3-4 day solo Pack trip

[fairchase]

I put this on the general hunt page, but I thought I post it here too.
Do you have a gear list for a 3-4 day solo backpack hunt for mule deer, that you could share. Packing-in be an option for me this year. Thanks.

 

[DeerKing]

Here are a few things I bring....
Compact tent, 0 degree sleeping bag, 3/4 length self inflating sleeping pad, first aid kit, water purifer, collapsible water container, food (mostly freeze dried), rope, small tarp, saw & knives, game bag, tags/license, camera & tripod, small cook set, clothing, gun and ammo, binocs, rangefinder, spotting scope, headlamp, candle lantern. Luxury item is a pillow

 

[huntertj]

Fairchase,

The only thing I would add to Deerking's list is waterproof matches or a lighter.

Where and when are you going on your backpack trip?

huntertj

 

[OSOK]

LAST EDITED ON Jul-15-04 AT 08:51AM (MST)[p]I ain't sacrificing my t-shirt!

So, I usually throw a good bit of T-P along as well... :9

Oh, and bring both matches, and a lighter. J-I-C

 

[400bull]

Don't forget a light backpack stove. There great for heating up water for you dried food and hot chocolate.

400bull

 

[fairchase]

If I choose to go deep into the wilderness for my Nevada deer hunt, it will be The Jarbidge Wilderness in late September. As of yet, I have been unable to get down there and scout, so I can't say what my final plans will be. The next few weeks I'll know for sure. A solo DIY backpack hunt sounds awesome, I just want to get the right gear, without the junk I won't need. Thanks for your help...please keep the gear ideas coming.

 

[huntertj]

I would also throw in a disposable camera for some shots of your trophy to share with us here on MM.com.

 

[five_point_buck]

nintendo?

Take er easy
five_point_buck *

 

[Deerlove]

Fairchase, I would hunt as high as you can in the wilderness areas, I hunted there a few years ago, and didnt see much down low early in the hunt, (Sept) Take flower bags for deboned meat. Russ

 

[RACKMASTER]

Forgot a detailed map, compass and or GPS w/batteries!
RACKMASTER
(and four game bags for an elk!)

 

[TheKnack]

LAST EDITED ON Jul-15-04 AT 10:32PM (MST)[p]water purifier and a full aluminum water bottle, sleeping bag, freeze dried food and energy bars, 2-knives and sharpening stone, foldup bone/wood saw, 2-people compact tent, toilet paper, clothing I can wear in layers for differing weather, blaze orange hat and vest, good hiking boots already broken in, 3-lighters and a can of sterno, collapsable cups, plastic forks and paper plates, small butane stove and butane bottle, leather belt, 50ft 1/4" rope, 5-game bags,solar blanket, 1st aid kit,compass and topo map of area, 1-roll blaze orange tape, headbandflashlight and spare batteries, camera and camcorder with bipod and fresh batteries and film, license and 2-Bic Pens, truck keys attached to clip in pocket, pull through bore brush and brass brush and a small bottle of Ezox, binoculars, location given to someone trustworthy in case I do not return home, a fifty pound rock to remember the corp, rifle or muzz and enough spare ammo in case attacked by killer clowns or bigfoot. LOL
Best,
Jerry

 

[Sheepshooter]

LAST EDITED ON Jul-15-04 AT 11:52PM (MST)[p]This is what I carry my pack weighs in about 45-50 lbs.depeding on the state and weather . Main Pocket pillow cases for meat , down jacket , fuel , stove , clothes , freeze dried food and bars for lunch ,pot , water storage bag . Left pocket Warm hat ,knife , alarm clock , tag & pen . Middle pocket camera , waterprooof matches , cotton balls soaked in vaseline , space blanket , bullets . Bottom pocket sleeping bag and case ( case works as a pillow if stuffed with down jacket )rope . Right pocket first aid kit , flagging tape , head lamp / spare batteris & bulb , gloves . Middle right pocket range finder , water filter , T.P. Top pocket rain gear , thermals , socks , liner socks , vest , sweater . Strapped on the outside of the pack 3/4 length mat , spotting scope , tripod , tent , water bottles , bipod for rifle . Usually hike in with wool pants or just thermals if it's warm . Carry my rifle and binocs . Over the years my pack has gotten lighter and lighter , but now I just need lighter weight gear to save on the lbs. Sleeping bag , spotting scope & tripod , two man tent are the items that would save some lbs.if I replaced them with lighter weight items , but I don't want to spend the extra 2 grand for a few pounds .

 

[keener]

http://www.outdoorsdirectory.com/magazine/biggame.htm

This link has a gear list for a backpack hunt. Kind of a how to guide.

 

[Gator]

Powdered Gatorade, Small packets of Instant coffee( 1cup) Firestarter(many different kinds But choose one that works) GPS is a Big plus with extra batteries. A square of plastice and a piece of rope you can have a tent without alot of weight.

