How to Build a Hunting Survival Kit

When food sources are scarce, the ability to hunt can mean the difference between survival and starvation. A hunting survival kit isn’t about weekend sport—it’s about putting meat on the fire when you need it most.

Unlike fishing or trapping kits, a hunting kit requires tools not only to bring down game but also to process it, preserve it, and prepare it. In a true survival hunting scenario, efficiency and portability matter more than comfort or luxury.

While this guide focuses strictly on the tools and gear needed for active hunting, it’s important to remember that a survival hunting kit is just one part of a complete survival loadout. To stay effective in the field, you’ll want to supplement it with additional kits that support the hunting process and your overall safety. A fire kit ensures you can cook your game and stay warm, a first aid kit is critical for treating injuries that may occur while handling weapons or processing animals, and a trapping kit allows for passive food procurement while you hunt. Together, these kits create a balanced system that not only helps you secure food, but also keeps you alive, healthy, and ready for whatever the wilderness throws at you. 

🎯 Why Carry a Hunting Survival Kit?

• Protein & Calories – Hunting provides dense nutrition in a way plants alone can’t.

• Flexibility – Game can be found across forests, plains, and even urban edges.

• Multi-Purpose Gear – Many hunting tools double as survival gear (slingshots, knives, bows).

• Self-Reliance – Hunting connects you to primal skills that build confidence and capability.

A well-prepared hunting survival kit ensures you have options for feeding yourself when other methods fall short.

1. Core Sections of an Emergency Hunting Kit

Primitive Weapons

Primitive weapons are some of the oldest and most reliable hunting tools. Spears, atlatls, and other hand-thrown options can be made or carried in compact forms for emergency use. The most important part of any spear system is the point. A shaft can be cut from almost any straight branch, but without a durable spearhead, it’s just a stick. Flat and broadhead spear points give you cutting and penetrating power for both small and larger game. In a kit, flat-packed survival card spearheads or multipurpose spear tips are the most space-efficient way to ensure you always have a usable weapon.

• Recommended gear: Flat spear points, broadhead spearheads, Grim-style PAK spear points.

• DIY options: Stone, bone, nails or steel scraps knapped or ground into a point, lashed to a shaft.

 

Projectile Weapons

Projectile weapons allow you to take game from a distance and reduce the risk of injury. Slingshots, bows with arrows, darts, and even simple throwing stones can all serve as effective hunting tools with enough practice. The key is carrying durable arrow or dart points, since shafts are relatively easy to craft in the field. Having both broadheads for larger animals and small-game heads for birds or rabbits gives you flexibility. Compact, flat-packed arrowheads are the best way to store multiple options in a small kit.

• Recommended gear: Compact slingshot, takedown bow, flat-packed arrow points, multipurpose heads.

• DIY options: Straightened saplings for arrows, leather and cordage sling with smooth stones for ammo.

2. Game Processing Tools

Cutting Tools

A reliable cutting tool is critical for breaking down game. A compact fixed blade or sturdy folding knife handles most field dressing tasks. Backup razor blades or small scalpel blades take up almost no space and provide redundancy if your main blade dulls or breaks. A small bone saw or wire saw can also be carried if you expect to process larger game, though they are optional in ultralight setups.

• Recommended gear: Compact knife, folding saw, spare razor blades.

• DIY options: Knapped stone flake or sharpened metal scrap.

Cleaning & Butchering

Once an animal is down, you’ll need tools and methods for cleaning and butchering. Even without specialized equipment, you can improvise scrapers from split bones or sharp stones to separate hide and meat. A small saw or multi-tool makes this process easier and cleaner. For organization and hygiene, pack gloves and cloths to keep things as sanitary as possible if space allows.

• Recommended gear: Multi-tool, bone saw, nitrile gloves, bandana/cloth.

Preservation

Preserving meat ensures your work pays off long after the hunt. For DIY preservation, thin slices of meat can be air-dried into jerky using cordage and sunlight. Paracord or strong cordage also helps you hang and dry strips of meat above a fire or in moving air to dry.

