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Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 12,895
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 12,895 |
greggun,<P>You mention carry 7 rounds of ammo...what happens if you take a fall and need to re zero? Seven rounds seems to be cutting it very fine. As to pack weights, that's a personal thing which depends what shape your <BR>in. In general, I suspect most hunters (myself included!) should worry first about loosing a few pounds from around the waist before they worry about ounces in their packs. Another thing to comsider is how are you going to pack the meat out?? Multi trips<BR>might be feasable if you shoot a beast on the Saturday morning, but what happens if if you grass one on the way out on Sunday?? Phone in sick to work Monday??? No answers here; just more things to think about!!:-)<P>regards,<P>Pete
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 118
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 118 |
Very good things to think about, Pete, particularly on the ammo issue. <P>As far as calling in sick is concerned, I am lucky enough (or unlucky enough, depending upon what's going on at a given moment) to be self-employed. So, if I grass one (I love that term) on a Sunday, I predict the boss will give me no grief about needing Monday to retrieve my beast.<P>Folks, I am working on my much-improved list, and will have it up soon. I've just been working some ungodly hours (see above, re the yin and yang of self-employment), and haven't had much time for fun and games.
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 21,317
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 21,317 |
Soom good info. I'd ditch a mini mag in favor of a petzl mini headlamp, I don't think it'll weigh much more then a mini mag, takes 2 AA's, and having both hands free is well worth any minor increase in weight. Once you try a headlight, I gurantee flashlights will find there way to the bottom of gloveboxes, or as backups.<P>I'd also ditch bic lighters and invest in a windproof lighter, they are easy to start with cold fingers, and if you really need fire, you really need it. Childproof lighters are hard to use with warm hands, useless when numb. Windproof lighters have a lid, no gas leak.<P>Candles don't weight much, and provide both light and heat, not a bad idea to carry one or two.<P>If you pack good knives, and get them truly sharp before you leave, there is no need to carry a sharpening stone.<P>You can make excellent baby wipes by cutting a roll of paper towels in 1/2, add 2 c water w/ 1 T both baby oil and baby shampoo. Paper towel brand does matter, brawny works well, the cheap paper towels turn to mush. For a 4 day solo hunt, 1 pack would be too much, but take a few.<P>A small tube of crazy glue makes for instant sutures, just make sure the cut is well cleaned out.<P>A small sewing kit can come in handy, Chouinard Equipment, the predesessor of Black Diamond made a neat expedition sewing kit, but I don't know if it is still available.<P>I haven't seen Sitka Deer in his tundra fleece, but think maybe John is on to something in that description [img]images/icons/wink.gif" border="0[/img]<P>As far as ammo, I would think 10 rds would be plenty, even if you have to re-site, that should only take a few rounds.
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 14,530 Likes: 1
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 14,530 Likes: 1 |
