Elk hunt scheduled in Oct, first rifle in CO. Will be going in on horseback and hunting from a spike camp. Question: thoughts in a backpack/day pack with a frame? Yes, talking to the outfitter, just looking for examples or thoughts from past experience. Have a Kifaru Nomad, bikini frame (26"), but not sure if that would work. Thanks!

do you plan on wearing a pack while horseback?

well, if'n you do plan on wearing a pack whilst mounted, make it a nice, small, frame-less, soft one. You'll thank me when the pony bucks your azz off. Sammiches and tater chips and should be the hardest things packed in it. And, as to your 26" Bikini, go for it. But first, grow a scruffy beard and let your hair grow out, buy a beanie, and the latest/greatest in camo and pretend you're Donnie Vincent. And hope to hell your trusty steed don't jump a creek, slip on a trail, buck, fart or do any of the hundred other things that horses can do, to make you snap your head back. Because if he does, and the base of your skull contacts that crosspiece, and separates your head from your spine and kills yer azz, then there is not much to worry about unless it's your flopping binoculars giving you black eyes and busted noses during the forthcoming rodeo event. Or all the pots, pans, cans, stoves and other hard things in it, breaking all your fugging ribs when you finally come down from orbit and hit the ground. Take a little advice, no packs horseback, unless it rides well above the cantle, and stays well below your shoulders. There is two kinds of hunting horses. One kind to carry you, and the other kind to carry your chit. As 'stick would say, 'you've been led to water'........

tell your outfitter you need one of each kind.....

1- thanks, I asked advice for a reason, no need to be a smart@. Why buy something else when I already have soemthing that 'might' work? We hike, we camp, it serves a purpose.

Do I plan to wear while on horseback? Don't know, hence the question.

I asked an honest and respectable question here, no pretense, so if you can't answer in a respectable manner, next time just refrain and let me 'snap my head off on a backpack frame and die'.

I rode with a pack for 12 yrs, fortunately never got dumped, not wearing a pack anyway. Don does make a valid point, a full frame pack will hang up on the cantle going downhill it can go behind the cantle and rub the horses' back. I had good luck using Eberlestock internal frame packs.

I'm not a real cowboy but I have learned how to cheat a horse and lessen my time on the ground. That said, if it does turn into a rodeo wearing a pack I'm looking for the first exit.

Now I use a packhorse, you can haul 3 full size packs and a quartered deer. Had extra horses, so why not?

The man gave you very good information for free...and the only one being an ungrateful prick is you.

Don's forgotten more about riding horses than most will ever know.

You have horses; you don't need a pack.

Great advice from Huntsman22. A small pack hung on the cantle is all you want. Additionally, you don't want any extra weight that far back on the horse.

I think the issue is your purpose of the backpack with a frame, and the term "daypack" in the same context.

If you are doing a drop-camp, and not going to see the outfitter AND the horses for a week, TAKING a backpack with a frame on the pack horse probably makes sense.

Wearing a framed pack on a horse doesn't work well, and Hunts (Don) is 100% right, especially when Horse #1 decides to divest of his load (you) in the blow-downs, stream bottom, steep cut-bank, narrow trail, etc.

The other question is how much time you have on a horse without a pack. If not much, adding the pack is going to cause you that much more of a challenge riding. The weight up high is going to screw with your balance, it will shift when you don't expect it, and cause you several more issues with keeping the saddle centered in the horse.

I literally watched a guy with a daypack roll off a horse in camp because he didn't know how to ride, and didn't know how to shift his weight in the saddle, to keep the saddle from rolling when the horse shifted. When his CG shifted, the pack followed and added the momentum to his movement, off he went.

Take the advise with the humor in which it was intended, real cowboys like their fun with the dude hunters. It's a rite of passage, next year, you can share your experience with others asking the same question.

That's only because his memory is shot, hell he forgets everything.

Didn't even send me a Christmas card this year.

