Hunt Harder and Longer with the Right Snacks

Whether you are headed out West for a long and arduous big-game hunt or walking the Nebraska Sandhills for upland birds, your body needs plenty of fuel to stay on top of your game. Just packing up random calories won’t do. You have to be mindful of what you put in your pack so you don’t run out of gas before the hunt is over.

Two factors that will influence your choice of foods are the duration of time spent in the field and the level of effort required to be successful. Packing for a short, 1,000-yard hike to your whitetail blind or stand requires minimal essentials to keep you in the hunt. Heading into the Western backcountry for big game will require significantly more food to sustain your body throughout hunting and packing out an animal, often miles from roads or assistance from others.

IN-FIELD EXPERTISE

I reached out to Outdoor Solutions’ founder and owner, Greg Ray, to help go through some of the snacks he packs on long and short trips. Outdoor Solutions offers vetting services for top hunting and fishing outfitters in the U.S. and other countries. His clientele mostly consists of regular Joes who have been hunting turkey, whitetail, waterfowl or upland birds in their local woods, crop fields and waters.

Just about every hunter has a bucket list of game they wish to one day hunt, and the opportunity is usually a once-in-a-lifetime chance for them. It’s do-or-die, and mistakenly hiring the wrong outfitter can easily lead you to a dead end and ultimately leave you without meat or a trophy to take home.

As part of Ray’s business, he finds himself in the wilds of America hunting some of the most coveted animals, many of which reside in inhospitable environments. It is not out of the ordinary for Ray to be in the field for 10 days or more at a time, all while chasing game through treacherous terrain and muscle-burning elevation changes. Ray is also a fitness nut who has developed a great understanding of how his body performs best with certain foods through years of research and trial and error in the field.

I reached out to Ray to see what he has found that gives him the best chance to successfully hunt and pack an animal out from the backcountry.

“When it comes to backpack hunting, one of my top priorities is deciding what food and snacks to pack,” says Ray. “It’s not just to stay fueled, but because I simply enjoy eating.

"I’ve got the grey in my beard and the lack of hair on my head to prove I’ve put some miles behind me. I’m turning 59 this year, and most of my hunting buddies are 12 to 20 years younger. To keep up and avoid being the guy everyone’s waiting on, I need to stay in decent shape. Fueling properly in the mountains or woods is a huge part of that.

“There are a few key things I look for in my food choices. First and foremost is hydration. After that, I prioritize calorie-dense options that are high in protein and fat. These keep me full longer without adding unnecessary weight to my pack. These are solid snacks that keep me going until I’m back at camp with a freeze-dried meal.”

HYDRATION

Staying hydrated while hunting is a top priority, especially if you hail from the rolling green hills of Tulsa, Okla., and find yourself at 11,000 feet in elevation, sucking wind with every step. To make it through, Ray trains but also relies on his food and water intake to maximize his performance.

Water tastes exceptionally well when you have worked your butt off, but some tire of the lack of taste and satisfaction often associated with water for long periods. To combat this and make sure he continually hydrates enough, Ray adds powder that packs electrolytes and amino acids into his water bottle. This mitigates muscle cramps while helping the body recover from a long day of work.

“I pack single-serving packets of Hydrate and Recover by Wilderness Athlete and combine them twice a day with the brand’s Energy and Focus blend. This mix replenishes electrolytes lost during hard climbs and gives me a clean energy boost from B6, B12 and 150 milligrams of caffeine.”

NIBBLES AND BITES

Power bars are always at the top of the list of foods most hunters throw in their packs. Although you need the carbs for energy, be sure those carbs are the right carbs. Simple carbs—such as high-fructose sugar and refined sugar that are unfortunately found in many overly processed foods—are a no-go.

Other sources of simple carbs include breakfast cereal, soda, candy, processed baked goods, fruit juices and many yogurts. While whole fruit is healthy, fruit contains a lot of water, and water means added weight to your pack. Many hikers and hunters opt for dried fruit such as raisins, cranberries, apricots, figs and more to save weight and space.

Look for protein bars that have less than 6 grams of sugar per serving. Many bars feature fillers such as palm oil, which is high in saturated fat. Try to keep saturated fat to less than 10 percent of your daily intake. While a lot of protein bars are ultimately unhealthy, there are plenty of options that have a balanced mix of good carbs, fats and protein. You can learn more about how to read food labels here.

“Power Pro Bars from 1st Form is a favorite of mine,” says Ray. “They are compact, calorie-dense, and easy to pack while offering 290 calories from 19 grams of fat, 22 grams of carbs and 15 grams of protein.”

Ray also packs DIY snacks as well as store-bought.

“One of my favorite combos is simple, portable and satisfying,” explains Ray. “I pack flour tortillas (because backpacking with bread is a disaster), individual packets of Justin’s almond butter and honey packets. If I’m stopping to glass for a while, this is the perfect snack.

“No pack is complete without trail mix,” adds Ray. “I look for mixes that are heavy on almonds or walnuts, which are high in fat and incredibly energy dense. Or I make my own to better control what is in the mix.”

LEAN PROTEIN

Lean protein is instrumental in rebuilding your body after a hard day’s work in the field. When protein is consumed, your body releases a chemical called glucagon that helps control blood sugar levels and also signals to the body a sense of fullness, keeping hunger at bay longer than simple carbs. Protein is also a source of essential amino acids to build and maintain muscle mass. It is one of the more important foods you should have at hand while hunting.

As with power bars, not all protein meat sticks are created equal. When the meat is sourced and balanced with low carbs and minerals, it is a great snack to add to your pack. Again, be sure to read the label on the packaging before heading to the register.

OLD RELIABLE

No hunter’s backpack should be devoid of a favorite outdoor food—jerky. This dried meat is a great source of protein, lightweight and easy to eat. Some hunters get caught up in the hunt and either forget to eat or opt not to waste their time eating in one place. Beef jerky can be kept in a convenient pocket, so hunters can snack while on the go.

Many hunters opt to make jerky from harvested game to fuel their future hunts. Wild game is naturally lean, and the costs of making it are minimal compared to store-bought jerky. If you don’t make your own jerky, it is time to look in the snack aisle to find long-lasting sustenance.

“If I haven’t made my own wild game jerky, I’ll stop at a convenience store and toss a large bag or two of quality jerky into my pack,” says Ray. “My absolute favorite brand is Old Trapper. It is made from quality beef, tastes great and keeps well while in the field.”

Old Trapper jerky is smoked with real wood, cut from quality beef, and offers a soft bite while delivering 11 grams of protein and only 5 grams of sugar, and zero saturated fat. Old Trapper is available in 10-ounce packages that can be quietly opened and closed and comes in four flavors—Old Fashioned, Peppered, Hot and Spicy, and Teriyaki.

Packing the right snacks will help you sustain a high workload, stay mentally sharp and aid in muscle recovery after a long day in the field. Keeping a good balance of complex carbs, good fats, high protein levels in calorie-dense foods, along with proper hydration, is critical to maintaining high performance to bring home that trophy.