When you guy's get to feeling bad about your weights. Just check this out, and yea it's ok to bust up laughing. Don't know how some of you guys do it. Must be years of experiance. Think I'll just leave it all on the ATV.<P>Phil<P>Hunting Gear Checklist<P><BR> <BR>Item Weight-lbs./oz. Total <P>Backpack<BR> Cabela's Deluxe Alaskan 3, with rifle hanger, 4,670 cu. in. 6/0.0<BR> Rain Cover, Blaze Orange 0/4.5<BR>Category Total 6/4.5<P>Tent<BR> Mountain Hardware, 3.1 Arch, full with Fly 13/0.0<BR> Mountain Hardware, Ground Cloth/Footprint 1/0.9<BR>Category Total 14/0.9<P>Sleeping Bag, and Gear<BR> Integral Designs, Emperor , 0 degree 4/10.3<BR> Therm-A-Rest, Camplite (full) 2/12.5<BR> Mattress Compression Sack 0/6.0<BR>Category Total 7/12.8<P>Clothes (not wearing)<BR> North Face/Mountain Light Jacket 1/11.5<BR> North Face/Fleece Jacket Liner 1/11.0<BR> North Face/Mountain Light Gore-Tex Pants 1/7.0<BR> 1pr. Leather Palmed, Fleece Lined Gloves 0/6.9<BR> 2pr. Ultimax 17" Sock Liners 0/4.6<BR> 2pr. Ultimax Heavy Weight Boot Socks 0/9.6<BR> 1pr. Cabela's Gore-Tex Stretch Thinsulate Socks 0/6.0<BR> 1pr. Polyester Fleece long johns (tops & bottoms) 1/5.6<BR> 2-Tee Shirts 0/14.8<BR> 2-Boxers 0/5.5<BR> Silk Balaclava 0/1.0<BR>Category Total 9/3.5<BR> <BR>First Aid<BR> REI-Backpacker, Modified 2/6.6<BR> Personal Prescription Drugs<BR>Blood Pressure (30 day supply) 0/1.6<BR>Antibiotics (7 day supply) 0/2.4<BR>Muscle Relaxant (7 day supply) 0/1.9<BR>Pain Killer (7 day supply) 0/1.7<BR> Sunglasses, Serengeti Summit (Vermilion w/neck strap & case) 0/6.8<BR> Eye Drops, Visine (advanced relief, 1/2 Fl. Oz.) 0/0.8<BR> Sun-block, Bananaboat, 4 Fl. Oz. (SPF 30) 0/4.5<BR>Category Total 3/10.3<P>Water Treatment<BR> MSR Mini-Works Water Filter 1/3.1<BR> MSR Dromedary Bag, 4 liter 0/4.1<BR> 1-Potable Aqua, 2 Bottle-2 Step Treatment 0/2.2<BR> Water, 3 liter's 6/10.4<BR>Category Total 8/3.8<BR> <BR>Food, and Spices, Packed in Bear Cache w/Carrying Case<BR> Bear Cache 2/12.5<BR> Carrying Case 0/4.5<BR> 2-Multi Shakers (10 Spices) 0/10.2<BR> Broth Cubes (10 chicken, 10 beef) 0/3.1<BR> Tabasco 0/5.3<BR> Pepper Mill, Miniature & Pepper Corns 0/2.5<BR> Red Peppers (dried, crushed, re-packaged) 0/3.4<BR> Oregano, Whole (dried, crushed, re-packaged) 0/0.9<BR> Garlic, Minced (dried, crushed, re-packaged) 0/1.0<BR> Parsley Flakes 0/0.7<BR> 3-Onions (small) 1/9.1<BR> Celery (6-6" stalks) 0/7.7<BR> Coffee, Ground (re-packaged) 0/4.6<BR> Hot Cocoa Mix, Swiss Miss (12 pkgs.) 0/13.5<BR> Top Ramen Noodles (4 bags) 0/12.8<BR> Beef Jerky, Pepper (2 pkgs.) 0/11.7<BR> Scrambled Eggs w/Bacon (3 pkgs.) 2 Servings ea. 0/12.2<BR> Hash Brown's w/Onions & Peppers (3 pkgs.) 2 Servings ea. 0/10.7<BR> Garlic, Fry Bread (3 pkgs.) 2 Servings ea. 1/2.5<BR> Hearty Stew w/Beef (1 pkg.) 2 Servings 0/5.2<BR> Sweet & Sour Pork w/Rice (1 pkg.) 2 Servings 0/7.5<BR> Green Beans (1 pkg.) 2 Servings 0/1.8<BR> Chicken Polynesian w/Pineapple (1 pkg.) 2 Servings 0/6.2<BR> Corn, Whole Kernel Sweet (1 pkg.) 2 Servings 0/1.9<BR>Category Total 13/7.5<P>Stove<BR> MSR-Dragon Fly 1/1.8<BR> Stove Stand 0/4.0<BR> Fuel Bottle/MSR 22oz, 20oz. Actual Capacity 0/4.9<BR> Fuel MSR White Gas 20oz. 1/0.3<BR> Maintenance/Spare Parts Kit 0/1.6<BR>Category Total 2/12.6<P>Cookware<BR> Wire Cook Grid/Open Country, 12 1/2"x 6 1/2" 0/12.7<BR> 3pc. Cook Set, Titanium, with Utensils 1/11.1<BR> Wire Basket, Small Gold Plated (for coffee, w/6 paper filters) 0/1.2<BR> Aluminum Foil (1' x 10') 0/1.5<BR> 2-Lexan 6 1/2" Bowl's 0/4.6<BR> 2-4pc. Flatware Sets, Polycarbonite 0/3.3<BR>Category Total 3/2.4<P>Toiletries<BR> Toothbrush 0/0.7<BR> Toothpaste 0/1.0<BR> Brush-picks/Toothpicks 0/0.9<BR> Mouthwash/Listerine (8.5 Fl. Oz) 0/10.4<BR> Hair & Body Soap, liquid 8oz. Bottle, Cabela's Scent X 0/11.0<BR> 2-Chapsticks, 1-Medicated, 1-UV Protection(SPF 30) 0/0.9<BR> Tums, 3-Rolls (Ultra Strength) 0/1.8<BR> Gum, 3 Pkgs. Trident Sugarless 0/2.5<BR> Sucrets, Sore Throat Lozenges, 1Pkg. 0/2.5<BR> Antibacterial Wipes, 2 Pkgs. (16 Towelettes ea.) 0/5.0<BR> Pack Towel, Large 20"x40" 0/4.3<BR> 1-Toilet Paper, Biodegradable 0/4.8<BR>Category Total 2/13.8<P>Photo Equipment<BR> Camera, Nikon Weathermatic 35mm. (loaded film & battery) 1/0.6<BR> Camera Case 0/7.8 <BR> Film, 2 Extra Rolls (35mm. 400, 36 Exp.) 0/2.2<BR> Battery, 1-Spare 0/1.4<BR>Category Total 1/12.0<P>Misc.