What I have…….and what I need?

[Blacklab1]

October 9th I'm leaving for my first elk hunt in Colorado. We'll be hunting with a guide at 12,000 feet and are limited to 40lbs that we can pack into camp minuses rifle and sleeping bag. I hunt in the east from stands/blinds so I had to buy a lot of new packable clothing and don't have any way to field test it before I leave. Most of what I have is light to mid weight and layers nice (up to 4 layers is comfortable). I have a total of 6 tops and 6 bottoms (plus a light set of long Johns for sleeping) ranging from Sitka, Kuiu, Browning and Cabalas. I was wondering if I should try to cut down on some other stuff to add more clothing. Here's a list of what I'm planning on taking:
1 Accu Tac bipod 1lbs 4oz
1 box ammo 1lbs 8oz
1 boo boo bag (Advil, bandaids etc.) ….1lb
1 Leupold 10x42 binoculars 1lbs 13oz
1 thermos 1lbs
1 pillow 1lbs
1 personal hygiene bag 2lbs 2oz
Hand/foot warmers 2lbs 10oz
1 battery charger for phone, flashlight and headlamp 2lbs
1 headlamp 7oz
1 flashlight 5oz
1 knife 7oz
1 rangefinder 6oz
1 pair extra boots 3lbs 5oz
Socks, hats and gloves 2lbs 8oz
1 pair sunglasses in hard case 6oz
3 power bars (just incase) 8oz
1 fire starter kit 8oz
1 emergency Bivy 9oz
That's around 24lbs and my clothes weigh in around 18lbs so I think I'm close enough since I plan on wearing some of the clothes riding in. Is there anything I should change, add, subtract?
…….I forgot to add the packable rain gear. I didn't weigh it but I think it's less then a pound…….
Thanks in advance.

 

[wildbillb02]

Are your boots broke in?
Do you have something for blister care?
New battery is range finder?
Beanie to sleep in?

 

[26Reload]

12000 feet...id be more into sleeping warm in minimal 'warm comfortable fleece' clothes.....daytime is layer time....probably won't be sweating a lot at that elevation since its probably freezing over nite.....wouldnt worry too much about extra boots..but maybe some kind of campsite foot wear..gortex shoes......
I bet they get tired of seeing guys lugging 12-15# rifles into camp and put the 40# limit just to appease their own style of guiding....
When I guided steelhead trips in a driftboat there were always guys wanting to bring 'luggage' along..."if you aren't wearing it when you get into the boat...you won't need it"....
Cut down on lots of extra garbage...
Of course we still had room for the coolers with food and beverages...
Can only be so restrictive....

 

[Blacklab1]

Are your boots broke in?
Do you have something for blister care?
New battery is range finder?
Beanie to sleep in?

Yes my boots are broke in, yes I have a beanie , yes I have an extra battery for the range finder…..no I don't have any kind of blister care. I never had a problem in the past with that, what do you recommend?

 

[badthirtyone]

Moleskin for blister care and prevention.

And I'd bring an extra flashlight. Never enough light.

 

[Wysongdog]

How long are you hunting for? Leave the extra battery at home. Put the new battery in it before you leave. Extra boots? Camp shoes are a better option. Clothes.. where one pair of clothes in take 1 spare set. Guides like to see hunters come in light. Maybe a lightweight set of rain gear.

 

[whatnext]

Where's your pack? I would think you'd want at least a day pack and possibly something that has the ability to strap your rifle to and for packing meat. And I'd lose the bipod for carbon trekking poles. They'll come in handy for glassing and make good shooting sticks. Prone you can shoot off your pack. I'll second the moleskin and camp shoes over extra boots. You're used to sitting in a blind. You will be hiking up and down steep terrain and it punishes your feet.

 

[26Reload]

If it's fully guided and the guides are limiting you to 40# they better have the horses ready and if necessary an extra pack board.......a large sized daypack with 80% of everything needed inside.....

 

[wildbillb02]

Yes my boots are broke in, yes I have a beanie , yes I have an extra battery for the range finder…..no I don't have any kind of blister care. I never had a problem in the past with that, what do you recommend?

Mole skin or tenacious tape.

New battery goes in range finder before you leave home. You'll lose it or the old will die at the wrong time.

Yes take camp shoes. Your feet will thank you and so will you at 2am when you gotta pee.

Trekking poles rock.

Day pack would be nice.

