Hi Guys -
Going to be going on a fly-in Caribou hunt in Alaska with my Dad in September. The hunt is through 40-mile air and is DIY once you hit the hunting grounds, and you need to provide your own gear. Hunting grounds are units 20B/E in the Yukon Charley Rivers area north of the 40-mile river. This is where I have a few questions for the fire members that have done back country camping hunts before (both dad and I hunt extensively, and have done some camping, but never combining the two). So, here goes.
1. Tent. 40MA stipulates that no wall tents are allowed, so I was thinking of something along the lines of a Cabelas 4-person Alaskan Guide Geodesic tent. Any advice anyone could give here would be appreciated.
2. Sleeping bag...I have no idea here, other than that the old Coleman cotton/fleece one I have today probably ain't gonna cut it.
3. Pack. I own a Cabelas Alaskan I frame pack that I have used for many years that I really like. Would this be sufficient for my hunt?
4. Food/Water/stove. Do people typically collect and boil, or collect and run through one of those filtering devices? Also, my initial thought was to not pack a stove, and pack MREs for food, but someone had mentioned that a stove is useful for heating in cold temperatures, so is a stove needed, and if so, what kind?
5. Shooting sticks. What can people recommend that they have used? I'd like something that can double as a hiking stick.
6. What do people run for footwear? I have a couple of pairs of Rocky hunting boots as well as a pair of Instinct knee highs, but I have used neither in the type of terrain we will be hunting.
7. Rainwear. From what I understand of AK weather, there is a very high likelihood we will encounter rain on at least one of the days we are hunting. My current camo rainwear, which is nylon, isn't going to cut it because it does not breathe. Any recommendations here?
8. Game processing. Should luck be on our side, and we get some Caribou, I had planned on having the following in addition to knives, saws, etc.
Meat bags
Salt
Citric Acid spray for meat.
anything else I may be missing here?
9. Anything else anyone can think of or any tips or tricks will also be greatly appreciated.
thanks much
Northerner
1. Tent: Cabelas "Instinct" 6-man tent with aluminum poles. As tough as they come and will stand up to strong winds. Lots of room for 2 people. The vestibule is big enough to set your stove on the dirt. This is the newest iteration of the Cabelas Alaska Guide tent.
http://www.cabelas.com/product/Cabe...th-DAC-Aluminum-Poles-Person/2004686.uts2. Sleeping Bag: Teton Sports 0° hybrid sleeping bag. You won't be backpacking so the weight/bulk of the sleeping bag is not that important. This one is big and comfortable and has synthetic insulation. It's also inexpensive.
http://www.tetonsports.com/Sleeping-Bags/Celsius/Celsius-xl-0.htmDon't forget to take a Thermarest NeoAir mattress.
https://www.rei.com/product/881576/therm-a-rest-neoair-xtherm-max-sleeping-padAnd a cheap foam pad.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/G.I.-Foam-Sleeping-Pad-with-Straps/380802393. Your existing backpack is fine.
4. Stove: MSR Whisperlite, white gas stove. It works well in cold weather and the fuel is not as bulky as propane.
https://www.rei.com/product/830341/msr-whisperlite-international-backpacking-stove Don't forget to buy a couple of MSR fuel bottles.
https://www.rei.com/product/784303/msr-fuel-bottle-with-crp-cap-20-fl-ozBuy a gallon of white gas fuel in Alaska. 40MA might be able to provide that.
Mountain House produces the least disgusting freeze-dried food. I'll send you via PM, my menu from our caribou hunt last September. It's a combination of freeze dried food, dehydrated food, canned foods. All non-perishable.
Buy a Katadyn Hiker Pro water filter.
https://www.rei.com/search.html?q=katadyn+hiker+pro+water+filterFilter only clean water. Dirty water water will plug the filter. Remember you're filtering out microscopic organisms, not dirt. Drain and purge the filter after each use to prevent it from freezing.
5. Shooting Sticks: I carry a trecking pole and occasionally I will rest my rifle on that. Also a trecking pole will help when crossing marsh mounds and maybe prevent a sprained ankle.
6. Footwear: Oboz Bridger Mid BDry boots.
https://www.rei.com/product/857508/oboz-bridger-bdry-hiking-boots-mensMy Kennetreks and Danners just gather dust in the closet now.
OR Crockodiles gaiters.
https://www.rei.com/product/846538/outdoor-research-crocodile-gaiters-mens7. Rainwear: You need a Gortex/Nylon parka that actually works. Sitka Gear and Arctyrex both make good parkas that actually perform like they are supposed to. Avoid cheaper parkas because they will leak in the rain.
http://www.arcteryx.com/product.aspx?country=us&language=en&model=Camosun-Parkahttp://www.sitkagear.com/products/big-game/new/timberline-jacket8. Your list of field dressing gear looks pretty good. Maybe add a havalon scalpel.
http://www.havalon.com/piranta-edge-skinning-knife-xt60edge.html9. I sent you an article that I wrote regarding nonresident logistics for hunting in Alaska.
You might want to take a couple of small, lightweight, folding camp chairs.
Don't forget a set of pots & pans and a frying pan with folding handle.
Nalgene water bottles. Leave your water bladder at home because the hose will freeze solid.
Don't forget to take a GPS so you can hike several miles into unfamiliar country and find your way back to camp at night in the fog or in a howling blizzard. Remember that a GPS is just an augmentation of your USGS map and compass, which are essentials.
Don't forget fishing gear.
100 quart Igloo or Coleman cooler. One per person.
Also take a repair kit. Expect something to fail or break and be prepared to repair it or adapt to do without it. Be ready to repair stove, tent, air mattress, rifle, scope,etc. Take a multitool. Take an extra pump for your stove and a stove repair kit. Take a compact rifle cleaning kit.
Take a good first aid kit. Expect someone to get injured or sick and be prepared to care for them. A good first aid kit is not just a bunch of bandaids. It's got stuff in it to deal with serious injuries and serious illnesses. Don't think you will get a good first aid kit off the shelf. You will have to assemble it and you will need some scrips from your doctor.
I use an LED lantern like this one, in my tent. No heat so it won't burn a hole in the wall of your tent.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Generic-20287-Ozark-Trail-Lantern-300-Lumens/49332930KC
P.S.
I just read some of the other responses. I agree with the following previous suggestions;
1/8" woven nylon rope (at least 100')
8'x10' or 9'x12' tarp
Hip Waders are a must (I use bib waders)
DEET
