Hunting Safety

• QuikClot and pressure bandage packaged to fit inside military pants' cargo pocket
  
  A must-have for every hunting trip is a first-aid kit. Plenty of products are available on the market. It is wise to add a few items that are rarely included in typical over-the-counter kits. QuikClot, a coagulant, is a lifesaver. It is a powder that rapidly clots blood and will even stop arterial bleeding reliably. A quality pressure bandage is required to deploy the QuikClot effectively. There is also a device called the Asherman chest seal, invented by a Navy SEAL, that will help manage a sucking chest wound (open pneumothorax) on the way to a hospital. The seal can be purchased for about $10.
  
  Always take more water than you think you'll ever need in case of injury or illness. There also might be an unexpected need to clean something. Further, it is wise to have at least one canteen per hunter. A military pistol belt and canteen with carry pouch can be acquired for $15 or less. Refill the canteen each time before you leave camp and wear it out with you.
  
  Communication devices are essential in remote areas. Mobile telephones can be unreliable. Adventurers would do well to carry hand-held radios so at least party members can communicate between each other should a need arise. It's best to get corded ear buds with the units so animals don't hear unexpected calls.
  
  Global Positioning System satellite receivers will help you find your way back to camp or help you relay your exact location if emergency services need to be called in. GPS units have saved lives; it's better to have one and not need it than need one and wish you had it. The units allow you to mark and name waypoints so if you want to remember a particular spot; you know how to find it again. Simple yet reliable receivers can be found in the $100 price range.
  
  

Getting That Good Shot

• Batch number on inside flap of ammunition box
  
  When hunting with firearms, use the same ammunition you sighted in with at the range. Each batch of ammunition produced by quality manufacturers is identified with a batch number. Often this number can be found stamped inside the flap on the box. Using same-batch ammunition will help ensure a shot consistent with what you experienced on the range. Ammunition from different batches can have different primers or powder, causing shots to vary to some degree. So it's good to buy more than one box from the same batch when you sight in prior to heading out to hunt.