• Recommended gear: Paracord, breathable game bags.

• DIY options: Air-dry over smoke or wind, lash strips with improvised cordage.

Sharpening & Maintenance

A sharp edge is non-negotiable. Without it, knives, spear points, and arrowheads quickly lose efficiency. A compact sharpening stone, file, or sharpener card ensures your tools stay field-ready. A small sharpener fits flat in a kit and keeps you from being stranded with dull tools.

• Recommended gear: Small whetstone, file, or Grim sharpener card.

• DIY options: Unglazed ceramic, smooth river stone, Sandstone or sand as an abrasive.

3. Support Gear

Cordage

Cordage is a workhorse in a hunting kit. Beyond its use for bowstrings, it’s essential for hanging meat, lashing spearheads, or even securing noisy clothing or loose gear while stalking. Paracord is the gold standard since it provides a strong sheath and seven inner strands for multipurpose use. If you don’t have paracord, or want alternatives that migh be lighter, or more readily available kevlar, braided fishing line, and bank line all make excellent options, that can be used for construction, or even braided for bowstrings. Grim's Cordage Making Card is also an excellent way to turn trash into functional cordage to keep more specialized cordage available for more specific tasks.

• Recommended gear: 25–50 ft of paracord, tarred bank line, braided line. Cordage Card

• DIY options: Braided natural fibers, leather strips, inner strands of paracord.

Camouflage & Stealth

Camouflage helps you close the distance without alerting game. This can be as simple as mud or charcoal smeared on your skin to reduce shine, along with natural leaves, or brush, or as advanced as compact camouflage netting or strips of cloth tied to your clothing. Staying quiet and blending into your surroundings can matter more than the weapon you’re carrying.

• Recommended gear: Face paint stick, camo netting, ghillie strips.

• DIY options: Mud, charcoal, or foliage woven into or tied to clothing for concealment.

Game Calls & Whistles

Game calls are a powerful addition to any hunting kit because they let you bring animals to you instead of always trying to stalk them. Compact calls for deer, turkey, or predator species take little space but massively improve hunting success. Even a simple whistle can mimic certain bird sounds or be used to signal partners in the field. If you don’t carry manufactured calls, natural materials like reeds or hollowed wood can be shaped into makeshift calls.

• Recommended gear: Pocket-sized game calls (deer grunt, turkey slate, predator distress). Survival whistle for signaling partners.

• DIY options: Reed whistles, cupped hands, or improvised wood/leaf calls.

 

🧰 How to Pack a Hunting Survival Kit

1. Start with a Small Pouch
   The foundation of your hunting survival kit is the container you choose. A small bag, or  pouch, ideally MOLLE-compatible or belt-mounted, keeps your gear secure and within easy reach. Aim for something rugged, water-resistant, and light enough to wear daily without discomfort.
2. Layer Hunting Tools
   Once the pouch is chosen, begin by layering in your hunting tools. A compact slingbow, or even a palm-sized slingshot provide multiple ways to take game. These tools don’t take up much room but dramatically improve your chances of securing food in an emergency. Flat-packed spear or arrow points can also be added for versatile projectile options.
3. Add Processing Tools
   Hunting is only half the job—processing your catch is just as important. A dependable knife should always be included, backed up by lightweight options like a scraper card, razor blades, or a small folding saw. These tools make dressing, butchering, and preparing meat faster and safer while ensuring nothing goes to waste.
4. Include Support Gear
   Support gear rounds out the kit by keeping you effective in the field. Cordage is essential for everything from hanging meat to making bowstrings. Camoflague paint, ghillie strips, and sharpening tools round out the kit. These extras turn a hunting pouch into a complete survival Hunting system.
5. Test Before You Rely
   No survival kit is complete without practice. Test your gear by making an improvised bow, practicing with your slingbow, or skinning small game under safe conditions. This builds confidence and ensures you know how each tool works before a real emergency. Skills weigh nothing, but in survival situations, they’re worth more than any piece of gear you carry.

