Preppers and Hunters: More Similar Than You Think

by
posted on March 8, 2018
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
prepperhunter.jpg

Every prepper I know is also a hunter. By “prepper,” I mean the type of folks who work to acquire the knowledge, skills and experience needed to be able to function in unpredictable conditions. For the hunter, that can mean being prepared for changes in the weather, unexpected injuries, equipment malfunctions and the whole host of "Oh bleep!" incidents that can turn a great day of hunting into a soggy night of hiking—unless you're prepared.

Learning to be a prepared hunter is one of the virtues that comes from the education you've received in the field from other hunters, as well as the experience you've gained (occasionally painfully) from your own successes and failures. And because you are a prepared hunter, while bad things can and will still happen, you'll be ready to weather the storm. Being a prepper/hunter can easily make the difference between a good hunt with a few extra tales to tell, and a bad hunt with a whole lot of stories you'd like to forget.

Preppers and hunters share a lot in common, from the clothing they wear to the guns they carry, because they are often concerned with the same things. Want an example? Let's take a look at that staple of hunting preparedness—the gear bag.

The purpose of a good gear bag is to be ready to go when you are. Your gear bag is packed, ready, and, if you can get away with it, in your vehicle next to your gun all season long. The gear bag is an integral part of a hunter's success, and the best gear bags are put together with three things in mind:

1. It's purpose-driven. The bag you'll bring for sitting in a stand isn't the one you'd want for stalking game.

2. It's lightweight and compact enough that it doesn't interfere with your movement or the need for a quick off-hand shot.

3. It's been prepared for the environmental conditions you're likely to encounter.

Now let's do a little comparison. The prepper has a bag as well. It goes by various names such as “bug-out bag (BOB),” “grab-n-go bag,” or the more official government-recommended “72-hour kit.” It's a purpose-driven bag as well: to allow its owner to escape a man-made or natural disaster and provide a minimum standard of subsistence for three days. The BOB can be an integral part of a prepper's survival success. It too should be lightweight, while containing the essentials for survival for that three-day period.

So let's take a quick look at your day-hunt bag. It probably contains things like toilet paper, hand warmers, a flashlight, a lighter or waterproof matches, a cell phone, first aid kit, water (canteen), and maybe a few energy bars. It might also contain gloves, extra ammunition, and items for field-dressing your game such as wet-wipes, paper towels, a bone saw/knife set, and maybe a drag or hanging rope. Your gear bag probably also has some simple tools for gun cleaning and repair.

Now here's the thing: Your typical gear bag already contains the base elements of a world-class bug-out bag. By adding only a few items that will increase its useful duration, you can easily convert it from one to the other.

For instance, those energy bars in your gear bag won't cut it for a three-day walk. So you need to add a concentrated food source like an ER emergency ration food bar (3600 calories). Next, get hold of a LifeStraw personal water filter, because carrying the three gallons of water you'll need for three days just isn't practical. Now, add a few emergency Mylar blankets for shelter and bedding, as well as some spare clothing. Finally, prepare a notebook with contact numbers for friends and family, home and car insurance info, a photocopy of your driver's license, some folding money, and any other important information you think you might need, and you're set.

“Now wait a minute!” you say. “I sure don't want to have to carry all that extra stuff in my hunting bag!” Well, no worries. Those extra items will fit easily into a small stuff sack that you can leave in your vehicle or in the closet by the front door, ready to be added to your hunting bag at a moment’s notice. 

Becoming a “prepper” requires a pretty radical change of mindset for most people. You have to learn and practice new skills. You need to develop a different way of looking at the world. Most preppers believe life is sacred, and humans have a responsibility to be stewards of the earth. They recognize the simple truths of conservation, family values, continued education for greater self-sufficiency, and the self-evident Rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Sounds familiar, doesn't it? It should. Because it sounds like you, the hunter, whether you care to call yourself a prepper or not.

Latest

New World Screwworm
New World Screwworm

First U.S. Citizen Contracts New World Screwworm

On Aug. 24 HHS confirmed a Maryland resident—who recently traveled to El Salvador—is the first documented human case of New World Screwworm (NWS) in the United States. Presence of the parasitic larvae (maggots) was confirmed on Aug. 4 after studies conducted by the CDC and the Maryland Department of Health.

Thermal Hogs: Armasight After Dark

In the Red River region of East Texas and Oklahoma, Brian McCombie sorts heat signatures with Armasight thermal optics.

How to Navigate the Backcountry Without Batteries

Whether it’s a lack of connectivity, or the dreaded dead battery, things can get hairy when the electronics aren’t working and you are deep in the unknown. We look at some simple means of finding direction to be used as a backup to electronic devices.

Largest Crowd Ever Attends B&C Club 32nd Big Game Awards

More than 550 people attended the Boone and Crockett Club (B&C) Buck Buckner 32nd Big Game Awards events in Springfield, Mo., in late July. The triennial event celebrates the most impressive animals accepted into the club’s record book in all 38 categories.

First Look: Sitka Mercury Pant

When temperatures climb, Sitka’s Mercury Pant are designed to keep hunters cool and comfortable.

New for 2025: Mendoza RM22

Mendoza Firearms, a distinguished Mexican arms manufacturer with a legacy dating back to 1911, is proud to announce the availability of its RM22 semi-automatic rifles in the United States.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.