Hunting Safety Part 4: First Aid in the Field


By Keith Murray, M.D.

This is the last in a four-part series exploring hunting safety.

The saying “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” has never been more true than when talking about hunter safety. The more prepared you are for a hunt, the less likely you are to need first aid skills. That’s why I suggest hunting with competent individuals, knowing your gear, sending your itinerary to family and friends, bringing a map/compass, using pre-determined rendezvous points and packing a proper first aid kit.

When I teach wilderness first aid I recommend that you start thinking about your first aid kit in layers.


If you are serious about spending time in the woods, consider taking a wilderness medicine first aid course or a standard basic first aid course. Also, carry a stocked first aid kit into the field with you. And there’s no need to buy prepackaged kits, which are often overpriced and lacking in quality gear.  There are many excellent websites that offer ideas on how to set up a field first aid kit.  It's worth your time and effort to peruse multiple sites and build a kit that is best for you and your given situation.

What kinds of first aid gear do you carry with you on a hunt? Tell us about it in the comments section below.