Memories carried with us and/or good luck items

[Europe]

We were discussing this off the forum and it was interesting and even funny at some the things we carry with us on hunts.

Some ( mine ) are for sentimental reasons but some carry or wear a "lucky" item

Beside the obvious items one must take on a hunt , do any of you take a "special to you" or "lucky" item with you ?

 

[rwc101]

Not something we carried, but I have a weird "good luck" ritual from my childhood. When I was growing up my dad always said Zebra Cakes were lucky. We'd split a pack on our way to the tree stand. For whatever reason, I bought into it as a 6 year old, and the tradition continued. Never mind that we're extremely unlucky hunters who didn't kill a deer until I was 14. Looking back, it's pretty obvious my dad just likes Zebra Cakes. I make sure to pack some whenever we're able to hunt together.

 

[dirtclod Az.]

Bowie knife,Way too big but looks cool.Also a compass from 50yrs ago can hardly see
through the lens but is more trusted than the 3 GPS I been through.

 

[CUElk]

i have a buck eye that my grand pa gave me close to 40 years ago. still carry it in my pack.

 

[noharleyyet]

No particular piece of gear but absolutely the deja vu aspect of your thread title Europe.

 

[MTelkHuntress]

Rice crispy treats, sweettarts and my lucky rabbits feet from my first rabbit. We arent very lucky getting something but we measure luck more by how many animals we see.

 

[Dave N]

Always packed a Giant-sized Hershey's Special Dark candy bar when our youngest daughter went deer hunting with me. Usually had to wake her up so she could shoot! Time moves on and so has she with work, life, etc. I still carry one in my pack to munch on while deer hunting. Won't go without one!

 

[bowhuntmontana]

I carry my late father's last hunting license. It is tucked behind my licenses and tags and I take it out and look at his signature on nearly all of my hunts. Sometimes I can't see it very well through blurry eyes.

 

[Sytes]

Nothing tangible...
Memories hold true. I carry those. Especially the hellacious events. The ones to chuckle over the campfire.

 

[kylemcintyre67]

When we scattered my Grandfather's ashes at his favorite fishing hole, I also left him a pint of his preferred Jim Beam. I filled the empty bottle up with water from there, and it lives in my pack. Not sure if it provides any luck, but it reminds me of him.

 

[marshman]

Bark shavings from a bull rub on the NW side of Mount St Helens. An hour after I picked them up I shot a very nice bull. Not sure if it was his rub, but that's how i remember it
Those shavings have been in my pocket for 12 years now.

 

[cedahm]

Not something we carried, but I have a weird "good luck" ritual from my childhood. When I was growing up my dad always said Zebra Cakes were lucky. We'd split a pack on our way to the tree stand. For whatever reason, I bought into it as a 6 year old, and the tradition continued. Never mind that we're extremely unlucky hunters who didn't kill a deer until I was 14. Looking back, it's pretty obvious my dad just likes Zebra Cakes. I make sure to pack some whenever we're able to hunt together.

My late father had to quit smoking after his cancer diagnosis. He ate Pep-O-Mint Life Savers by the bushel. Our last fishing trip together was down on the San Juan in 1999, and a bag of those ended up in my camp kit. I still have that same bag and it lives in the camp kitchen box. I've had to warn both my kids (and various others) not to eat them Although - they may not even be expired given there is probably nothing perishable in a live saver.

 

[kansasdad]

Duck hunter/friend Bob introduced me to "cocaine donuts". Mini powdered donuts that leave a rim of white "cocaine" all over your lips/cheeks, and in my case, mustache/beard. He would stop at the local convenience store to get coffee and the sugar pills, mostly for our teenage boys in the back of the rig. According to the boys in the back, forgetting the messy donuts have contributed to more than one duckless trip to the marshes.

I keep my "lucky shirt" in the my roadside emergency kit that goes with me on any adventure. It was the shirt that I wore out of camp before changing into my camo on the morning of my first turkey success. Oftentimes if I'm going hunting, I manage to brush my hand against it as I'm pulling gear out of the vehicle. It just happens that way, and I'm sticking to my story.

(I imagine if I tried to put it on, it would explode into little patches of stretched out, sun bleached cotton threads dripping with fond memories of yesteryears)

 

[Bowhuntrben]

Looking back, it's pretty obvious my dad just likes Zebra Cakes.

Can you blame him!?

 

[rwc101]

Can you blame him!?

Haha, not at all. I inherited the love for Zebra Cakes.

 

[Jape]

My grandpa's favorite candy bar was Almond Joy. Every hunt we each carry one and it is our celebration when successful.

 

[MEG2]

I had a Bocephus t-shirt I always wore underneath until I wore it out. Now I carry a buckeye in my pack.

 

[gouch]

The knife my dad gave me on my 12th birthday. Every big game animal I have ever killed was field dressed with that knife. Along with several others have killed and the thumb on my left hand.

 

[Panda Bear]

Sentimental

Grizzly claw on a small piece of leather.

 

[JoltnJoe]

I carry a small vial containing a copy of my old mans final heart rhythms, he’s always with me!