A hatchet or hammer might be a better option than a knife....... I would just take my wallet, keys, phone, and pocket knife like I do everywhere but add knee high boots and you will most likely be fine. Oh yeah and don’t walk a dog on a leash along a swamp. When you look up statistics about animals killing people, alligators and snakes are at the bottom of the list. Deer and bees and domestic dogs are much more likely to get you