Hunters need all the help they can get. These tactics might be a little off the wall or elementary, but there is a good chance that one (or several) might just do the trick.

Link your phone’s camera to Dropbox to back up images instantly

Don’t lose all of your photos when you inevitably destroy your fancy smartphone. Keep your photos safe as soon as you take them by linking your phone’s camera to the security of the cloud. Dropbox.com provides free cloud storage that allows you to upload and view files from anywhere. Create a dropbox account and enable “Camera Upload” on your Android or iPhone device to automatically upload your pictures directly to the cloud for safe keeping. You can then view them at anytime later by visiting www.dropbox.com. Note: this works as long as you have mobile network coverage. If you are out of your coverage area and take photos they will be uploaded as soon as mobile coverage is restored. 

Keep boots on their side to dry faster in the backcountry

Our staff has spent a lot of time in the backcountry and despite minor loss of social graces, we have learned a thing or two. Try this: after your boots get moist, turn them on their side overnight to quickly get back on the trail with warm feet.

Use instant rice to revive drowned electronics

Keep a box of instant rice in your truck for those times in the field when something gets your device wet. According to the folks at Lifehacker.com and The Gazelle, placing your device in instant rice will help suck the moisture out of your phone, tablet or other device after liquid immersion. Topping the list for liquid removal is silica gel followed by couscous and then instant rice but instant rice is probably most accessible.  

• Silica Dust on Amazon
• Couscous on iHerb.com
• Instant White Rice on ShopFoodEx.com

The pillowcase: more useful than your Leatherman?

For those hunters who enjoy the finer things in life, bring an empty pillow case with you on the trail and stuff it with down gear as a comfortable head rest for your slumberland enjoyment. Upon waking after a restful evening, harvest a trophy animal and use the same pillowcase as a game bag to keep your meat fresh and out of reach from prey (twine/rope needed).

Use a contact lens case for toothpaste and other gels

Reduce weight in your pack and avoid sticky situations by placing your gels in a new or used contact case. Backpacking gear is ideally suited for its respective task but it seems that sometimes containers can be a little bulky for a three-day trip. Don’t have two gels to carry? Cut your contact case in half for another weight reduction. Find contact lense cases new at Walgreens.com.

Anyone else have any off the wall backcountry tips?