I wanna hear what everyone packs with them when you go on a mule deer, elk, or pronghorn hunt. Obviously I know it's gunna change per season and animal hunted but what's some of the stuff y'all don't leave home without? Let's say you're gunna be camping out as well. Everything from what type of long Johns to what kinda knife do you like to pack?

Also, what's your favorite pack for packing out a quartered up animal?

Merino base layers (kuiu, first lite, etc), merino socks (darn tough), rain shell (kuiu, first lite, Sitka), day pack with load sling (kuiu), many knives out there (personally like kestrel), mid layer (brands above), insulation layer if potential of cold, download area on OnX (gps) for redundancy, quality head light, back up battery pack.

I always bring way too much stuff and end up wearing the same stuff every day.

As far as rain gear goes, do you use rain proof pants to go with your rain jacket? I just bought First Lite's seak storm tight jacket the other day. Thinking about getting their pants also.

Most of the stuff has a high degree of water repelency and kuiu axis has water proof on shoulders. I pack a true water proof shell if I know it's going to rain a lot. Water proof shells are typically fairly loud. Same with pants.

Baby wipes!

-Some type of gun rest (mono pod, bipod, tripod)
-knee pads (especially for antelope on the plains). I use 5.11
-bino harness

1) I received all of my advice from this board - so good start!
2) Pedialyte packets. Staying hydrated, assuming you're at elevation, and/or going on a strenuous hike, is essential. Easiest and lightest way is with these packets. Literally the best piece of advice I received.

Stranahans in a flask!

I carry a pocket knife, a victorinox fibrox boning knife, and a lightweight diamond sharpening steel. Knives are heavy, don't carry more than you really need.

It doesn't rain much in most of the west, don't worry too much about rain gear, i don't bring more than a poncho/survival shelter most hunts

1st lite mid weight merino layer
Cabelas polar weight layer ( for sleeping)
Fleece jacket
Puffy Jacket
Kuiu gloves
Exo 3500 pack
Lowa Tibet GTX boots
Cat meow 20 degree bag
Cabela ultra light weight tent( for 3)
Ascend sleeping mat
Backpacking stove
Several different knives
Game bags ( didn't get used)
2.5 liter platypus
32 oz nalgene
Gun
Monopod that I used as hiking pole
10x42 binocs with vortex Bino harness
2 pair of pants - 1 Columbia hunting and 1 wrangler hunting (worked great )
Cabelas space rain jacket and pants
3 pair wool socks
2 pair 1sr lite boxer briefs
Knit cap
Hunter orange vest and hat
Small flashlight
OnX Hunt in my phone
Garmin Reach with GPS
2 gas cartridges for stove

Ist elk hunt and pretty much used everything I brought - don't need anything for next hunt except a more remote spot . I will need to add a solar charger for phone and garmin. Filled out my list based on the advice from
Folks on this board

This is what I packed for my DIY rifle1 hunt. Packwise if money was no issue I'd get a stone glacier or exo mountain pack but I bought a alps outdoorz commander x per cup of Joe's rec.

Inside belt pack:
Solar Charger and Phone w/ charging Cable
Multi tool
Id, credit card, keys

An outer accessible pocket:
head lamp, rain Poncho , watch, inflatable butt pad, gloves
orange cap, orange vest,

Next most accessible pocket:
Water Filter
Pen
2x Zip Tie
Paracord
Skinning Knife
Baby Wipes
bullets
Hand warmers !!!!

Emergency kit in a ziplock: Blister Tx, Bandages, Israeli bandage, Bite/Sting Cream, space blanket, Vaseline and cotton, Iodine tabs, compass, nitrile gloves. Microfiber towel. Antihistamine. Pepto, Lighter w/ electrical tape, fire starter, License /Tag/Hunter Ed, batteries

Toiletries in ziplock: Toothbrush/paste/floss; Aquafor, sunscreen, gold bond, more Wipes

Nalgene and hiking Sticks

Harness with Binos and Range Finder and ear plugs


Hunting Clothes rewear entire trip
Beanie
Neck gaiter
Long lower base layer (minus33)
Long upper Mid layer (Sitka )
Short upper base layer (minus33)
Hunting pant (Sitka)
Hunting socks(darn tough)
Boots
Gaiters
Vest
Jacket
Puffy pant and jacket

Clothes in Dry bag
long sleeve/long pant base layers for sleeping
1 pair short Wool sleeping socks
1 spare pair wool hunting socks
Sleeping beanie


Tent and footprint
Camp Pillow
Sleeping pad

0 degree Sleeping bag and liner

Food
1 long spoon
1 day ration:

Cliff Bar for breakfast
Snack:
1bag Fritos and almonds
cheese stick

Lunch
Tortilla with dried sausage link for lunch *
mustard packet
Lara bar

1 bag mountain House meal for dinner
Nuun tablet
1 Digestive cookie

A thirty foot fifth wheel with a satellite dish set outside. A good beer while relaxing in your recliner watching football while your son cooks supper. All this while you're parked on the side of a mountain for deer season in eastern Oregon. The next day you wake up and you and your son both shoot a buck.

