Robin wrote:So we have Booked for Severn in a few weeks, I have been looking and haven't found anything that I'm after, Are we able to camp in this forrest, are we able to have a small fire, are there toilets there (I can bring my own if there are none).
First time hunter and I am going with a mate and its his first time hunting in the forest.
I'm a keen camper and have everything under the sun, however I plan on going lite.
For the hunting side, whats the ideal gear to take, at the moment I have a backpack , first aid kit with snake bite bandages, head light.
Food, do you recommend getting he 24hour rat packs from the Army disposals.
Can I where Jeans or should I be getting proper hunting pants like the below
https://hunterswarehouse.com.au/product ... ants-camo/
How long are you staying out?
I avoid camp grounds and prefer to sleep in the bush, dig a hole if you need a poo.
When I was in Cadets I found the 24hr packs ridiculously over-size, but if you're a soldier humping 50kg of gear over a long period you need all that every day to stay effective, I don't mind feeling a little hungry for a few days. For food I take boiled butterscotch lollies for snacking, muesli bars for filling the hole, and some cans of fish for emergencies in case I get stuck longer than I expected.
I don't drink tea or coffee so I don't need fires. I have a three-litre bladder in my harness and four one-litre bottles on my belt - fill yourself to the brim when you get dropped off to save carrying more water. I have managed to fit a second two-litre bladder into my harness pouch as well, but I prefer the bottles on my belt. The wide-mouth Platatac one-litre bottles are handy as they can be used for dry storage of food and equipment as well - I generally have water bottle on my belt every day anyway.
I prefer a load-bearing harness, it's always on me, and everything is readily accessible, but I also carry an empty 40-litre day pack for carrying stuff out.
A rain poncho is sufficient to stay dry, and carry a hootchie and paracord for rain protection in case of a major storm.
Anything you unpack when you put your head down you then need to pack up before you can head off, which is damned annoying in the dark. I wear track pants under my trousers and carry a really good hooded jacket that I can zip up to become my "sleeping bag" (rolled up and strapped across the back of my harness above my water bottles). If the ground is wet lay the hootchie down to lie on. Cinch your sleeves around your gloves, your trousers around your boots, then a balaclava and/or some scrim nets close everything off against mozzies (leeches will still find a way in but shouldn't do too much harm). I sleep with a cap on and the scrim over it, the cap brim keeps the net away from my face. My jacket zips up to eye level.
Don't forget the solar power bank for charging your phone, GPS, torches etc.
Set your phone camera to add GPS coordinates and take pics of anything interesting. Use video to take verbal notes about any interesting spot, saves digging out a notebook.
Spend money on your boots, socks and jacket.
A roll of the 48mm PVC black tape from Bunnings is extremely useful, as is a dozen 450mm cable-ties, and paracord.