Hunting Camp First Aid Kit
A first aid kit for a backcountry hunting camp: deeper bleeding-control and wound supplies for sharp tools and remote days, plus the cold-weather and field-care items a base camp needs.
A starting point to copy and adapt — not a definitive or universally correct list. Check it against your own situation, skills, and local rules.
- Items
- 20 required · 5 optional
- Est. cost
- $90–$200
- Est. weight
- 2–3.5 lb
- Skill level
- Intermediate
- Budget
- Moderate
- Container
- First aid pouch
About this kit
Cover the wound, bleeding, and musculoskeletal injuries common around blades, tree stands, and heavy loads, far from the nearest clinic.
It’s opening weekend at a walk-in camp two hours from pavement. Someone slips field-dressing an animal and opens a hand, or takes a hard fall from a stand. You need to control bleeding and stabilize until you can get to a vehicle.
Required items 20
- Nitrile gloves×4 pairs
Why: Blade and field-dressing injuries mean blood; gloves come first.
- Trauma dressing×2
One-handed pressure on a deep cut.
Why: Knife wounds around game are the signature injury of a hunting camp.
- Gauze pads (sterile)×10
Why: Bulk dressing for the wounds sharp tools produce.
- Hemostatic gauze×1
For serious bleeding, with wound-packing training.
Why: A deep hand or thigh wound far from help needs more than pressure.
- Tourniquet×1
Severe limb bleeding only; take a Stop the Bleed class.
Why: The one item that buys time on a life-threatening extremity bleed.
- Medical tape×1 roll
Why: Secures dressings and splints.
- Antiseptic wipes×15
Why: Cleaning matters more when the nearest sink is a truck ride away.
- Wound irrigation syringe×1
Flush a dirty field wound.
Why: Contaminated wounds are the norm around game and dirt.
- Adhesive bandages (assorted)×1 assortment
Why: The everyday nicks of camp and field.
- Elastic wrap bandage×2
Why: Sprains from uneven ground and heavy pack-outs.
- Moldable splint×1
Why: Falls from stands and rough terrain break bones.
- Triangular bandage×2
Why: Slings and improvised immobilization.
- Trauma shears×1
Why: Expose an injury under layers fast.
- Tweezers×1
Why: Splinters and thorns from brush.
- Tick remover×1
Why: Ticks are a season-long hazard in most hunting country.
- Pain reliever (OTC)×1 card
Why: Sore backs and joints from dragging and hauling.
- Antihistamine (OTC)×1 card
Why: Stings and reactions in the field.
- Emergency blanket (mylar)×2
Why: Cold sets in fast when you stop moving in fall woods.
- First aid manual×1
Why: Guidance for the injuries you rehearse but rarely see.
- Field notebook×1
Record the injury and times for the handoff.
Why: Documentation for a long evacuation to care.
Optional items 5
- Hand warmers (air-activated)×4 pairs
Cold hands are clumsy hands around blades.
- Burn dressing×2
Camp stove and lantern burns.
- CPR barrier shield×1
Barrier for rescue breaths; take a CPR class.
- Two-way radio (FRS/GMRS)×2
Reach camp when someone is hurt out of earshot.
- Headlamp×1
Most hunting injuries happen at the edges of daylight.
Make this kit yours — copy all 25 items into an editable kit.
Maintenance schedule
A kit you don’t maintain is a box of expired hope. Suggested cadence:
| Interval | Task |
|---|---|
| Before each season | Replace expired meds and dressings; add hand warmers. |
| After any use | Restock bleeding-control and wound supplies before the next trip out. |
| Yearly | Inventory against the checklist and refresh heat- and cold-aged items. |
Variations
Day pack subset
Gloves, a trauma dressing, tourniquet, tape, and wound basics on your person while hunting.
Vehicle base
This full kit plus a blanket, water, and a larger splint stays in the truck.
Deep backcountry
Add a satellite communicator and double consumables when help is many hours away.
⚠️ Safety notes
- This kit assumes training. Tourniquet use and wound packing are Stop the Bleed skills; splinting and CPR need hands-on courses.
- General preparedness information, not medical advice. Carry your own prescription medications and know your party’s medical needs.
- Keep first aid supplies separate from and cleaner than field-dressing tools.
Sources
This guide draws on:
Page history & editing
Revision status: approved Last edited 2026-07-01 by human editor