Advice on backpack hunt gear list

[CaseyAlbert]

If you have the right sleeping bag, the amount of heat generated from the stove isn't going to do much I don't think. And when you get up in the am, if you have a nice fire pit, you might still have hot coals to get a fire going quickly.

Where I hunt in Idaho, there is plenty of dry wood available even when it is raining, and I never carry a saw. We don't use saws on elk and we completely de-bone the hind quarters and usually bring out the entire skull along with the rack.

I'm pasting in an Alaska sheephunters list for your perusal. I haven't gone there, but this guy has been for years. I've been elking in Idaho since '92, and am always looking for more information.

Sheep List:

Alaska Hunting Gear 10 Day Hunt

Climbing Clothes and Gear

T-shirt: Ibex Tee (1) 4.0 oz
Heavy socks: Wool (1 pair) 2.0 oz
Boxers: Ibex wool (1) 3.0 oz
Climbing clothes: Sitka Ascent Jacket and Ascent Pant 35.0 oz
Climbing hat: Sitka Traverse beanie 1.0 oz
Belt: Sitka Bomber Belt 4.0 oz
Ice/walking Axe Petzel Snowscopic 20.8 oz
Walking poles LEKI 17.0 oz
Binocular: Leica Geovid (10x42 w/rangefinder) 33.3 oz
GPS: Garmin 405 Watch 6.0 oz
Shooting Gloves: Sitka 4.0 oz
Hunting Boots: Koflach Degre 86.2 oz
Gun and Shells: 325 WSM w/20 rnds 160 oz
376.3 oz
(23.5 lbs)
5 Day Spike Camp

Frame: Barney's Freighter Frame 70.0 oz
Pack: Barney's Pinnacle Bag 40.0 oz
Pack cover: Kool Dri Rain 4.0 oz
Spotting scope: Swarovski 20-60x65 48.4 oz
Tripod: Velbon Ultramax I F 32.1oz
Stove: Jet Boil 15.0 oz
Isobutane: Jet Boil (1) 3.5 oz
Spoon: REI long steel 2.0 oz Tent: Atko by Hilleberg 52.8 oz
Knife: Havalon Piranta (10 blades) 2.2 oz
Knife: Havalon boning (5 blades) 2.9 oz
Cleaning Gloves 2 sets of rubber gloves w/Handy Wipes 2.0 oz
Headlamp: Petzl Tikka XP (new batteries) 3.4 oz
Digital Camera: ziplock bag and 2 paper towels 6.3 oz
Space Blanket: 7x5 2.0 oz
Game Bags (3): Tag or Cotton 6.0 oz
1 gallon ziplock bags (2) 2.0 oz
Garbage bag: Commercial grade (1) 2.0 oz
Parachute Cord: 30 feet 7.0 oz
Sleeping Cot: UltraLite 32.0 oz
Sleeping Pad: Thermarest Prolight 4R 3.2 oz
Sleeping Bag: Wiggys Hunter 84.0 oz
Compression Sack: Sea to Summit 1lg sn240 Ultra-light (2) 3.3 oz
Lighters: Blastmatch 3.0 oz Duck tape: 12 inches 2.0 oz
Water bottle: Gatorade ( 1.0 ltr) 4.0 oz
Water sack: 6 ltr MSR DromLite 7.0 oz
Boxers: Ibex wool (1) 3.0 oz
Heavy socks: (1 pair) 2.0 oz
Base Layer: Micro wt Smart Wool (1 top and bottom) 6.8 oz
Cold wx clothes: Sitka Kelven Jacket, Pants and vest 66.0 oz
Rain/cold Wx : Sitka Cold Front Jacket and pants 50.0 oz
Gloves: Sitka Cold Front 5.1 oz Stocking Cap: Sitka Bomber Hat 4.0 oz Balaclava: Sitka 5.0 oz
Bug Net/Repellent: 5.0 oz
First Aid Kit 20.0 oz
Toiletries: Toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, towel 8.0 oz
Pillow: 4.0 oz
Food: 240.0 oz
693.7 oz
(43.3 lbs)
Base Camp