Meanwhile I struggle over the same country for a week and see nothing while living in a trailer with no power, water or heat.

My recommendation: a big trailer with satellite to stay in, a son to cook for you, and a cheap day pack to carry your beef jerky and toilet paper in. You'll have more success that way! True story!

NRD09 said:

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Stranahans in a flask!

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What about boots? I assume your favorite brands are probably Crispi or a more expensive brand like it?

I've got a pair of Danners but they're uninsulated and not real water proof. Comfortable but not water proof. I took the dog for a walk in the snow the other day that we had and could tell my feet were gunna get wet by the end.

I like Lowa renegades, the Tibets mentioned above are a notch burlier, lots of people like kennetrek, crispi, etc, buy the boot that fits you best, as long as it's a solid supportive waterproof backpacking boot it'll be fine. I do uninsulated, if you're gong to be hunting November or later you might want insulated

Done

I really like my Salomon boots. Very comfortable and more reasonably priced.

I have Asolo Landscape GVboots that I really like. We were up there in snow and the gortex kept my feet dry and the boots didn't weigh 5 pounds each.

I'd also take a little salt, pepper, and Tony's if you're eating mountain house meals.

If you are looking for alternatives to the big names, I have had great luck with the Black Ovis merino layers. Been wearing them for a few years now, even whitetail and waterfowl hunt in them while in Texas. Subscribe to the camofire.com email and they pop up every week or so.

Regarding boots, I've found that the best boot is what fits your foot. The Salomon 4D quest fits my feet great. I had a more expensive brand before that, they weren't comfortable on my feet, I returned them, picked up the Salomons and been using them for 4 seasons.

Boots, I went and tried on several pairs from REI and settled on Lowa Renegade (like nRD said) as the best fitting and feeling of them all.

txaggie02 said:

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Baby wipes!

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Prefer other types of wipes designed more for the application than the baby wipes. Way too small, often scented, and not necessarily good for the skin for back county baths.

ttha_aggie_09 said:

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1) I received all of my advice from this board - so good start!
2) Pedialyte packets. Staying hydrated, assuming you're at elevation, and/or going on a strenuous hike, is essential. Easiest and lightest way is with these packets. Literally the best piece of advice I received.

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There's other options as well. NUUN is what I use more these days after a suggestion from an Iron Man acquaintance.

What type of hunting are we talking about here? Just naming a species isn't going to delineate much. There's lots of styles of hunting and my gear is going to tailored to what it allows.

• Hunting camp where space / weight is no option?
• Guided hunt from lodge?
• Guided hunt in the back county?
• DIY pack in?

AgLA06 said:

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txaggie02 said:

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Baby wipes!

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Prefer other types of wipes designed more for the application than the baby wipes. Way too small, often scented, and not necessarily good for the skin for back county baths.

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I subscribe to Dollar Shave club and before a hunt I add on a pack of "one wipe charlie's" to that months box

TH36 said:

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What about boots? I assume your favorite brands are probably Crispi or a more expensive brand like it?

I've got a pair of Danners but they're uninsulated and not real water proof. Comfortable but not water proof. I took the dog for a walk in the snow the other day that we had and could tell my feet were gunna get wet by the end.

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Depends on how ruff the hunt (distance hiked, terrain, weather). Danners and the like can be ok for hunting camp. I painfully paid the price wearing them on my first back country hunt. My only personal experience is Lowas and Crispi and both were great. I'd suggest going to REI and the like to try on as much of the nice brands you can find as fit is very important. You may only find one or two options per brand and often not the model you are looking for, but it should help you see how they run in size. From there it's picking the style that matches your foot and the hunting style you plan to do.

Areas I no longer skimp even if I have to save a couple years to get high quality equipment. My passion is DIY back country elk / mule deer, so that's what drives my gear. I was way too far out of shape and my pack was way to heavy this year. Now that I have the big ticket items mostly covered, it's time to refine the rest of the gear.

