conveniences. You must take care of yourself. There is no 7-11, nor 911.  In doing this I've amassed a small collection of things I seldom leave home without. Thing I use regularly, and some I've never used, but suspect that should I need them, I'll be glad I've got them.

     A compass, or a GPS (along with a compass) are a couple things one should never venture into the wilderness without. This is basic, and as far as I'm concerned doesn't even deserved to be titled "Outdoors 101" as it's rather remedial in nature. The  question is; what do you consider "wilderness"? I routinely venture into the wood lot where I do my deer hunting without my GPS, or even looking at my compass for a heading. The lot is small, and I've learned that a straight line in any direction will bring you to civilization in well short of an hour. But that's my comfort zone, and each outdoors man needs to find their own. There are other places I would never go without a means of keeping track of where I am, and how to get out.

     A knife and a flashlight are two items that one should never be without. A day trip can present opportunities that stretch your outing to last light or beyond, and the need for a knife presents itself quite easily. I never wander the woods without either. A couple of other items I like to carry are dog oriented. A small pair of forceps are useful after the dog encounters a porcupine, but equally handy should you suffer a misstep in a thorn apple grove. I also carry EMT gel in case a dog receives a nasty cut. I've had dogs get cut up before, and though I doubt their life was in danger, I felt better once the bleeding was stopped. A 10' length of parachute cord can double as a slip lead if needed, or used to immobilize an injured dog.

     There are a number of "worst case scenario" items I carry in the outdoors, too. These are the items that, should I be stuck, unexpectedly, in the woods over night, will hopefully make the experience a bit more comfortable. As I've come to believe a night in the woods is a matter of when, not if, I view these items as essential. Though I haven't assigned them an order of importance, the moral boost, heat, and security a fire provides can't be overstated. To assure I'll have fire, I carry two means of starting one; waterproof matches, and a zinc/ flint starter. There are others out there, and some I'm keen to get my hands on, but for now those are it.

     For additional warmth, and a bit of shelter, I carry two emergency blankets. The way I see it, one wrapped around me, and the other suspended overhead should keep me warmer, and dry if the weather isn't cooperating. As I sometimes hunt with friends, the extra blanket can provide them some shelter too, should I have company in my misfortune. However, they won't find themselves wrapped up in it, but sharing my space beneath it, as they should have had the foresight to pack their own blanket. Hell, I've been advising them of the need to assemble a kit for years.

     A couple of other tid-bits I carry are a roll of heavy weight twine, an extra knife, a couple light sticks, and a snack of some kind. The twine can be used for just about anything, but suspending a blanket for shelter readily comes to mind. The light sticks, snack, and knife don't really need an explanation. This all goes into a big zip lock, which can be useful in a pinch, too, and then into a small stuff bag. The kit easily fits into the back of a bird vest, a fanny pack, or a back pack.

         The only other thing one need consider before trekking the countryside is a resource, more valuable than gold, and under appreciated until demand is greater than supply; The bog roll. I think I'll let you draw your own conclusions on that subject.

The Things We Carry, Outdoor Safety

     For all the enjoyment I get from my time in the outdoors, the satisfaction of bringing home a bounty to cook and serve to my family and friends is unparalleled. Good shooting, excellent dog work, snappy retrieves, spectacular misses, and the beautiful scenery are the memories that season a hard earned meal, and sharing these memories, and a hunting tale or two at the table complete the experience. It's also among the many reasons to get home safely; Something I think too many sportsmen take lightly, as I have in the past.  Maybe because I'm getting older, and don't bounce off the ground like I used to, or perhaps it's the result of a close call, but I think about preparedness, and safety more than I ever did in the past. Whatever the reason, a bit of emergency preparation is something we should all think about. To steal a bit of wisdom from the pro-gun advocates; better to have a plan and not need it, than need a plan and not have it.

     So,...What exactly is "the Plan"? Well, I don't believe there is any one size fits all plan, as we all experience our outdoors is a variety of ways. I have taken bits popular safety convention, and put together what I feel works best for me. Here's what I've done, why, and some of the draw backs to my plan.

     The first thing I did was to put together a small survival kit. My kit is nothing extravagant; two small survival blankets, two ways to start a fire, a lighter, and a magnesium starter, an extra knife, a small spool of parachute cord, and a snack which I rotate to keep fresh. Why this collection? I figure, should I need to use it, staying warm and dry will be the two things I'd want the most to accomplish. One safety blanket can serve as a rudimentary shelter, aided by the parachute cord, the second blanket will undoubtedly end up wrapped around me. With two ways to start a fire, I'm pretty confident I'll get one started, provided I'm not subject to a downpour or blizzard like conditions. When I get hungry, the snack gets sacrificed, which I'm sure will be good news for the dog. As most of my hunting involves a dog, and a gun I don't feel the need to worry about dangerous wildlife very much. I try to always carry this kit with me, even when I'm not going far. I reason, if I should turn an ankle I may not be able to get myself out of the woods, but I will probably have enough mobility to collect a bit of wood for a fire, and get myself someplace dry while waiting for help.

     Another thing I've taken to doing is letting someone know where I'll be. A couple years ago, while duck hunting alone in early November, I capsized my canoe. Common sense had me wearing a life vest, and I'd tucked an extra paddle under the seat, but I hadn't secured my gun. Fortune shined on me that day. The autumn had been relatively warm, and the water wasn't numbingly cold, so I was able to swim, dragging the canoe behind me to a beaver lodge which I climbed up to drain the canoe. After I collecting my flotsam and jetsam, while paddling back to my car in the dark I realized that not only had I ruined my cell phone, which I'd figured I could use if I had any trouble, but also that I hadn't told anyone where I was going. Neither my friends, nor my wife was aware that I'd decided to go duck hunting. Bad move. I now try to let someone know where I'll be, and when to expect me back. In fact, when I go duck hunting in the canoe now, I not only tell my wife where I'll be, but set up a check in time with her. If I don't call by a certain time, she's to alert the local PD. Sometimes I'm unable to inform anyone of where I'll be as I often hunt way up north where cell phone signals don't exist. Also, I'm seldom in one place the whole time, as I move from one spot to the next, so this system isn't fool proof, but I use it when I can.

     The last principle I have been adhering to is not getting lost in the first place. I've bought a GPS, and have learned the basic functions and use. The GPS I use is the type that shows a topo map on the display screen. I've found this to be useful when navigating the woods, and though I haven't been lost in the woods yet, I have confidently navigated into, and back out of some big woods areas, rather easily because I could relate my travel direction to the land features. The GPS has it's drawback, however. Batteries can run out, which is why I carry a couple extra with me, as well as keeping rechargeables plugged in and ready to go at camp. I switch the batteries whenever I reach or near the 50% level. Another drawback is the human factor. Yes, I've forgotten to mark my starting location before, and once, after marking the car's location I headed into the woods leaving the GPS on the roof of the car. Good thing I had an idea of which direction the road ran, and had a compass with me. Which leads to one last point; a GPS is no excuse to leave your compass at home.

     These three provisions are just a small sampling of ways to be safe and accounted for, and while they may be what I think will work for me, they may not work for everyone. As I've shown, they aren't fool proof, but they're better than nothing. We give our recipes a lot of thought, so why not give a little consideration to getting these gifts from the outdoors to the table, whatever it may take.