Base Layer: Micro wt Smart Wool (1 top and bottom) 6.8 oz
Heavy socks: (1 pair) 2.0 oz
T-shirt: Ibex Tee (1) 4.0 oz
Boxers: Ibex wool (1) 3.0 oz
Over Whites: Tyvek Suit 4.0 oz
Satellite Phone: Iridium 9555 and waterproof bag 30.0 oz
Glacier socks: 10.0 oz
Compression Sack: Sea to Summit 1lg sn240 Ultra-light (2) 3.3 oz
Bear fence: Light weight with 4 AA Batteries 48.0 oz
Tent: Kaitum by Hilleberg 88.0 oz
Shelter: Integral 26.0 oz
Lightweight sacks: Tent deadmans (12) 12.0 oz
Isobutane: Jet Boil (1) 3.5 oz
Handsaw: Silky Sugoi 17" (removed handle and sheath) 7.0 oz
Power supply: High Gear solar 3.0 oz
Cramp-ons Kahtoola 19.0 oz
1 gallon ziplock bags (3) 3.0 oz
Garbage bag: Commercial grade (1) 2.0 oz
Water purifier 18.0 oz
Camp Shoes Crocks and Solomon trail shoes 6.0 oz
Stocking Cap: Sitka Bomber Hat 4.0 oz Down Jacket: Mountain Hard Wear Phantom Jacket (Down 800) 15.0 oz
Rope: 100 feet 8mm 48.0 oz
Food: 240.0 oz
Salt: 80.0 oz
685.6 oz
(42.8 lbs )



Salt: Pounded 1= 4lbs 1/2 gal milk jug = 7lbs
Sheep 5-10 lbs
Bou 10-15 lbs
Bear 25-30 lbs
Moose 25-50 lbs
Wolf 10 lbs

Boat Hunt

Winter boots
Hip Boots
Compass: Silva
Book
Sharpening stone
Cooler
Water Can
Hitch Haul
Boat
Tarp
Life Jackets Seating Pads
Boat Grill w/propane
Deep Cycle Battery
High Lo Lift
Come Along w/chains
Dry Bags
Emergency Driving kit
Surveyors Tape
Shovel
Tools w/spark Plugs and filters

 

[CaseyAlbert]

Also;

I tried alcohol stoves two years ago and am sold on them.

I bought several from a guy on ebay the first year, they work great. Denatured alcohol, no moving parts, and light as two feathers. I bought a couple different ones to try this past year and was not as happy. I bought an Evernew(I think) Titanium stove, and tried it once at home. It is not as hot as my year one, but will be testing it this year. I was carrying two stoves(maybe 2 ounces), fuel in aluminum fuel bottle, and a jetboil 1 liter pot as my cooking system. The coke can stoves fit in the jetboil, and the fuel bottle goes in my double wall coffee cup. Nice compact set up.

I might buy a couple stoves from this guy to try. WHITE BOX STOVES- BACKPACK ALCOHOL STOVE over 7000 SOLD | eBay

I haven't yet, but probably will.

 

[mcseal2]

Thanks for posting the list, I will have to check it out more thoroughly.

Also I have a couple of the ebay alcohol stoves, I have used them a few times and they seem to work well. If I wasn't packing a wood stove, or for a light overnighter I'd likely use them or my esbit for simplicity. With a wind screen they work nice.

That saw looks much sturdier than mine also, what does it weigh?