Grim Tip Cards Waterproof Pocket Guides

Grim Tip Cards aren’t just for survival—they’re a perfect match for hunting kits as well. Each waterproof, credit-card-sized guide is packed with quick, practical info such as tracking signs, knot tying for game processing, or field-dressing basics. Slip one into your hunting kit and you’ll always have a rugged, field-ready reference at hand, even in bad weather. They weigh next to nothing but add huge value when you’re relying on memory under stress.

Different Size Options for Hunting Kits

Hunting kits don’t have to be oversized or complicated to work. You can scale them depending on your environment, carry preferences, and the kind of game you’re after. From full-sized pouches to necklace-sized kits, here are some of the most useful formats and why they work:

• Large Hunting Kit – A full pouch with spear points, broadheads, a compact knife, bone saw, cordage, and field-dressing gear. Best for bugout bags, hunting packs, or long-term setups kept in a vehicle or camp. ↗

• DIY Wallet Hunting Kit – Slim gear like Grim Line Cards or Survival Cards tucked into your wallet. With broadheads, cordage, and small processing tools flat-packed, this turns your everyday wallet into a hunting backup kit. ↗
• Altoids Tin Hunting Kit – The classic EDC survival build. Sturdy, compact, and customizable with arrowheads, razor blades, cordage, small patches of camo netting, and a striker. ↗

• Small Hunting Kit – Palm-sized and lightweight, holding essentials like a couple of broadheads, strong cordage, micro cutting tools, and fire-starting gear. Perfect for short trips or backup use. ↗

• Micro Hunting Kit – Ultra-compact with Grim PAK Tools, micro arrow or spear tips, and a tiny spool of line or cord. This setup can fit into a coin pocket or small pouch and still give you the ability to hunt or process small game. ↗

• Necklace Hunting Kit – Wearable tools like Grim Dog Tag Cards paired with a micro canvas pouch. Carry broadheads, needles, or cordage right around your neck for instant access without adding weight. ↗

• Keychain Hunting Kit – A small capsule or pouch clipped to your keys that holds micro spear points, cordage, and safety gear like a whistle. Always accessible and simple to carry daily. ↗

👉 Tip: Think of hunting kits the same way you think of fire-starting or first aid—carry the size that fits your lifestyle. A wallet or necklace kit ensures daily readiness, while a full pouch is better for serious outings or emergencies.

Training and Legality

A hunting kit is only as good as the hands that use it. Practice with your weapons and processing tools long before you depend on them. Always check local laws: methods, calibers, species, and seasons vary widely, and some improvised weapons or techniques can be illegal. Learn ethical shot placement, quick field dressing, and sanitary handling to make your effort humane and safe.

🏕 Ready to Build your Survival Hunting Kit?

A hunting survival kit isn’t just about taking game—it’s about building self-reliance. With the right tools, you can hunt, process, and preserve meat in the field, ensuring calories when other food sources fail.

In a true survival hunting scenario, efficiency is key. Focus on tools that are compact, multipurpose, and effective. Start with a pouch kit, practice your skills, and you’ll always have the confidence to put food on the fire when it matters most.

👉 Explore compact hunting tools for survival kits:

• Slingshot Tool Cards

• Compact Knife Tools
  

• Hunting Tools

FAQ: Survival Hunting Kit

Q: Can I customize my hunting kit?
A: Absolutely. The best hunting kits are built for your environment and needs. Some people focus on small game with slingshots and lightweight broadheads, while others include heavier spear points, saws, and meat-preservation tools. The key is tailoring your kit to the game you expect to encounter and the size you’re willing to carry.

