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Knowledge and Skills Emory Wanger Knowledge and Skills Emory Wanger

How To Prevent Blisters

We’ve all seen those pictures floating around the internet of toes and heels blistered so bad it turns your stomach inside out. Blisters happen to the best of us, but they are preventable and treatable if you know what you’re doing. There’s no perfect solution to blister prevention because each boot, foot, and skin type is different. It’s an exercise in finding the right combination of treatment and prevention to make your life on the mountain enjoyable for your feet.

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Knowledge and Skills Emory Wanger Knowledge and Skills Emory Wanger

How To Manage Trash On Your Backpack Hunt

You’ve probably prepared your gear, your meals, your weapon of choice, and your body for your upcoming backpack hunt, but are you prepared for the trash you’re going to create while you’re out there? All those meals and snacks come with a wrapper of some sort so have you thought about what you’re going to do once you’re done with them?

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Knowledge and Skills Emory Wanger Knowledge and Skills Emory Wanger

Water Management for Backpack Hunters

We all need water. It’s the one thing that you’ll want after a long climb up a rugged landscape and it’s the one thing that can become scarce if not managed properly. It’s important to not only know where you’re going to get your water during your hunt but also how you’re going to manage it and store it once you have it. It’s not a complicated process, but it’s one worth thinking through so you can make sure you have enough available for the duration of your hunt.

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Knowledge and Skills Emory Wanger Knowledge and Skills Emory Wanger

Water Filters for Backpack Hunters

If you’re going backpack hunting, you’re going to filter water at some point during your hunt. Considering that water weighs in at around 2 lbs per liter and you not only need water to drink, but water to cook with, it can add up very quickly so while you could carry all the water you need for your trip in one shot, it’s not recommended. Extra water also takes up valuable space in a pack so the more water you can filter in the backcountry, the less you have to carry with you on your back, and the more miles you can put in finding that animal of a lifetime. There are a number of different water filters on the market and a few non-filtering methods that create clean drinking water which we’ll cover in this article.

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Knowledge and Skills Emory Wanger Knowledge and Skills Emory Wanger

How To Choose The Right Pack Size For Your Backpack Hunt

Choosing the right pack size for your backpack hunt is has a direct impact on your overall comfort, capability, and functionality in the backcountry. Choose a pack that’s too small and you’ll be struggling to find space for what you need for your hunt and forced to strap delicate items to the outside where they’ll risk damage. Choose too large of a pack and you’ll end up overpacking, taking more than you need, and ultimately weighing yourself down without gaining much for it.

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Knowledge and Skills Emory Wanger Knowledge and Skills Emory Wanger

Synthetic vs. Down Insulation and How To Choose

Both down and synthetic insulations have come a long way in the last few years. They’ve improved in quality, overall weight, performance, and even affordability. Choosing which is right for you and your situation depends on a number of variables such as weather conditions, expected temperatures, hunting style, and even personal preference. Choose the right insulation type and you’ll find yourself willing to tough out those early mornings behind the glass. Choosing the wrong insulation, however, may result in an inability to effectively stay warm throughout your hunt. Staying warm on your hunt isn’t just a creature's comfort, it could be the difference between staying in the field to punch a tag or going home early.

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