I got my current updated list off my excel sheet to post just now. I don't have my postage scale yet so I haven't verified all the weights, but they should be real close. Let me know if I'm improving. The 1/2 weights are my share of the 2 man camp items. It didn't post quite like it previewed, but weights are still shown on the far right. I can't get the spacing smaller on the post.

gear
oz

Kifaru sawtooth tipi 72oz total 1/2wt

36​

Kifaru Parastove 40oz total 1/2 wt

20​

Sleeping bag Montbell ULSS 15 degree

37​

Sleeping pad Thermarest prolite plus 20x72

24​

GPS/radio Garmin Rhino 130 w/weatherband

9​

Snow peak mug .7L w/lid

5​

Snow peak spork

1​

eberlestock J34

110​

Frogg Toggs pants

8​

toilet paper

4​

1.3oz Sea to Summit soap

1​

katadyn filter (1 between us 12oz total)

6​

Nalgene 96oz soft canteen (camp water) 3oz total

2​

Browning 270WSM (8lbs scoped,loaded,sling)

128​

Benchmade folding lockback

5​

Gerber folding saw

8​

Smith pocket knife sharpener

2​

cabelas space rain pull over

10​

spare ammo

16​

spare batteries (AA lithium)

4​

black fleece gloves

3​

wool gloves

2​

firesteel

1​

pill bottle of cotton balls covered in vaseline

2​

small lighter

1​

adventure medical bivy sack

4​

100ft 550 paracord

6​

Frontier water filter straw

1​

vetwrap (pink, also can mark trails)

1​

first aid kit

4​

headlamps (2) Mammut S-lite AA 1.7oz each

4​

trashbags (2) dry bags or packing meat

2​

camera (1 between us, 8oz total with AA lithium)

4​

rangefinder (with 9V lithium)

11​

bipod (stoney point rapid pivot removable)

8​

Leupold binoculars & harness

29​

Cabelas synthetic down jacket

10​

Camelback water bladder (empty)

6​

blaze orange windstopper fleece baclava

5​

wool socks (2pr)

6​

Patagonia Capilene 1 boxers (w/ silvermax)

3​

compass

2​

Cell phone

5​

Total Gear (33.7lbs)

553​

food (5lbs)

80​

Water (full camelback)

70​

Total Weight leaving vehicle

703


43.9lbs​

 

[CaseyAlbert]

Hey McSea:

I'm not sure which saw you are talking about. If it is the one in the Sheep list I sent, I think there is a weight listed. As I don't carry a saw, not really sure.

Did you just get the Garmin 130? My buds and I have the 530's. Yes, they cost more, but the color maps are true topo maps, easier to just look at, and the gps itself is much quicker to get a lock.

I have an old 130, and if you want it, I will send it to you to use and then if you want it, we'll work out a price. Also, I mentioned I have a roll of tyvek. If you want some, let me know. I bought the roll for some construction work, and for a ground cloth. I will probably use it again this year, but it is noisy. Light, but noisy.

I also carry the Cabelas Space rain pullover, but the pants are too light duty. I have been using a pair of Browning Waterproof pants.

I am working on my September outfit as you are. I started the day I got home from my trip last year. I am on my second Mont Bell bag although lighter than yours due to where I am hunting. If you are concerned with warmth, and you definitely want to sleep comfortably, you might consider a bivy sack. I recommend not sleeping with your long johns on as they seem to hamper the insulating factors of the bag(IMHO). A sleeping cap is also handy so your breath is out of the bag. Breathing in the bag all night and you will be damp. A damp down bag is like having no bag at all.

On food, a good way to practice, is eat camping type food at home when you are active, and at the same time set aside an equal amount. At the end of your experiments, you will know about what you will require. You will burn more calories in the cold, and depending on the miles you put in. I eat as much as I can during two weeks in Idaho, and am usually 15 lbs lighter when I get home. I would like to start the hunt 15 lbs lighter, but such it is.

I eat 2 oatmeal packets and some old fashioned oatmeal with a carnation instant breakfast thrown in, coffee, maybe a bar of some sort, and some dried fruit for breakfast.
I snack on almonds, dry cherrries, apricots, etc during the day.
I lunch on dry fruit, bars, and usually a tuna in a bag on a pita bread.

More snacks and lots of water.

For dinner, I usually do 2 cup o'soups that I put in ziplocks, pita bread, and whatever else I have....