<BR> Camp Stool/Chair-3 Leg 1/4.0<BR> Candle Lantern, UCO single 0/8.1<BR> Spare Candles (3 reg., 3 citronella) 0/10.7<BR> Headlamp, Princeton Tec (Matrix) L.E.D. 0/7.9<BR> Space Blanket (red & silver) 0/12.0<BR> Storm Proof Matches 2 Boxes, & Magnesium Fire Starting tool 0/3.5<BR> Light Anywhere Matches 10 Small Boxes 0/2.7<BR> Signal Mirror, Glass (Really it's a Woman's Compact) 0/2.3<BR> Emergency Storm Whistle 0/0.8<BR> Spare Compass, Maps, and book "Wilderness Navigation" 0/10.3<BR> Ground Tarp 8' x 10' 1/11.0<BR> 8-Tent Pegs, Spare (7 1/2" aluminum Y-pegs) 0/5.1<BR> Block & Tackle, Stainless Steel Harken 16mm Airblocks, 6:1 Ratio, 0/12.8<BR>with 2-8mm bow shackles, and 100' Parachute Cord<BR>(750 lb. Working Strength, and 1,200 lb. Breaking Strength).<BR> 50'-1/4" Polly Cord 0/8.5<BR> Game Bags (4-Lightweight Cheese Cloth, 2- Heavy Canvas) 3/5.0<BR>Category Total 11/6.7<P>Grand Total 84 Pounds, 10.4 Ounces
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 5,638 Likes: 7
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 5,638 Likes: 7 |
It's been awhile since anyone posted on this topic. Guess we've been hunting. <P>I just got back from a three day backpack hunt for blacktail deer and will post some comments on what worked, and my ideas on going light. I don't have a scale to weigh it but I'd guess my loaded pack and rifle together weighed under 25 lbs. A few years ago I weighed packs on two similar hunts and they went 23 and 26 lbs. including a liter of water. My pack this trip was light enough to hunt with if I decided to not return to a camp, though I prefer carrying much less when actually hunting. When you don't know just where the game is at the start of the hunt, it is nice to carry a light enough pack to hunt with it and spend nights wherever you are at dark.<P>For the first time I used my Golite pack, 12 oz. and 4000 cubic inches. That saved two or three lbs. at least. It was fine for the light gear I carried, very comfortable in fact. I didn't bring down a deer so didn't test it on a heavy load. The pack has no partitions so it was a little hard to find smaller items. The Golite is essentially a glorified big stuff sack with straps. Not a single step was on road or trails. It was all steep and often very brushy, cliffs, rock slides, alder and vine maple patches mixed with some very nice patches of open old growth.<P>Eliminating a tent saves the most weight, and I stay drier with a tarp and ground sheet than with a tent in most conditions. I have never backpacked a tent, (and I have slept well over two years of my life on the ground) but if I planned to camp above timberline or in open tundra I would. Most of the time I've been able to sleep below timberline (or at least brush line) even when goat or sheep hunting. Most of my nights above have been unplanned and less comfortable.