As to gear required, if you are a hunter or tramper then you will have mostly all the gear you need. They will supply hi viz vests etc, you will need to buy a quailty hand held torch as they are used in a different manner to headlamps. The other stuff will come with time and they will inform you, I had an army vest set up with the stuff needed others use fly fishing vests and those that pass tracking courses get the Landsar vest. No need to rush into purchasing anything, go to a few meetings first.
Bookmarks