Stuff I didn’t use on my last hunt

Every once in a while it is useful to take a look at all the stuff you took on a hunt, especially if you have to carry everything on your back, to see if there is anything you could leave at home next time, and lighten the load. Two weeks after returning from New Zealand, I sorted through my stuff with that goal in mind; here are the results.

Tyvek suit

We didn’t get any stalking opportunities that required the use of snow camo. We got lucky with the weather, and didn’t get any precipitation, and the tahr mostly hung out at middle altitudes where enough shrubs protruded though the ice and snow to make a full-white costume unnecessary. Two days after we choppered out, the area got blanketed by snow, and a snow suit could possibly have been an asset.

Siltarp/pack rain cover

Beautiful weather, I never needed either.

Water purification tablets

According to Bruce, my guide, the water was as clean as it gets, and we drank it without any unpleasant effects.

Handwarmers

I only used a set once, on other days the weather was nice enough to take the gloves off during the climbs and prevent the build-up of moisture that makes them so cold during glassing. 

Custom Bow Sling

AKA piece of rope. Although I used it lots during the goat hunt in BC, the bush here was such that it made more sense carrying the bow in hand, and in the alpine I strapped the bow across the top of the pack. 

Custom Limb Tip Protectors

AKA baby gloves connected by bungy cord. Though I figured this to be the cat’s meow, in BC it became clear very quickly that the system did not work in the alders. The New Zealand bush was such that I didn’t even try. I could have put them on in the alpine, but never did. The tips did scrape the rocks a little, mostly when navigating up and down creek beds, but a few dabs of wipe-on polyurethane took care of that once back home. They won’t be coming on the next trip.

Mini camp towel

I’m sure I’ll come up with a purpose for it, but on this trip I didn’t need it. 

Battery pack

I had two with me, I only used the one to give the iPhone a boost midway through the trip. 

Burner

I had planned to buy a gas canister so I would have my own set to make coffee without having to ask the guide, but forgot to get on in Queenstown before the hunt. It didn’t matter in the end, because we used Bruce’s Jetboil for everything, and there wasn’t much down time before or after actually cooking and eating breakfast or dinner. Still it was good to have in camp, in case the Jetboil would have given up the ghost. Making a fire would have been a chore, as most suitable wood was located half-way up the mountain.

Knife/broadhead sharpener

Never needed it.

Balaclava

Just not cold enough. I did use a merino buff to keep the cold wind off occasionally.

Other Clothing

As this trip was supposed to be two days longer than it turned out to be, I had an extra set of long merino base layer with me that I didn’t use.