<P>I used a homemade 8x10' tarp made of kite cloth. It rolls to the size of a small magazine and weighs less. It worked great though I could have managed without. I used an ultralight synthetic bag of just over a pound, and the lightest thermarest. The only flat place I could lie down was on a combination of snow and ice. It was so cold the thermarest was marginal and next time I'll go back to closed cell foam since it is lighter and warmer, though bulkier. <P>I supplement the bag by wearing a fleece turtleneck dicky and fleece toque (stocking cap), fleece jacket over synthetic T-shirt and thin synthetic long johns (knit polarfleece, Patagonia) under thin wool dress pants. I usually hunt in the wool pants without the long johns unless it is really cold or I take a stand. I can wear my "pajama" combinations day and night to match various temperature conditions, and for such three day hunts, I'd rather do that than carry both bulky day wear and a bulky sleeping bag used only at night. <P>On a stand or while glassing, I put on wind pants with full side zip, and sometimes fleece pants that I put on though I didn't take the fleece this time. I wore supplex nylon pants on the hike up, so light they feel like you're wearing nothing. I like to wear such pants over long johns in the minimal bag but they got wet and I never took the time to dry them fully.<P>I slept under a rock overhang of cliff behind a huge spruce so it was an unusually wind protected place, and the wind did howl at times. When the wind came up, I got cold in the bag so added two of the chemical hand warmers, one in the top of a sock and the other in the small of my back, neither touching skin but over an inner layer of cloth, T-shirt or light sock.<P> The hand warmers aren't particulary light weight but they are super compact, biodegradable and you bury and leave them behind as you use them up. One three day or shorter trips, I prefer carrying several of them over carrying a big enough sleeping bag to gain the same warmth at night.<P>I took my pocket sized butane stove and one fuel cannister, and never used them. Plenty of firewood and good conditions and I felt like campfire cooking. I carried the corn pasta so highly recommended by Ray Jardine the backpacker guru and I like it. It cooks quick. Titanium pot. In that kind of cold, you have to warm the butane fuel cannister to get it to burn at first, then place it where the flame will warm it a bit as you cook. I also tried some kind of dried soy beans, spicy Mexican flavour. Golly they are light weight and taste substantial though I need to check on real nutriional value. <BR> <BR>My big goal is to have enough room in my pack and little enough camping gear weight to be able to pack out a small boned out deer or half of a big one plus all my gear in one trip.<P>Trouble is, this time I got skunked up there. I started at 1800 ft and climbed to 5200 where the deer normally are this time of year. Noisy crusty snow from near 3000 on up, nearly knee deep by 5000. I should have quit climbing but wanted to go up there anyway. The deer had migrated out of the whole area. Fun hike anyway. <P> Oh, and since I knew I would be hunting in timber rather than in the alpine, I did not carry a spotting scope or tripod but I do carry substantial binoculars rather than the mini ones.<P>The rest of parachute cord, TP in a ziploc bag, etc. has been covered pretty well in other posts. For washing I warm water and put it in a plastic water bottle, ideally one with the pop top spout. By wetting just enough, lathering, using one of the ultralight pack wash cloths and rinsing, I've washed hair and taken a superb bath in a blizzard with only a liter of water. In blizzards, get the best windbreak you have and only undress the part you are washing. If I'm hunting solo three days or so in very cold weather, especially in high country with minimal water, I usually don't wash much.
