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Elk NetworkBase Camp Elk: An Elk Hunter’s Survival Kit

Hunting | January 1, 2016

Base Camp Elk: An Elk Hunter’s Survival Kit

The easy part is selecting items to provide fire, shelter, water, signaling, first aid and food. Then add a good knife. The hard part comes when you try to put everything in a compact, durable package that is lightweight and easy to carry. I guarantee you have most of what you need for a basic survival kit in your garage and medicine cabinet. If not, a few dollars at the local drug store or sporting goods outlet will finish off a kit just fine. But if you want top-shelf gear, there are plenty of ways to spend your money. Regardless of budget, both kits need to do the same thing: save your life. Here are ideas to satisfy each preference and get the job done.

John Solomon is a former U.S. Air Force survival instructor.

 

The Basics

Container
(1) Wide-mouth 32oz water bottle ($7)

Fire
(2) A dozen strike-anywhere matches
A standard butane cigarette lighter
(3)A dozen cotton balls or dryer lint slathered with petroleum jelly and stored in a plastic baggie or film canister

Shelter
(4) Braided nylon rope or para cord, (50ft) to use as a ridge pole

Water
(6) Water treatment tablets ($10)

Signaling
Travel-size cosmetics mirror ($2)
Coach’s whistle ($3)

First-aid
(8) 6 wide cloth bandages, a small tube of antibiotic ointment, ibuprofen and 2ft of duct tape rolled tightly

Food
Granola bar; small packets of peanuts; pre-packaged jerky stick

Blade
(10) A sturdy, compact folding knife

Warmth
(11) Heavy-duty lawn bag or reflective space blanket; it can be worn as an emergency poncho or used as a small tarp

 The BMW

Container
Wide-mouth stainless-steel .6 liter water bottle from Primus.The bonus with this is you can cook and purify water via boiling ($15)

Fire
REI Stormproof matches ($5) WetFire tinder cubes from Ultimate Survival ($6 )

Shelter
50 feet of bright-colored parachute cord ($9)

Water
(5) Water Straw filter system ($14)

Signaling
(7) Adventure Medical Kits Rescue Flash mirror and Slim Howler whistle ($17)

First-aid
Adventure Medical Kits Ultralite .3 waterproof first aid kit ($9)

Food
(9) Energy bar ($2); envelope of dehydrated soup mix; packet of oatmeal; packets of vitamin-enhanced powdered drink mix

Blade
ToolLogic SLP2, which has a mini-LED flashlight, fire steel rod, and whistle combined into a rugged folding knife ($52)

Warmth
Adventure Medical Kits SOL Emergency Bivy ($17)

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