35 Pounds of gear including food for a backcountry elk bow hunt should consist of...
This was supposed to be in the general forum.
Read Cameron Hanes' "Backcountry Bowhunting". Most informative gear book for the DIY bowhunter that I've found. Don't have to buy the same brands, etc. that he recommends but the book and checklists are great resources.
QuoteOriginally posted by JJB2:
Read Cameron Hanes' "Backcountry Bowhunting". Most informative gear book for the DIY bowhunter that I've found. Don't have to buy the same brands, etc. that he recommends but the book and checklists are great resources.
Thanks for the read information. Mike Mitten also has a gear list in his book, but he can carry more then the average man. :saywhat:
Backpack
Hunting Gear - Bow, Arrows, Quiver, 10x42 binoculars
Fanny pack - Accusharp, small crock stick, Cow call, diaphragm calls, small bugle tube, Buck Crosslock knife, spare bowstring, shooting glove, armguard, lighters, whistle, compass, maps, gps, 20 feet of parachute cord, small first aid, space blanket, Digital camera
Camping/Cooking - 9x11 silnylon tarp, guy lines, 6 stakes, 20 degree bag, Ridgerest Sleeping Pad, ground cover, pocket rocket stove, 1 Fuel Bottle, Titanium Cup 16 oz., Nylon Spork, Journal and pen, headlamp, UL spare headlamp, 2 AA batteries, 3 AAA batteries, hiking pole with duct tape wrapped,Hydration Bladder, water treatment tabs, toilet paper, baby wipes, multitool
Food - 7 lipton rice or pasta meals, 14 Granola bars, 4 cups GORP, 1 jar PB, 14 oatmeal packs, 7 salmon packs, 1 pound jerky
Clothes - 3 pair underwear, base layer- pants and shirt, mid layer - pants and shirt, outer layer - shirt, 1 cotton long sleeve T, 2 chamois shirt, 2 chamois pant, jacket, fleece vest, wool parka, 4 pair socks, 2 pair rag wool gloves, 2 stocking caps, boots, Poncho
First aid - ibuprofen, acetaminophen, decongestant, antihistamine, hydrocortisone cream, hand lotion, lib balm, duct tape, inhaler, inhaler spare, tooth brush and paste, floss
Man that seems like a lot of crap. I'm including the things I wear and carry in this list. If I remember right, pack weight was mid 30's and total weight was 45#'s. this is for 7 days. I'm looking forward to weighing it all again since it's been 3 years since I last did this.
Thats a good list.
I like to include a 48" long sewing tape- like your Mom used.
Why? Its cool to measure things on your elk, like how deep his chest is (assuming a bull).
There is a pretty big difference in body size from some bulls to others, even if their racks are in the same category.
Anyway, it weighs nothing and its fun to have that kind of info rattle around in your head the next year you go.
Joshua
Good list... I like to carry flagging tape, zip ties and a small folding pack saw .
35 lbs seems pretty light. Last year I was 55lbs with 5 days of food. We didn't hunt with camp on our backs though. Is that what you plan to do? How many days can you stay out for at that weight?
Sheeeew ! My back hurts just reading this topic ! I'm not too big a feller though at 5'8 150# ! I've done a 3 day bivy for whitetails before with a 35# pack, I couldn't imagine 7 days worth of gear !
I use a Jet Boil stove and Mountain House makes some light weight meals, a little spendy and you can come up with some "home-mades" that will work. I also carry a water purifier pump. When hunting with a buddy we carry an extra fuel cannister and that gets us by for a week. I also carry Super Glue and a small wrap of duct tape. John's list is very complete. Taylor your equipment to your needs. If going remote and alone, a cell phone is a good idea, if with a buddy 2-way radios are also helpful. Best of luck to you.
Meant to say satellite cell phone if going remote and alone, although in a lot of places a cell phone can get coverage from a ridge.
Consider synthetic clothing vs. wool on the longer trips...lighter, dries quicker. There are a lot of things listed above that seem to be more along the lines of a 'resort' type camping trip, not a bivvy trip. I always lose a bit of weight and come out feeling great. Enjoy the back country.
PS Don't take any cotton clothing, it could get you in a lot of trouble.
It can be done if you train. 85 lb bag, 7 days in a CO wilderness area last fall - 4 mi hike in and out with the full bag in some steep country. Little lighter on the way out but not much when you're still carrying out all the garbage. I'm 5' 10" 175 lb.
Please read here for my take on cotton clothing: http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=101429;p=1
My 7 day pack is less than 45# with water. Here's my resort in 2008.
(http://sticknstring.webs.com/photos/Elk-Hunt-2008/tarp4.jpg)
I'd start off with.......
