What's in Your Blind Bag?

by
posted on September 10, 2012
** 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. **
dogs_ah2015_fs.jpg (24)

An all-important question was posed a couple days ago over on the Final Approach Facebook page: Besides shotgun shells, what do you feel is the most important piece of equipment in your blind bag? Here are some of my favorite answers:

• Calls
• Thermos (Presumably filled with extra black "duck hunting" coffee)
• A hot chick (How big is this guy's duffle? Or rather, how small is his "chick?")
• Toilet paper (Been there, needed that, and it's also a good fire starter)
• Multitool (With duck hunting, you just never know—it pays to have a versatile tool for broken-down outboards and other emergencies)
• Sausage and egg biscuit
• Camera
• Head lamp
• Shotgun Bore Snake (Sure beats unplugging a muddy barrel with a long stick—not that I would ever do that, of course)
• Aspirin (For that post-miss headache?)
• Wader patches (When you need 'em, you really need 'em)
• Spare gun plug (You may have yours, but what about your buddy's new brother in-law?)

All things considered, I was impressed by the comprehensiveness of this list. There are but a few items I'd add to it:

• Extra dog whistle
• Change of gloves/socks
• Small butane stove (I'll see your sausage and egg biscuit and raise you a hot bacon omelette)
• Canine first aid kit
• GPS
• Lighter
• Hot Hands
• Choke tube tool
• Oh, and uh, shotgun shells

So what's in your blind bag?

Latest

W H2026 04 F Hog Texas Graves 425888
W H2026 04 F Hog Texas Graves 425888

Texas, Hogs and Thermals

Follow along as Brian McCombie indulges in his favorite trio: Texas, hogs and thermals.

New for 2026: Real Avid AR-15/AR-10 Master Collections

Real Avid has taken its AR-15 and AR-10 tooling and maintenance products and bundled them into anew Master Collections series, providing AR-platform fans with one-stop solutions to meet their specific AR needs.

Turkey Decoys All Season Long

Opening day of turkey season was rainy and cold. However, thanks to scouting and trail cameras, Scott Haugen had a plan. Matter of fact, from the first day to the last, Scott has a way to set the decoys to bring the birds in. Curious? Read on for some great strategies.

New for 2026: Hornady .223 WSSM and .243 WSSM Superformance Varmint

Hornady has announced the availability of .223 WSSM 55-grain V-Max and .243 WSSM 75-grain V-Max loads in the Superformance Varmint line.

#SundayGunday: Benelli M4 EXT

On this week's #SundayGunday, we’re checking out a true stalwart of the firearms world, the Benelli M4. Long held in high regard by concerned citizens looking for a pedigreed self-defense shotgun, quite a few have been plugged to reduce capacity, and used in the turkey woods over the years, as a true multi-purpose scattergun. Why? Well, as it turns out, there is very little that separates a good defensive shotgun from a good turkey gun. Learn more about it in this exclusive video.

Roundup: Turkey Guns & Gear

Check out our roundup of the best new turkey guns and gear in 2026.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.