What you pack for a hunt is incredibly important.
And one of the first things we all realize about hunting is there's A LOT of gear involved. An almost overwhelming amount, especially when it's all new to you like it was to me this year. From there it's a rabbit hole you can go down for the rest of time.
I invested in some clothing and boots this year and was lucky to borrow the basic gear for my first hunt. I learned how important it is to be selective and intentional about each item that makes it into your pack. You'll be carrying everything you need to survive, be comfortable and safe on your back. And it's a determining factor for your success as a hunter.
I imagine most people have a gear list of some sort. Without one it's easy to forget things or pack more than you need.
Because I love a good list, after I got home from my hunt I created an excel spreadsheet. I'm sharing the template so you can get organized for all your upcoming hunts too. It'll work for any type of hunt in any area. Plus it functions not only as a pack list, but also a budget and wish list as well.
The document has two sheets, a Gear Pack List Template and a Food Pack List & Nutrition Template.
I suggest downloading it then making a copy so you always have a clean template you can make more copies from in the future.
GEAR PACK LIST TEMPLATE
This template breaks down the gear categories into backpack, sleep gear, clothing, optics, weapon, gear, safety, cooking/food and water. It tracks each item and its specific details, weight, cost, whether you have purchased it or not and whether you have packed it or not.
FOOD PACK LIST & NUTRITION TEMPLATE
The first chart in this template allows you to track all the food you'll be packing, weight of the food, cost, whether you have purchased it or not and whether you have packed it or not. The second chart helps you get a handle on the nutrition and macros you'll be consuming with calories, fat, proteins and carbs.
The great thing about gear lists is they are always evolving – especially with gear technology changing all the time. It'll be fun to see how your gear lists evolve over the years. And what items you've had since day one and what items have slowly been added and upgraded.
Click the link below to download your copy:
Hunting Gear & Food Pack List Template
Let us know what you think of this template and how it's working for you in the comments below.
