Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting Reasonably priced packboard/packframe?

Reasonably priced packboard/packframe?

So is there such a thing available today? Preferably American made and less than $150. Just a good packboard or frame will work. I don't need the bag itself. I know of one available in our local Bi-Mart from China but don't know how well it would hold up. I need something in case I get lucky later this month and actually have to get something out of the woods.

Thanks for any advice.

Geno

Yes, Sportsmen's Warehouse sells an excellent packframe (sans bag) that works really well and is reasonably priced. I bought one a couple/few years ago for use on various hunts in the Desert Southwest, where an attached bag isn't necessary. My clients were so impressed with it, that several clients have now bought the same frame and use it on hunts in Arizona, Alaska and elsewhere. I believe it now costs about $70.00 or so. It's a great frame and quite comfortable and it'll support at least 150 pounds when negotiating rough terrain. I can't recall the name of it - off the top of my head - but the only place I've ever seen it available was at Sportsmen's Warehouse stores, nationwide. It's an unmistakable frame and easily identifiable; tan/grey in color and without the bag attachment. You should be able to find it online or at any Sportsmen's Warehouse retail store.

Thanks Maverick

IS this the one?

http://www.sportsmanswarehouse.com/...Hunting-Packs/prod999901361666/cat100177

If so, it's sold out but I'll keep my eye on the website and check the store near where my wife lives.

Or maybe this one?

http://www.sportsmanswarehouse.com/...Hunting-Packs/prod999901362860/cat100177

Sold out too, but it's the one I mentioned is available at my local store.

Geno

Lewiston's own............


Developed, designed and built by Idaho elk hunters!
Your BULL-PAC is the last pack you'll ever buy!

Bullpacs.com

You can look at them at LOLO Sporting Goods.

Valerie's Dad:

I clicked on the link you provided and took a look at that frame, even though it's not the one I was referring to. On a quick "once-over", I wouldn't recommend that frame for anything more than casual weekend camping trips. It's not put together well enough for rugged and remote big-game hunting.

The frame I was referring to doesn't seem to be on the company's website. However, when I was in Wasilla, Alaska the other day and then in Anchorage, I noticed that both stores still had the frame I mentioned, in stock. I haven't checked the Phoenix store, as yet, but I would imagine they have it in stock, too.

There is another frame on the website, though, that seems to pass muster in terms of reliability and affordability. If I recall, I think it was displayed on the second page of the listings. However, that frame is not currently in stock, on the website.

I didn't notice which state you reside in. Is there a Sportsmen's Warehouse store near you, perhaps?

Maverick

I'm in E WA right now, but going south in a couple of weeks. WIfe lives/works in "Suckramento" CA area, there's a warehouse about 20 mins from her place on the way to the range I use when I'm down there.

I may check out the Kelty frame, that one is still available and the poster right above you says to check out Bul Packs so I've got a couple of leads at least.

Thanks for the help.

Wasilla and PHX? that's some serious distance between those two stores!

Geno

Thanks WS, I'll check them out. I appreciate the help. I've heard good things about them, but they are "spendy" no?

Geno

PS, how's the smell of the paperplant today? when the wind blows this way we can smell it 35 miles or so downriver. Reminds me of Humboldt State Univ.

Geno:

Yes indeed, that IS some serious distance between store locations, no doubt.

I did take a look at the second link you provided, after I sent my initial response. That frame seems to be a pretty good frame and I think it would work. Nothing "horribly inadequate" jumped out at me when I was reviewing it, so you might want to try it on and see if it fits you properly and then give it a whirl in the field. I think it would work just fine, actually.

If you're not planning on packing much over 100 pounds in rough terrain, then there's really no reason to go "hog wild" with expense.

In my case, when I'm packing loads in excess of 150-175 pounds in really difficult terrain, I go with a astronomically expensive packframe (Alaska Frontier Gear) because that seems to be the only thing which can stand-up to an inordinate number of unbelievably heavy loads, year-in and year-out.

But, for the lighter weight ventures (100-150 pound loads over difficult terrain), there's really no reason to go to exorbitant cost.

Maverick

I actually have a Nimrod pack.
I almost bought the bull pac, but I got a killer deal on the Nimrod and I already had a bunch of their gear and liked it.

Lower Granite?

90% of the time the mill odor goes east of town.

We smell the compost soil plant here a lot more than the mill and I live purty close to the mill.
The compost smell moves downriver nearly every evening in the summer.
Maybe you guys are getting that.
It's horrible in Clarkston.

