Your elk pack...

[iccyman001]

I was going through the history, but couldn\'t find much, so I figured I would start this.
With my seasons ending and I am sure most of yours have too, it\'s time I start looking back at what I had, needed, or want for future hunts.

I usually make a list now so I can slow pick stuff up before the next season creeps up.


With that being said, what are some of your common hunting/elk pack items.

What are you must haves, your nice to have, or pack if you have room items.


Let\'s hear your staple items...


For me whether I am just hiking in the woods, scouting, shed hunting, or hunting, I will always have:
- a compass
- two head lamps
- a nice first aid kit
- advil/baby aspirin (for potential heart attacks)
- space blanket
- matches
- 550 cord
- a backup knife
- toilet paper

When I am hunting you will find those same items, but you will also see stuff like:
- plastic gallon bags
- spare socks
- spare release for bow hunting or spare rounds for rifle hunting. (usually just 3 spare rounds)
- zip ties
- a pen/permanent marker
- GPS w/spare batts


This is not my all inclusive list, but you get the idea.

I am interested to see what you carry so I can learn from it or maybe you can pick up an idea from me.
We have a lot of experience and a lot smart people in here, so lets hear it....

 

[Swede]

For Hunting from my truck

In my day pack I carry:
GPS, compass, knife plus my pocket knife, TP, calls, lighter/matches/candle, knife sharpener, snack, water, face paint though I never use it, flash light, space blanket, extra release, extra AA batteries.

Optional items may include:
Bible for tree stand reading, Sudoku puzzles, pencil, map, binoculars, grunt tube, gloves, rain gear, coat or vest, more snacks, two way radio, head lamp

In my freighter I carry:
hatchet, cord, plastic garbage sack, game bags, water, Wyoming saw, extra knife and sharpener and may have food.

 

[cnelk]

Pretty much the same
I tie a rain jacket on the bottom of my pack,
I also carry 2 game bags, some flagging ribbon, fire starter
There might even be a 2 way radio in there somewhere too

 

[F M]

My hunting pack has most of the same but also have a camera and a small light gerber saw,maps,rain jacket and a pair of light gloves. Also carry some unscented wipes.

 

[cnelk]

It\'s get kinda in disarray after an elk is down tho.

 

[iccyman001]

Brad,
I know the feeling... thats how I lost my gopro this year :dk:

You just need someone with a level head to check the area after we are done!
I usually run off with an adrenaline filled smile and have no idea what I left behind. :dance2:

 

[Swede]

I forgot, I have my camera in my pack also. I am always an optimist, hoping for something to photograph.

 

[Zpd307]

my pack has:
camera-my iphone
extra batteries for gps and headlamp
a couple of lighters
maps
jacket, beanie, gloves
rope
duck tape
folding saw
one meat bag
Colorado=rain poncho, Idaho-no poncho
extra knife
food, water bladder
emergency blanket
gps, compass
calls
this year I will have an extra charger for my new gopro
licenses
otherwise I carry my pistol on my belt, along with a knife, rangefinder in my leg pocket, along with wind checker, chew, and most need of all-chapstick!

 

[Deertick]

I usually carry a fanny pack ... the thought is that my first trip out may not contain a while lot of meat, but I\'m also not going to get a hot back. Honestly, most of my trips back to camp are \"empty\".

Water (a bottle, not a bladder) and some iodine tablets to refill if needed.

Kill/butcher kit, including 4 game bags, Havalon knife, permit, and some paracord and zip ties

Duct tape (A.K.A first aid kit)

Space Rain top, compressed.

GPS and map, with pen

Rangefinder. (I usually don\'t take binoculars. They\'re a lot of weight, and the rangefinder is a pretty good monocular for checking things out in the woods.)

Camera.

Snack or meal, depending on how long I will be out.

Headlamp, because you never know.

If I\'m leaving in the morning, I\'ll have a jacket on. If in the afternoon, I\'ll have on in the pack. I\'m a wimp about cold.

