good elk backpack for a bowhunter that wont break the bank? Anybody know where i can get a good one pretty reasonable? Thx, RH

What is reasonable to you? What is your bank roll? The classifieds on here usually have some good deals. I would look there.

But before you go breaking your bank I would find out what packs feel good to you and fit you well.

Badlands 2200! Not the best but VERY good as a day pack and will haul plenty of weight. I am a huge fan of Horn Hunter packs as well. US made and well built. Lastly, look around for a used kifaru and as said packs must fit well.

fyi, the sort of pack you need really depends on what you intend to carry, and how you plan to use it. I actually take 3 to camp with me:

1. lightweight "belt" pack- just enough to carry water, a couple snack bars, knife, etc for a 1/2 day hunt. I dont use it that much anymore.

2. medium sized pack- enough to carry water, food, and all gear for a whole days hunt, and enough expansion room to carry enough to do an overnight if so desired. I use this one most of the time.

3. external pack frame- if I was doing a spike camp, this is what I'd use to haul my gear. So far, I never have used it for that purpose. all I use it for is packing elk off the mountain. unfortunately, this one doesnt get used nearly enough....

If you can find one, a Dwight Shue pack is great. They're no longer made but used ones can be found occasionally. It's basically a child size Coleman Ram-X frame with adult sized straps. It's narrow so it doesn't inhibit shooting a bit yet it will carry as much weight as an adult size. The frame is flexible so it moves with you. It also rides a bit low which helps a lot ducking under low limbs and brush. Since it's plastic, there's no creak (other than your joints).
I have a homemade version that's an excellent archery pack.

I spent several years researching the same question. Where I ended up was with a Dana Design Terraplane. They haven't been made in a while, but they do come up for sale occasionally. Like EBAY. I needed a tough, durable pack that I could pack 150lbs. out with some sort of comfort. They do that. No frills, just a great, hard working pack.

I'm still looking for a pack I can use to pack out 150 lbs. with some comfort.

It is called the "Horse" pack. 150-lbs is never comftorble

Kinda what I was thinking. A hundred pounds is a toad of a load, in elk country.

OP should check out Kifaru's inventory of pack frames. Buy a frame this year, strap a duffel to it and get by. Then buy a bag and add that the following year. Can't go wrong buying better quality upfront, especially on stuff that gets heavy use.

Wtf are you packing in Vermont that weighs 150 lbs?

OP, save some dough, good packs are expensive.

Cabelas makes a good frame and pack for around 200 but 150 lbs is pushing it ive packed 75-100 multiple times and its rough Ive also packed a whole quarter on my badlands 2200 pretty easy too probably 75 lbs

I am guessing he needs it for an out of state Elk hunt. Plenty of Moose and or Bear to hunt in and around VT too.

Good point. Probably an unfair judgement by myself.

I fall in this catagory. I use a fanny pack with shoulder straps for the day trips and the "go-light" and "cover some ground" days with little chance of bad weather.

I have a Badlands Super Day for lighter loads and the "need more just in case" trips out of camp, or hunting with a younger member of camp.

I have an Ox frame and pack for "carry one" out trips.

Check out the Bull-pacs frame and add a small day pack. The frame is for carrying what you ask. The other one I've heard great things of but have not used myself is from Barney's.

I have yet to see a small daypack that can be converted to carry heavy loads.

I have used a Cabelas Alaskan frame pack for many years and retired my original one after over 1400 pounds of meat hauled. Are they the best-probably not, but they serve me well and don't break the bank. I only hunt elk with a rifle, but I see no difference. I have two now. One I fill with sand bags to get ready to hunt and the other I use on the hunt.

Day trip.....go to Walmart

I like the Eberlestock X2 and Blue Widow for elk hunting but 150 is more than I can carry in steep country for any distance.

I use the x2 as my do everything pack and have several accessories to go with it - my first quarter comes out with the X2 then I switch to the Cabelas external frame Alaskan as a dedicated meat hauler - flashlight rope water and meat or empty game bags and of course a knife and saw or hatchet. I have lugged over a 100lbs a couple of times the longest maybe 2 miles and found it to be very challenging.

I could be wrong, but I really don't know if any manufacturer makes a pack that will comfortably carry a 150 lb. load; especially in mountain terrain. I own a G2 Kifaru Longhunter, a Eberlestock J34 and a couple of other packs. It took me a while to adjust these packs for heavier loads. In fact, I'm just now able to carry 75 lbs. in my J34 with any level of comfort. It may just be my age, but any more than 75 lbs, for even 3 or 4 miles, I'm calling an outfitter to bring in a pack animal or two.

The OP should consider a two pack system. First is his daypack that carries gear for the day and some emergency stuff. In the event of success, I'd opt for a pack frame designed to carry the meat with a fold down platform.
Barneys Alaskan model is about the only one I've seen that can handle 150 #'s.
Kifaru may do it too but I haven't personally seen one "on the job".
Good luck.

>>Barneys Alaskan model is about the only one I've seen that can handle 150 #'s.<<

I'm not sure I could put a 150# pack on my back, much less hike to the truck.

The OP didn't ask for a pack to carry 150 lbs., that was someone else.

I love my Eberlestock X2. Comfy and solid built. Not too expensive either.

i've got a badlands 4500 which works pretty well for most things. It's a modular set up with the main pack along with a detachable pack that can work as a passable daypack as long as it isn't loaded too heavy. also has a second detachable pack meant to use as a fanny pack but better to just leave it attached to the main pack.

they can be had for 350-400 new and anywhere from 225-300 used.

This for me, too. Exactly as underlined. I find the X2 to be a great hunting pack.