• lightweight, high quality 4 season tent with stove jack.
• lightweight, high quality 0deg or -10deg bag (not mummy style)
• lightweight, high quality boots
• lightweight, high quality pack
• Marino wool under layers.

My luxury item important to me

• lightweight, high quality stove for tent
• Rechargeable everything (headlamp, flashlight, tent lights, phone, global transponder) all powered by a solar charger. Batteries suck in the mounts, die quickly, are heavy, and should be carried back out.
• Camel back style water system. If the tube isn't in my face, I just don't drink enough to ward off dehydration and altitude sickness.
• Jetboil and good instant coffee / hot chocolate.

Definitely not going to be a pack in hunt. Will be more of a base camp and walk in every day type of hunt. I'm way to far out of shape to pack everything in and everything out on my back. My other problem is altitude, I've got asthma so the whole altitude thing added in doesn't help. I've been looking for lower elevation units to hunt in because of this.

txaggie02 said:

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Baby wipes!

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And Gold Bond powder or spray

lazuras_dc said:

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This is what I packed for my DIY rifle1 hunt. Packwise if money was no issue I'd get a stone glacier or exo mountain pack but I bought a alps outdoorz commander x per cup of Joe's rec.

Inside belt pack:
Solar Charger and Phone w/ charging Cable
Multi tool
Id, credit card, keys

An outer accessible pocket:
head lamp, rain Poncho , watch, inflatable butt pad, gloves
orange cap, orange vest,

Next most accessible pocket:
Water Filter
Pen
2x Zip Tie
Paracord
Skinning Knife
Baby Wipes
bullets
Hand warmers !!!!

Emergency kit in a ziplock: Blister Tx, Bandages, Israeli bandage, Bite/Sting Cream, space blanket, Vaseline and cotton, Iodine tabs, compass, nitrile gloves. Microfiber towel. Antihistamine. Pepto, Lighter w/ electrical tape, fire starter, License /Tag/Hunter Ed, batteries

Toiletries in ziplock: Toothbrush/paste/floss; Aquafor, sunscreen, gold bond, more Wipes

Nalgene and hiking Sticks

Harness with Binos and Range Finder and ear plugs


Hunting Clothes rewear entire trip
Beanie
Neck gaiter
Long lower base layer (minus33)
Long upper Mid layer (Sitka )
Short upper base layer (minus33)
Hunting pant (Sitka)
Hunting socks(darn tough)
Boots
Gaiters
Vest
Jacket
Puffy pant and jacket

Clothes in Dry bag
long sleeve/long pant base layers for sleeping
1 pair short Wool sleeping socks
1 spare pair wool hunting socks
Sleeping beanie


Tent and footprint
Camp Pillow
Sleeping pad

0 degree Sleeping bag and liner

Food
1 long spoon
1 day ration:

Cliff Bar for breakfast
Snack:
1bag Fritos and almonds
cheese stick

Lunch
Tortilla with dried sausage link for lunch *
mustard packet
Lara bar

1 bag mountain House meal for dinner
Nuun tablet
1 Digestive cookie

---

I would second the 0 degree bag if you sleep cold - the 20 degree bag wasn't enough on a couple of nights and goods night sleep is important to have the energy you need a full days hunt. I started researching 0 degree bags as soon as I got back. I did mid October 1st rifle that included a snow storm and 15 degree temps that night.

I bought my boots online and got lucky that they fit well - if I didn't live in a small town in N La I would have spent more time trying to in boots to find the perfect fit. Got them 3 months in advance and wore them on all of training hikes to get them broke in

So what did your training hikes consist of? This is my next step, I've gotta get my fat ass in gear on exercise (I'm not that fat, just outta shape).... My job has me on my feet all day so exercise hiking/walking/running when I get home sounds like hell on earth.

TH36 said:

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So what did your training hikes consist of? This is my next step, I've gotta get my fat ass in gear on exercise (I'm not that fat, just outta shape).... My job has me on my feet all day so exercise hiking/walking/running when I get home sounds like hell on earth.

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I was already running 3 miles 3-4 days per week and have some decent hills around the house (only relative to La ). Once I got
My boots, I put a 40 lb sack of corn in my pack and would walk almost exclusively the hills up and down for 45-60 minutes 2-3 times per week. Looked like true dork In the neighborhood and even got stopped by cop one day to ask if I was Ok.