I use all the Crystal Light drink mixes and others that offer additives. Many different floavors to dress up the water. My bud says he has never seen anyone drink so much water, however I almost never cramp up. I typically carry no more than a quart of water as I know where the water is where I hunt. I will stock up on water in the evening and just got one of those water pouches that lets you scoop up a couple gallons of water if you are near a clear stream. I tried a cheap pouch, liked the idea, but it lasted only one season before leaking. That water of course, must be boiled and therefore is for dinner, breakfast, and bird bathing.

Sorry to run on so long, but elk season is only 5 1/2 months away!

Casey Albert

 

[mcseal2]

Yeah, that list you sent was interesting. That guy has all the gear you could ever need for various conditions.

Jmden sent a post about a saw, that is the one I was refering to.

I'd be interested in your GPS and Tyvek, I'll send you a PM with my address. I don't plan to really rely on the GPS, just nice to have a weatherband, GPS, and 2 way radio all in one if it is needed. With 2 of us hunting out of camp if someone had trouble or an animal down we could radio the other with GPS coordinates.

I like the cabelas pull-over also, but use it under my outer wind layer to protect it. The outer coat will dry quickly when the rain stops. It sure packs small so I have it when I need it. The pants look way to flimsy, I've had good luck with the Frogg's if I get a new pair every couple years. The old ones get retired to the truck or boat, nice to have around.

I have gatorade mix in my food list. I like the flavor of regular gatorade much better than the powder, but it keeps me hydrated well. I drink huge amounts of water also around camp and in the morning so I don't have to carry quite as much. I also take a packet of hot tea mix for warming up each evening. For food I have 2 pop tarts for each morning. Dehydrated fruit, jerky, and cliff bars for daytime, and a 2 serving mountain house meal for each evening. The cliff bars don't taste great but are good fuel and the jerky gets the taste out of my mouth.

I still like the idea of a compact wood stove in the tent for the later season when I hunt. I've spent enough nights camping in rain while fishing that I really like having a way to dry condensation or wet gear. Also if we have to spend time in the tent in bad weather it will be nicer if we have a heat source. If the weather is real nice I can always leave the stove in the truck and carry my alcohol or esbit stove or have an outside fire. Growing up in ranch country where a runaway fire is a disaster I tend to be really cautious about lighting a fire unless I am real certain it can't go anywhere. I love a good campfire as much as anyone, I just want very safe conditions to light it. A couple years ago a grass fire got away and burned up several sections near us. I will never forget getting about 200 cow/calf pairs moved across a creek with the fire coming behind us. We got lucky and didn't lose any.

I'll still need a bag capable of getting through the night after the stove goes out, that is the thing I am having the hardest time deciding on now. I keep weighing weight/warmth/cost trying to figure out what is the best fit for me.

Found a site with an interesting floor option for the floorless tipi designs I'd looked at. Seekoutside has a bathtub style floor sheet that rolls small enough to just fit one sleeper, letting the stove sit in the middle of the 2 beds. They don't have a weight or price on it yet. If the Tyvek works good I won't need it anyway. I won't buy my shelter until them and wildesidesystems get their products finalized, the kifaru is just on the list as a weight reference for now.

 

[CaseyAlbert]

McSea:

Feel free to send me your info.

I have more junk than known to mankind and would love to let some of it out of the bag.

I will be leaving the country again om Thursday, but will let you know when to expect the goods. I have a busy day today, but will try to get down and let you know the width of the tyvek.

Have a great day!

Casey Albert

 

[jmden]

Make sure you guys are talking apples to apples as September gear compared to late Oct/Nov gear is typically two different sets of gear up high in the mountains. The wood stove is more likely to let you hunt hard everyday later in the season in cold/wet conditions.

I'm guessing the 12" Dandy saw is 8oz. You'll be happy to pack the extra weight when the woodcutting chores start for later season hunting. I won't pack the weight of the whole head of an animal out, but do cut off the antlers with a bit of skullcap, so the saw goes with me. Everybody has there own way of doing things.

 

[CaseyAlbert]

I absolutely second that one, which is why I'm trying to limit my comments on sleep and clothing gear. It is always nice to have heat in the wall tent when it is cold. I looked at the tipi tent pics last night on your web site. Pretty cool. I wonder though, if you could rig up a way to use the chimney to hold up the roof also? Maybe fire proof material built into the tent, or a witches hat on the chimney...

