Any good backpacks for deer hunting?

I’ve been using a Walmart Camo pack. It’s starting to come apart.

Something made in USA.

This will be for morning and evening hunts. Nothing long term.

Looking for a bunch of pockets.

I’ve got a Tactical Tailor pack. Quality. But only main pocket and 1 small pocket.


I’ve looked at some of the brands mentioned often on here. Hill people, mystery ranch, kifaru. They all seem to be built for long term pack trips.

Thanks!

I like this one


https://eberlestock.com/collections/daypacks/products/bandit-pack

I got this a couple of years ago on a whim at a WM in Colorado: https://www.walmart.com/ip/Outdoor-Products-Arrowhead-Int-Frame-Pack-Griffin/431323448

It’s only $40; it has enough room to carry a bunch of extra layers, binos, food water, etc. …; and it weighs only about 2 lbs. With all of my expensive backpacks, I usually take this one for day hunts because it’s so light.



Sometimes have used it on short backpacking trips, but only when I’m not too far in and don’t have to carry too much.

No matter what I pack I always forget something

The worst for me was a few years ago, backpacking with my two sons and my dad, I packed everyone's packs, and forgot the sporks. That's one thing that's almost impossible to do without. Luckily, my older son had one lying the the bottom of a pack pocket. We ate our beef stroganoff servings one at a time. Before my son made the helpful discovery, I was going to try to fashion spoons out of cut up plastic bowls, but I don't think it would have worked very well.

For whitetail deer hunting where I am walking to a stand and sitting for a couple hours to all day and then walking back I have gone to a Haversack type pack. Seems to be easier to deal with in a tree stand for me and works great for gun spots where we have shooting houses or will be stationary. We have a couple of the Bison Gear ones that are great, wish they hadn't gone out of business. My son didn't have one so we got him one from here. Not as good as the old Bison Gear Haversacks but still great for deer hunting from a stand


https://thehiddenwoodsmen.com/product/the-haversack/

Dave,

I use a Tenzing TZ 2220 if packing a deer isn't a factor - there's better stuff for that.
A bit on the large side but I generally carry most of my clothes in/on the pack.
It's pretty light, has ample pockets/compartments and comes with a rain fly and gun/bow bearer too.

It used to come in a solid color (loden) but it appears it's now only offered in camo.

https://www.tenzingoutdoors.com/catalog/product/view/id/501/s/tz-2220/category/109/

I am an overpacker, but I use an Eberlestock Team Elk. I don't think that pack would be very good for an actual elk hunt, but for a big woods whitetail hunt it is about perfect. It is a little heavy but it is a tank. If I was looking for something smaller I would get an X-1, which i have as a go bag. Eberlestock is quality built stuff.

Edit- I was wrong, I have the gunrunner as a go bag and it would be great for a smaller whitetail bag.

Thanks for all the replies. I’ll check them out.


SKane,

No packing meat out. I’m one of the shameless hunters that load mine up on the ranger and go to the skinning shed. 😂

If I’m walking all day a pack just gets in the way and tryto fit everything in my pockets, if I plan on sitting anything that’s not a hassle carrying in does the job.

Dave,
There’s no shame in that! I do the same when location affords.

Made in USA- Kifaru. They ain't cheap, but are built well

I have the Kifaru Doorgunner and really like it. It's not large enough for an over-night pack, but works great for a day tripper. Rides like a champ, plenty of pockets, great zippers, straps, and belt. It can haul all the stuff I need for a long day in the hills or just a short hike with a little water and food. It has seen hundreds of miles and has really worked well, be it hunting, day hikes, shooting trips, going out of town, etc..

The Kifaru Antero daypack is another one I'd look at if buying again.

https://kifaru.net/store/packs/day-packs/door-gunner/

Antero is my choice.....





https://kifaru.net/store/packs/day-packs/antero/

My main day pack is an Mystery Ranch Pop Up 18. If I'm packing a bit more gear, as in the wife or a grandkid is along, an Eberlestock X2 or F1 Mainframe with Batwings usually gets the call. I do debone and quarter deer/hogs and pack meat out.

Made in USA might be the tough part. Have you checked Duluth Pack?

Another one to look at is the Mystery Ranch Treehouse.

Pack

Been using ALPS for a few years. Had 1 zipper come apart. I was loading the pack with bricks and hiking to get in shape for a MT elk hunt. So the zipper coming apart after that abuse wasn't a big deal. Sent me a brand new pack.

