When I first started hunting, my Dad taught me about the dangers of tripping or falling while carrying a loaded gun, and the importance of keeping the muzzle pointed in a safe direction if you do happen to trip and fall. He also warned that such an occurrence could result in plugging the gun barrel with snow or mud, so it is important to check the bore before firing. Then he showed me his very simple field cleaning kit, which was nothing more than a length of sturdy string that could also serve other duties such as replacing a broken boot-lace. A small piece of a gut rag or handkerchief can be tied to the end of string for a pull through bore patch. And he also carried a few feet of single strand 14 gauge solid Romex copper wire that could be used to thread the string through any snow or mud if the bore was totally plugged. The copper wire is stiff enough to punch through most obstructions, but soft enough that it won't damage the bore. I always carry the same items, and have used them a few times over the years.
With my muzzleloaders, I always carry a ball puller, patch worm, and jag that can be screwed on the ramrod to clear a plugged barrel. So my whole field cleaning kit fits inside a 35 mm film cannister, along with spare flints and some patch material. During flintlock deer season a couple years ago, I ran into my buddy in the woods around 3:00 PM and we started walking toward each other to discuss our plans. There was about 10 inches of snow, and he was very impressed to see me trip on a tree stump buried in the snow. I instinctively cradled my rifle to protect it, and did a complete forward roll as I tumbled downhill. I wish I could say I ended up on my feet, but I landed flat on my back with no damage to me or my gun, and no snow in the barrel.