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 18,881
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 18,881 |
Okanagan. Thou art a seductive devil. With some thought, and consideration, I can see how you do that. I've never done that, stayed out over night. But, I've known several who have, or do. <BR> I think I'm going to have to give that serious consideration. The big thing I noticed was selection of one's camp site. Protection from wind. <BR> BTW, I used that little Cabela's headlamp, a Petzel Tikka, that you got me thinking about. 2.8 ozs.. Works beautifully. Never needed the spare batteries. E
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 5,638 Likes: 7
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 5,638 Likes: 7 |
Eremicus, good to connect again. Those little lights sure are handy. I've missed a lot of posts this fall and wonder how your quest for that big buck turned out?<P>In dry country especially, even in temperatures around zero F. a few times I've bivvyed on the trail of game, in snow, without a sleeping bag. I carry a ripstop nylon bag that doubles as a meat sack if I think such a night is likely. In that case I use more of the chemical hand warmers, plus a trimmed down minimal closed cell foam pad. The doubled foam pad makes a good back pad for a frameless pack. <P>A search & rescue friend who saw one of my bivvy camps said it was good protection from wind and rain, but would be awfully hard to find my body, dead or alive, in such a spot if needed. <P>I'm off to LA tomorrow, won't check internet till late next week.
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 18,881
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 18,881 |
Hi Okanagan. He beat me. He came within 100 yds. of me one morning. I could hear him snorting in frustration. The cover was too thick to see him. I found his tracks later. As the season progressed, he limited his range to a very small area. I'm sure this was done in response to the hunter pressure. The area got pressure almost every day. I didn't discover this until the last few days of the season. I will have a chance at him next year. My money says he'll be back in the same area. E
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Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 33,986 Likes: 123
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 33,986 Likes: 123 |
Good posts. I agree- a couple poly tarps only weigh about 2 lbs, and are cheap enough to be cached or burned on the way out. Forget the tent, especially if you have forest or at least wood to work with. Can be rigged as combo ground cloth and shelter, or even wrapped up in, tho I avoid that if possible for condensation reasons. Tarps have lots of other uses too. I use them almost exclusively for moose hunting - set up 4 or 5 camps before season in the area and rotate stands/sleeping places as needed. I seldom carry over 10 rounds ammo- usually a magazine full and whatever fits on the cut down Federal cartridge holder taped to the buttstock. 7 total rnds for the .338, 10 total for the Mauser .280. Ain't 'sposed to need but one..... One knife if my partner has one, two if hunting alone. Two compasses! (For the first time in 30 plus years, I had one go bad this year - and needed that backup! Had it too. GPS is for convenience and games - can't depend on it when the chip hits the fan Never worked the two times I really could have used it!) I have yet to find a pair of gloves that stay dry, so I use wool or fleece. Use most of the other stuff mentioned - light bags, wear clothes to bed, handwarmers, etc. <BR> Primary: Take care of your feet!!! Sleep warm and dry(dry socks in bed are SO nice! A pullover fleece hood, or large knit cap that you can pull over your head & neck easily adds about 10 degrees to your sleeping bag warmth). Secondary: enough calories - fatty sausage, cheese, or lb of butter are worth their weight for the fat content Especially if you are on a freeze-dry diet. For longer trips, move calories up into primary also.<BR>Everything else is tertiary (tho not unimportant)for a 4 day trip. A GI canteen and cup is all the water stuff you need.
The only true cost of having a dog is its death.
