arrow on the ground with human scent on it. A trusty slingshot
is just the answer. I’ve even heard of hunters using a slingshot to
dispense fresh scent while in a tree stand. I used one recently, in
Africa, to chase “go-away birds” and baboons away from water-
holes.
Armed with a handful of ball bearings, a modern slingshot
can be a formidable weapon. Pull one out in camp and before
you know it your hunting buddies will be begging to pick up the
challenge. Wrist Rockets can be purchased at any sporting goods
store.
Medical pro-kit for hunting
When preparing a medical pro-kit for hunts, I try to think of
every medical emergency that I might encounter. Naturally, you
can overload yourself with this type of stuff, so you must keep
space and weight in mind as well as practicality.
I’m a nut on packing small bags into larger bags when it
comes to preparing a medical kit. I end up with a three-bag sys-
tem. In one small mesh (see-through) bag, I will place my com-
mon needs such as bandages, tape, Chap Stick, a small bottle of
disinfectant, Aspirin or Advil, Maurine, sun protection, anti-
diarrheal, Muskol, Bag Balm (excellent for cracked, dry skin),
New Skin (for blisters), BioSafe (for poison plants), and dental
f loss (also good for making a nocking point on your bowstring).
In a second small mesh bag, I will place all of my prescription
medications. I strongly suggest that you set up an appointment
with your general practitioner (do it when you have your annual
physical – you do get one every year, don’t you?) and explain that
you are trying to assemble a medical kit that will suffice when
you are a long distance from medical assistance. A good GP will
be very helpful in putting such a kit together.
In my second bag I carry prescription items such as the fol-
lowing: Lariam (for malaria), Cephalexin (for serious skin infec-
tions), Temazepan (sleeping pills for those long international
f lights), Metronidazole (for intestinal infections caused by para-
sitic organisms), Gantrisin (for eye infection), adrenaline chlo-
ride and a 1 ml insulin syringe plus needle (for anaphylactic
shock), Percodan (for extreme pain), and Cipro (a strong general
antibiotic).
Keep in mind that I have designed this kit for my personal
use with the advice of my doctor. Your kit may vary with the
areas you intend to hunt, but this is a good starting point for a
discussion with your GP.
When you pick up your prescriptions at the pharmacy, insist
that the pharmacist type on the label exactly what the prescrip-
tion is to be used for – in plain English! Some prescriptions may
require some type of training before using. An example would be
an adrenaline injection, which must be injected subcutaneously
(under the skin and not in the muscle). Don’t bring anything that
you are not prepared to use correctly.
In my third bag I carry only those items that I will need for
severe lacerations. I carry this in a separate bag because if I
have a bad cut, I won’t have time to fish around for the correct
items. Most likely I would be in a panic mode and need to act
quickly. Because we are bow hunters and we carry razor sharp
broadheads, I think there is a high probability that the third bag
will be used, so extra thought should be given to this bag.
In this bag I place the following:
A bottle of Benzoin Tincture (for disinfecting a wound); two
or three different sterile suture kits with different size needles
and lengths of suture; Silvadene for topical dressing; a roll of
gauze and some good adhesive tape (I prefer Sedasiza brand as it
will stick to anything and has a slick finish that will resist peel-
ing); butterf ly bandages or Spyrof lex adhesive pads. You may be
a bit squeamish about sewing up your own skin, but when there is
no alternative, you must know how to do it. I’ve had to do it twice
in my life and I’m very thankful I was prepared. The first thing
that will amaze you is how tough the human skin is to sew up.Duct tape
I know you all know this already, but good old duct tape is abso-
lutely indispensable on a hunting trip. There have been actual
books written on the various uses of duct tape, so I won’t go into
it at this time; however, I will caution you to buy only the original
duct tape by Scotch. There is a difference.Inexpensive blunt point
Need an inexpensive blunt point for making kid’s arrows? My
grandkids always seem to lose my good rubber blunts, so I’ve
found that red wire nuts fit perfectly on a 5/16 shaft. They are
light, safe and relatively inexpensive. They are also threaded and
will screw on to a pointed shaft quite securely. The two f langes
on the wire nut keep the arrow from penetrating hay bales, or
your neighbour’s dog. •You can buy one or
you can make your
own kettie.