I would believe that probably the two most immediate problems/issues to deal with are:

1. The ability to remain calm.
2. The ability to stave off hypothermia.

If you have those two means.....most other issues will resolve themselves!

I have spent so many nights in the woods/dark/etc., that for me it is no more unusual than spending a day in the woods. (Twenty years in the Infantry helped to some degree.) H**l....some of my scariest nights were spent in places like Camden, New York, Baltimore, Frankfurt, Berlin, etc...before I grew up enough to learn to stay out of those kind of places at night! (And for that matter the "day" as well!) But I digress.....

The biggest factor in being able to remain calm is to have confidence in your abilities. And this confidence....or lack of...will to a large degree be proportional to your skills and proficiency in outdoor lore. Many, if not all, of these skills can be learned prior to ever spending a day outdoors...but until you've actually put them into practice you may lack confidence in your abilities. And even though many (especially men) won't admit it, your ability to control your "fear of the dark or the unknown". I know, I know.....I've yet to meet a "manly man" that ever admitted they were afraid of the dark...in an unknown environment.....BUT...I've seen it on their faces, (under those circumstances). And realizing that there is nothing more to fear in the dark...or in a "spot on the ground" that you haven't been before.....is half the battle.

Many survival manuals/experts will talk about having the ability to construct a "make shift shelter". But unless you are intending to relive Robinson Crusoe's adventures.....or have gone into the woods completely unprepared...to a large degree these shelters are NOT necessary. If by building one you can remain calm, focused, and don't compromise your body heat...then build one. But with all of today's "space blankets", emergency bivys, etc.....an expedient built shelter just burns energy needlessly. By carrying either the "emergency tarp/blanket/bivy" you can protect against hypothermia in all the but the absolute most extremes. And they weigh only ounces. They are more important than the 3 or 4 "Power Bars" you should also have. If you include a tiny "candle lantern" with your gear, it can provide an amazing amount of heat nestled under your emergency tarp that is draped over you! (Plus light just makes a person "feel good" and helps to bolster confidence and calm.)


But if you have practiced some land navigation skills and have every confidence in your GPS, map, and compass....and know for a fact that you'd never get lost where you hunt. Suppose you broke a leg? Back to needing the emergency shelter.....so take it anyway!

After those two issues have been addressed. Insure you have access to drinkable water. And the easiest way is to carry a "backpacker's" portable water filter/pump. Backed up with a small supply of water purification tablets...and/or the ability to boil the water...will resolve the problem. But don't rely on being able to boil the water. For purification purposes, depending upon altitude, could require 20 minutes at a rolling boil. And you may not be able to count on having a heat source capable of that. So use the filter and purification. I carry at a minimum a two quart collaspable canteen...plus whatever bottled liquid/drink I happen to prefer. So water is not a problem for me unless I'd be out over a night or two. Then if you must....use the filter/purification tablets.

And as for food....unless you are going to be "lost" for two weeks or more....food is more a "comfort" than a necessity. (Unfortunately most of us have "reserves" for even longer than that!) But a couple of "nutrition bars can be a psychological comfort.

And of course, include an adequate first aid kit.

If you are hunting a true wilderness area....or vast tracts of uninhabited lands...then more of a kit is called for. If you are hunting the back 40 then maybe just bottled water and a space blanket will get you by. (Remember the broken leg?) But there is not a piece of equipment on earth that will be of any value if you don't have the confidence....and calm....to put it to use! Practice your skills before the trips, (overnighters and weekenders are great for this). Spend a few nights out in the dark with only an emergency blanket, (during the summer months), even if it's in your back yard. (Get's pretty chilly even on a summer night....huh?) And remain confident in your abilities!

Better to know more than you need....than not know enough!