Just some advice from Montana. Out here I do a lot of hunting a minimum of 3 miles walk from my truck. I am not sure how far you go but in my case I go through my backpack at the beginning of the season and make sure that I have anything I might need to survive the night in an emergency or to bone out an animal. I hunt alone and where I hunt there is no cell phone service. Always make sure someone knows where you are hunting in case of an extreme emergency. Accidents happen and I would not like to try and crawl 3 miles with a shattered leg unless I had to. Always carry a few high protein bars in your pack. Most times mine don't get eaten until season is over. Space blanket takes up little room and can also shelter you from rain. waterproof matches or magnesium starter is good. Compass is good but GPS is preferable. Bears will usually leave you alone unless you have food or food smell on you that they can smell. Out here I am more worried about lions. Had one follow me once for a short ways and did not make me feel good. Find shelter under a pine or cedar tree if possible and if it's cold out make a bed of leaves of pine needles to lay on to shelter you from the cold ground. Leaves and pine needles also have a good insulation factor as well as dry grass if you need to cover yourself up. Also some sort of water purifier or purifying tablets would be beneficial. Out here you could get giardia from drinking the wrong water, not sure about your neck of the woods. Also a small 1st aid kit with ibuprofen might be nice. These are just a few items i would suggest. Everyone has there own opinions and you will have to decide what you feel is important or not to carry in a pack.