 

[freedivr2]

Yeah, good tips, but be careful about that candle lantern recommended by Deerking. Whatever you do, definitely don't light it up inside your tent

 

[mossyhorns]

LAST EDITED ON Jul-18-04 AT 11:12AM (MST)[p]Fairchase,

In addition to what others have posted, in my backpack I also carry the small Wyoming Saw with extra bone/blades, 100' of parachute cord and a small roll of duct tape. I've found that cord and tape have unlimited uses, I've even used the duct tape to cover over some hotspots that were turning into blisters...worked better than moleskin! The saw is lighter than an axe/hatchet and will make quartering a lot easier.

Mossyhorns

 

[fairchase]

Thanks y'all, good stuff.
Bottomline, eat, sleep, hunt, anything else will weigh you down. If you have to justify taking an item by saying either "I might need that" or "that might be nice to have" most likely you should leave it at home. Here is my list so far;

Tent/Nylon Tarp
Sleeping Bag
Foam Pad
2 Pair Heavy Socks
1 Pair Lt. Socks
Boots
Thongs
Pants/Belt
Long Underwear
Gloves
Fleece Vest
Head Sock
Hat
Neck Warmer
Rain Suit
Wool Sweater
Poly Shirt
Camo shirt
T-Shirt
Lighter
Plastic Garbage Bag
Stove
Fuel
Cup
Spoon
Pot
Lighter
Food
Spices
Water Filter
T.P.
Tooth Paste/Floss
Water Storage Bag
Water Bottle
Muzzleloader/Speedloaders
Binos
Knife
Sharpener
Tag
Rangefinder
Gamebags
Nylon Cord
Game Saw
Trail Tape
Camara/Mini Tripod
Headlamp
Muzz. Cleaning Gear

 

[tailchaser]

We do these styles of hunts quite a bit in the backcountry and I can tell you a few of the things on your list need to be left out.

Thongs
Pants (unless they're hunting pants)
neck warmer
wool sweater (very heavy for packing purposes, use fleece)
Keep the water storage bag, drop the water bottle. We use a 101 oz water bladder and lasts us two and a half days on average.
Game saw (if you're boning out a deer there's no need for a game saw. Since you won't plan on cutting ribs or backbone leave it at home.)

Every pound counts when it's on your back for a few days. As of the food, we only use MRE's for up to 8 days for breakfasts and dinners and go with granola, jerky and filler dried foods for lunch. It's a fun way to hunt but can be miserable with extra unneeded supplies.

tc

 

[TodaysTomSawyer]

I generally hunt 2nd season deer central Colorado. I'll leave home with just about everything you can imagine but only pack in the essentials determining the forcasted weather. If there arn't any big weather systems comming off the Pacific or from Canada, I'll pack the following.

sleeping bag
2-man tent
8 mre's, 4 power bars, vitamins
5 or so bottled waters
water purification tabs, refilling bottled water as necessary
heavy jacket
wool face mask
gloves heavy or lite depending on temp.
thermal underwear
change of socks and underwear
gps,compass
led headlamp light
knife
strait razors for skinning
plastic bags to wrap deboned meat
duffle bag to haul meat out
If chance of rain, plastic rain coat
binoculars if I hunt high
cell phone, to make checks on weather, reception permitting
mole skin, bandaids, tape, tylenol PM
extra batteries for gps & light
lighter

We get horses to take our supplies in and from there this is pretty much what i'll take for a 3-4 day hunt away from base. Pack is somewhere around 30-35 lbs.

 

[fairchase]

LAST EDITED ON Jul-19-04 AT 12:17PM (MST)[p]Hey Tailchaser, good comments you've got me thinking?heres my thoughts, but pardon my ignorance this is new to me.

If you cross a river or big stream, do you do it bare foot or soak your boots? Rubber thongs?no river, no thongs
You must pack the whole head out, If not, how do you cut the rack off?
The neck warmer and wool sweater is going instead of a heavy shell Jacket, because the sweater and neck warmer are lighter in weight. I'm taking a full suit of Gortex rainwear and that light weight gore jacket will be my shell.
Is freeze dried camping food lighter than MRE?s? Whats best?
I've got to get a water bladder.
The pants are hunting pants. Thanks.

 

[ICMDEER]

Man - you guys are WAY ahead of me. I've got a list and it is a LOT smaller than these. For a 3-4 day trip, I forget the stove, fuel, etc. I can live off of pop tarts, jerky, crackers and cheese, peanuts, candy bars and dried fruit for a long time. I've been in deep snow for a week and not lit a fire. I hunt from early 'till late and when I get back, I don't feel like becoming a cook. I'll get a good meal when I get out. (You do still need the stuff to buld a survival fire, though)

I do like the saw and the bags, but if it's only 3-4 days and the weather looks good, I'll go with a tarp and forget the tent, too.

One thing, you can't take too many socks. Use liners and good socks over them. You can hike farther and avoid foot problems.

I'm getting older, so I do take a full-length pad to sleep on, though.

Good hunting.