1 Horse-1200lb +/-
2nd horse-1200lb +/-
:readit: :biglaugh:
Thanks for the help, Gents.
I was going to post a new topic but seems like the appropriate place. Does wool suck for a trip like this? Please explain either way and why. Punchdown vs. loom-woven? Thin vs. thick? Wool vs. non-wet-synthetic-insulators? Etc.
Kifaru pack/ longhunter guide
alps foam pad under thermarest to protect
thermarest
kifaru 4man tipi
stove
helle knife
jet boil stove
fly rod, flys, etc./tenkara
2 lighters/fire starter wet match /
flashlight/fenix pd30/extra batteries
head lamb/petzl/ extra 3 AAA batteries
batteries/ 6 extra lithium
GPS
map cut map down
kaitadyn water system
cooking pot jet boil/ pot support
camera
extra string/ shelf material/ kept at truck
spectra rope and bear/bag for food
game bags/ alaskan bags
plastic bags
water bag 4l
tyvek sheets
Mountain house foods
Day 1
day 2
day 3
day 4
day 5
day 6
day 7
day 8
day 9
clothes sitka gear
rain gear/ small pack
extra socks/ theos
ascent sitka pants x2
90% jacket
kelvin jacket
sitka core bottoms
beanie
face mask cold gear
Crocs
gloves
transverse shirt X2
small detergent
calls
small pad thermarest
fuel X2 cannister
western mountaineering badger down bag
throat lozengers
diamox
chapstick
hunter wipes 5x8 and large 10x15
toiletries
tooth brush& paste
decoy/ heads up decoy
Last yr I carried 62# 5. something miles to base camp. I like my kifaru and my stove in case you get wet.
Sounds stupid, but no one has listed hunting license and tag(s)!
When I pack in the only wool I bring is a merino wool base layer, a stocking cap, and my Filson wool vest. Everything else is synthetic. As much as I love wool, it is heavy and takes a while to dry when wet, synthetics are lighter and dry really fast.
Since it seems you are on a budget but still want lightweight, quality gear, you should look at buying used gear. A lot of guys sell off excess and older, lightly used gear to upgrade to the latest and greatest. Check out Sierra Trading Post as well, sometimes they have some really good stuff deeply discounted.
First off what kind of hunt? Base camp and spiking out, bivy, drop camp?
How are you getting in, foot or horses? How deep are you going?
Can't really determine the tools unless we know the job...
One thing I like to do is carry a dry bag full of my frist-aid and survival stuff,my "possible bag". I never worry about wet stuff that way. It also carrys in it my special medications and most important comfort meds. Nothing worse that heart burn,gas,chaffing,cough,or allergies 20 miles or more from a town.
Quote... Does wool suck for a trip like this? ...[/QB]
I think the right wool weights in combo with synthetics are effective and light solutions. The thinner wool fabrics are amazingly useful across a lot of conditions and light. Used with synthetics they are stellar.
I recommend finding those combos in shakedown trips. I have my own tried and true combos that I prefer over going all synthetic. I have a light wool stretchy sweater and a really nice base layer in wool that I never leave without.
I would think the heavier wools would be out as they are too bulky/heavy and are really single garment answers and so inappropriate for a trip like this.
Better dealt with by using multi layering.
Joshua
Ought to read the book "From the Old Bowhunter's Den". They carried 20lb packs and their bows for hiking and hunting here in the Oregon Cascades for one week. Kind of puts a whole different spin on our 50-60lb packs with all the high tech fabric and latest electronic gizmo. Traditional archery is suppose to help simplify things, come down to the basics, minimal. We may be loosing our ability to be great woodsmen by relying on technology. Just my look at it. I have alot of stuff that I just talked about...but I am questioning it.
I've noticed that old bowhunters tend to exaggerate :) I am positive I could make a week with 20# but 30# is more fun.
Does wool suck? Objection, isn't that a leading question?
Wool does not suck, it repels moisture. Cotton sucks but that's not always a bad thing. I like synthetics but don't rely totally on them. My favorite layering is done with Duofold wool/poly garments.
Hey John
Of course wool doesn't suck, sorry if I sounded a bit forward earlier. I love wool socks...
And your 'resort' does look nice, I just tend to go in a bit lighter, which might be a bit more dangerous and stupid. Luckily I'm still here enjoying everybodies opinion. :)
I am a creature that does enjoy most of the high tech outdoor items that are out there today so I tend to have a little bit less gear.
Few things I learned:
Good footwear is not good enough. Buy great footwear and use duct tape for blisters.
Plastic bags over dry socks help if your boots are soaked.
Chapstick is essential. This KS plains boy about bled to death at 10,000 feet from cracked lips!
I will take two sets of rain gear next time. One to wear while the other is still drying!
Have fun and good luck!
A search for "Elk List" found several.