Not a lot more to add. I will just post some of my most important gear:
-Good flashlight, usually headlamp
-Treking Poles, I love the Black Diamond collapsing poles
-Great socks
-Best boots, everyone has named the brands
-Great pack, KUIU, Kifaru, Mystery Ranch...etc
-Gaitors
-Rain Gear
-Keep in around 40-50 lbs at most
Here is the packing list that Randy Johnson gave me that I follow for back packing hunts:
Clothing
? Smart Wool Socks (3 pair for a 7 day hunt) - Bridgedale Trekkers or Kenetrek
? Polypropelene Liners (3 pair) - Bridgedale
? Underwear Boxer Briefs (1 for every 3 days) - Sitka, Under Armour
? Thermal Underwear Top/Bottoms ? Sitka, Under Armour, Russel
? Pants ? Sitka Asent Pants, Russel APX
? 6 Pocket Hiking Shorts for earlier hunts in hot weather - Cabelas, Columbia Omni Dry, Kuhl's
? Shirt - Synthetic T-Shirt- Russel, Sitka, Under Armour
? Shirt - Long Sleeve - Sitka Core or Traverse Zip T, Russel Explorer
? Gloves ? fleece, or knit shooting gloves. Later hunts will require wool or a weather/waterproof glove.
? Hat (1 light ball cap) HIGH DESERT
? Head Cap/Beanie - Sitka
? Raingear ? Marmot, Browning, Sitka, Russel Raintamer 2, KUIU
? Jacket - Lightweight Sitka Kelvin Jacket and Vest or Russel APXg2 Scent Stop Fleece, KUIU
? Insulated vest for later coldweather hunts (Oct-Dec) ? Down or synthetic fill ? Sitka, Browning, Russel, KUIU
? Cotton Handkerchiefs - (3) two red and one white (can use the white to flag rams sometimes)
? Comfortable travel clothes or fresh hunt clothes to change into if we are at a nice base camp
? Camp Footwear - Tevas, Crocs, Tennis shoes
? Boots (1 or 2 pair) ? Kennetrek Desert Guides or Hardscrabble Hikers, Crispi Spiders GTX - high quality hikers w/new laces and waterproofed leather. Some boots require a vegetable based wax to prevents rands from coming unglued.
? Moleskin, Blister pads, athletic tape, duct tape
? Sleeping bag - Mummy style down bag to reduce weight. Northface, Marmot, Big Agnes., Eberlestock, Sea to Summitt, MontBell. Late season hunts will require 900 fill.
? Tent, if needed. 1-3 Person. 1: Hilleberg?the rest: 2-4 season tent. Big Agnes, Marmot, REI?etc. Focus on weight and reviews.
? Waterproof stuff/compression sack - Granite Gear
? Sleeping Pad - Thermarest Neo Air, Big Agnes Insulated Air Core
? Waterboots - only necessary if hunting the river
Hunting Equipment
? Large pack 5500 to 7000 cubic inch capacity (backpack hunts) ? Internal Frame - Mystery Ranch Kodiac or NICE System, Ebersole, Kifaru, KUIU Icon 7000, Barney's, or Outdoorsmans
? Backpack Rainfly - make sure it fits your pack sufficiently
? Binoculars ? in sheep country we only use our 15 x 56 Swarovski's, Leica's, Vortex, Zeiss
? Lens cloth and small brush with a little hand blower to remove sand from lens.
? 1 small pocket knife - very sharp
? Havels? Piranha Knife w/replacement blades
Rifle Hunters
? Gun & Scope - Lightweight mountain rifle at least in a .25 caliper
? Rifle Sling & Scope cover - neoprene boot or Butler Creek flip-up
? 1-2 boxes of shells - premium factory or reloads with an 8 to 10 round nylon shell holder
? Otis Compact cleaning kit
? Electrical tape to cover barrel ? prevents debris, sand from getting in barrel
? Hard weapon case to be left at basecamp or truck
Miscellaneous
? Digital Camera: 10-12 megapixel w/extra battery, memory card & waterproof case/bag
? Flashlight/headlamp LED - Surefire Minimus, Petzl, Tikka or Princeton w/extra lithium batteries
? 1 Liter Nalgene bottle or Camelbak "polar" bottle
? 1 96 oz size Platypus or Nalgene wide mouth Wat.er Bladder (very important for sheep)
? 1 96 oz collapsible water container
? 2 butane lighters and a box of waterproof matches
? Bug repellent - small bottle for early hunts - Deet is best.