Fire (matches + vaseline-soaked cotton balls), because you never know

Overall, I try to travel pretty light. If I take my bigger pack, I\'ll fill the darn thing. I can always think \"Maybe this, maybe that.\" I\'ve really tried to get away from that sort of thinking. Probably the only thing that I sometimes take that is not on the list is my heads-up decoy or the Slip System.

 

[Zpd307]

john, I down graded to a smaller pack last year for that same reason. I have headed back to camp everyday empty handed for the past 3 years. no sense in carrying all of my game bags, butcher/sharpening set, and all other elk down essentials every day....
I do want to get a hud decoy for this year, to give a little flash with my calls. maybe that will help.
I did forget to mention that I do carry binos around my neck and a bugle tube- a wiffle ball bat, in my pack. I only used it a couple of times last year, so it spent most of its time in the pack.

 

[cnelk]

Items in your pack are prob compared to your car insurance.
You have limited liability when you know you can afford it, and full coverage on the big items.

I wouldnt want to have limited liability when full coverage only weighs a few more pounds.
Especially when the elk may take you into country that tests your deductible

 

[Zpd307]

Items in your pack are prob compared to your car insurance.
You have limited liability when you know you can afford it, and full coverage on the big items.

I wouldnt want to have limited liability when full coverage only weighs a few more pounds.
Especially when the elk may take you into country that tests your deductible

:lol: you made me remember that I forgot to include butt wipe..... wet wipes work miracles in preventing monkey butt!

 

[iccyman001]

I usually carry a fanny pack ... the thought is that my first trip out may not contain a while lot of meat, but I\'m also not going to get a hot back. Honestly, most of my trips back to camp are \"empty\".

Water (a bottle, not a bladder) and some iodine tablets to refill if needed.

Kill/butcher kit, including 4 game bags, Havalon knife, permit, and some paracord and zip ties

Duct tape (A.K.A first aid kit)

Space Rain top, compressed.

GPS and map, with pen

Rangefinder. (I usually don\'t take binoculars. They\'re a lot of weight, and the rangefinder is a pretty good monocular for checking things out in the woods.)

Camera.

Snack or meal, depending on how long I will be out.

Headlamp, because you never know.

If I\'m leaving in the morning, I\'ll have a jacket on. If in the afternoon, I\'ll have on in the pack. I\'m a wimp about cold.

Fire (matches + vaseline-soaked cotton balls), because you never know

Overall, I try to travel pretty light. If I take my bigger pack, I\'ll fill the darn thing. I can always think \"Maybe this, maybe that.\" I\'ve really tried to get away from that sort of thinking. Probably the only thing that I sometimes take that is not on the list is my heads-up decoy or the Slip System.

I really do like the idea of this, I just haven\'t forced myself to try it yet. I like the idea of having something little because that means I can navigate a lot better and go a lot further.

I think the one thing that I always use to convince myself out of it, would be the fact that I know how I can get on hunts. Me wanting to take a little hike could turn into a 10 mile hike, just to lose myself. So with me taking all of the stuff that I normally do, I would have no issue dropping where I stopped hiking and staying there for the night. Or if stuff hit the fan, and I injured myself bad, I have certain items that would increase my chances of getting out alive.

I think that if I finally got used to an area enough, we will say like where I hunt in Oklahoma, I could definitely go with the small pack. I know the lay out, I know the best ways to get out of the woods, and it\'s easy enough that I don\'t need to stay out there.

Now for my NM hunts or if I do a CO hunt, I think I would want all my \"just in case stuff\" until I was more comfortable.


I do think it\'s smart with less.

 

[iccyman001]

Too add, I would say it\'s situational.


If someone like Brad knew he had a 1 mile hike to a tree stand and he knows the entire area, he can certainly bring a bigger bag will wants/needs. When I am in a tree stand, I need a lot of \"wants\" to keep my occupied because I sit all day.

Now if it were someone like Pete, who knew the area he was hunting, but wanted to be out still hunting the entire day, I don\'t think he needs a large pack. Something smaller would work great.

