First Aid Skills Every Big Game Hunter Should Know

Why First Aid Matters for Big-Game Hunters

Big-game hunting often takes place far from roads, cell service, and quick medical help. Rough terrain, sharp equipment, unpredictable weather, and encounters with wildlife all add risk. Knowing how to respond to injuries—yours or a partner’s—can be the difference between inconvenience, catastrophe, or even life and death.

Before heading into the mountains, timber, or backcountry, make sure your skills match the demands of your hunt. For safety-focused outfitters and guided hunts where risk management is a priority, you can compare trusted options through Find A Hunt.

Build a Hunter-Ready First Aid Foundation

First aid for hunters goes beyond a basic kit. You need practical, wilderness-oriented skills that work when help is hours away.

Core Principles

• Stay calm: Panic makes every situation worse.

• Assess the scene: Look for ongoing hazards—loose rocks, cliffs, weather, charging animals.

• Prioritize life-threatening injuries: Severe bleeding, airway issues, and shock come first.

• Stabilize before moving: Avoid turning minor injuries into major ones.

Controlling Bleeding (Your #1 Priority)

Severe bleeding is the most immediate threat in the field—whether caused by a fall, a broadhead cut, a knife slip during field dressing, or an animal encounter.

Techniques Every Hunter Should Know

• Direct pressure: Compress firmly with gauze or a clean cloth.

• Pressure dressings: Wrap to maintain constant pressure.

• Pack the wound: For deep cuts, tightly pack gauze into the wound before bandaging.

• Tourniquet use: Learn proper placement and tightening; apply above the wound when bleeding doesn’t stop with pressure.

Always carry:

• Israeli bandage or compression wrap

• QuikClot or hemostatic gauze

• A reliable tourniquet (CAT or SOFTT-W)

Treating Fractures and Sprains

Falls, uneven terrain, and heavy packs make fractures and sprains common.

How to Respond

• Immobilize: Use a splint or trekking poles + bandage wrap.

• Stabilize the joint above and below the injury.

• Ice if possible, or use cold snow packed in clothing.

• If bone is exposed: Apply sterile covering, control bleeding, and evacuate quickly.

When to Evacuate

• Inability to bear weight

• Obvious deformity

• Severe swelling or numbness

Hypothermia & Hyperthermia

Weather can turn quickly in mountains or deserts. Prevention is your strongest tool, but quick recognition saves lives.

Hypothermia Signs

• Uncontrollable shivering

• Slurred speech

• Confusion or stumbling

• Loss of fine motor skills

Treatment:

• Get the person dry and insulated

• Add warm layers and hot packs to torso, not extremities

• Provide warm (not hot) fluids

• Shield from wind and snow

Hyperthermia (Heat Exhaustion/Stroke)

Common in early-season elk or hog hunts in hot states.

Treat by:

• Moving to shade immediately

• Cooling neck, armpits, groin with water

• Hydrating slowly

• Removing heavy layers or packs

If symptoms worsen (confusion, loss of consciousness), it’s an emergency.

Treating Cuts, Punctures & Field Dressing Injuries

Skinning knives, broadheads, and bone saws create high-risk situations.

First Aid Steps

• Clean with water or antiseptic wipes

• Apply antiseptic ointment

• Cover with sterile gauze and tape

• Monitor for infection—redness, swelling, heat, streaking

Always cut away from your body, especially when caping or quartering game.

Recognizing and Treating Shock

Shock can occur after trauma, blood loss, allergic reactions, or severe dehydration.

Symptoms

• Cool, clammy skin

• Rapid pulse

• Weakness

• Confusion or anxiety

Treatment

• Lay the person down, elevate legs

• Keep warm

• Treat underlying cause (bleeding, dehydration, etc.)

• Evacuate immediately

Dehydration & Altitude Sickness

High exertion, elevation, and dry air all take a toll.

Dehydration Signs

• Headache

• Dark urine

• Dizziness

• Muscle cramps

Treatment:

• Rehydrate with water + electrolytes

• Rest

• Avoid caffeine and alcohol

Altitude Sickness

Most common above 8,000 feet.

Signs:

• Headache

• Nausea

• Exhaustion

• Breathlessness

Treatment:

• Rest, hydrate

• Descend 500–1,000 feet if symptoms worsen

• Avoid pushing through severe symptoms

Animal-Related Injuries

Close-range encounters with elk, deer, hogs, or bears can lead to cuts, bruises, or worse.

What to Do

• Control bleeding

• Clean wounds thoroughly—hog-related injuries can carry bacteria

• Seek medical care afterward; antibiotics may be needed

For bear or mountain lion attacks, prioritize bleeding control and rapid evacuation.

Essential First Aid Gear for Big-Game Hunters

A proper kit should be lightweight but capable of handling serious injuries.

Pack These Essentials

• Tourniquet

• Hemostatic gauze

• Pressure bandage / Israeli bandage

• Sterile gauze pads

• Medical tape

• Antiseptic wipes

• Elastic wrap

• Tweezers + small trauma shears

• Pain relievers + electrolyte tablets

• Space blanket / emergency bivy

• Antihistamines (for allergic reactions)

• Blister kit

• Gloves (nitrile)

• Personal medications

Knowing When to Evacuate

Evacuation is necessary when:

• Bleeding can’t be controlled

• The injured person can’t walk

• Signs of severe infection appear

• Shock worsens

• Breathing or consciousness is compromised

Always plan evacuation routes before the hunt begins.

Partner Safety & Communication

Hunting partners should:

• Share medical info and emergency contacts

• Carry compatible communication devices

• Know each other’s skills and limitations

• Review basic first aid roles before the hunt

For remote hunts, consider carrying:

• Garmin inReach

• ZOLEO

• Satellite phone

Why First Aid Skills Matter on Guided Hunts

Even with experienced guides, accidents happen. First aid knowledge helps you:

• Assist the guide if they’re injured

• Respond quickly before help arrives

• Navigate emergencies in remote camps

• Make better decisions during high-stress situations

Responsible hunters prioritize safety, preparedness, and skill—not just adventure.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a full trauma kit for big-game hunting?

Yes—remote hunts require more than a basic bandage kit.

Is CPR necessary for hunters?

It’s recommended. CPR skills can save lives in remote country.

How heavy should my first aid kit be?

Aim for 1–2 lbs with trauma essentials included.

Should I take a wilderness first aid course?

Absolutely—WFA or WFR courses are ideal for big-game hunters.

What’s the most common field injury?

Falls, knife cuts, sprains, and dehydration are at the top of the list.

If you’d like, I can create versions of this article tailored to backcountry elk, mountain mule deer, or Alaska big-game hunts, or upgrade any older Find A Hunt content you provide.