 

[Muddyboots]

+1 on trekking poles. I have hunted at 12K and you will need to save every ounce of energy and they will help balance, provide extra power up and down or crossing anything. Great for steady shots in pinch.

 

[Blacklab1]

How long are you hunting for? Leave the extra battery at home. Put the new battery in it before you leave. Extra boots? Camp shoes are a better option. Clothes.. where one pair of clothes in take 1 spare set. Guides like to see hunters come in light. Maybe a lightweight set of rain gear.

We're going for 6 days. I was going to use my extra boots as camp shoes, their warm, very comfy and somewhat water proof but their not high end boots, they have zipper sides so their easy to slip on and off. In a pinch I wouldn't have a problem wearing them for a day of two in the field but I'd prefer to stick with my Danner's as first choice. As far as clothes I was planning on wearing 2 layers over my camp clothes for the ride in. That leaves a 12"x12"x24
pack with plenty of extra space, about 2/3 full. The guide said keep everything in 2 packs that size @ a max of 20lbs each.

 

[scotc]

October 9th I'm leaving for my first elk hunt in Colorado. We'll be hunting with a guide at 12,000 feet and are limited to 40lbs that we can pack into camp minuses rifle and sleeping bag. I hunt in the east from stands/blinds so I had to buy a lot of new packable clothing and don't have any way to field test it before I leave. Most of what I have is light to mid weight and layers nice (up to 4 layers is comfortable). I have a total of 6 tops and 6 bottoms (plus a light set of long Johns for sleeping) ranging from Sitka, Kuiu, Browning and Cabalas. I was wondering if I should try to cut down on some other stuff to add more clothing. Here's a list of what I'm planning on taking:
1 Accu Tac bipod 1lbs 4oz
1 box ammo 1lbs 8oz
1 boo boo bag (Advil, bandaids etc.) ….1lb
1 Leupold 10x42 binoculars 1lbs 13oz
1 thermos 1lbs
1 pillow 1lbs
1 personal hygiene bag 2lbs 2oz
Hand/foot warmers 2lbs 10oz
1 battery charger for phone, flashlight and headlamp 2lbs
1 headlamp 7oz
1 flashlight 5oz
1 knife 7oz
1 rangefinder 6oz
1 pair extra boots 3lbs 5oz
Socks, hats and gloves 2lbs 8oz
1 pair sunglasses in hard case 6oz
3 power bars (just incase) 8oz
1 fire starter kit 8oz
1 emergency Bivy 9oz
That's around 24lbs and my clothes weigh in around 18lbs so I think I'm close enough since I plan on wearing some of the clothes riding in. Is there anything I should change, add, subtract?
…….I forgot to add the packable rain gear. I didn't weigh it but I think it's less then a pound…….
Thanks in advance.

I would ditch the regular pillow for an inflatable one. you could save 1/2 lb or more. Not much but a start.

 

[Blacklab1]

Where's your pack? I would think you'd want at least a day pack and possibly something that has the ability to strap your rifle to and for packing meat. And I'd lose the bipod for carbon trekking poles. They'll come in handy for glassing and make good shooting sticks. Prone you can shoot off your pack. I'll second the moleskin and camp shoes over extra boots. You're used to sitting in a blind. You will be hiking up and down steep terrain and it punishes your feet.

I'm taking a Badlands pack. I guess I should have mentioned that. I went back and forth between taking trekking poles or some type of shooting stick ( bi or tripod) but feel more comfortable with a QD bipod. I have a mole pouch on the side of my pack that it fits in real nice and its easily accessible, I figure I can grab a branch for a walking stick and I'm horrible at shooting off of any kind of shooting sticks.....to the point where I'd rather pass on the shot if I can't get prone or off a rock with my bipod. I'm not into chasing a wounded elk up and down mountains. But to play it safe I think I'll throw the trekking poles in the truck and see if I can make room in one of my packs when were at the trail head, or maybe pawn them off to one of my buddies.
Thanks for the advice.

 

[Blacklab1]

If it's fully guided and the guides are limiting you to 40# they better have the horses ready and if necessary an extra pack board.......a large sized daypack with 80% of everything needed inside.....

Yes it's fully guided 2 on 1, and we are riding horses everyday. There's 4 of us going and 1 of us has been keeping in touch with the guide asking him everyone's questions. The way it was explained to me was the guide does most prep after/if a bull is down and we all haul it back to the horses. I hope I was given the right info