Don't worry Smoke, he didn't send me one either......

LMFAO!

I hunt off of horses a lot.I take a very light camp, bag, tipi, and stove weigh 13lbs. I take my pack horse with me every morning,so rather than wear my pack, i put it on the pack horse. When I tie up, and begin to hunt, I put the back pack on. Going the 12 miles into where I camp, I just top pack my back pack, that way I don't have to mess with it. As stated, if you do wear a pack, while riding,use a soft one, not one with a frame. If you do get in a wreck,a frame can hang up on stuff. Make sure your binos don't flop around,either,that can be tiresome.

You too?? It's worse than I thought...

Thank you fellas. I can get a cheap small pack for lunch, water and such....even thought about my turkey vest.

JSTu: once again, plz refrain next time....just couldn't help yourself could you? you proved a good point for me. I said 'I appreciate his response', but as you can tell for yourself, it was dripping with sarcasm with bits and pieces of useful information mixed in......

Dude, Huntsman22 was being nice. You don't want to see him pi$$ed. There's a reason prairie dogs and longhorns cringe in fear when he floats by.

Like H22 said, you'd better have your ducks in a row and hope said pony is used to backpacks on riders looking like Lon Chaney on a bad day, scratching on branches, bumping its a$$, etc. etc. or you'll pay a dear price, and most likely in the middle of nowhere. Been there done that, once.

"Floats by??" Are you saying Huntsman is a little light in the loafers?

You ever wear those Wranglers?

If you're not real familiar with horses and someone tells you some horse is a 100% safe, they're lying.

Lot of chit that can go wrong on the worlds best horse. Always have an exit plan that you don't have to think about for more than 1/2 a second.

I had a friend get bucked off his horse when he was wearing a 6 gun. The poor guy laid on the ground and cried for 15 minutes from pain, we thought he had busted his hip. He was laid up for the remainder of the weekends hunt.

Horses have excellent peripheral vision. If they see something on you that they are not used to at a time where they cross a bear track, the rodeo may get going full blast, especially if the pack makes a strange scratchy noise rubbing against other material.

Your guide is probably going to think that you are an idiot for wanting to wear a pack when riding a horse or mule, but is typical for someone that just does not know.

A better question for your guide is could he tie your pack on the top of one of the pack horses as someone else suggested.

Also, consider a fanny pack, put that on the pack animal also if possible.

Remember, less is best, discussing eating and drinking with your guide. If you have to eat weird, discuss that with your guide also.

I've hunted twice with an outfitter in Wyoming who had all of his guides and clients ride with packs on. I know just enough about horses to be dangerous but the outfitter is a big time horse guy. My assumption is that the animals were conditioned for it as we had no problems-- they were all half draft horses, very calm.

Every other horseback hunt I've ever been on was the opposite, no packs while riding.

I don't carry any pack on me while riding.I have a pack mule with me all the time and the pack goes on him.If and when I get into a situation that I need to pack meat,the smallish day pack gets hung on my saddle horn. My saddle mule is accustom to it.

The primary reason not to load yourself up with a pack is if and when an animal spooks or such, you infringe on your capability to move fast. That is personified if you are not much of a horseman. Bad things happen and they happen fast.

The other thing that I can advise is don't ride with a rifle slung over you back.Even if the horse is an ancient old barely able to walk, calm animal,there is always a chance that, thru no fault of the horse,you fall off. The rifle turns into a 3 ft piece of re-bar strapped to your back that doesn't give. At the least you screw up your stock or scope,but more than likely you end up having to be medi-vaced out due to a spinal injury. If your outfitter doesn't supply scabbards, buy one.

BTW This is why I ride a mule. We seldom do these things

And hope to hell your trusty steed don't jump a creek, slip on a trail, buck, fart or do any of the hundred other things that horses can do, to make you snap your head back.

Next time you ask for advice maybe you should let everyone know you're a tender soul who can't take a jibe.