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Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1
New Member
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New Member
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1 |
Gentlemen,<P>this is my first post in this forum. As this is a very interesting thread I would like to add some thoughts to the discussion of lightweight backpack hunting. I’m from Germany and definitely don’t have the vast experience with hunting big game in the wilderness that most of you have. Nevertheless I would like to comment on what works for me:<P>As for reducing weight, why not trying to avoid the heaviest item, the tent? At first sight this seems ridiculous, but it’s just a matter of getting used to. I started out with bivy sacks but wasn’t too impressed: The condensation problem can be reduced by taking your mat into the bivy sack, but it’s still not very roomy and if it rains for prolonged periods of time it gets quite boring. Furthermore one cannot cook in the bivy sack and will thus get very uncomfortable. To my mind, tarps (yes, we had this already...) are the way to go, at least unless it is extremely cold. While erecting the tarp, I always try to make use of large rocks, trees etc. Due to the weight issue, I’d rather carry a better (read warmer) sleeping bag than a tent. Down bags, though of lighter weight, are IMO not suitable: If they get wet, they loose nearly all their insulation abilities and are very difficult to dry out in the field. This might get you killed. So stay with the synthetic ones: The added 1 pound of weight is not too much a trade-off for a life insurance.<BR> <BR>IMO, the self-inflating sleeping pads are not the way to go: Put a hole in it (crampons, knife, tips of antlers etc.) and you are going to suffer at night for the rest of your trip. No sleep and/or no food are the factors that get humans killed in the backcountry. Furthermore, the added comfort isn’t worth toting the additional weight up steep mountain slopes, at least not if you’re planning to stay less than a week. I use closed cell foam pads and find them comfortable enough. You can also cut them the way you like and, in a pinch, use them for splinting a broken leg, start a fire etc.<P>As for cooking, I have found out that I can get away for some days with just a trangia burner (just the burner, not the whole stove) and one pot with lid. I use stones to build a “cook stand” (for lack of a better word: please remember I’m not a native speaker), put the trangia burner beneath/in it and the pot on top of it and am ready to cook (to get an impression of what I mean, please cf. Gilchrist, Duncan: Hunt High, 1991, p. 105, because that’s the photo which inspired me). But to be honest: In extreme weather conditions, high altitudes and/or if I have to melt snow/ice as the only source for water I would definitely rely on nothing less than a MSR stove.<BR>For food, I take a concentrated food called “cathay pemmikan” which can be bought here in Germany in outdoor shops (to my knowledge, the word pemmikan is of north american-indian origin, thus you probably know what I am talking about… [img]images/icons/wink.gif" border="0[/img].<BR>Couscous (a kind of pre-cooked and dried pasta, cooks very fast and has a good nutritional value) is also recommendable (cf. Russ, Tony: Sheep hunting in Alaska, 1994, p. 76.). I always try to take olive oil along and add it to the meals, and, in a pinch (read: extreme exertion/exhaustion in high altitude and cold temperatures, when the body is no more able to generate heat and you start shivering), I will drink it pure and straight from the bottle (have done that on several occasions and it sometimes seems to be the only way to get warm). Nutritional value is paramount for me, taste comes a distant second (but only while in the field...). Make sure you get your vitamins and minerals. Garlic seems to be an ideal cold-weather supplement, and ginseng seems to have positive effects in high altitude (cf. Twight, Marc F.: Extreme Alpinism – Climbing light, fast, & high, 1999, p. 71 – 72; by the way: this book conveys an impression of what can be done with a minimal amount of gear in the world of high altitude alpinism by “roughing it” and nevertheless staying safe – I found it to be quite inspiring for mountain hunting). <P>I take only one knife with me: The Spyderco Wegner is a proven design with excellent blade shape, but I prefer the Spyderco Starmate as it is lighter. The CPM440V steel doesn’t need a lot of sharpening (I have processed 3 red deer on one day without sharpening and could have gone on), thus I sometimes don’t even take a sharpening device. Those knives aren't cheap, but I consider them excellent value for the money. One can avoid heavy sharpening devices by just taking along some (fine grit) sandpaper: Wrap the sandpaper around the gun barrel, a ski/tarp pole or anything else and use it like those diamond/ceramic sticks. With some practice, you can get a scary sharp edge. <BR>Yes, a folder has a weak link in it that is inherently unsafe. But due to the compactness and lighter weight of a folder, I have come to terms with this fact: As I have realized it is inherently unsafe, I am careful when using it… Nevertheless I am constantly searching for a hunting folder with a safer blade lock (The Spyderco Chinook seems to be very good in this regard but the high weight makes it useless for my purposes… [img]images/icons/wink.gif" border="0[/img]. If you prefer a fixed blade, you might want to take a look at the Fallkniven F1 (IMO a bit too large and heavy for backpack hunting) or the WM1 (seems to be a bit small at first sight but I bet it’s enough blade for the job).