 

[mtnmutt]

Items that may not have been mentioned that I carry:
SPOT - I hunt solo. I use the send message to check in daily with the family.

Trekking Poles are attached to my pack unless crossing a wide creek or going down a steep slope. Also good when I may twist an ankle.

Grabber Hand Warmers - I wear thin merino wool gloves. These hand warmers will keep my hands warm into the teens.

Coghlans Deluxe/Commando Saw - elkmtngear suggested this in lieu of the WY saw. My WY saw now stays in the car.

Vortex Solo 10x36 Monocular which is actually clipped to my pants using a Heavy Duty T-Reign Gear retractable gear tether. DeerTick gave me the idea for the monocular. I rarely glassed with binos. Despite using a good harness, they were in the way. Now I use the monocular frequently to scan areas and it only requires one hand. At the outdoor range, I use it for viewing arrows in the target. It was the best new hunting item I purchased (free using a gift card) in 2014.

Brad made extremely good points, especially if you are solo. The mountains are not kind to those who are unprepared. The SAR stories I hear all have a common theme...unprepared hikers for the elements and terrain.

Weigh everything you put into your pack which may motivate you to find a lighter weight solution or find an item that may serve multiple purposes. I get carried away with my hunting day pack, especially carried water because I get dehydrated easily. For backpacking in Summer, I go lightweight (24-27# depending on carried water).

Have all of you weighed your packs? I am curious how much your packs\' weigh, including the items you may wear like binos and jackets that later get stashed in your pack.

BTW, Water weighs a lot! 1 liter of water = 2.2 lbs / 1 kilogram. If I am out all day and will not refill at a creek, I carry 2-3 liters. For morning or evening only outings, I get by with 1 liter.

 

[JohnFitzgerald]

Heres what\'s either in my pack or on me,

Havalon Knife
Cub Bear Knife
Sharpner
GPS
Flagging Tape
Tie Straps
Camera + Clipshot
Mini Leatherman
Heavy Duty Impact Proof Lighter + Instant Fire
Radio
Watch
Head Lamp
Smoke In a Bottle
Para Cord
8 gallon zip lock bag + 4 meat bags
2 garbage bagsp
Cayenne Pepper
TP
Face Mask + Gloves
Lightweight and Quiet Rain Gear
MSR Water Filter
Bladder Bag
First Aid
Wind River Binos + Vortex Range Finder
Scott Release
2 EPI Pens

*Not Shown: Bow, Grunt Tub, Calls, Gallon Zip Bag with Daily Food

 

[elkmtngear]

My day pack is probably 30 pounds, and includes:

Delorme InReach
GPS unit
Two headlamps
paracord
Two knives
Speedy Sharp
striker and small firestarter (a tampon)
small cable saw
extra Slipcover for SLIP System (camo vs decoy)
4 pair of pantyhose (for game bags)
Sawyer squeeze
Steripen
One Liter water bottle
Food (Jerky, PBH Tortilla, Trail Mix or PayDay)
Extra Batteries for headlamp/Steripen/GPS unit/Delorme InReach
Small video cam (takes 10MP Stills as well)
mini tripod (attaches to limbs or stands)
extra finger tab
Space Rain Jacket
Down Vest
Wind Checker
Bugle Tube
Diaphragm Calls
Light Sniper Gloves
Gaiters
TP

I think that\'s about it :think:

Disclaimer: A lot of this stuff is hanging off the pack belt, or in my pants pockets when I\'m walking, for easier access. I also usually have a bino harness on my chest. My bow hangs on a bowhook attached to the pack, and hangs on my left hip.

I can and will shoot with all the gear on that you see; I can stab the SLIP System in the ground, and be drawn in seconds.

 

[iccyman001]

Thats a cool picture Jeff

 

[elkmtngear]

Thats a cool picture Jeff

Thanks, Dan. Chugging my way up to the next \"bench\" (hopefully) :dk:

 

[JohnFitzgerald]

Tick - As a doctor, what do you recommend hunters take for first aid? I carry two EPI\'s and duct tape along with my basic med kit. Anything else hunters should carry?