2 weeks ago threw my pack in the truck and shut the tailgate. Closed the tailgate on the waist buckle and broke it. Just got new buckles in the mail. Pack is fixed.

https://www.alpsbrands.com/alpsoutdoorz/products/packs/pathfinder

Somewhere between the day pack and packed pockets... I’ve used lumbar packs a good bit and really like them when just doing morning/evening sits w no pack out of meat.
I have a smaller Mountain Smith which has served me well for over a decade (plenty of pockets for smaller gear inside and out and room for gloves/hat, compressed puffy coat inside)

https://mountainsmith.com/2020-tour-lumbar.html

I have also been experimenting w the larger Cabelas model w lots of storage and bow/gun packing attachment options.

I tend to like the lumbar pack when busting brush in/out or still hunting as it still feels far better to have the gun pop to your shoulder pocket when a deer jumps up at 20 yards than it does resting on your backpack strap.

I really like eberlestock's Gunrunner. Big enough, not to big, scabbard is nice hiking up the mountain before daylight.

https://eberlestock.com/collections/gun-carry/products/gunrunner-pack

I love my Mother pack! Its super light, very quiet with smartly placed compartments and its expandable. I've not found such a well thought out pack.

I also have the turkey vest. Another winner.

I think I bought them fro The Sportsmans Guide, years ago.

I just picked up a Kuiu divide 1200. Perfect day pack for walking long distances with lunch and other necessities. Only problem is, its Loud

Stone glacier serac or Avail if within your budget. The Kuiu 1850 is another good choice. Lots of pockets and side pockets. Run it without the frame for day hunts.

I am not quite following you here. Most all the hunting pack companies, and those three in particular, make smaller packs designed specifically for day trips.

I use a Tensing lumbar pack to carry from my atv to my stands. It has a lot of pockets which was one of your requirements. I have a badlands superday pack that has plenty of pocket space as well. My mystery ranch pack is really nice for a walk in day hunt and meat hauler but it doesnt have a lot of pockets as I assume many of the really high quality packs dont as well as pockets mean added weight. If your up in a treestand you sure dont need to be digging into a pack for gear you just want to unzip a pocket and grab what you want out. The packs promoted as treestand packs seem to gave a lot of pockets.
I have a cabelas lumbar pack that is slightly smaller than the Tensing and it is great if I am carrying just a few items to get me thru a few hours in the stand.

I've got an Alps pack that has worked well for me. I hunt woods also. I don't think it's made in the usa though.


When still hunting, I don't carry a pack.

Edit:. When still hunting, most of the time I don't even carry a rifle, so take me advice for what it's worth.

I’ve never held or seen any of those brands . Just going by the pics on their websites.

What i mean, seems those packs are larger size. One big pack, maybe 1 smaller pocket. Meat haulers or for camping gear.

If’n That makes more sense.


I’ll look at more of their models.

Has anyone figured out how to shoulder a rifle with a backpack on? I have not. In the whitetail woods of the SE, this is a concern.

[quote=turkish]Has anyone figured out how to shoulder a rifle with a backpack on? I have not. In the whitetail woods of the SE, this is a concern. [/quote


Sling pack

Does one want to pack halves, or camping gear? If meat, then any solid frame with good straps and an even better hip belt. Have three 70's vintage external frame Sierras. The first time I tried to load an elk quarter, I cut the bags off and have never looked back.

Dave I like this x1 eberlestock, think it’s bout right, for traveling your rifle is nice and outta the way, real comfortable

Eberlestock has been mentioned a couple times.

USA made?

Hell I dunno? Have to look I guess

Also love this mystery ranch scapegoat too
m middle names

#cant hide money. 😂😬😂

Appears reading comprehension isn't my strong suit. The Tenzing I mentioned most certainly isn't an American made product.

Fuuck is anything made in America anymore?? 😂😂

If your old pack has a frame, just ditch the pack part and bungee a zip up kinda bag to and what ever else you need. A lot of times for metal detecting trips I'll just bungee a 5 gallon platic bucket with a lid to the pack frame. To use it for hunting then you've even got the bucket to use for a seat if you need it.

No frame.

It’s one of those Fieldline brand that the Walmart’s sells.

Some of the threads are busting on one of the shoulder straps.