? Sunglasses w/head strap
? Butt Pad - I like the small kneeling pads that you can get at Home Depot for weeding. I've also cut out small pads from my old foam sleeping pads. There are some small blow up pads on the market that are light and work well. These are invaluable for hours of glassing or sitting around a spike camp.
? Titanium cup, fork/spoon
? Small ditty bags - I prefer the colored ones to organize various gear in.
? Compression sack for sleeping bag
? Nylon mess bag to hang food in from tree. Keeps mice and other varments out at night.
? Ziploc Bags - 2 or 3, 1 gallon size
? Garbage Sacks (4)
? Caribou Gear Carnivore Game Bags (Use for meat and cape)
? Hunting license
? Wallet, Credit Card, Emergency Contact List
? Multi Tool. Leatherman Skeletool CX
Personal Hygiene
? Tooth Brush, Small Tooth Paste & Dental Floss
? Small (1-2 oz.) biodegradable liquid soap
? Toilet Paper in a Ziploc bag, individual wet wipes
? Lip balm w/SPF 20 minimum
? Small wash cloths - in desert country wet wipes are more efficient since water is at a premium.
? Small deodorant
? Prescription medication, personal items, antibiotics, etc.)
? Glasses, Reading Glasses or contacts (if required)
? Ibuprofen, Advil, aspirin or Celebrex (anti-inflammatory)
? Band-Aids, medical tape, antibiotic cream, sutures, blister syringe/needle
? Athletes Foot/Jock Itch Cream
? Nail Clippers
Optional
? Spotting Scope-Variable (at least 30 power) ? each guide will have one
? Tripod - very compact
? Small Video Camera w/extra batteries - Canon Vixia is great.
? GPS ? Garmin Legend, 60GX, Oregon
? Range Finder - highly recommended - Leica, Nikon
? Gaiters: Outdoor Research Crocs, Mtn Hardware, Kenetrek, (only for late season hunts
? Sunblock ? SPF 30 ? Important in desert country and for fair skin
? Safety Blanket - light wt. Foil type
? Leki Super Makalu Trekking poles
? Cell phone or satellite phone ? handheld, Iridium or Globalstar w/extra battery and charger in some locations
? Water Filter or Water Purification Tablets or Liquid
? Small notepad and pencil/pen
? Specialty foods/snacks/jerky/gum or other food you enjoy
TIPS FOR PACKING YOUR BACKPACK
Distributing the Weight:
? Heaviest items should be placed close to your back, centered close between your shoulder blades and lower back. This will place the weight over your hips.
? Stuff your sleeping bag into the lowest compartment in a compression bag. With wet weather I will also enclose my bag in a plastic garbage bag. Some clothing can also go in this compartment.
? Organize food items in a nylon bag in middle of pack.
? If packing a container full of water in the desert make sure it does not leak and is in the middle half of pack against your back.
? Other needed items can be organized in color coded ditty bags.
? Additional clothing, small stove, fuel canister, cooking gear can go in upper half.
? Food items, toilet paper, maps, camera, etc, goes in the top lid.
? Side compartments can carry a spotting scope, tripod and your rifle unless there is a built in rifle scabbard.
? Always carry a raincover for your pack.
? Your tent and sleeping pad are usually lashed on the bottom of the pack.
? Tighten all compression straps tightly to reduce the bulkiness of your pack.
? Always carry some repair items in your pack. An extra belt buckle, duct tape, repair kit for your sleeping pad, sewing needle, etc.
? The last item is perhaps the most important - know your pack and how to fit it to your body. This is critical to your comfort.