Maverick, now way am I going to put on a 150lb pack. I've got to have knee surgery after my elk hunt and Im old and somewhat out of shape, have some decent arthritis in my lower back that causes sciatica. 50-100lb would be my limit. Yes, a lot more trips but I'm not looking at 5-8 mile hikes out with meat where I'm going. I can't remember a time when I was young and dumb I'd want to carry a 150lb pack. Dude, that's serious!

WS, yes, LGR. Mostly the smell from the compost plant never makes it this far. Wind from your place will bring the papermill smell here. I remember it from N Cal 'cause when the wind blew from the south and we could smell the mills we knew there was a storm on the way. I was here for a few month when it first happenend and knew what it was when I realized it was coming from Lewiston.

Where do I find a Nimrod pack?

Geno:

I can certainly agree with you in NOT wanting to carry huge loads. I don't like carrying them any more than anyone else. But, for me it goes with the territory - professional hunter. I mean, a moose hind quarter isn't tiny and a coastal brown bear hide isn't much lighter. And, a quartered Dall sheep or mountain goat isn't a light load, either. I've been on some backpack hunts for Coues' whitetail deer (even) whereas I was packing over 100 pounds of meat, cape, antlers, camp, optics and hunting gear, back to the end of a two-track (4WD road) where the truck has been waiting over the course of a week or so. But, by no means do I enjoy carrying big loads. It's just that I'm required to, that's all.

http://www.nimrodpacks.com/

You can borrow mine if you like.

Well, I'm sure glad I didn't sign up for your job!

I probably could have done it in my 20's but certainly not now nearing 60. (Geee, except for all the fun I've had over the years, I almost hate seeing that in print :o)

I certainly would take a guess that you enjoy your job. Perhaps I'll have to look you up if I ever get lucky drawing one of those Coues tags. I'm hunting the late general hunt up in Unit 10 at the end of the month. Reasonable tag for me as I no longer have to purchase a license every time, I got my lifetime AZ one before I left there in '07.

Geno

Thanks for that link. Dude with the pistol looks like guys I know that lost the right to "bear arms" when they went to the big house! It seems to be getting "fashionable" for some LEO's to go with "sleeves" and lots of ink nowadays. Nothing against it, I'm just "old" (see post to Maverick) and that stuff wasn't done when I was growing up.

geno

Geno:

Yes, I love my job. I'm not far from sixty, myself. I've been doing this "job" for several decades and wouldn't give it up for anything else.

I presume you're referring to Unit 10 elk. There's some nice bulls in that unit, for sure. Trick is to find them off the reservation.

Sure, let me know when you draw a Coues' permit. There's some awesome units with virtually 100% chance to draw. I prefer chasing record-class Coues' bucks during November, when specific bucks are more "predictable". The early hunts are easy to draw, too.

Anyway, best wishes on your upcoming Unit 10 hunt. Let me know how you do. If you're down in the Phoenix area and if I'm not in the field, maybe we can get together for a cup of coffee.

Maverick

I'm with you.
I don't mind a tat or two on the arm, but on wimmins? Or covering like skin?
Not my cup o tea.

Course, my folks didn't like the Beatles long hair either........

Then they sure wouldn't like the way I look now. (My folks weren't always pleased either) I haven't cut my hair or beard completely, other than trimming now and again since '79. Twice a day shaver when I was younger, got REALLY tired of that.

Too old now to care if it bothers anyone, figure it's there problem.

Geno

Mav, yep Unit 10 late bull. I've seen good ones in there, hunted cows (unsucessfully :() there twice with a traditional bow. Dandy, just Dandy bulls in that unit.

This'll be my first rifle elk hunt down there and I'm leaning toward looking for a "good bull" the first couple of days, especially if I'm seeing animals and the weather is cooperative. If the weather looks like it's going to get nasty, or I'm not seeing the bulls, the first legal one to walk by might be in trouble. It took 7 yrs to get that tag, don't know as I want to be 65+ for the next hunt. I'd like to get a bull and then put in for cow tags.

Yeah, a coffee sounds good if I ever get down that way. I've got a brother looking at retiring in AZ, maybe Prescott, Maybe the Flag area, so I may make it down there more often then just for hunts. I usually try to getdown to 18B for the HAM hunt every few februaries too.

Guys, I'm getting off work in a bit and have to get going. Thanks for the help.
Geno

Get a BULL PAC and then find a nylon pack on Candelas that fits right onto the Bull Pac frame. Never look back..............