<BR>The knife blade of a Leatherman Pulse serves me as a back-up (A multitool is very heavy and perhaps not even necessary. So, you may call me inconsequent but I must confess that I’ve got a soft spot for the Pulse and always take it with me, so this is not open to discussion for me… [img]images/icons/wink.gif" border="0[/img].<BR>In order to get along with only one hunting knife, it is IMO adequate to take along a saw. I’m still doing research on this but at the moment it seems as if the little saw by Gerber Blades/Fiskars is quite up to the job.<P>Well, this is what works for me. <BR>Please remember: It doesn’t have to be very comfortable to be fun. Or, as the famous writer Antoine de St. Exup�ry once wrote: “In anything at all, perfection is finally not attained when there is no longer anything to add, but when there is no longer anything to take away”.<BR>Thanks for your patience…
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Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 71
Campfire Greenhorn
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Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 71 |
Greg, you raise a point critical to the success of backpack hunting. Too often I have hunted with guys who have carried too much weight in and aften arrival at the selected not been able to fully hunt due to fatigue. Most of my hunting over the last 7-8 years is this form. I too have carried to much weight but now believe that I have it sorted out. My weight is 180lbs and height is 5' 10" but a little younger at 37.<BR>When initially starting to pack I followed the tramping/hiking guide of carrying not more than 25% of your body weight, including pack but minus rifle. This is a bit much and 20% excluding rifle works well for our weight range with the following conditions - alpine/very steep 20% better quality trails, up rivers bolder hopping 25% etc. 37-46 lbs ideally no more than 40lbs.<P>Pack your pack, use the bathroom scales and then keep throwing out the none essential items until you get the weight down. For short out to 4 days this is very doable. Most guys take to many trinkets re the lists above.<P>First aid and signal gear.<BR>down sleep bag<BR>Plastic sheet for shelter and ground sheet<BR>1 layered fleece set of hunting clothes, raincoat, a spare set of fleece u/ware and sox for sleeping.<BR>Bum pack, ammo, knife, map, compas, <BR>tablet stove, tin mug and dehyd rats all in a<BR>internal frame pack.<P>If you hunt the same area regularly carry a heavy plastic drum inside you pack and start cacheing your surplus rats and plastic sheeting etc. Easy to build up a food supply but need to consider vermin etc.<P>Cheers
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Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 33,986 Likes: 123
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 33,986 Likes: 123 |
Welcome, Dan G - you seem to be coming along nicely without "much wilderness experience" - and express yourself well and clearly, non-native language or not. I hunt wet country, so agree 100% about the synthetic vs down. If you can keep it dry, tho, luv that down!<BR>Worn Throat - where I hunt, the vermin weigh 500 to 1,000 lbs. I NEVER cache food, even between weekends - not that that keeps 'em from chewing things up. My back-in 5 gal (formerly detergent) water pails all have big ugly tooth holes in them, in spite of being stored with the lids off - bears just like to chew plastic! I carry garbage bags in for pail liners and trim the rough, sharp spots inside the pail, rather than fight it every year.
The only true cost of having a dog is its death.
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 18
New Member
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New Member
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 18 |
Hope no one minds me putting my 50yen in here.<P>After 23 yrs infantry service and being a former registered emt, the thought process does wander from wierd to extreme at times.<P>First... I like the idea of packing a book. But the only book I see of value to be carrying around in the boonies is the Boy Scout's Field Handbook. It's value for setting up a base camp or hunkering down for a day or two from an unexpected storm cannot be overstated.<P>I went one step further and extracted those items I felt of value from the book and prepared my own utilizing a pocket 3x5 inch 3 ring notebook. I also included other items from various field manuals and such I felt was too important to totally rely on memory. Besides, I could toss the notebook to one of my people, opened to the appropriate page, and tell them to build or prepare said item. They had the diagram or picture right there to follow. This book was always on my person, not carried in my ruck. The paper was treated with Thompson's Waterseal when ready to add to the notebook.<P>Next is an item borrowed from my Brother's in the Royal Marines. Basically it is a 'bug out kit'. This is a small, pocket size, waterproof container where items for basic surival are stored. It is usually no smaller then a travel soap container. This item is always carried on the body, not with or attached to their kit. How it is outfitted is up to the individual,but it should have at the minimum; waterproof matches, kindling, minor first aid, needle and thread, Utility knife blade(s).<P>The list can go on forever, with variations specific to the user. But the important thing is that the weight is almost nil compared to the benefit gained.<P>I am aware that not everyone wears BDU's with leg pouches to carry things in, but this is just something I felt I could share with all here.<P>Leon
"There are no dangerous weapons, only dangerous men." Robert Heinlein, Starship Troopers.
