All-day hunt: What & how do you carry your gear?

For the last couple years that I’ve done a ML hunt, I carry pretty much the same stuff as I do for a centerfire or archery hunt. The only difference is that I have a very small nylon bag on my belt for powder, balls & such. My reload times are slow but fast enough to not worry about it. For powder, I carry 5 plastic vials with pre-measured charges. This is for a backpack-in hunt for deer so I figure a handful of charges is plenty. Small game would certainly require more.
How about some of you? Do you carry a full horn & traditional bags? Describe the hunting you do and how you carry your gear. I figure I can learn from some of you who have been doing this a lot longer than I.

The only hunting I do is squirrel hunting (I do a lot of plinking though). I squirrel hunt with a .62 caliber flintlock Fusil de Chasse. I carry my 2f powder in a homemade horn and use it for the main charge and priming. I carry my #6 shot in a second homemade horn. I have a homemade 75 grain measure hanging from each horn, just in case I lose one. Wads, extra flints, tow and a few small tools are carried in a homemade possibles bag.

I’ll carry a water bottle and maybe a snack in my coat pocket. That’s plenty enough for a good morning hunt.

I have an old canvas bag my father gave to me for hunting at age 17. Since then I’ve been carrying it for all my hunting here in Northern Alberta. It only contains the absolute necessities, those being my skinning knife, compass, small cloth, small 1st aid kit, lighter and wooden matches, TP and lastly spare boot laces. Oh… lol… also my licenses. Any ammo is specific to the hunt. With muzzleloader, I use plastic tubes with premeasured charge, lubed patches and balls in my bullet board.
Attached picture in my avatar I believe shows the bag I speak of. Not bad for 40 years of faithful service!
Walk

Banjoman said:

The only hunting I do is squirrel hunting (I do a lot of plinking though). I squirrel hunt with a .62 caliber flintlock Fusil de Chasse. I carry my 2f powder in a homemade horn and use it for the main charge and priming. I carry my #6 shot in a second homemade horn. I have a homemade 75 grain measure hanging from each horn, just in case I lose one. Wads, extra flints, tow and a few small tools are carried in a homemade possibles bag.

I’ll carry a water bottle and maybe a snack in my coat pocket. That’s plenty enough for a good morning hunt.

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Not being a smarty, genuinely asking, doesn’t that obliterate a squirrel?

he uses number 6 shot, not a ball

2 shots said:

he uses number 6 shot, not a ball

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I see that now. Thanks.

I'm old and have to travel light. 6 1/2 lb. 38" barreled early Lancaster long rifle , w/sling. Small shot pouch w/ 10 pre-measured 80 gr. charges FFFG. Pre lubed patches. extra flint or two. small screwdriver. 3gr. plunger type priming horn w/ FFFFG in it. Exterior mounted ball starter on a tether. 8 ea. .490 round balls patched in a ball board 4" blade pocket knife for gutting. When still hunting ,I carry a small folding stool slung over the shoulder. Gotta sit down frequently ...................oldwood Always remember.....WW-1 was started w/only one bullet...

I don't mean to be rude but when I see guys dressed in their pc get ups with those pouches/bags and horns hanging out I assume they're not doing long and hard hunting trips.

I can't see how it would ever be practical. I hunt multi day trips in mountains and just have my bum/fanny bag around my waste with pre measured vials, a few bullets or balls,a few caps and patches. My water, knives, gps, jetboil, matches etc on my back. I never aim to look good with either pc gear or flash camo, I'm just practical. Same goes for when I hunt with bows or centrefires.

I mostly dress hc as my stuff lets me. And don’t have any trouble hunting for a day trip, or treking with my gear. I do have a haversack styled bag that I use for spare stuff and shooting bag. Blanket roll for extra if camping

I am much like you. I carried 4-5 pre-measured powder charges, a ball board with pre-lubed patches, a short starter, a bit of leather with holes punched around the edge to hold percussion caps, a nipple pick, and a nipple wrench. Everything fits in my pockets.

GoodRabbitPilgrim said:

I don't mean to be rude but when I see guys dressed in their pc get ups with those pouches/bags and horns hanging out I assume they're not doing long and hard hunting trips.

I can't see how it would ever be practical. I hunt multi day trips in mountains and just have my bum/fanny bag around my waste with pre measured vials, a few bullets or balls,a few caps and patches. My water, knives, gps, jetboil, matches etc on my back. I never aim to look good with either pc gear or flash camo, I'm just practical. Same goes for when I hunt with bows or centrefires.

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GoodRabbitPilgrim said:

I don't mean to be rude but when I see guys dressed in their pc get ups with those pouches/bags and horns hanging out I assume they're not doing long and hard hunting trips.

