My buddy and I are planning another elk hunt in 2012 to Idaho. I am not getting any younger and remember that the last time we went the pack frame I used for hauling out elk meat was extremely uncomfortable. I've had it for years so think it's time for an investment that will ease the pain in these oldshoulders/back/hips. Any suggestions you guys can give on a good brand to get (tried and tested) will be appreciated. :notworthy:
Thanks,
Joe
Bullpacs is a nice frame, Kelty has a well built hauler frame also.
I really like internals and have a Kifaru and also a Mystery Ranch Crew Cab. I'll likely list the Crew Cab for sale at some point, but both packs are excellent, but I prefer the Kifaru more for my particular use and body type.
A used, well built expedition grade internal frame pack such as a Dana Design, a Gregory etc can be pretty inexpensive and just use meat bags to haul the meat and wash the blood out well. You can find them pretty easily and in good shape on a local craigslist or fleabay.
Get some gear together and drive down to the Smokies and hike for a few days for a try out.
David
What David said about Kifaru, I haven't used one to pack out meat as yet but from what I have read about them, there are plenty of people that have, and that know a lot more about that than I do.
Good luck on your elk hunt.
Might take a look at the Eberlestock Blue Widow also. It is an internal frame pack that is flexible in how you use it.
http://www.eberlestock.com/JP9%20Blue%20Widow.htm
Scroll down on this page and there is a video that is instructional on it's setup and uses.
Bull pac all the way
Kifaru :notworthy: :notworthy:
if you are just hauling meat and don't need the pack:
http://kifaru.net/longhunter_hauler.html
expensive and worth it
the only limiting factor will be the strength in your legs
my daughter (23yrs old) has carried over 60# in an MMR
Counting chickens already ;) :readit: :rolleyes:
Good luck on your hunt. :thumbsup:
Any of the external freighter frames work. I have a Cabela's Alaska pack that works well. I also have had an old Kelty Super Tioga for years and it's good too. I do like the shelf on the freighter models better though.
In my opinion the external frame packs are more comfortable, versatile and quite a bit lighter - cheaper too. Especially with the odd shaped loads that meat packing sometimes requires. Maybe that's why they are the preferred pack with quite a few Alaska guide types. I'm sure some will disagree now that internal frame packs are now the new wiz bang design. Actually I have one too; I just think they reach their load limit sooner than an external frame does in this application.
I don't hunt elk, but I have used an Eberlestock Halftrack extensively doing field research here in NJ. Many miles and hours logged hiking with lots of gear. Eberlestock makes a very high quality product at a very nice price in my opinion. I would check them out. They have a wide variety of models to choose from.
Kifaru. There pack frames are awesome. You can usually pick up some deals on used ones on their website message boards trading post for a good price. If you can land a hauler frame with a cargo chair, you can pack anything you want.
I prefer a pack that can function both as a day pack and a meat hauler. An internal frame pack can do that. For the money, I really like the Eberlestock packs, not just because I sell them, but because they work ideally for the way that I hunt elk. I don't want to have to hike back to camp or the truck to get frame to haul meat.
For day hunts the Eberlestock X2 is ideal. Small enough to be a perfect day pack, and strong enough to haul meat. You'll find lots of good reviews from plenty of people that have used them.
For extended overnight bivy type hunts, the Eberlestock Blue Widow is a great pack. Plenty of room for everything you need for extended stays, and compacts down small enough to hunt with daily.
You can check them out on my website below and also on the Eberlestock link posted above for more details.
For elk I prefer the mule.....but a good horse comes in a close second. Nothing easier on the shoulders, hips, and back then a few of them.
I did what I think was a lot of research, and for the money look at the Eberlstock X2 with a spike camp duffle bag strapped to outside along with spike tent and sleeping bag. Leave all but the X2 at spike camp and you have a near perfect combination IMHO.
Check out the Mystery Ranch Nice frame. It does double duty and is extremely comfortable.
I'm with Walt, but I vote llama's. (and I own pack horses too.) :)
If I have to carry meat, its a Mystery Ranch Crew cab. It compresses down to a day pack but can be extended to haul serious loads. Love it.
I have a Bull Pack. The frame is solid but the shoulder straps don't hold the pack against your back when it is loaded. I had what are called load lifter straps sewed into the front of the of the shoulder straps and ran these back to the frame top x-bar so I could pull the top of the frame to my back. Any good suspension will have load lifter straps external or internal frame the Bull Pack falls short in the suspension area. I had a Camp Trails freighter frame with their moose bag and shelf. The lower frame cross member failed on the last trip out with an elk quarter on board when I lowered the pack to the ground at the truck. I still have the bull pack but have a Lowe Alpine and Arcterx internal frames as well. Try before you buy LOAD IT UP in the store and walk around. Lowe Alpine rates their packs for weight ranges I don't know about other mfgs.
I'm looking at the Mystery Ranch Crew Cab because of its flexibility and the fact that I can use it around here hauling treestands and packing pigs out of the swamp. I figure that extra use justifies the expense.
Walt and Jeff got the right idea!!!!
Unless you are built like a bull (or can toss a couple of P&Y midwestern whitetails over your shoulders like Mike M) or just young and enthusiastic (or wanna be), pack animals cannot be beat. Not bad to have one to ride in on as well......sure makes the decision on "how far do I have to go to get in away from other folks" a no-brainer. If you don't like to ride....Jeff's option is really the cat's butt! Low maintenance and low impact.
