More than 38 million Americans participate in hunting and fishing, and often times, camping in the wilderness is part of the festivities. Given that the cost of the average camping trip is $380, and the average vacation costs $1,415, the logic is undeniable. Equally undeniable is the fact that many Americans find themselves woefully unprepared to live out their dreams of rugged predatory outdoor living for one reason or another. Here are a few basic ideas for ways you can be sure to have a safe and successful time out in the woods as you hunt and/or fish.
Bring The Right Kind Of Cooler
Keeping things cold and insulated is a key part to surviving out in the wilderness, especially if you intend to bring food back with you. If you’re going fishing, you may want a live bait cooler as well as fishing coolers to house your prizes. There are also boat coolers, backpack coolers and marine coolers to choose from. Don’t just bring any old generic cooler and hope it will do what you want it to do.
Keep Safe From Bears
Bears inhabit many forest and wilderness areas, and they often have an advantage over human visitors. To avoid becoming bear food, it is advised to cook at least 100 feet away from your campsite, downwind, and to keep all valued possessions in a bear-proof container when making camp. Bears can smell signs of human presence from up to a mile away if care is not taken to keep things sealed away.
Pace Yourself
Although part of the joy of an outdoors trip is the spontaneity and boundary-pushing, you can end up in a very dangerous situation if you don’t plan realistically for how far you have to go in what amount of time. An average hiking pace is two or three miles per hour, and it is suggested for novices to only hike between six and twelve miles on any given day of their trip. Practicing caution in this regard will save you energy, and possibly your life.
Conclusion
Camping trips are easy, fun and safe, given that proper precaution is exercised. If you have any ideas, please let us know in the comments.
