Thank you everyone for the well wishes and the advice!
I am not looking to be the poster boy for expensive hunting, rather I am planning on being a minimalist to start (figure less likely the wife will kill me that way) So far, I am figuring that minimal gear should be a compass, map, knife, rope/cord, binoculars, water/snacks, gun, and a little luck. Am I missing anything?
Thanks all!
-BK