Getting ready for elk and going through gear and counting the days. And the days are getting harder to deal with so humour me with your wisdom here. What gear other than the obvious items you use. What items have you figured out help you in the backcountry with your hunt or your camp , I guess it don't matter if it is an obvious item or not. Help me get past the next few weeks with your vast amounts of knowledge.....
,,,,Sam,,,,
Take a small feather and thread to tie on a branch or something .
Good wind indicator and will amuse you to watch it .
Steri-pen. Light, effective, reliable.
Sawyer squeeze filter pretty awesome too. Dont need fancy gear just need to get out and enjoy!!
I agree with the above statement , it ain't about fancy gear the majority of mine is secondhand and patched up. And my pack sure is not the lightest when I hit the trail ( and hopefully real heavy on the way out ). Here is my favorite pic from last year going out heavy......
Note the fancy camo....
(http://i884.photobucket.com/albums/ac45/samstephens71/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-09/2C917D93-3210-4DA3-84D3-527EB7412C6E_zps7iwgug2m.jpg) (http://s884.photobucket.com/user/samstephens71/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-09/2C917D93-3210-4DA3-84D3-527EB7412C6E_zps7iwgug2m.jpg.html)
Toilet paper and wipes!! Pretty obvious, but could you imagine a week with out them!
Plenty of trail mix, not only for you, but to keep the Grey Jays, and the ground squirrels happy around camp...2 good headlamps always!
Mole skin in case you get a hot spot or blister on your foot and butt butter (salve) in case you get a hot spot or rash there.
Coghlans makes a lot of handy camping products...one that I like is the firestarter matches...in a hypothermic situation they could save your life
DDave
I like duct tape for hot spots.
I always carry an Esbit Pocket stove and a stainless steel cup along with instant coffee and boullion cubes.
https://www.rei.com/product/653343/esbit-pocket-stove
All good tips........best of luck on your adventure! Enjoy the high country!! :thumbsup:
I keep a roll of electrical tape in my pack. Handy for all kinds of things. Bicycle inner tube cut into short sections and makes handy little dry bags for batteries, aspirin, fire starters etc.
Best of luck, Sam.
Jake
A friend always talked about carrying 4 tree steps,for hanging bagged elk quarters to cool.
Rope and other devices for pulling can be very important in maneuvering an elk on the ground,holding legs up etc,especially on inclines.We can't choose where they fall.
I don't go out without a good,LED headlight.
I put a mini hammock in my fanny pack.Mid day away from camp took a couple of naps really enjoyed them.Kip
Got my gear all packed and ready to go. After a couple times it is getting easier. I don't take much, don't really care about comfort, just the essentials.
Some lesser thought of essentials to me
1) Coffee....lack of caffeine headaches are near death experiences.
2) Chapstick- being from the humidity of the south, after 2-3 days in the CO dry air lips will crack like crazy
3) Saline Nasal spray-kind of same as above.\\
Can't wait !!!!!
Being a fire guy, I'm sure you have lots of latex gloves that come in handy for field dressing.
Duct tape; always handy.
Cotton balls and fire striker.
Parachute cord.
Make sure your fletching is 100% waterproof...If it rains get out there it's going to get exciting!
About three times as much paracord as you think you need. Get the kind that has the reflectance material woven In. If you hang meat with it or use it around camp, It really stands out when hit by your light.
A couple of heavy duty tent stakes in the day pack can be used to hold elk legs up when there is nothing to tie to. I started using them after being repeatedly kicked in the head by a dead elk. :thumbsup:
Foot and body powder. A liitle foot powder and camp shoes goes a long way for comfort and keeping feet in good shape.
I have really been impressed with my Sawyer squeeze the last few years also.
Live within 20 minutes of your hunt area!! (Like I do!)
I've been kicking around the idea of taking my ultralight hammock for a midday seat/nap and using it to lay out deboned meat to cool. The idea would be a quick way to get air circulation, the meat could lay out flat and give the game bags a little extra fly protection.
I have an "overnight" belt pack that I take every time I leave camp. It carries 2-3 days emergency supplies, in case of emergency : first aid, waterproof 'farmers' matches for fire starter, some heavy black garbage bags for rain or tarp shelter, a camp cup, and tea & sugar and oatmeal contained inside. Various other things, too, but in the event that there is an injury accident, I want to be able to survive. I have always hunted pretty remote areas.
