With autumn comes some big changes from the warm days of summer. Sspecially for those of us who live in the temperate zones. Along with the changing colors of the foliage, come some other changes as well. It can be a good idea to make a few easy to manage contingency preparations in advance, rather than being caught off guard by Mr. Murphy's laws and possibly putting your or your family at risk.
With the coming of Autumn come lower temps. Although they can fluctuate at first, and trick us into relaxing before they settle into being much cooler. The first day of autumn is a good day to put a spare sweater or jacket, a cheap throw, and a rain coat in our vehicles. This will help us and/or our children cope with the colder temps if we unexpectedly get caught out longer than we intended.
With the passing of the autumnal equinox also comes earlier sunsets and shorter days. So it tends to get dark during our normal hours of being out and about, while we're out shopping or having dinner with our friends and family. Along with the wallet to pay for your evening, and a pen to sign the check with, a small flashlight really can come in handy also. Dropping your keys and having difficulty finding them mostly just annoying in the warmer months, but having that same issue in the colder months can actually be dangerous, especially if it is cold and wet out.
Even if you don't smoke, having a lighter on hand can also be very helpful. Liquid fueled lighters are not only handy for starting fires, their ability to burn while free-standing allows them to serve as small portable heaters if hands have gotten chilled to the point of discomfort or danger. Plus they can also serve as a backup light source if you don't have a flashlight, the batteries die, or you just need more light on the situation.
A small ready bag of emergency supplies with; a first aid kit, some tools, and a quick improvised shelter option is a good idea any time of the year, but especially in the colder months. It doesn't take up a lot of space, and under the right conditions it could easily make all the difference between surviving an uncomfortable night, and a loved one having to read, or worse yet write, your obituary the next day.
The different seasons bring different changes to different parts of the world, at least for those of us well above or well below the equator. Whatever changes the colder months will bring in your part of the world, the beginning of autumn is a good time to make some quick and easy preparations. Choose things that will help you cope with any contingencies that might occur in the shorter days and colder temps.
@Adam Sorry, I thought I responded to this but it must not have gone through. I was on my phone so that may have been an issue. Thank you, and that is an E&E Bag by Cooper Expedition Gear.
Great ideas, especially the ready bag for the car. What type of bag do you use? Looks like the pictured bag is a perfect size.
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Hunting is much more than pressing the trigger; it is an entire process you should enjoy year round. From preseason scouting to year round consumption of harvested wild-game meat, hunting can become more of your lifestyle than hobby. Some people think hunting is just as simple as pressing the trigger but to the true hunter, the experience extends long after you leave the field. You hear a lot of people say “I want to know where my food comes from” but so many of the same are quick to hand off their kill to a butcher. No disrespect to the great butchers out there but there are some hacks (no pun intended) in your industry with less respect for the game brought in to be processed. The only way to follow your game from field to table is to take it from field to table by yourself. In this month’s blog, I want to share some of the tips and tricks I’ve learned for butchering wild game. I believe in processing my own animals and staying hands on as much as possible through the process.
Brian Griffin
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