Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Backpack Hunting Best setup for packing out meat

I bought a SO Evolution off of Whttail_in_MT. He was a pleasure to deal with, and the pack was better than described. I believe this Revolution is what replaced the Evo he sold to me. I'd buy his Revo if my Evo wasn't holding up so great after 6 years of hard hunting now.

Thanks Chris. I've downsized again to a frameless day pack as I'm realizing I just don't need a full blown pack frame for what I do nowadays.

For me - it's reducing bulk.

In the East - for the most part, it's tag and drag to the trail or truck, and limited "hard" areas to get out of.

Out West - we have access to horses, but I'm expecting the worst - the animal is dropping into the canyon before expiring, the number of blow-downs in the old burns will keep the horses out.

I'm archery hunting mostly, and the Kuiu load sling with the 1800 size pack in the sling works and moves well for me.

I've been playing with Kifaru Stryker (loadsling and day bag) - it's comfortable , but still getting used to the added size of the larger pack.

Yeah, kinda like that

I’ll put in another plug for Seek Outside, perhaps I’m biased since they are made here in Wester Colorado. It is the most comfortable pack I’ve carried for both bac-acking and hauling meat.

...you wanna trade for a Pop-up 28?

Yup, same type of area. I'll look into that, thanks

There's more options than time right now.
If you want a bare bones lower cost method there are all kinds of options by going with an external frame/ freighter and comfortable suspension. You'll have connection strap attachment points for 1" webbing or whatever you have. Bungee cords or tire inner tube bands, ie ranger bands and "S" hooks work great too. The quarters are going to cool well exposed to the air, or can be covered if you prefer.
I suggest the lower cost basic options like this to anyone who is shopping for a meat pack and not exactly sure what they want. It provides what will get the job done until they narrow the selection needs.

I just re-read the OP and saw the "tore the MCL" reference.

My question is, how bad is the knee, and is it painful? If so, I'd definitely be looking at some kind of cart with wheels to take the weight off your knee rather than putting the weight in a backpack and on your bad knee.

The cart huntsman listed or something similar is where I'd go if I had a bad knee.

Just did another elk (5pt.) with a Barneys Hunter external pack frame. Game bagged then plastic bagged into the bag without bones - have to leave them anyway. I enjoy the stability of the external frame, plus it is a great place to hang your rifle - right over your right shoulder. Guide buddies in AK use the Yukon bag which is larger at 7800 cu. inches. Bag selection is a personal choice based on your hunt style and needs in the field.

In my opinion the frame setup with the bag to carry meat (like mine) is rather old school. The new logic says that you can carry all of your random personal stuff in your bag still while putting your meat sack between your personal bag and a frame. The new system (Kifaru Stryker / Frame, PopUp 28 etc) works pretty well because, we hunters, are carrying more ‘essentials’. When lots of us started, we had no rangefinders, charging cables, backup batteries, GoPro etc. Now we do and as much as it’s cool, it complicates the hunt.

Remember the days of one layer plus a coat, Porro prisms, blue tarps, decent leaky boots, tents with no stoves,
a polyester orange beenie, a pocket full of ammo and a foggy scope? I do but those days are thankfully behind us. I mean we still killed stuff but now we somehow need to be comfortable. New packs allow for that and I’m cool with it.

Go Kifaru & don’t look back. Call Aaron & ask specific questions about your specific needs. You’ll be happy you did.

Cheers

Ask Aron what he thinks about the meat shelf vs one big bag. Personally I did the stacked bags thing, whole boned out buck in the inside meat bag, camp behind it and it REALLY sucked. Center of mass way way too far behind me, for an 8 mile pack out. Never again. A single bag with everything closer to my body works way better for me. So does less weight.

But we all have different experiences.

Btw. Trekking poles are going to be very helpful to someone with a bum knee

I’d snag a good pair if your not already using them. What a difference they make

Yep, especially on the downhills.

Old Skool Day Pack Setup (with trecking pole)
.

Pluses - ultra light, cheap, instantly expandable.
Minuses - no support, this version was a little noisy.
Maybe I should start making and selling these.

BTW, dad was 71 years old in this shot. His normal load was knives, ammo, snacks and a gallon of water. VIetnam era fatigue shirt. Jeans. Nam boots.

If your knee blows up miles from the trail head your pards will appreciate a cart to get you out on. Bigger wheels are better.

Knee has improved significantly. Im doing 2 miles a day walking at a fast pace. Have made the trip to stand a couple times now, minus all the gear and i felt ok. No where near 100% though. My daughter just shot her first deer last weekend and i drug it the old fashioned way and it felt ok. Wasnt a lomg drag though. Just trying to prepare as we go far back in for rifle and its very rocky and a good climb to get back out. Has been chit drag even when i was feeling great, but its an amazing stand

Sounds like a great set-up, I wish you luck with the stand and the knee.

Thank you very much!

Stone Glacier xcurve frame with smaller dry bag attached. Hauls deer out great and drys quickly for day hunts (I take a month off to chase the rut)