Snacks are as important to the hunting pack as flashlights, binoculars, and your tag. Careful snack planning can turn a long sit from a five-course snack meal or an afternoon of stomach growling that scares everything away. We’ve ranked the top five hunting snacks based on taste, hunger fulfillment, wrapper noise, melting point, and backpack durability.
Here’s our ranking from No. 5 to No. 1:
5. Trail Mix: The OG Blind Snack
Why it makes the list:
Trail mix is a classic, and for good reason. It’s portable, packs a protein punch, and can be customized to match your preferences (sweet, salty, spicy). But let's be honest, the peanuts are always the last to be eaten.
The downside:
If you go for a handful of trail mix, you’re going to drop some, it always happens. Depending on the bag size, you may be without a resealable option, making you commit to the whole bag before putting it back in your backpack. On hot days, or if the bag is left in the truck, make sure the chocolate parts don’t melt.
Pro tip:
Put your trail mix into a zip-top bag. This makes it easy to reseal when snack time is over.
4. The Sandwich: Practical but Risky
Why it makes the list:
There’s nothing quite like a sandwich in the blind, especially if you’ve been sitting there since dark-thirty. Variety is the spice of life, and this applies to the diverse options of the timeless sandwich: ham and cheddar, roast beef and swiss, PB&J — let creativity lead the way.
The downside:
Sandwiches can get soggy or squished, and resisting the temptation to inhale it as soon as the sun comes up is a true test of a hunter’s willpower.
Pro tip:
Go with sturdy bread and skip anything that spoils quickly, especially for all-day sits. PB&J holds up better than mayo-based meat salads every time. If space allows, put it in a hard case your mom once used for your school lunches.
3. Granola Bars: Small but Mighty
Why they make the list:
Granola bars are easy to pack and give you just enough energy to keep going until the evening sit. They also come in about a million flavors, so you won’t get bored.
The downside:
Cheap bars crumble everywhere, and in cold weather, some bars become as hard as deer antlers. Don’t break a tooth out there. Depending on the brand, the wrapper can sound like a herd of raccoons digging through the trash.
Pro tip:
Opt for chewy varieties over crunchy ones. And treat yourself to the ones that are sweet, no need to eat one that tastes like the bark of the tree you’re sitting by.
2. Jerky: The Blind MVP
Why it makes the list:
Jerky is durable, high in protein, and built for hunting season. It doesn’t melt, crumble, or make a mess, which is perfect when you’re trying to stay stealthy. There’s just something about eating your homemade deer jerky while deer hunting.
The downside:
Spicy and salty jerky will make you thirsty fast, so pack plenty of water. Store-bought jerky is also expensive. Buy a dehydrator, jerky seasoning, and storage bags, and in a year or two, you’ll justify the equipment by making your own jerky.
Pro tip:
Pace yourself. An open bag of jerky can disappear faster than your hunting buddy when it’s time to drag a deer out.
1. Little Debbie Snack Cakes: The Undisputed Champ
Why it takes the crown:
The GOAT, legend, innovator, reliable and versatile: that’s what Little Debbie brings to the backpack. Swiss Rolls, Oatmeal Creme Pies, Zebra Cakes — we don’t care which you pick. Little Debbie snack cakes are the undisputed heavyweight champ of hunting snacks. They taste like victory, last forever in a pack, and bring back a little nostalgia while you wait on that buck to step out.
The downside:
They can get crushed in a backpack like a bug on the sidewalk. Durability is their biggest downfall, but hunters across the country have gladly eaten a smashed Zebra Cake in their time of hunger.
Pro tip:
Toss a couple into your pack at the start of the season and forget about them until you need a pick-me-up. Nothing boosts morale like an unexpected cake hidden in the depths of a backpack.
Final Thoughts: Snacks Matter (Almost as Much as the Wind)
Your snack choice might not determine whether you punch your tag, but it can definitely make those long sits more enjoyable. The right snacks keep you fueled, quiet, and focused, so you don’t miss the moment that big buck appears.