Happy Trails.

Casey Albert

 

[CaseyAlbert]

I meant to add this url previously.

I don't have any experience with hammocks for camping, but this sounds quite interesting.

HENNESSY HAMMOCKS: Cold Weather Camping

Anyone having experience, please let me know.

 

[Ian B]

Hey there judging by your gear it looks like you did your homework cool stuff man hope you have a good hunt.
Not much I can add here most of the other guys covered a good bit of stuff.
I agree 110% about not using the quick clot unless you have done everything.
I have been told by a couple guys over in the sandbox who are medics that it can do more harm than good if you dont know what your doing.
Its a good idea to try and get some training in that area not saying you need to absolutely go out and get it before you go but in the future.

Always bring a topo map and a compass just in case murphys law decides to beat the GPS up.
I also always try a bring a spot GPS tracker to.
Id recommend not bringing your cell phone if yours is anything like my last 5 phones its not made to get wet or banged around plus depending how remote the area is you wont get service.

As far as knives go ill admit I am some what of a knife snob I have been collecting knives since I can remember. I wont recommend any brands there is a lot of good ones out there but I recommend something made of D2 or VG-10 steel stuff holds and edge better than anything else I have tried.

And for boots because I think they are super critical to in case you decide you dont like the ones you got or they get destroyed.

cheek out White's Boots, Hunting Boots, Pac Boots, Work Boots, Outdoor Clothing I love theses things I use them for work and hunting they are a little expensive up front but are well worth it and less expensive in the long run if you go through boots alot because they will rebuild them for life.

Been thinking about getting a pair of theses and building them up for some really cold weather hunting up north. Sportsmen's Footwear Since 1898 - Hunting Boots, Outdoor Gear, Custom Made Boots, Hunt Boot, Hunters Boot, Hiking Boot, Tracking Boots

Any way like I said before have a good safe hunt.

 

[mcseal2]

Hey there judging by your gear it looks like you did your homework cool stuff man hope you have a good hunt.
Not much I can add here most of the other guys covered a good bit of stuff.
I agree 110% about not using the quick clot unless you have done everything.
I have been told by a couple guys over in the sandbox who are medics that it can do more harm than good if you dont know what your doing.
Its a good idea to try and get some training in that area not saying you need to absolutely go out and get it before you go but in the future.

Always bring a topo map and a compass just in case murphys law decides to beat the GPS up.
I also always try a bring a spot GPS tracker to.
Id recommend not bringing your cell phone if yours is anything like my last 5 phones its not made to get wet or banged around plus depending how remote the area is you wont get service.

As far as knives go ill admit I am some what of a knife snob I have been collecting knives since I can remember. I wont recommend any brands there is a lot of good ones out there but I recommend something made of D2 or VG-10 steel stuff holds and edge better than anything else I have tried.

And for boots because I think they are super critical to in case you decide you dont like the ones you got or they get destroyed.

cheek out White's Boots, Hunting Boots, Pac Boots, Work Boots, Outdoor Clothing I love theses things I use them for work and hunting they are a little expensive up front but are well worth it and less expensive in the long run if you go through boots alot because they will rebuild them for life.

Been thinking about getting a pair of theses and building them up for some really cold weather hunting up north. Sportsmen's Footwear Since 1898 - Hunting Boots, Outdoor Gear, Custom Made Boots, Hunt Boot, Hunters Boot, Hiking Boot, Tracking Boots

Any way like I said before have a good safe hunt.

Thanks for the reply, I'll look at those boot sites.

I am great at breaking cell phones also, the one I currently use has the front screen cracked from when a calf kicked me and hit the phone. It still works great though, it is a military grade phone and they seem to take the water and abuse and still last much longer than anything else I've tried.

