Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Backpack Hunting What gear would you pack in?

Nitro:

Had it been a big 6x6 (the elkasaurus that Big W mentioned) I probably would have taken the shot and endured all the hard work of getting him out. But I've taken several 5x5s and some OK 6x6s so one more or less is not that important to me.

Including the cape and antlers after de-boning, it might have weighed somewhere between 300# - 350#. Seven miles from the truck = 14 miles round trip x 5 trips = 70 miles plus return to haul out our camp. Each of us would have had to hike about 40 miles carrying an average of about 60#.

Put me on the whimp list.

KC

A couple thoughts on gear and your hunt in general.

I would get a 15* bag maximum. If you get cold in that wear your clothes also. A 0* bag is just going to add price, weight, and bulk.

If you bring a filter I suggest a gravity filter. They are super light and then you don't have to pump. I personally don't take a filter.

If you have 4 guys get a wisperlight stove. Overall the weight will be less including fuel. And I am talking of only bringing one stove for all 4 guys. Don't get a canister stove.

And four miles from the truck shouldn't be to hard at all. Even if you are packing out an elk. 3 men can easily pack out a bull four miles.

Good luck on your hunt.

tuff:

You are assuming that you are the only one that gets an elk. I hope that my buddies also score. You are also assuming that when you kill an elk your buddies are going to give the rest of their hunt and help you pack out your elk. How many elk have you packed out 4 miles?

As for sleeping bags, I recommend a Western Mountaineering Antelope with a temp rating of 5�.

KC

Brent,

Tuff knows his [bleep].. No doubt about it.

Puts on more miles than anyone personally know. His advice should definately be considered.

KC, gray hair is the crown of wisdom... nice to hear from someone who's been there and done it.

KC,

I love how you think its going to take 4 guys the rest of their hunt to pack out an elk. lmfao Maybe it would take you and your buddies that long? If so I suggest getting in better shape or not leaving the truck.

It sounds like its probably a 6 hour round trip max. Should be about half that but you never know. And if its cold out a person can take their time and do a trip or two a day. Then his buddies get to hunt the whole time.

I hunted Colorado a few years ago. We hunted a spot that was known as a hell hole to the locals. Everyday we hiked in 3.5 miles then started hunting. We ended up going 4 for 4 on bulls. Took us six days. So maybe not quite 4 miles but pretty dang close.

Oh yea, and the men were 24, 36, 55, and 68 years old.

If these guys really want to kill 4 bulls they are doing the right thing by getting away from most of the other hunters. A little bit of hard work and they can all kill animals and get them packed out.

Good luck Brentf. You are definitely on the right track by getting away from the roads.

Assume? You don't even make the trip with me if I gotta assume you might or might not help me or another member of my group pack me.

If they get into trouble with downed elk, they should have a plan B ready.

I hunted the Bridger Tetons in WY solo for Shiras moose about 6-7 yrs ago. No guide, just me, my gear and a $1000 tag in hand. Stayed within two miles of the road in case I got lucky. To make a long story short, there was a fall heat wave going on and the big bulls were not vocal or showing themselves. On the ninth day (I had about 10-11 days to hunt) I headed into steeper, rougher country and got into 'em. As luck would have it I downed a big bull which slid down a steep slope and tangled up in the lodge poles. I knew I was in a tough situation. There was no way I was going to pack out a bull moose by myself in warm weather in that rough of country. After quartering up the bull, I decided to deploy plan B.

Plan B meant hiking out and making a phone call to a cowboy friend who owned pack stock. We got my bull out in one trip the next day.

Sometimes you gotta know your limits!

MtnHtr

That sounds like a great hunt! Congrats on the moose!

yeah, like I mentioned. The last time the guy heading up the trip went down there, he got a bull and paid an outfitter to pack it out on horses for him, said it was the best money spent on the trip. I guess that will be plan b. I appreciate the info everyone is providing. Best way to learn is from someone who has "been there, done that"

Shag:

Yes, it has always been an unwritten rule that if you hunt with me, you help pack out meat. However, it is usually me that drops the animals and therefore my buddies always help me pack out meat. I've never refused the help, but secretly it seems kind of selfish for me to expect them to give up their hunt to help me pack meat.

KC

Any prefernce on a brand for a good gravity feed filter?

Also looking at some north face bags. Heard some good comments about those, any other opinions on them.

Check out the Katadyn "Base Camp" Bag/Gravity Filter. My buddy brought one on a backpack trip last summer. He filled it at the stream and hung it from a tree. I was pleasantly surprised to see that water flowed out of it as fast as from a pump.

KC

Sleeping bag -- I've bought 2 TNF Snowshoe bags in a row. Each time, I looked at a bunch of synthetic bags evaluating price, weight, and girth. Being a gear queer, I keep hoping to end up with something new and different. Each time, the TNF bag hits that sweet spot, although each one is lighter than the last. Part of the reason is that very few bag makers make a bag that has a 64" girth at the shoulder. If that's not big enough, the TNF Goliath has a 66" girth at the shoulder. Maybe some day I'll get a nice ID primaloft bag, but for $100+ less, it's hard to pass up the North Face bag.

Not sure what the jokes about on the wiggy bag but I have to 2nd that choice. Mine is a wiggy ultra 0 degree bag aside from its wieght 3#4oz it has saved my life LITERALY. The sleeping bag had water pouring out of it (caught in a downpour in a raft on a big lake) partner and I were going hypothermic when we hit the beach. I threw the bag in my bivy and climbed in at 6pm I warmed up so fast I dont even remember falling asleep till I woke at 8AM the next morning in a white out but I was toasty warm. and there was about a qt of water in the bottom of my bivy
I know jerry wigatoe can be rather over the top about his products But they work not the lightest or smallest but very good. No regrets