Q: How much can I fit into a compact hunting kit?
A: More than you might think. Flat-pack spear points, arrowheads, and razor blades are space-efficient, and cordage or tape can be wrapped around cards or ranger bands. Even a small pouch or tin can hold enough gear to build weapons, process game, and preserve meat if organized correctly.

Q: What types of hunting can a survival kit handle?
A: A compact kit can support:

• Primitive weapons like spears or atlatls

• Projectile hunting with slingshots, bows, or darts

• Processing tools for skinning, butchering, and preserving meat

• Stealth aids like camouflage paint or netting
  It’s not meant to replace a full hunting loadout, but it ensures you have the basics for food procurement in an emergency.

Q: How do I maintain my hunting kit?
A: Regular maintenance keeps your kit reliable:

• Sharpen blades and arrow points before storage.

• Oil metal parts lightly to prevent rust.

• Replace cordage that shows fraying or wear.

• Restock consumables like salt, tape, or fire-starting tabs.

• Test tools occasionally to make sure they still function as intended.

Q: Is water resistance important in a hunting kit?
A: Yes. Water can ruin salt, corrode blades, and weaken adhesives. Pack small desiccant packets inside tins, keep tools in resealable bags, and store your entire kit in a waterproof pouch or dry bag if possible. Waxed thread, stainless steel tools, and sealed capsules extend durability in wet conditions.

Q: What cordage works best for hunting kits?
A: Paracord is the most versatile since it doubles as bowstring material and can be stripped for inner strands. Kevlar line is lightweight and heat-resistant, great for long-term use. Bank line offers excellent knot-holding ability. Natural fibers like yucca or nettle can work in emergencies but won’t last as long.

Q: Can I improvise hunting tools in the field?
A: Yes. Stones can be flaked into cutting edges, sticks sharpened into spears, and bones turned into scrapers. Sinew or rawhide can be dried and twisted into cordage. Improvised tools are functional but cost time and energy—carrying compact steel points and blades is far more efficient.

Q: Why carry a hunting kit if I can trap or forage?
A: Trapping and foraging can be slow, and they are passive forms of food procurement. A hunting kit gives you active options, while passive means are also playing themselves out, letting you secure game faster and process it efficiently. In a survival scenario, redundancy is key: carry traps and a hunting kit so you’re never relying on one food source.

Q: Why choose a compact hunting kit instead of full-sized gear?
A: Portability is the main advantage. A compact kit can live in your vehicle, backpack, or bugout bag, ensuring you always have backup tools available. Full-sized gear is powerful but rarely carried everywhere. A small kit balances readiness with convenience.

Q: How long will tools in a hunting kit last?
A: Properly maintained, spear points, arrowheads, and knives can last years. Cordage, adhesives, and natural materials wear out faster, but they can be replaced or improvised. A sharpener card or stone is critical to extend the life of blades.

Q: What’s the most overlooked item in a hunting kit?
A: Game calls and whistles. A small call can lure game in close, saving energy and time. A whistle doubles as both a hunting tool and a survival signal, yet many hunters overlook this lightweight addition.

Q: What other often-forgotten items should I include?
A: A few small, overlooked pieces can dramatically improve your kit:

• Gloves – Protect hands while processing game.

• Headlamp – For field dressing in low light.

• Ranger Bands – Hold your kit tight and serve as tinder.

• Desiccant Packets – Prevent moisture damage inside tins.

• Flagging Tape – Mark blood trails or your hunting spot.

 

About Grim Workshop

Grim Workshop is a leader in creating innovative, durable, and practical survival tools that seamlessly integrate into everyday carry (EDC) setups. With nearly a decade of experience, Grim Workshop specializes in crafting tools like Survival Cards, Micro Tools, and Dog Tag Tools that are designed to fit into wallets, Altoids tins, or keychains, ensuring that you’re always prepared for any situation. Proudly made in the USA, Grim Workshop is dedicated to empowering individuals with the tools and knowledge necessary to be self-reliant and ready for any survival scenario. For more information and to explore our full range of products, visit Grim Workshop.