Items you pack on a backcountry hunt

ElkSniper · Oct 16, 2011

LAST EDITED ON Oct-16-11 AT 07:26PM (MST)[p]Ok guys Im sure you have heard this question a lot so just bare with me here.

I drew a deer tag in a unit where you really have to work to get a mature buck. I intend to go into hard to reach areas to get a good deer.

Which brings me to my question...

What do you guys pack on a one day backpack hunting trip into the back country?

I plan to go in light and come out heavy.

BuckSnort · Oct 16, 2011

One day is easy. You will probably soon find out that it's easier on the body and more practical to stay there longer...Hiking in for hours just to reach your area to hunt is work and gets old fast.. It's nice to roll out of bed and start glassing...

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tailchasers · Oct 16, 2011

+1 what bucksnort said. But if that is not an option I'd make sure there's room for the spotter.

"Courage is being scared to death but saddling
up anyway."

Yoyak · Oct 16, 2011

Bucksnort nailed it. Its easier to defined backcountry hunts based on how many nights you'll spend. If you are a weekend warrior type a good plan is to hike in on a Friday night and spend the night. That way Sat morning you just crawl out of the tent and your hunting; hunt all day Sat, stay that night and hunt Sunday. If you aren't going to stay for awhile, its just not worth it.

For me the only difference between my overnight pack and my multiple night pack is the amount of food. I don't pack any extra clothes with the exception of an extra pair of socks which is also my stalking pair of socks. Figure 12oz to 1 lb of food per day.

If you are really wanting to go in light, you might wanna consider ass-kicker day hunts instead of overnighters. I have a few places that I scout on overnight trips then come hunting season I just do a super hard day hunt so my pack isn't loaded down with overnight gear, leaving more room for an entire quartered deer (hopefully)
Good luck, hope this helps.

www.facebook.com/pureelevation

ElkSniper · Oct 17, 2011

Thanks for the input guys. But the reason I dont want to overnight it up there is because it is so dang cold that time of year up there. And I dont want to buy a brand new artic sleeping bag or any thing like that. Just a hard day of hunting on the mountain and then back to the truck. I was spotting some bucks up there around mid Aug and there is some really good bucks up there. It is no walk in the park to get up there that is why no people go up there and that is why those big muleys are there. The unit is not much of a deer unit as it is an elk unit. So its hard to find a good mature buck. I have been getting into shape and have been practicing shooting My 300 SAUM getting ready for the hunt.

I plan to go up with an empty pack frame (and another light pack with just the basics) and come back with it full.

Thanks

elkmtngear · Oct 21, 2011

If it were one day, I would just take an empty pack frame, and my butt pack with a knife, a sandwich, some trail mix and jerky, my water bottle, steripen, wind checker, gps, matches, and a small medical kit. Binos would be strapped to my chest. Oh, and I always pack my little digital camcorder/still camera, and my blind/trekking pole assembly (< 2 lbs). I use ladies nylons for game bags. Overall, a very light trip.

Here is a link to a video of a 5 day bivy list:
hunting pack

Best of Luck,
Jeff
http://www.elkmtngear.com

trophyhunter · Oct 24, 2011

Understand your sleeping bag issue they do get expensive. If a bag is to expensive right now. Have you considered picking up a good set of military grade heavy long johns and some heavy smartwool socks. Then using your existing sleeping bag and sleeping in your cloths. Another added option would be to pick up a Thermo-Lite Bivvy Sack 2.0 and use that as an outer shell for your existing sleeping bag. They are a light as air survival bag and add XX insulation and will keep your body heat in the bag. Then climb in, sleeping in your cloths and socks.

Also if you pick up and add some of those 12hr. heat packs and open a couple or more and put them in your shirt pockets and in your sleeping bag you can make it through some teens and lower temps for a couple of days without much extra weight. Less money than a new bag and you can stay in... the backcountry for longer and extend your hunt.... "for all the effort you put in to get there in the first place".

Additionally, pick up some light weight food and energy bars to get you by. You can pick up an inexpensive quality water filter or water purification tablets and get water from a stream. "Anything to reduce weight, yet give you enough gear and food to get you by.... to extend your time in the backcountry".

Being there at first and last light makes so much difference in seeing quality game. Don't spend your time walking in and out wasting good hunting time if possible. Find a way to stay in over night one or more days if possible.
GOOD LUCK

))))------->

Darktimber · Oct 24, 2011

High carb food, water, frame, knife. Don't forget a good first aid kit. Oh, and don't forget a camera so you can get some good pics of your trophy in the setting you shot it in. You will kick yourself if you don't.

trophyhunter · Oct 26, 2011

+1 on don't forget the camera

We always carry one of those disposable Kodak camera's with flash in our backpacks. They are light to reduce weight. For the game we carry those Alaska Game bags comes in a 4 pack... great for quarters or boneing out your game.

Also pick up some parachute cord or equivlant to hang any game meat away from predator's if you don't get the meat out of the back country in one day. A good LED flashlight headlamp and you are good to go

Good Luck

))))------->

HardcoreOutdoor · Oct 27, 2011

I just posted a list of what I carried to help out with my brothers (non-typical 103 inches with a double main beam) Coues Deer hunt last week in central AZ. One thing to remember about carrying gear for "just a day outing", sometimes despite our best efforts and plans they can turn into overnighters so don't skimp on the esentials.

+1 with bucksnorts comments. Hiking in at o'dark thirty and hiking back out after dark doesn't make sense to me. I would rather hike in the day before, glass that evening, bivy and wake up in 'em the next morning. Rinse and repeat.

Wade
www.HardcoreOutdoor.com

BLooDTRaCKeR · Nov 5, 2011

I packed in on the rifle deer hunt this year for five days. The best advice I can give would be to go with a hunting buddy. You can divide the gear/food between the two of you which allows for packing a few things you normally could not take if going solo.

bucklover · Nov 6, 2011

So, you sneak the things you don't want to carry into your buddy's pack and he does the same thing to your pack, and that evens things out. Sounds fair to me.

MichaelJ · Nov 7, 2011

>I packed in on the rifle
>deer hunt this year for
>five days. The best
>advice I can give would
>be to go with a
>hunting buddy. You can
>divide the gear/food between the
>two of you which allows
>for packing a few things
>you normally could not take
>if going solo.

Be careful of who you take in as well... some guys can't hack overnighters and will drain all of your motivation and possibly time hunting. On the flip side, a good hunting partner will provide motivation and help keep you from getting too depressed if you aren't seeing what you expected to.

Mike

HardcoreOutdoor · Nov 7, 2011

I can count the number of people I want to bivy camp/hunt with on one hand and would still have a couple of fingers left over.

It is a tall order and not for everybody.

Wade
www.HardcoreOutdoor.com

BuckSnort · Nov 7, 2011

>I can count the number of
>people I want to bivy
>camp/hunt with on one hand
>and would still have a
>couple of fingers left over.
>
>
>It is a tall order and
>not for everybody.
>
>Wade
>www.HardcoreOutdoor.com

Ain't that the truth!

Disclaimer:
The poster does not take any responsibility for any hurt or bad feelings. Reading threads poses inherent risks. The poster would like to remind readers to make sure they have a functional sense of humor before they visit any discussion board.