Then again.....in younger years.....I did the pack frame thing. I always questioned my sanity afterwards though!
Whatever pack you get make sure it fits you. I have a longer torso and can't use Eberlestock packs. The badlands 2200 is the only day pack/ meat hauler out there in my price range that will fit me. For the second load of meat I just purchased an REI XT 85 internal frame pack based on positive comments and recommendations of other elk hunters. If you have the $ you can't go wrong with Kifaru or Mystery Ranch. Pretty sure the horse/mule is the best idea :D
Kifaru would get my vote after watching my uncle pack a boned out, full grown cow elk, to the truck in one two mile trip. Granted he is a little insane and built like a tank, but the pack didn't fall apart with 120+ lbs of meat. He afterwards said that the pack itself didn't hurt his shoulders, back, and hips even with all that weight. Many of the Kifaru aficionados will tell you that the bigger packs can carry far more than you physically are capable of doing(read you can't break them) in relative comfort.
You have gotten a lot of good info already. I have a host of packs and used many others. I agree with whip in that a pack that can do both is vital.
I have a badlands ox that is that pack for me right now. several 80lbs + trips last year and it carries very well. Other than some slight hardware issues that took a long time to get fixed it's my pick of packs I own.
I also have a Cabelas outfitter2. Nice pack great carry but to noisy to hunt in all the time.
Money will be well spent on a Bull-Pac, but ditto on sewing in the load lifter straps.
www.bullpacs.com (http://www.bullpacs.com)
Can you guys show the load lifter mod you've done on the Bullpac?
Mystery Ranch crew cab. I hunt it for day hunts and will have it loaded for 10 days in Alaska next year.
It expands from 1900ci to well over 5000ci. I have owned black creek, crooked horn, Gregory, badlands and now only use the MR CC.
Good luck on your hunt!
I have a Bullpac frame and haven't had any problems with it. I use it for a variety of things, packed 85 pounds to 11,400'to setup a 2 week camp and it hauled fine on the 5 mile trek. I've also packed a few deer out using the same frame.
I got the Mystery ranch Wolfpack and it may be pricey but well worth it ... Just my .002
Another Mystery Ranch fan here also.
Worth the price, IMO.
Lots of good advice here guys, I really appreciate it and will be checking them all out!!
:thumbsup:
Joe
I have been using the cabelas alaskan 2 the last few years, hard to beat for the money, comfortable, lots of adjustments, well built.
You guys are probably going to laugh, but I converted my child carrier into a meat hauler. It is an older aluminum framed one. Works great. I have used it for deer and not elk however. Just an idea. Oh. Made by kelty.
I've been using a Cabella's pack frame (I think it's the 'Alaskan Outfitter') for the past few years, in addition to an ALICE pack frame. I'd be satisfied with the ALICE frame but the Cabella's pack frame is so much more comfortable, more adjustable, and has much more carrying capacity. I've used it for hauling bear bait, firewood, water cans, dry bags over portages, chainsaws, and probably a bunch of things I can't remember. My pack frame and my welding gloves (worn when adjusting campfire logs, water kettles, foil dinners, etc.) are my two favorite additions to my camping gear.
Never been elk hunting, but I have put together what I think will work well-I have a Bullpack (big bull) frame and a Bison Gear First Trip Explorer with attachments for the frame for the pack into camp. From the research I've done the Bison Gear pack should work for the first trip out, so I will use it as a daypack. I figure on dropping off the first load and then picking up the Bullpack!? Should work o.k.
Hope to find out someday soon>>>------>Mike
i've carried over 40 elk quaters with a bull-pac. probably close to 100 if someone had counted. i would love to try a kifaru but nothing else. this is coming from using one type for the last 15 years with bias. i've watched several friends use lesser with lesser results. i've never seen a kifaru in person or in action and would love to try one, but as far as experiance with a bull-pac goes nothing else even comes close. i pack where a pack animal of any sort is useless other than me. tobaggans have came in handy a time or two i must admitt. as far as double duty i wouldn't have a clue as i hunt out of a wall tent and don't require it. good luck and fun is wished.
matt
I bought an Eberlestock from Whip and I love it. It's perfect for the two and three day weekends that I get to hunt elk. Plenty of room for everything I need for a long weekend in the woods and will easily take a first load back out to the truck if I'm lucky enough to get one down. Thanks, Whip!
I've tried most of them, but the Kifaru packs are my favorite by far. my go to pack has been carrying out several elk a year for nearly a century now. I still love it. MY huntin partners have all gone to the kifaru, after packin with theres while I had on my longhunter.
Good stuff, and patrick gets high marks for R&D, customer service and reliability.
enjoy the search!
(http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa282/Bowhuntater/Sept09001.jpg)
QuoteOriginally posted by elkbreath:
I've tried most of them, but the Kifaru packs are my favorite by far. my go to pack has been carrying out several elk a year for nearly a century now.
Wow! :eek: a Century? You don't show your age at all. :biglaugh:
When I was Young and dumb, the old army wood board was my choice. When I geared up for Alaska seventeen years ago, I bought a Cabelas Alaskan freighter. Very comfy, after six caribou, and about 25 -30 elk, I finally tore the mesh rack on it last season. A very good pack board for the money. I also have the sack attached for game bags,saw, hatchet, boned out meat, and rope