Ditch bag

Luke Berkey

Luke Berkey

Well-known member
Tod Osier had a good post that touched on this last year. I'm refering to a bag or dry box that has some essential safety and survival gear in it. This will be my first year hunting out my own sneak box so I'm looking for ideas on items to include. This is what I started with tonight.[/image]
duckboats015.jpg
 
If you are making a true ditch bag you probably want to leave the tools and other parts out of it. A ditch bag is for just those times when you have no other choice and must leave the vessel. Hopefully you will never have to use it.

In a ditch bag I include things such as:
Life Vests
VHF handheld
EPIRB
small ration of food and water
space blanket
waterproof flashlight
possibly matches
flares
horn or whistle
possible handheld GPS
first aid kit
 



I carry a few other items. Hammer [cut off handle to fit], small vise grips, extra pull cord [use hammer for handle], extra decoy line [150'], coins for pay phone, flares and signal mirror. Small items and no essential I shrink in food saver bags to stay dry. I also keep a old chamios shirt in a food saver bag for emergencys. Stays great all season. Food saver bags are great and easy to store and stays dry.
Happy Hunting
 
Mini-mag light with spare batteries.
Small ration of high energy food, something shelf stable like energy bars.
1/2 dzn or so clothes pins, they have a 1,000 uses.
Depending on where you hunt, either a waterproof bag for your cell phone or portable weatherproof VHF. Where I hunt, I can always get a signal on my cell phone, plus I have my work blackberry/Push-to-Talk radio with me 24/7.
If you cant always get cell signal, get a small portable VHF.
Roll of TP goes without saying.
Bottle of water. Duck hunting =Water water every where and not a drop to drink. Even in winter you need to stay hydrated.
 
Luke, All good sugestions. I call mine "The Armistice Day Bag", same idea and it is always evolving. I didn't see listed but I carry some 12 ga. flares. If you hunt with a 12 ga. you can shoot the flares right out of the ol duck gun. Fire starter or two. Keep thinking, that will keep you safe.
 
All of these are good suggestions.

Remember to take any medication that you might need, insulin, glucophage, whatever.

and something to stitch yourself up if you get cut.

Oh yeah, might bring some nerve tonic, in case you have to spend the night on an island with someone that is used to nerve tonic.
 
This is a good idea.... I carry something like this in my truck. One thing I would include would be a source of shelter. You can buy a bivvy sack for a little over a hundred bucks. Would be good to have if stranded and you need to stay out of the wind and dry. I'd imagine with a space blanket you would be ok if not too cold out, but heck anything that increases your chance of survival is good.

Zane
 
I assume that you have a hand held VHF. A PLB and ASSWIPE. I think the only thing I've ever used out of our pack is the TP. You never know when you're going to have to go. The other items we hope we never have to use!!!
Click to expand...
 
Thanks for the replies. I guess ditch bag isn't the correct term for what i'm going for. I just want everything in one location so I know where it is if I need it. I always keep some food, water, and TP in my blind bag. I guess it would be a good idea to put some in the dry box. I was planning on putting some power bars in there too. The shortened hammer is a good idea. I really like the food saver idea too. Never thought of that. It would compress any extra clothing and keep it dry. I have flares, first aid kit, and fire extinguisher ready to put in there just forgot to mention them. My cell phone usually works everywhere I go. I guess I should invest in a hand held vhf one of these days. I have a whistle attached to my pfd but I think I'll put another one in the box. Hopefully I'll never use this stuff but I figured I'd take a "plan for the worst hope for the best" attitude.
 
I have a tool/emergency repair kit in the same type of drybox as shown in the original post. But I also have a drybag clipped to a PFD that serves as a ditch bag. There have been many good ideas on here and the previous threads about it. A bucket works great as well to store the items.

A few other thoughts:
Add plenty of paracord-MANY uses
electrical tape-works better than duct tape when wet.
ace wrap-many uses
asprin-you can think much better when not in pain
water-as Carl said water everywhere and not a drop to drink (at least for us coastal hunters)

Keep safe out there! Remember it's not just about YOU! If you go missing other people will be put in danger trying to help you. Others at home will be devastated because YOU made a mistake. YOU have to be ready to take care of yourself AND render aid to others.

Gene
 
Gause, bactroban or neosporin, medical tape, duct tape. These things are great to have if you or the dog get hurt. A prescription pill bottle or peanut butter jar is a good watertight place to keep stuff. One of those el cheapo rain ponchos is a great thing to have.
 
A Bic lighter, and some waxed fire starter. You got gas but if you need to be away from the boat.....
 
I am making the same thing up for my drybox... add in a small first aid kit and if you use an inflatable life preserver an extra CO2 cartridge.

Not that it matters when you are in an emergency situation, but will the flares do any damage to the barrel of your shotgun if you shoot them out of the gun?
 
I see food listed a few times. Not to be critical - but I would guess in a very high percentage of cases, duck hunters don't get stranded for the 20+ days that would require food for survival. Perhaps for the sugar content if someone goes into shock or is diabetic I suppose.

Might be better off using that space for heat creating devices or a second space blanket, orange flag, etc.

On a side note, one big emergency related item is leaving a note on your car of when you plan to return.....and including the warden's phone #. Just keep a notepad and pen in your glovebox all season.
 
Last edited:
one big emergency related item is leaving a note on your car of when you plan to return.....
Click to expand...


Everyone's situation and area they hunt is different. I had the unfortunate experience of having my vehicle vandalized while I was out hunting. I may leave a note in my vehicle but not on it. For that matter, any law enforcement officer can run my plate and almost instantly have access to both my cell and home phone number. If I lived alone, I could have all calls forwarded to friend or relative with whom I had filed a hunt plan.

Like I said everyone's situation is different and a note may work best for yours.
 
Last edited:
I was thinking the same thing Dave. I always tell at least 2 people where I will be hunting. Even if I'm just heading out for an hour I'll at least tell my brother where I'm going. He knows the areas we hunt and would know where to start looking if no one heard from me.
 
Luke, I also carry spare emergency pull stop key and lanyard, 2 hose clamps and spare fuel line connection for your motor. Broke one once when I hit a submerged object and motor jump up in cold weather.
 
Luke, All good sugestions. I call mine "The Armistice Day Bag", same idea and it is always evolving. I didn't see listed but I carry some 12 ga. flares. If you hunt with a 12 ga. you can shoot the flares right out of the ol duck gun. Fire starter or two. Keep thinking, that will keep you safe.

Tom,
The "Armistice Day Bag" is a great idea. That was quite a read on what happened to all of those Minnesota duck hunters. What year was it?
Al
Click to expand...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top