Worst Things to Forget on a Hunt

We’ve all done it. You think you’re packed and ready, but somewhere between rolling out of bed and setting up in the field, you realize—you forgot something. Some things just make the hunt a little harder. Others? They end it before it even begins.

So, let’s officially rank the worst things to forget on a hunt, from mild inconvenience to day-ruining disaster.

Mild Inconvenience – You’ll Be Annoyed, But You’ll Survive

🔸 Gloves – Your hands will hurt, but you’ll make it. Expect to fumble every reload like you’re wearing oven mitts.

🔸 Snacks – You’ll power through, but when your buddy breaks out his honey bun, you’re going to start questioning your life choices.

🔸 Calls – If it’s ducks or geese, you’ll feel useless. If it’s deer, you’ll convince yourself today wasn’t a rattling day anyway.

🔸 Coffee – There’s something about sipping a warm cup of coffee while sitting in the cold, waiting on the sunrise, that just hits different. Forget it, and you’ll be spending the morning feeling like something’s missing—because it is.

Annoying but Survivable – Your Hunt Just Got Harder

🔸 Boots (For Any Hunt) – You can try hunting in Crocs or sneakers, but if you’re walking through mud, you’re about to have a real bad time.

🔸 Waders (For Waterfowl Hunters) – Ever tried hunting from the bank when the birds are landing just out of reach? Hope you like watching. That said, if you conveniently “forget” your waders, you’re off the hook for picking up decoys. Funny how that always works out in the THP crew.

🔸 Chair (For Duck Hunts, Specifically for THP) – This one’s personal. If there’s one thing The Hunt Project crew forgets more than anything, it’s a dang chair. Enjoy the next six hours shifting on a bucket, squatting in the mud, or stealing someone else’s seat the second they stand up.

🔸 Tye’s Copenhagen – This should probably be higher on the list, because let’s be honest—if Tye forgets his Cope, nobody’s having a good time. You ever seen a man go through a morning hunt without his dip? It’s not pretty.

Ruins Your Day – Hope You Like Suffering

🔸 Toilet Paper – Mild inconvenience? Not a chance. This moves up the list because the second you need it and don’t have it, your day just went from great to survival mode.

🔸 Gloves (In Extreme Cold) – There’s a difference between “annoying” and “I can’t feel my trigger finger.” Forget them on a brutal morning and you’re one step away from hunting with your hands in your pockets.

🔸 Lighter/Fire Starter – Cold mornings are one thing, but forgetting a way to start a fire when you need it? That’s next-level misery.

Game Over – Just Pack It Up and Go Home

🔸 Ammo – The classic. The moment you open your blind bag and realize you brought zero shells, or the wrong gauge. You are now just a very well-dressed birdwatcher.

🔸 Gun/Bow – You wake up early, drive an hour, set up perfectly… only to realize your gun is still leaning against the wall at home. There’s no recovery from this one.

🔸 Release (For Bowhunters) – You can try shooting with your fingers, but you might as well throw the arrow by hand and hope for the best.

Final Thoughts

Forgetting something on a hunt is part of the game, but some mistakes hurt more than others. The key takeaway? Make a checklist. Will you actually use it? Probably not. But at least you’ll have something to look at while your buddy reminds you (for the 10th time) that he remembered his stuff.

What’s the worst thing you’ve ever forgotten on a hunt? Let us know in the comments—bonus points if it ended your day before it even started.