They are great (without the pack, just the frame) for packing out meat, or for packing in a light camp, but no good to carry while hunting.
Matter of opinion. And perhaps what, where, how one hunts, and definition of "hunting". I've probably carried mine upwards or over 1,000 miles while hunting, or packing in to hunt, or working USFS trail crew back in the day, going back 55 years. Noisy and catchy when woods slip hunting, true, but it's never a good idea to hunt without the pack along. Better ones for this, probably, but I'm not carrying around TWO packs!, or buying an expensive new "modern" one for what limited usage I have left, nor am I going back perhaps several or many miles to fetch it from truck or camp. The thing has proved itself sufficient for over 50 years now. I see no reason to get another. Heck, I'd buy another just like it if I needed one and could find it. You will notice mine is no longer in the best of shape.....
Bitsy deer near a road back East....meh! A day, fanny or internal frame pack, or just a drag rope works, yeah... Perhaps miles across tundra, alpine or woods without vehicular access, you had better be hunting with your meat-packing pack on - it's got your daily possibles in it for one thing. I shortened the stock of my .338WM rifle that I could, and did, shoot it offhand, over the packs strap, while slip hunting in woods for "any bull". Antler regs have since changed, as has my technique, but the rifle hasn't. A half dozen dead jumped-up moose while slip-hunting belie the "no good while hunting". Not saying it's "best", but far from "no good", at least then and how.
Our last previous hunting usage until this year (posted above) of our packs for hunting/meat hauling was a walk-in caribou hunt 5 years ago. Packs worked well packing, with bags still on, knees not so much, packing out 2 bulls on successive days about a mile and a half, down-hill. In fact, I shot my bull on a quickie sit- down and shoot scenario, pack still on, while hiking back to the truck for something on the first day. We took the Rancher the next year, and my wife bought herself an ATV right after that. We are old, but not completely stupid. Hell Yeah!!!
My pack still goes along on that hunt, on the ATV. Might have to get the meat out of someplace the ATV can't go, or I'm not willing to chance riding it, and it's, as said, the "possibles" bag, ready to hand, tho not worn. It can be, and has, with meat on the machine. I have just such a place in mind for next year.... maybe 700 yards if I drop one where I think I will. I will leave the ATV (and possibly a camp) up on top of a steep slope, about 4 miles in. I and the pack go down and over to the other side of a pass, where I will set up on a knoll, covering the pass behind, and the slope beyond, where I watched caribou come down this year. Max 350-400 yard shot either way. Any time one can cover darn near a half-mile of travel route from one central shooting location is good - even if there is a bit of a meat pack involved. Tell me I'm not "hunting".
If I have someone else there to recover my body, I think there is a somewhat indirect way down, and more importantly, back up that slope, with meat. Solo - the ATV stays up top. And probably even with a partner there. It's puckerish and maybe not worth the risk.... Or maybe two trips per bull... Depends on the level of "hold my canteen" that day.
I made/improved a 2-man tent/tarp camping spot up there behind a big rock face, if the wind direction is same (about 20mph!) as this year, or calm. Go in day before opener. Assuming it is still a registration hunt. It was something to do that last afternoon this year, only cows and calves coming through.
Wife and I took 3 full curl Dall's rams in 3 successive years, 18 miles back-packing back -in in the mid-70's with those newly acquired packs. The first year was solo for me, and my pack load coming out was greater than my own 150# weight. Two 14 hour days... Slow, with rests every 100 yards or so, including going over a 5300 foot peak between truck and the kill, both at about 3500. Had to roll over onto my knees and climb the rifle to get to my feet if I didn't have a rock or slope to rest the pack on.
I did have to replace the bands and straps after that trip tho.
. 50 years ago this year, and at least one more set of straps and bands since the first replacement. Good packs!
That kind of crap is way behind me, now. Maybe.... With the possible exception of a couple 100# moose hinds ( I hope!) for short distances, otherwise nothing over 75 if I can help it. 50 is mo-betta.
And for the first time ever, I'll do some pre-moose-season conditioning. I'm not finding this stuff as much "fun" as it used to be.
