Don't leave these behind: lack of the right gear at a critical moment can turn a pleasant day afield into a real problem

Guns Magazine, Oct, 2002 by Holt Bodinson

"Be Prepared" is not only the timely slogan of the Boy Scouts, it's the proper mindset for any hunter going afield. After every hunting season, I sit down, review and revise a list of hunting supplies and clothes I've found valuable and essential over the years.

Some years, I don't have to make any revisions. More often than not, I do. Either because I forgot to take something with me, or a new need in the field arose, or a better product or way of doing some field task became apparent.

Making a personal list is a good habit, and once you've begun doing it, you'll be pleasantly surprised how valuable and time saving it will become. I don't know about you, but when I get up at 2 a.m. to go deer hunting, I need all the help I can get.

The following items drawn from a master list are a few essentials for the hunter that are worth their weight in gold. My choice relates primarily to big game hunting since wing shooting is usually a daily outing conducted from a warm, dry, well equipped hearth where gun, equipment and clothing problems can be readily solved.

Extra Scope--Extra Sights

Rifles are tough. Scopes are not tough enough. Taking a spill in the rocks or spending a few days in the rain can damage the best of scopes. Some scopes seem to have a mind of their own and go completely haywire for no good reason at all. The solution? Always pack a spare scope in compatible rings that has been sighted in on your rifle before the hunt.

It needn't be an expensive scope. In fact, if I have a variable scope on my rifle, I'll probably be packing a less expensive and lighter weight fixed 4x in my pack. If your rifle is blessed with a front sight, also consider packing a little, auxiliary peep sight that slips into the rear scope base. Two good models currently available are from New England Custom Gun and Express Sight Systems that fit either Weaver bases or Ruger's integral bases.

Folding Cleaning Rod

Here's one of the neatest tools I've ever carried. It's Atsko's (the Sno-Seal people) Rapid Rod. This is a folding, aluminum cleaning rod that takes standard fittings, weighs only 2 ounces and comes in its own little pouch where you can stash some patches, jag, brush and even one of Birchwood Casey's anti-rust Sheath Take-Along's.

The Rapid Rod becomes a totally rigid rod with the turn of its handle. It can manage any bore size from .22 to 10 gauge and barrels up to 30 inches long. Carried in your pocket or pack, it earns its keep if you've ever accidentally rammed your muzzle into a snow drift or muddy earth, or experienced a stuck wad or cartridge case. And at the end of the day, it's always there to run a patch or two through a wet or fouled bore. Because the Rapid Rod is rigid, it can take care of jobs that will foil the common pull-through designs on the market.

Break-Free CLP And Patches

Because of the few shots fired over the period of a normal hunt, there's no need to clean a bore unless it has been exposed to moisture. Break-Free CLP (Cleaner-Lubricant-Preservative) is probably the most universally useful compound one can add to your kit. It penetrates and displaces corrosion, water, dirt, and powder residue, and leaves behind a highly effective protective and lubricating film.

I carry the tiny 2/3 ounce bottle of Break Free, and it holds plenty of CLP for any hunting trip. And by all means don't forget to pack 20 to 30 patches with you--the 100 percent cotton flannel kind--and if you forget them, cut some patches from paper towels.

Locking Sling Swivels

We were standing around talking about the morning's deer hunt when my slung rifle suddenly cartwheeled off my shoulder and landed hard in the rocks of the Rocky Mountains. The front, non-locking sling swivel had twisted off. Result? Mashed scope. Deformed muzzle crown. Heartbreak at seeing a fine rifle in such a state. Fortunately I wasn't that far from home.

There are still a lot of non-locking swivels on the market--don't let this happen to you. Uncle Mike's makes what I consider a foolproof, locking design under the name of "Super Swivel." I've been using them for years, and haven't had any problems. Whatever the brand, fit your rifle or shotgun this season with locking sling swivels.

Screwdriver Set And Leatherman-Type Tool

Guns are held together by screws. Screws come loose at the most inconvenient times. Also, should you have to disassemble a firearm during the hunt, you'll need a few proper fitting screwdriver bits and possibly Allen wrenches to get the job done. At home, I keep a complete set of interchangeable Brownell's Magna-Tip screwdriver bits and one handle. Before leaving on a hunt, I take the four or five bits that fit my firearm plus the handle and add them to my kit.

The screwdriver stays in camp, but I do carry a multi-tool Leatherman on my hip. The Leatherman tool, or any similar high quality multi-tool, has saved my bacon more than once in the field. It is essential gear, and the quality of the knife blade is sufficient to butcher a deer, or with a sharpener, even larger game.