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 5,638 Likes: 7
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 5,638 Likes: 7 |
Leon, good point about having the ultimate esentials on your person rather than even in a fanny pack or whatever you carry. I keep a few such items in my pant pockets always, mainly at least two ways to start a fire, such as a lighter, waterproof matches and a heat tab or bit of long burning starter material. Knife also. If it is a decent sized pocket on a jacket, I add a space blanket, a short length of thin nylon cord and my ubiquitous 1/3 cup stainless measuring cup. My gloves or mittens (usually fingerless goves with overflap mitt), plus toque and neck gaiter are usually already bulging my jacket pockets however.<P>On how many rounds to carry, I took eight on my last trip into high country, just over a week ago. I was in timber, never above timberline, but I was mentally prepared for two days out. Four in rifle, four in pockets. An acquaintance who hikes way back in to hunt takes what I consider extremes. If he goes above timberline he takes 40 rounds. No joke. If he hunts timber, he loads his rifle and takes no more. That is a case of what we carry revealing our intentions, or expectations anyway.
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 18,881
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 18,881 |
I don't know about the rest of you, but all my hunting pants have side pockets. Even my wool hunting pants. Filson, for extra money, will add them. I like the idea of a bug out kit. But, I've learned to never be out of reach of my rucksack. If it's too heavy, or bulky, then I go to my Bianchi HardCore pack. A very easy to live with pack. My situation is a little different. I don't need matches nearly as much as water. Without it, I can die in just a few hours. And I won't even know it's happening to me. Hyperthermia is very subtle, and deadly, in the desert. E
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 18
New Member
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New Member
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 18 |
Let me toss this in just for grins. Weight versus Bulk. As I am sure everyone here knows you can have slight bulk and massive weight and the reverse of that is also true. The wonders of modern technology to lighten our load. [img]images/icons/smile.gif" border="0[/img] <p>Two items most never consider, yet I have found to be extremely handy to have available is a hammer and nails. First the nails. These were a selection of finishing nails carried in a travel soap dish utilizing cotton balls to dampen any rattle. Next was the hammer. Anyone packing in a camp hand axe has that problem fixed already. I had hammer fashioned from a piece of 1 inch Hex 4140 steel with a handle made of T-6 Aluminum. The handle screwed in for usage and out for packing. Also it was knurled for grip. If anyone out there tries this, remember, steel and aluminum hate each other. Keep the threads on the handle lightly coated with a waxy substance like Chapstick. A liquid floorwax works best. This will prevent gaulding of the threads.<p>I never checked the weight of these items, but I found them to be useful. You can use your own imagination. And how many times have you been in a campsite and wished you had a hammer and a nail?<p>Maybe I'll make another hammer, I gave mine to a sharp Corporal when I retired. [img]images/icons/laugh.gif" border="0[/img] <p>Anyway...just something else I wanted to share.<p>Leon
"There are no dangerous weapons, only dangerous men." Robert Heinlein, Starship Troopers.
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 18
New Member
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New Member
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 18 |
Eremicus...<p>My eldest daughter was born at Barstow during a my first tour at the Depot. I understand where you coming from. What a person carries is not only situational but environmental.<p>I knew an old Gunny that carried a stainless steel whiskey pocket flask in his pocket. It was his reserve water supply. He never left home without it. [img]images/icons/laugh.gif" border="0[/img] <p>Leon
"There are no dangerous weapons, only dangerous men." Robert Heinlein, Starship Troopers.
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Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 11,478 Likes: 94
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 11,478 Likes: 94 |
"What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as freedom should not be highly rated." Thomas Paine
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