What's in your bivy pack?

[Wyhunter]

Ok, new to this style of hunting but going to take a crack at it this fall. We are looking at taking a 10 day hunt in the Big Horn Mnts with the option of coming back to a base camp if need be, I'd like to go 3-4 days with out returning. What kind of supplies do you guys make sure you have with you for this kind of hunts?

 

[cowboystl1]

lol thats a loaded question aside from the obvious food i would look at it like a four day hunt bed roll including mattress, shelter, something to make fire and clean water,
cook stove,
map compass gps,
spare socks and an extra shirt thats my preference,
meat bags ( makes a great pillow)
50' of 550 cord  or 3/8 braided rope
good walking stick or you can go fancy trekking poles your call
good pair of nocks for glassing,
range finder
if your rifle hunting i like a real avid gun smith tool just in case with a small remoil tube
if bow real avid bow smith tool and a small tube of reel oil
most important is your layers of dress weather in the mouintains can shift fast so i like to be covered from hot to cold peel off or add as needed base, middle, and outershell this is off the top of my head id really have to consult my list to be more accurate   

 

[Wyhunter]

Awesome response, I'm just afraid that I'm going to forget the obvious, the nice thing is we are going early September so hopefully it doesn't get to cold, shelter wise my thoughts are to use a tarp and sleeping bag, have fire starter and stones plus matches, I'm still up in the air on food. What do you use for rations? Homemade vacuum sealed or premade store bought rations

 

[cowboystl1]

good thing about a tarp is your walking stick and some 550 makes it damn near a tent   i have an old military bivy so i dont need a ground cloth or have to fold my tarp  i didnt add my pistol and knife to that list bear country i suggest spray or a pistol just a thought.


food i mostly use mountain house and keep the variety up next time i go out ill be even more varied i found some hippy web sites that offer freeze dried foods and dehydrated stuff whole foods and milar bags on amazon so i can mix my own.


breakfast is usually oatmeal packets coffee which now days you can get in a tea bag form 


lunches is your call but i personally keep it simple dried fruits and nuts with some jerky


dinner is all out high calorie as i can do carbonza if i can mountain house meals and soon some stuff i will throw together from my hippie back packer sites i found. hell i even found precooked caned bacon only 9 ounces im gonna try it out this weekend.


side note i keep on hand a healthy supply of granola bars power bars etc  mixed bag prolly two a day maybe three for in between snacks 


the object is less is more more is less total pack weight you really need to watch practice put all your stuff in it now food too carry it around now the high dollar gear will keep you lighter but try to hit 50lbs tops on pack weight remember you cant go with out food and bed everything else can be cut down or out think light really on a three or four day you should be able to hit 40lb pack np the first few times you pack it and weigh it you will think im crazy but the more crap you realize you dont need the better you are. 

 

[Wyhunter]

Wow that's some great wisdom being thrown out right there! My goal is keep my pack 40-42lbs. I've got my pack loaded to 35lbs right now and am covering 5-6 miles a night in just over a hour with no issues. I've been looking at that mountain house packs, dehydrated fruit, lots of jerky, and other light weight food that is in small packages.

 

[cowboystl1]

sounds like your on the right track dont forget your camera im not going this year so share the pics

 

[Wyhunter]

Will do, have the Go-Pro mounted to the bow then a camera in the bag

 

[cowboystl1]

Will do, have the Go-Pro mounted to the bow then a camera in the bag

jonesing bad hate that im not going to the mountains this year! so ill take anything i can get

 

[Wyhunter]

What area do you normally hunt?

 

[cowboystl1]

we were normally in the Sellway northern Idaho but the wolves have us beat there so we are taking a year and re-gearing buying points and looking at otc archery in other states. also im nursing a knee problem that hopefully is on the mend now so ill be good to go next year 

 

[Wyhunter]

Awesome! Best of luck with that

 

[cowboystl1]

thanks good luck on your hunt

 

[sanman]

Here is what is in my pack the last couple years, it's broken down with weight (see attachment).  Everyone is going to be a little different but this is what has worked for me. Always making adjustments but nothing major. This is for 5-7days in the backwoods of CO. 

 

[Wyhunter]

Thats an amazing breakdown! Showed my wife she said that's a little OCD, I said no honey he knows exactly what he has in his possession every time he steps out of the pick up

 

[cowboystl1]

mines to big to post lol they make a great reference and show you where you can cut weight  or drop gear altogether lol tell your wife to be careful or she wont make the list lol