Sam old trick for backpackers, cotton ball rubbed with vasoline
works good for fire starter and other "things"
Sawyer Squeeze water filter not the mini, don't have one yet but it's first on my list.good reviews.
Good huntin. Bob
Multiple ways to start a fire, packed in different areas to minimize loss or destruction/damage. ( ie waterproof strike anywhere matches, in metal match case, magnifying glass, Zippo lighter/fluid/flints, "Bic" disposable lighter (tape gas level closed, so tight packing/movement is minimized for fuel loss). cotton ball dipped in wax. candles.
Plastic drop cloth ( light weight, minimimal bulk for protection from environment/ rain,wind etc., can be made into a shelter if caught in elements). Water collection in rain, or making solar still ( 2 fot deep hole in ground with cup at bottom, plastic over top, weighted with small rock over cup. Condensation builds on plastic, directed into cup. Vila , passive water collection.
Acme Thunderer whistle (metal "coaches / lifeguard whistle") for signaling. Min space. Max noise.
6 inch folding saw. ( shelter making).
Small sponge (soak up water for drinking).
Pak-lite 9V flashlight. small but VERY useful illumination.
Think of simple things for food, shelter, staying alive and dry for your hunting area and time of year.
I discovered on a two week trip that rubbing triple antibiotic into crotch rot takes care of the problem!
I used to carry the mini hammock but somehow not so the last few years. Going to try to find it.
If you like a cup of coffee and don't use a french press you can actually put you coffee in tea bags. It works very well.
Crocks or flip flops. There's nothing better than kicking off hiking boots in the back country and slipping into something soothing.
I gotta have coffee in the morning but i aint too fussy. I mix instant coffee, creamer and a little sugar in a ziplock, enough for the whole trip. Just add boiling water to a good sized spoonful.
I like having a few bandanas with me , many great ways to use one.
As a bandana , wrap a cut or injury , pre-filter water , mark blood trail , wipe the sweat from you face when packing elk out , as a blindfold for the daytime naps , as a container if you find some berries or something , general cleanup ,....
lots of uses.....
,,,Sam,,,
QuoteOriginally posted by monterey:
I discovered on a two week trip that rubbing triple antibiotic into crotch rot takes care of the problem!
Believe it or not, rubbing alcohol is the best there is to "repair" the area.
Oh yeah, you are going to leave fingerprints
IN the porcelain bowl you are holding onto, but the pain is gone in a few seconds and the healing quickly begins.
Once the rubbing alcohol "sensation" goes away, lather up with Aquaphor. It is by far the best product that is made for baby's diaper rash.
Try the remedy, you can thank me later.
Nose strips. They help me breathe better at high altitude.
x2 on the Aquaphor. Helps to prevent an issue from starting, too.
I use the Aquaphor lip balm and have found nothing that compares to it in the dry mountain air. I always take a tarp with me in my pack with para cord. good for rain/sun shelter and laying meat on when quartering. Good quality electrical tape (Scotch 33)can fix anything from a broken bone to a large cut in the back country.
I carry a couple quart sized ziploc bags in case I am able to arrow a grouse. Take the meat and put it in the bag. No mess in your pack ready to eat when you get back to camp. Good luck this year!!
dont underestimate the need for a good first aid kit, non stick gauze and cloth tape go a long way for me.
lots of extra socks.... i like extra boots too if you can handle the bulk
Lots of good suggestions for making the hunt safer, more enjoyable. Here's one to help you get closer to elk.
Tie a 6-8-inch piece of light string or dental floss to the tip of your upper limb and another behind the broad head of your No. 1 arrow. When you're carrying your bow under your arm or at your side, a quick glance at the tip will tell you the wind direction. Likewise, when you take a stand and nock an arrow, or if you nock an arrow to stalk a critter, either the string behind the broad head or the one at the tip of the limb will be in front of you all the time, giving you a constant wind direction reading. I've found both to be very useful.
There have been a couple of responses about "crotch rot" treatment. Best treatment is prevention.