I can't see how it would ever be practical. I hunt multi day trips in mountains and just have my bum/fanny bag around my waste with pre measured vials, a few bullets or balls,a few caps and patches. My water, knives, gps, jetboil, matches etc on my back. I never aim to look good with either pc gear or flash camo, I'm just practical. Same goes for when I hunt with bows or centrefires.

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I get what you’re saying. I only do day hunts even on the occasional deer or turkey hunts. I don’t dress in historically correct clothes. I wear modern clothes. I only like to use somewhat historically correct accouterments for my somewhat historically correct gun. It’s all just for fun.

The gear I use does not hang out. It took several outings to get things arranged so that they lay flat against my body and are easy to access. A lot of trial and error was involved to get things right and it does take some getting used to.

Also, I hunt in the woods behind my house or just a short drive from home. If I were to hunt in more remote areas like you do for several days at a time, I might consider a different set up.

I do not need to wander terribly far, so travel pretty light. Usually I just drop my short starter in my pocket along with a few speedloaders, with a lanyard for my primers. For hunting with my flinter this year I have a small tin that will hold a few flints, etc. I figure worse case scenario I am only five to 15 minutes from the camp where I have anything for more serious issues.

Nuthatch said:

Describe the hunting you do and how you carry your gear.

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So I try the whole "traditional" route.

I wear 18th century clothing, with a layer of wool, with the outer layer being my hunting shirt. I attach a blaze orange cape to the hunting shirt, and have a blaze orange Voyager's knit hat. Although I'm mostly on private land, The State allows straight walled modern cartridges during "gun" deer hunting season, and they will reach from the near-by public lands to where I hunt. I'd rather discourage a shot in my direction than run that risk, OR cause a poacher to move off instead of taking a shot at the tan creature creeping through the woods.

I wear mits made from old knee high wool stockings. Wool leggings and mocs, but if there is snow I wear Hi-Low boots....

I carry my shooting bag and my hunting horn. Both are brown, although I have a lovely screw-tip horn that is white, but again, I don't think where I hunt it healthy to have a bit of white bouncing around on my hip in deer season. (I wear a blue linen shirt instead of a white one for the same reason)
The shooting bag carries my rifle gear, plus my skinning knife and a stone, my compass, and my fire kit.
A tin canteen carries my water.
My "mouse" 'hawk rides on the back of my hunting bag

I also carry a snapsack, with a change of wool socks, my drag rope if deer hunting, my first aid kit in a japanned tin, an extra, modern, orange knit hat (I'll explain in a moment), a bag with a half-pound of ground parched corn aka rockahominy (can be eaten cold or boiled) a smaller bag of raisins (not only sugar but potassium - wards of leg calf cramps ), a small a tin of tea, another of sugar, a few strips of venison jerky, salt and red pepper. I also carry two tin mugs aka "soldier cans" (One is modified with a bale so I can heat water over a fire, or lift it out of the fire using a stick). Tobacco and my pipe.

I load the snapsack as though I'm going to, for some unforeseen reason, get stuck in the woods overnight. IF I intend to go overnight, I'd also pack my wool blanket, and my oil cloth lean-to.

I like to stay hungry when hunting as I seem to be more alert when so..., but after the deer is down, I may be a bit spent hauling it out of the brush even if it only went a short distance, and I will very much be spent if I have a difficult drag from where I retrieved it to the vehicle. So the raisins and the candy help with fatigue, so does a cup of hot sweet tea. Caffeine helps too.

After shooting and reloading, I smoke my pipe. This, as with archery, allows the animal if I haven't made a serious hit, to lie down and expire. Then when the pipe is done, I start my track.

The extra orange hat carried in the snapsack is on the back of the tree where I'm waiting for the deer. I hunt from the ground, often in a natural blind, which means I use trees to break up my outline. Well the orange hat posted head high on the tree to my back, hopefully discourages hunters from tossing a shot in my direction, since the tree blocks them from seeing me wearing orange. When I'm trying to track, I move the extra hat to where I was when I shot. I've found being able to look backwards and spot where I was standing helps when I am locating where the deer stood when hit, and thus makes for easier tracking when needed.

LD

I do full day hunts during the deer season using my flintlock rifles. Because of the blaze orange requirements I a wear contemporary blaze orange (camo pattern) jacket/hat. I do carry my traditional possibles bag, smallish day horn, and loading block.

GoodRabbitPilgrim said:

I can't see how it would ever be practical.

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If I were "practical" I probably wouldn't be in this sport! I'd be shooting the most modern "appliances" with optics and carrying all kinds of plastic stuff.