Too many snacks, sammiches, and can drinks i guess. 🤪

No clue where it's made but I used an Elevation Forester Lumbar pack this year. It holds plenty for what you are talking about. It's setup well and easy to find stuff since the pack isn't as deep as a backpack. I've used the smaller badlands packs too without issues.
https://elevationequipped.com/product-category/hunt/packs-hunt/

Eberlestock packs are made in Vietnam (as are Osprey). If you're looking for a pack to haul your gear in pockets and compartments from the truck to the stand and don't plan on packing an animal, get on Amazon and search tactical assault packs to your hearts content...not enough pockets...no problem...most of them come with Molle webbing so you can add on more...of course they're all coming from China though.

Gotcha.
Pics can be deceiving, for sure. Look at the cubic inches, or their intended purpose. Anything under 1500-2000 cubic inches is what I at least, consider a daypack.
I roll with a Kifaru Shapecharge and a 14r, both are a touch over 2000 CI, but are designed for day hunts.
https://kifaru.net/product-category/packs/day-packs/

Mystery Ranch and a few others make solid day packs. The Elberleestock X2 I had would have been a decent daypack, but it couldn't haul much weight before making my back ache pretty badly. For just carrying normal loads though, it was fine.

I didn't know that. Completely built there or just parts are? They're owned by an Idaho company but maybe they're just designed and sold there.

That said I seriously doubt a guy could find any pack that isn't at least partly made somewhere outside of the US....the buckles, stitching thread, main fabric layers and maybe even the zippers are oftentimes coming from somewhere else like Brazil, Thailand or wherever else from what I have been told. Many pack brands are just sewn together and assembled here.

It's very hard to take anybody serious that hunts with a purple rifle!!

Do they make that pack in a pink camo?🤣🤣🤣

Haha the people I run into are like wtf??? Haha

Kifaru shape charge looks like it may be the ticket.

Folks like it on rokslide.

Not sure i like it enough to pay $350 or so.

Kifaru have sales?

They sometimes have 10% off sales on particular holidays, but that's about it. Put a WTB add in the classifieds. You might get a bite.

The Shapecharge doesn't have many pockets though. 2 on top, plus the main compartment. They do that to keep the number of zippers low, so there's less to break and also to minimize the number of stitch holes. If you want lots of pockets, you'll need to add belt pouches or other pocket accessories.

If you keep an eye on the classifieds on rokslide you will catch a good deal on a quality pack that will do what you need. There is an eberlestock on here for sale right now.

I do it the same way as I do it without a backpack on. Maybe I'm doing it wrong both ways so I don't realize I'm doing it wrong.....

Thanks.

Was going by a review I’d seen. Saying it may be the ideal day pack. Between the shape charge and and the antero that huntsman22 mentioned.

Ditto.

Black Ovis carries Kifaru and they sometimes offer 1-time discounts to new customers or have sales. Kifaru stuff isn't typically marked down much.

i'll check out Black ovis,

thanks

Milsurp ILBE if bulky loads or critter pack-outs are the order of the day. Critter here is a black bear, two trips required for meat/hide and one for gear because I had packed in a tree stand:



I can put two full 5-gallon buckets in this pack (for reference). US made and stronger than it needs to be. MOLLE built for young, strong soldiers that don't complain about how heavy the bare pack is

If a lighter pack is needed with less gear or lower chance of critter pack-out, a 45L Kelty internal frame that came from Goodwill. It's perfectly good and I have run it for years. For elk hunting, I wear the little pack knowing that I can get a meat load back and pick up the larger pack for the return trip.

For fishing with chest waders or hiking when a holster is needed, minimal gear, Badlands Monster day pack.

Yeah, sew a big button (or use a small bolt/nut and remove later) or a small drawer pull on the shoulder strap so the sling won't slide off. Or hold the sling on with your hand.

Yes, mil surp.

I'll second Eberlestock! Not made here but tge 2 I own are great! I have an X1E that I use for deer hunting. I'm spoiled having a pack with a gun scabbard, makes raising and lowering your gun from your stand so easy! I also like having the gun in the scabbard on the walk in in the dark, dont have to worry about banging it or falling on it. One thing I've noticed is some of the manufacturers are getting away from having tie down straps on the outside of the pack. That would make a pack useless to me as one of the things I do is strap my extra layers to it for the walk in. Good luck with your search!

After season, when folks start to dump gear, I’ll look for a used shape charge.

It’s seems to be real close to what I’m looking for.

I think it’s similar to the Antero huntsman recommended above, but with an extra pocket or 2.