Unzip your fly, and roll up your leg cuffs off your boot tops. Creates ventilation from bottom (cuffs, inlet) to fly (exhaust). Keeps temp down in crotch area, and each step you take pumps cooler, drier air in/out of your pants.
Works very well. Less perspiration, lower temps and humidity in the "naughty bits" region, and therefore less chance of irritation to said parts.
The cheap croc type camp shoes is a favorite of mine , super light and worth the weight in my book......
,,,Sam,,
carry with you a well prepared mind.
I always take a couple of the heavy duty contractor trash bags with me. They're just handy to have around.
QuoteOriginally posted by ozy clint:
carry with you a well prepared mind.
The most important and most overlooked tool you have.
QuoteOriginally posted by ozy clint:
carry with you a well prepared mind.
I second this. I've never been one to be in the best of shape physically, but I tend to make up for it mentally. I've been on hunts with guys that worked all year, living, breathing, and thinking of nothing but getting into shape for their hunt. And then watched them crumble under mental stress and be headed for home 2 days in of a 7 day hunt. Know your limitations, and prepare yourself the best you can both physically and MENTALLY.
A pocket notebook if you want to keep a daily diary of the action. Fun to look back on years later. Also, consider getting a prescription of diamox for help with the altitude. My first colorado hunt we were camped at 10,000 ft and i got headaches and nose bleeds almost daily. The diamox made a big difference on my next trip. An ophthalmologist can prescribe it. Have fun and post lots of pics.
Probably old hat to most here, but I always carry a couple forms of fire starting (bic, magnesium starter, and matches) and some fuel(vaseline soaked cotton balls in an old film canister)....I've yet to need to make an emergency fire, but if I ever do I like knowing I will be able to.
For "undercarriage" issues, I used to use aquaphor (and it works) but now I use my homemade beeswax/coconut oil lotion bar. It's a harder consistency at room temp, but melts at body temp. I mix in a little vitamin e oil to help the skin.
And, finally I'll reiterate the importance of a sound, cool, collected mind. If you get into a hairy situation....it will be your mind that gets you out. Learn how to navigate and orient really well with a map and compass. Learn about declination, triangulating your position and measuring distance from maps. Knowing where you are on the map makes it a whole lot easier to figure out how to get to where you want/need to be.
Riser.... if I did that I am certain I would forget, then walk up to some group of lady birdwatchers and get arrested. Nope, I better carry some Aquaphor or similar. A bag of corn starch used to go quickly while I was on the construction crew during hot summers.
ChuckC
Having been hypothermic before I always carry a road flare. It's a little heavy but worth it in my mind. Best of luck this season
-Advil
-Solar Blanket
-Three different ways to make a fire
-MRE
QuoteOriginally posted by ChuckC:
Riser.... if I did that I am certain I would forget, then walk up to some group of lady birdwatchers and get arrested.
ChuckC
I only suggested hiking with pant cuffs rolled up off the boots, and opening the fly on your trousers for ventilation, and heat escape. I wasn't suggesting taking anyone out for a ride on the observation deck. :-)
I like having a few bandanas with me , many great ways to use one.
As a bandana , wrap a cut or injury , pre-filter water , mark blood trail , wipe the sweat from you face when packing elk out , as a blindfold for the daytime naps , as a container if you find some berries or something , general cleanup ,....
lots of uses.....
Always have a couple 36x36 pure cotton cloth in your pack. They come in handy for thousand different uses.
I added the last sentence there.
I enjoy threads like these, thanks everyone for the tips! I don'the know if I'll ever make it out west, but been thinking about a hunt in our Adirondack mts. that would be a little more adventurous than I'very done in the past. Maybe 2 or 3 nights away from the truck. You also are giving me some courage!!
A back up knife. I never go into the woods with just one knife. I've lost them had them break you name it. You can dress an animal with a broadhead but is just handier to have an extra knife
I just got in the mail today a nice light 5x7 sil-tarp. This I will carry everyday while hunting , I have spent to many days sitting in the rain. When I find myself in the rain now I will have a roof to sit under ( nice OD green Color )......
,,,,Sam,,,,
Going through gear today again , another item I always use is sock liners and will always be in my pack. And also will be sno-sealing my boots several times before I leave......