To answer the OP's question, I carry a "larger" shooting bag that I can also fit a few snacks for the day and a bottle of water. Dressing traditionally, I don't have a lot of pockets to put things in, though on my custom orange capote for deer hunting, I did have a couple of inside pockets installed. Sometimes I use powder horns, sometimes a small flask, and I have used 4 in1 plastic speed loaders. Sometimes when I'm out small game hunting on a very cold winter's day, I may want to take a break and build a small fire using my flint and steel. When turkey hunting I want some calls with. My larger shooting bags let me put in or leave what I want or need for the day.

In short...."practical" isn't part of any reason I do this sport.

This is my primary bag which I have used for nearly 20 years now:

https://www.octobercountry.com/traveler-possible-bag/


Another great alternative that I love for when I'm carrying my smoothie with shot is this canvas bag. Lots of pockets to separate cards, wads, etc.

https://www.trackofthewolf.com/Categories/PartDetail.aspx/50/1/BAG-GAME-C


I have several others, but they are mostly all of a "larger" size so I can pick and choose what I want and have room as necessary.

I hunt as traditional as possible and a lot depends on the weather, So in saying that here is how I go for deer, as early deer will differ in manner of dress from late season, but the shooting set up for the rifle remains the same, As too the shooting bag it is small and contains the following, a ball bag which holds 10 extra balls, a small tin with extra pre greased patching, a short starter, ball block with pre patched balls, a small flat prime horn, a deer horn powder measure is attached too the pouch strap, as is wisk and vent pick these are on a lanyard that allows them too be tucked in the pouch as not too hang loose, a small ft. ti. hatchet is secured too the back of the bag as is a small knife in there respective sheaths, horn will hold appox. 3/4 lb powder and on its own strap. Belt knife, I also carry a haversack in it goes a tool kit for rifle, pliers, turnscrews of various size usually two of those, extra vent pick, oil rag and extra flints and pre cut flint leathers, this is all contained in its own tool roll,cows knee, small fire kit, small copper cup, extra socks, drag rope, a small round river stone that is great at touching up a edge on the sharpies, as I hunt in mocs a small repair kit, small tin of grease and a extra pair of mocs. also as I hunt alone ( my wife insists I carry the cellular communication device)A bit of tea, chunk of hard cheese, deer jerky, deer snack sticks and goya soda crackers, a chunk of dark chocolate, some dried fruit, also a can of chewing tobacco also carry a water gourd on its own strap. And yes the orange stocking cap is on my pumpkin.

During squirrel season I use a small belt pouch to carry a few extra flints, patches, balls, a small bottle of cleaning solution, some cleaning patches, a homemade screwdriver/touch hole pick, and my short starter. I have a horn with 3fg for the main charge, and prime, and a antler tip measure and loading block attached to the shoulder strap.

During deer season, I use a possible bag with pretty much the same things just a little more of each.

I'll have think about this one. If I am around my house sometimes just 3 speed loaders, a knife and rope. If weather is bad or I'm in big woods a lot more things. The stuff is not all period correct

Gun stuff in a pouch, gear and extra clothing in a small backpack. Clothes will depend on the weather and if I'm still hunting on a stand, might get stuck overnight.

T-handle for ramrod that doubles as a short starter
2 safety pins for nipple pick
2 wax candles
extra nipple
nipple wrench
patches
lubed patches
lubed overpowder wads
small flask of powder wrapped with duct tape
small bottle of TC cleaning solvent
extra jag
bore brush
balls or bullets
tin of caps

compass
flashlight
headlamp
orange wool cap and vest
military trigger finger mittens wool liners
gaiters
folding or sheath knife
1-gal ziplock bags for organ meat
contractor bag
4-L dromedry water bag
sawyer mini water purifier
2 lighters, strike anywhere matches in a vial with flint
hearty lunch salt and pepper
reading glasses
parachute cord and 2 small aluminum pulleys, if I can't get deer/game out that day/evening I can hang it away from yotes
A couple paper towels and I almost forgot the TP
1/2 bar of soap

I have a Smith and Wessson shoulder bag. It had sections to keep things organized, and important to me it is easy to access.
I try to carry as little as possible, but it still adds up. It is very very nice to have it organized and in one place.

i am blessed to live where my hunting starts at my door.
my normal hunt starts with a cuppa and slipping out just before the cold dip of false dawn. i usually will cover a mile before 10am and then i sit and watch trails.
for this type of hunting i carry my rifle, a shooting bag taylored to the rifle i am using, which has an internal ball pouch. a second for my patch roll, and a third for my flint and a extra leather jaw liner. also a loop inside for a turnscrew.
a few of these bags have a loop outside for a short starter.
i carry an antler charging measure on a strap attached to my horn. Pan gets charged with the same powder in my charger.
only other possible i carry is my patch knife, a chunk of flint that will strike a good spark off the back of the knife and some char cloth. North Idaho is famous for the saying "don't like the weather wait 15 minutes.
completing my gear is my cell phone. to old to leave home without it!