What are your daily essentials when packing in for a day mule deer hunt?

[N_Steen]

I use a cow call more often mule deer hunting than anything else. Time after time it is ideal to stop a deer from walking without scaring the beegeezers out of them. The fallacy of deer just standing around giving unlimited time for a shot costs a lot of deer every year. Some guys can do a good job of making a sound with their own mouth, but nothing I have tried is as effective and easy as a cow call.

I’ve had a deer at 70 yards going full speed stop at a moderately loud “mew” long enough for a shot. We all know deer often stop and look back before going over a ridge and a cow call can get them to stop a second time. It can get a bedded deer to stand up, or get a deer to turn a little to get a better look at his head gear.

The kid in me also likes anything that plays with the brains of animals. Over the years I’ve had a lot of fun with young deer testing the most effective ways to use it.

Cow Elk?

 

[TaperPin]

Cow Elk?

Yes, although I suppose someone can do a mean “MOOO!”

 

[Mike Dettorre]

Everybody's comfort needs are different. In addition to hunting related gear, first aide kit, and that day's food and water; even if I am going in for what I think is a day trip, I make sure I have minimum gear to get thru the night if the unforeseen happen. 1000 calories of extra food, 12 ounces of extra water. couple of contractor clean-up bags to act as an improvised shelter, couple of ways to start a fire, an extra set of oversized thermals depending on forecasted lows for the area.

 

[Alpine4x4]

3L water
Bino harness with my 10x, benchmade knife, and rangefinder
Game bags
Outdoor edge saw
Zip ties
Sig 16s
Granola bars
Puffy
Peloton 97
Diamond hone
Glassing pad

 

[CaribooBC]

I see a lot of people carrying 2+ litres of water, is this because you are hunting an area where there is no water? I carry 500ml and a water purification kit

 

[coyote_out]

One thing I always carry, just have it in my Bino pouch, is a small powerful flashlight. I use it for route finding, when a headlamp does not cut it.
Sometimes I will add a glow stick to my pack, but I am starting to think a little piece of reflective tape would be better from a weight and use standpoint.
One thing I try and do at the end of each season is go through my pack with a pad and paper and write down items I used, and items I didn’t. Helps me decide what to leave off the list next time. It’s easy to fill up full of shit.