,,,Sam,,,,
Steri-strips and Quikclot in your first aid kit that you carry in your pack. Could really save your bacon in the backcountry...
Lots of great ideas. But I will mention wipes, chap stik, and crocs again. And trail mix for playing with birds:^)
Wipes x2...I've been known to shower w them.
Cotton balls that have vasoline worked into them. They will burn for several minutes and make fire starting very simple.
Tim B
Super Glue (first aid for cut remedies), mole skin and duct tape for hot spots.
I had read to eat Tums or Rolaids before and during a high country hunt. Y'all have any info on this?????
,,,,Sam,,,,
For pottasium and calcium?
If you will be hunting in or traveling through areas with ponderosa pine, pick up a supply of pine cones. The fresh red ones are best. Regardless of what you use to get your initial fire going a few of them in the second layer will burn hot for longer than you might expect.
Not a back county application, but they are good starters for your charcoal tower.
Tums, Advil and lots of water to curb altitude sickness. Take it slow the first few days, sleep low and gradually hunt higher.
Tums, Advil and lots of water to curb altitude sickness. Take it slow the first few days, sleep low and gradually hunt higher.
A propane torch in base camp sure works for starting campfires! We also used a collapsible hand saw quite a bit on our Alaska float hunt.
When gearing up for that same trip, I bought several marino wool sweaters and some wool pants at the Goodwill for a couple bucks apiece, and when the 2 week trip was over, before we flew back, I burned them.
I plan my meals by the day in gallon ziplock bags and label them by the day....breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks and coffee is all included.. It helps me ration better and cuts down on pack weigh by being organized. My most difficult trips were the first few I did when I didn't know how to organize myself.
I do the same with my meals , everything in one bag for the day ( I also put my vitamins the bag ). Sure makes it much easier getting every thing ready for the trip....
,,,Sam,,,
I read in an ultralight packing article years ago that you pack your insecurities.
Which is to say that we all tend to pack something or a bit extra of things that we're concerned about running out of.
So I must be concerned more than average about cramping up (I like powdered Gatorade and more recently powdered p90x recovery drink), or stiffening up ( I bring vitamin I (ibuprofen).
And Archie burning your clothes must be an old Alaskan thing as I used to routinely burn my undies before flying back to town.
We burned a bunch of stuff at our last camp in AK. Pilot thought we were a bit goofy, but was nothing worth flying out and shipping home.
Any new wisdom ,it's getting close....
,,,Sam,,,
Backcountry Wisom - make sure your boots are going to work for you when you go. I took a newer pair of boots out on a stumping and Huckleberry picking outing, 3 1/2 miles round trip maybe. I have had these boots out once before and my heels got Hot then. I thought i had better socks this time. The boots felt good when put them on but a little up and down and some sidehilling. :(
I did get a couple of quarts of huckleberries also. ;)
(http://i1274.photobucket.com/albums/y434/danamhay/Mobile%20Uploads/1470076570_zpsiavhrnx1.jpg) (http://s1274.photobucket.com/user/danamhay/media/Mobile%20Uploads/1470076570_zpsiavhrnx1.jpg.html)
I'll have a different pair of boots on my feet next month.
I've started carrying a roll of electrical tape all the time...lighter and smaller than duct tape
I agree with bandanas. I carry several of those. A few zip ties, and lots of water and aspirin every morning.
For a final stalk, place an orange bandana on your pack to find it later. I also carry a pocket survival kit in case separated from pack. This kit consists of a Bear Grylis basic survival kit with added mini compass, mini light and extra tinder sealed in a plastic straw. This small light 5 1/2 oz kit is great insurance.
Gum to chew to help your ears if you are not used to high elevation or in case the elk dont like your breath.
also another medkit deal, Tourniquet!
I don't hunt backcountry, but I kayak some backwater! Lol in this heat staying hydrated is difficult.
I don't like Gatorade as it is pre sugar - try to dodge too much sugar. Found mtn ops enduro, like Gatorade without the sugar. Pulling a cross fit workout or kayaking with a heat index of 110 - enduro is a saving grace. I buy mine in one serving trail packs, couple those in my pack before I head out in the yak or workout, good to go.
It works great - and at least a bit better for you. Just a thought.
Wish hall headed out a good hunt, and a heavy pack out!