When you’re hunting the remote backcountry of Northern British Columbia for moose, caribou, mountain goat and other species water purification is key to having a SAFE and fun hunt!  (This applies for anywhere else you might hunt as well!)  We all know that water is key to keeping our bodies moving and healthy.  But there are tons of little bacteria and protozoa out there that would love to tear us apart… While we have a ton of lakes, rivers and streams up here in the north country, clean water is key to making sure you have an enjoyable hunt.

We will help provide water or filtering devices for your hunt so don’t feel like you need to run down to your local REI or sporting goods store and purchase a water purification device.  Now, if you want to have your own device and maybe for your future hunting endeavors or heck, camping or emergency for that matter too, go down and purchase one!

Here’s a few that we have tried over the years and they work great.  The number one key here is to filter out as many bacteria particles and protozoa as possible and certain filters have a higher rating than others.  One other quick thing to keep in-mind is if you want “debris-free” water.  What we mean by this is, do you want pure water without any cloudy color or maybe some leaves or little rock / mud particles in it?  If you answered yes here, then you’ll want to look at a pump style filter.  If you’re okay with maybe having a few particles in your water then you can use something like a nalgene or water bladder and dip it in the water.  Then use what is called a Steripen to kill all the bacteria and protozoa with UV light.  This device is one of the lightest on the market and most effective, but unless you’re able to dip from a clean running stream or river you might want to avoid solely relying on the Steripen itself.  The other downside of the Steripen is the fact it uses a battery… IF you don’t like relying on electronic devices in the field this also might not be for you.

Next up let’s cover the Katadyn Hiker Pro water filtration system.  This is one of the most highly rated devices on the market.  It is a pump style filter that will filter up to 1 liter of water per minute.  They also offer a quick-connect fitting to enable the simplicity of one-step filtering directly into most reservoirs or bottles. Plus, a cleanable filter protector allows on-the-go maintenance.  The nice thing with this filter is it uses your own horse power!  Or, human power haha.  No electronics, no batteries etc.  Just you and the water source.  The one downside here is the space and weight.  It is quite bulky compared to your Steripen option above.  So if you’re a weight saver and ounce counter, this might not be for you.  But, the filtration will ensure nice clean, clear and about as bacteria free water you’re going to get.

Now, there are numerous other filters on the market that do the same as the above Katadyn Hiker Pro water filter.  MSR makes several, Sawyer, Platypus and several more.

But, let’s jump into one other filter here for a second.  The MSR Trailshot water filter.   If you’re the weight saving, ounce counting individual that demands clean and clear water this might be for you.  The Trailshot is a 5 ounce water filtration device that can pump up to 1 Liter of water in 60 seconds.  All with a single hand squeeze motion.  Simply put the tube end of filter in your water source and starting squeezing the rubber bubble and within seconds you’ll have water filling your bottle or hydration bag.  This filter retails for right at $50, which is cheaper than most other water filtration devices on the market and it’s half the weight and size.  The only downside is you don’t have as long of a tube or a pump system so you have to stay closer to the water with your bottle and your hand might get a little tired squeezing the device.  But, it is a slick system and offers a 99.9% effectiveness rating on bacteria and protozoa.  This changed the game when it comes to lightweight backcountry water filtration.

Take a minute and research these devices and see which one is right for you.  If you have a lot of water to filter you might want a pump style filter.  Good luck in the woods!