Millennial?

Thanks again to all who had actual information to help. I do appreciate it. Its been several years since I rode horses and have a neighbor who has several he has offered to let me ride this summer, which I plan to do. I think I will keep a small bag, with me, but will refrain from wearing it while riding the horse.

NV: wow, nothing to input of help or significance, but once again can't help yourself.
Do you work in a woman's hair salon?

No I don't.
You didn't answer my question.

38 yrs old.........just was raised to be respectful to others, especially those asking for help.

Calling the guy who gave you very good advice a smart ass isn't respectful.

Anyway, seriously your planned trip sounds like fun and I hope you have a safe and enjoyable time.

I've logged hundreds of miles on a horse with a pack on, frame packs and otherwise. No pack related rodeos, but our horses are accustomed to the foothills and mountain hunting life. Still, riding with a pack sucks. Highly unrecommended. We've even been known to sling our rifles.... Also highly sucky. Walking is underrated.

For lunch, water bottle, and a few other incidentals, use saddle bags. If your outfitter does not supply them, buy THIS SET. Best bang for the buck, IMO.

As others mentioned, it's a bad idea to ride with a pack. A frame pack is going to be not only uncomfortable for both you and the horse, but dangerous as well. You'll be in a jackpot if you have to bust brush and injured if you become unhorsed for any reason.

It will also adversely affect your balance which is bad for you and an especially good way to sore a horse.

Make it a small soft pack with lunch and survival gear and you should be fine. Saddlebags work great but I don't actually hunt much from the horse. And usually don't always have a pack horse with us while hunting. If you do though then put it on the mule for sure. For sure on the way in to camp put it all on the pack mules and a lunch and water in saddle bags tie a jacket behind the cantle.

If there are pack mules around then you don't need a frame pack. Maybe on a sheep hunt.

I've used horses just enough to know how much I don't know. Three guys (huntsman 22, ironbender, and saddlesore) are all experienced hands. They have given you good advice. I mean no slight to other experienced horsemen. I just don't know them, but I am familiar with those three. I recommend that you follow their advice.

Here's my 2 cents.

Do not try to use a full size external frame pack while riding a horse. You would be asking for trouble. Since you will be on horses, you should take several packs.

If you must wear a pack while riding, then use a small, soft daypack to carry a canteen, snacks, parka, etc. Saddle bags would be better.

Have your pack horse carry a medium size (+/- 2,400 cu.in.) backpack full of hunting gear and survival gear that you will use while hunting. Your wrangler will appreciate it if you use an internal frame pack because it will be easier to pack in the panniers or tie on top.

Also bring a duffel bag with your sleeping bag and other gear.

KC

A friend has a large duffle I can use on the way in. I have a 1500 cu soft pack I can use during the day....

I don't hunt from horses but do spend a lot of time in the saddle. If you want a small pack to wear while riding for odds/ends take a look at Hill People Gear's kit bags, not to big, not in the way, and easy to get to.

Saddle bags and I'll often use a duffle bag behind the cantle on top of saddle bags when carrying extra junk in camping. I imagine a soft backpack could be used in the same way rather than a duffle that I'm used to....either way, it will be better to have it tied on the horse than on you. If on you it will effect your balance making it harder to ride and this will be harder on the horse as well since it will constantly be shifting his balance. If it's tied on the horse (well), it's no longer bothering your balance and the balance will be the same for the horse all of the time.

IMHO, if you want to make the wranglers day, pack your duffle so it's somewhat firm, compressed, and isn't going to shift the bag contents around when it's lashed on the horse.

Packs are all about balance, and a bag with contents that shift are a PITA for the packer, the horse, and life in general.

Ask your outfitter if he uses top packs like these:
"H" pack

square pack

If he has one you can use, you can stuff soft, bulky, lighter gear (clothes, sleeping bag, pad, etc.) in there. We use them a lot.