Good advice also about the quick clot, it is for emergencies only. My brother in law that lives nearby has been an EMT for the last 5 years and has been teaching me the basics. I figure the vet wrap can be used to hold gauze bandages in place or to help imobilize a leg building a splint. A whole roll also weighs very little. Plus it is available in hot pink so I can also use a piece to mark a trail or down animal for a return trip. One of the multi-use items that can cut weight.

I also have lots of knives and keep aquiring more. I am still not sure what to pack in the back country yet due to weight and usefulness. I want a small but workable saw to notch larger limbs to break for the stove. The stove doesn't handle very large wood anyway, but I figured with a little saw I could notch limbs and get them to break where I want. I'm not sure if I can get by with the saw on a knife like the SOG Revolver or not. When I get the stove I will try it before my trip and find out. I could save 8.3oz by dropping the Gerber saw, and for a 3 day trip I don't think I'd run out of easy to get wood where I will be hunting.

 

[bowhunter42]

mcseal 2 I have been backpack hunting for the last several years and the best advice I can give is to get David Longs book called Public land Mulies. you can get it thru eastmans. as far as gear goes what time of year are you going to be hunting? for my mule deer hunts in september I take A 20 degree bag, if you are sleeping on an insulated pad its good to single didgit temps. also I strongly recomend for a stove jet boil its a little bulky but last year I cooked over 36 meals counting coffee and didnt even use a full fuel canister! my old stove wood use one every 2 days. It will boil 2 cups of water in 2 minutes.I also take 2 111 ounce water bladders one stays in my pack and one in camp for drinking. I also carry my water filter with me always that way when I come across a water source I fill up the bladder in my pack. my tent is a big agnus lynx pass 2 man weighs just over 4 pounds and has plenty of room for me and my gear to get out of the weather. Last year it rained every night and I stayed very dry and comfy. But get that book I think it's 20 bucks from eastmans and it is full of great gear tips and will get you on the right path! Good luck and great hunting!

 

[jmden]

mcseal 2 I have been backpack hunting for the last several years and the best advice I can give is to get David Longs book called Public land Mulies. you can get it thru eastmans. as far as gear goes what time of year are you going to be hunting? for my mule deer hunts in september I take A 20 degree bag, if you are sleeping on an insulated pad its good to single didgit temps. also I strongly recomend for a stove jet boil its a little bulky but last year I cooked over 36 meals counting coffee and didnt even use a full fuel canister! my old stove wood use one every 2 days. It will boil 2 cups of water in 2 minutes.I also take 2 111 ounce water bladders one stays in my pack and one in camp for drinking. I also carry my water filter with me always that way when I come across a water source I fill up the bladder in my pack. my tent is a big agnus lynx pass 2 man weighs just over 4 pounds and has plenty of room for me and my gear to get out of the weather. Last year it rained every night and I stayed very dry and comfy. But get that book I think it's 20 bucks from eastmans and it is full of great gear tips and will get you on the right path! Good luck and great hunting!

David Long's book is a great book for Muley hunting--shoulda thought of that myself...sorry mcseal. I guess this was a backpacking list thread, but David has some good stuff for that in the book too as that is mostly what he does--high country mule deer hunting. There's a few videos on line here and there with him hunting, either modern firearm, or more lately he's gotten into bowhunting.

The Jetboil is still the fastest way that I know of of getting water to boil for a dehy meal, for instance, but a bit bulky. The MSR Pocket Rocket and 4 oz. cannister and lighter will fit inside the MSR Titan Teakettle (much smaller than a jetboil) and be the perfect little cook kit--not quite as fast however. In the wind, especially, the jetboil wins hands down.

But mcseal was talking, I think, of a late October hunt, when wet/snowy weather is more expected and to hunt hard day after day in snow or even some rain, you really need a wood stove to dry off your gear, cook and warm up with, IMO.

 

[bowhunter42]

Sorry didntknow it was late october, you get know argument from me about wood stove for drying out gear. I do know one thing< you get in that back country and It really is Gods country and for me it has become an obssesion> 3 things you get the best you can afford. boots, bino's and sleeping bag any oneof those can make your trip rough!