The closer I got to the trip, I did almost all walking with the pack and less running. I also replaced the 40 lb sack of corn with 50lb sack and water to get my pack weight up to 55 lbs. no matter what you do, you will feel like you should have done more when you get there. But we held up to 37 miles and elevation gains 1500 feet over the 6 days so we were sufficiently prepared - my 24 year old son did a lot less training g but he had age on his side

I also added push-ups and sit-ups into my routine to build up core strength.

AgDad121619 said:

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1 - don't need anything for next hunt except a more remote spot .

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Good luck. We hiked approximately 2 miles and 1k feet elevation into a wilderness spot that produced previously. Up until this year it was was a remote spot. Not this year.

Talked to a cowboy who ran cattle in the area. He said in addition to unusually dry weather, Covid pushed lots of people to places he's never seen tourists all year long in huge numbers. Animals just disappeared since March. I guess we'll see if this is the new normal or just Covid isolated.

Definitely sucked either way. Of course the 24-30 inches of snow that week didn't help either.

TH36 said:

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So what did your training hikes consist of? This is my next step, I've gotta get my fat ass in gear on exercise (I'm not that fat, just outta shape).... My job has me on my feet all day so exercise hiking/walking/running when I get home sounds like hell on earth.

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You want to know what is hell on earth? Going on a hunt out west and not being physically prepared. The feeling when you know the elk are on the other side of a hill but you just hiked 6 miles at 10,000+ and you can't attempt it.

My first elk hunt was a last second archery trip that I had 1 month to prepare for. I workout quite a bit but don't incorporate a lot of cardio. That hunt kicked my ass...

My next trip I prepared for about 3-4 months in advance and worked in a lot of cardio (running + stair climber). We averaged right at 10 miles a day and we hunted from 9,500-12,500'. I was WAY more prepared and enjoyed the second hunt much more than the first.

You don't have to be in ironman shape prior to your hunt but you need to be able to understand your body's limitations and have the mental fortitude to push your body as it starts trying to limit you.

Good luck!

AgDad121619 said:

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TH36 said:

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So what did your training hikes consist of? This is my next step, I've gotta get my fat ass in gear on exercise (I'm not that fat, just outta shape).... My job has me on my feet all day so exercise hiking/walking/running when I get home sounds like hell on earth.

---

I was already running 3 miles 3-4 days per week and have some decent hills around the house (only relative to La ). Once I got
My boots, I put a 40 lb sack of corn in my pack and would walk almost exclusively the hills up and down for 45-60 minutes 2-3 times per week. Looked like true dork In the neighborhood and even got stopped by cop one day to ask if I was Ok.

The closer I got to the trip, I did almost all walking with the pack and less running. I also replaced the 40 lb sack of corn with 50lb sack and water to get my pack weight up to 55 lbs. no matter what you do, you will feel like you should have done more when you get there. But we held up to 37 miles and elevation gains 1500 feet over the 6 days so we were sufficiently prepared - my 24 year old son did a lot less training g but he had age on his side

I also added push-ups and sit-ups into my routine to build up core strength.

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All great advice!

I would make sure to incorporate squats, lunges, and probably some variation of deadlifts. You really need a strong base with good flexibility. Lunges are great for preparing for deadfall.

I totally hear ya. I'm already behind the curve cause I've got asthma. You mix in altitude and being out of shape, I'd go tits up pretty fast I imagine.

I realize you guys who are really into it probably have a great diet and all.

AgLA06 said:

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AgDad121619 said:

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1 - don't need anything for next hunt except a more remote spot .

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Good luck. We packed into a wilderness spot that produced previously. Up until this year it was was a remote spot. Not this year.

Talked to a cowboy who ran cattle in the area. He said in addition to unusually dry weather, Covid pushed lots of people to places he's never seen tourists all year long in huge numbers. Animals just disappeared since March. I guess we'll see if this is the new normal or just Covid isolated.

Definitely sucked either way. Of course the 24-30 inches of snow that week didn't help either.

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. We had tags for 41,42,411,52 and 521. We had narrowed it down to 42 because I work with guy that bow hunts that unit every year and 521 which I got some great intel from the wildlife biologist. We went with 42 so we were didn't truly backpack in - hinted from a campsite along the road ( which was good from the aspect of having a little margin of error for learning on our 1st hunt). We he's cows answering our calls, saw a lot of sign, and finally located a bull on out last full day and got a few bugles but never saw him. There were some other hunters who were regulars at he spot that killed a few bulls.

We will likely do 521 which will require 5 mile hike just to get into the wilderness basin this coming year - hoping this will increase the encounters we have. This is why I will need to add the solar charger and probably my hunters axe for gathering firewood

Sorry dp - meant to edit some
Typos but hit the wrong button