I'm considering my first backpack hunting trip. For those with experience doing this, how do you carry your bow and arrows? Did you choose a bow to make it easier to carry, if so what did you choose?
I've done a few backpack hunts for sheep and Mt goats where having both hands free was essential. A two piece T/D longbow was the best system I found for that type of hunt. Stored out of the way in my pack and assembled in seconds when neeeded.
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Pretty bow Jack... Obviously TD bows would make this task less compelling.. If no TD? There are several packs on the market that have options to strap bows/gear to the pack. I am curious what guys do with their arrows on a pack-in trip? Especially woodies????
I have done several trips, goat, mule deer, elk.
I always keep my bow in hand, bears etc.....
I usually have my quiver with some arrows and have a tube with spare arrows and arrow heads in a pack.
I do have several three piece recurves and can break down if necessary (pack into clothing or sleeping bag in pack), also leave enough room in tube for all arrows if need be.
I have gone on hunts with my bow strung and strapped to my pack. In steep or brushy country it is a pain. Your bow is either catching on overhead brush or dragging on the ground when you are going down hill.
I've been in more than one situation where having my hands free to grab something meant the difference between life and death. Glad I wasn't holding a bow at the time. But to each their own.
I use a Great Northern strap on quiver and usually tie it off to the outside of the pack if there isn't room inside.
I've always just carried mine but only once was I in a spot that I was scared enough to strap it on my backpack. So I guess it depends on your situation. My hunts are for deer or elk. Obviously extreme sheep and goat hunts are a different matter.
like said a 2 pc TD longbow is ideal.. but my pack hunts were to a camp that i hunted out of, and didnt need access to my bow while hunting. so i used a 3 pc recurve that i could put in or strap on my pack, as far as the arrows a tube works great but weight is always a major factor. just pack your hunting quiver like your bow.. ive also packed with a 1 pc longbow ... i just carried it...wood arrows take a little more care and this is where a light weight tube works good
QuoteOriginally posted by bartcanoe:
I'm considering my first backpack hunting trip. ..., how do you carry your bow and arrows?
I pack hunt up to five days a time unless I stash food. Its the food that will make your pack grow.
I carry in my hand since I have a one piece with a bow quiver. If extra arrows I have room side of pack.
Since weight is an issue, I get by with five arrows. Figure if it can't be done with five I better take up golf.
Joshua
I shared camp with Jack Shanks on one of the same goat hunts he went on and I am a little younger and more nimble than Jack...or so I thought, and I carried my strung bow the whole time and carried my arrows strapped to my pack in a mini-Catquiver with no issues on that hunt. I never did like the way the broadheads were somewhat exposed in the Catquiver and was always afraid I would cut my bowstring because you are constantly switching hands with your bow as you are climbing and descending. I din't like a bow quiver for the same reasons. As a kind of self-fulfilling prophesy, I did in fact cut my bowstring on the edge of one of my broadheads on another goat hunt a couple years later. After that I swore off the Catquiver and switched to one of Rod Jenkins quivers which keeps the arrows much better protected, and strapped that to my pack. This past year I took about a 60' sphincter clenching fall on a sheep hunt and I can honestly say that it happened so fast it wouldn't have mattered if I had both hands free or not, or whether I was using trekking poles. The bow came out of my hand after about the third barrel roll and second somersault down the mountain and amazingly was still shootable even though it looked pretty rough (anyone want to buy a "lightly" used Bear TD?). Based on the damage to my backpack, I think the bow would have been destroyed if it was strapped on to it. Thankfully Rod's quiver kept all the arrows secure so I didn't get skewered. Once he saw I was still alive despite looking like the victim of a serious grizzly mauling, my guide told me how impressed he was with the degree of difficulty of some of the aerial acrobatics I had performed. Knowing what I know now, I would never consider anything but one of Rod's quivers for that kind of backpack hunt. I would still carry my bow in my hand, and I still wouldn't use trekking poles either, but everyone is different. As my Dad used to say, if you are going to be stupid, you gotta be tough.
Only once did I carry mine in my pack I have in m,y hand just in case it is hunting session and I have seen a bull while packing. I cant shoot one with it in my pack. Widow
Gregg,
Glad you survived the fall! Proves it can happen even to the very best of them.
Because of back problems my backpacking/mountain hunting days are over. Better to do them while you are young and able.
Thanks Jack. Sh*t happens fast. Knew you were having back problems, sorry to hear things haven't improved. I am trying to get a couple of Sherpa's through immigration right now. That may extend my mountain hunting days! Let me know if you want to adopt one also! Haha.
"Better to do them while you are young and able" - you are right on that one. I am not getting any younger either. Hopefully the young guys on this site will heed your wisdom before it is too late. If you wait until you have the money and the time, the two will almost never coincide and you will never do it. If you make the plans, you will find a way to make it happen.
Gregg
For me it depends on the terrain,what I'm hunting, and the time of year. Usually when I pack in for elk I just do as most above have stated and carry in my hand. When I pack in for mule deer I'm usually going in a day or two before season starts and in much steeper, nastier terrain so I'm more likely to take my 3 piece recurve apart and put it in my pack leaving my hands free. I use the large thumb knobs on my limb bolts so I don't have to mess with an allen wrench.
I used to pack my take down and wait till I got to my destination. After having several shots not taken on the way in I carry it my hand with access to arrows handy. This was in the Adirondacks only going in 3-5 miles.
If I am just going in for the first time, and I haven't already set up base camp, I would probably carry my 2pc. bow in my back pack, or in my Safari tuff quiver, which is strapped to the side of my pack along with the arrows, keeping them separated.
I much prefer two piece bows and agree a longbow is probably a little quicker. I always carried it in hand and figured the take down feature would come in the most handy on the pack out.
carry mine in my hand. never had a reason to strap it on.
When I was doing elk and mule deer backpack hunts I carried my bow in my hand. I'd rather have trekking poles in each hand on a sheep or goat hunt though.
I carry my bow in my hand, arrows are in a bow quiver. Trekking poles are strapped to the pack until I need them, then the bow gets taken down and it goes in the pack, arrows on the sides. I won't do a mountain hunt without trekking poles ever again.
I mostly use a bow hook attached to the backpack hip belt ( basically a j shaped mild steel hook enclosed in nylon webbing) to hang my bow from which leaves my hands free. My Bob Lee T/D with a EFA 4 arrow quiver balances nicely from the hook. No extra arrows needed. Bow may be strapped to pack in tricky accents.
I wish photobucket hadn't ditched my account.
I truly believe that 60" 3 piece recurves we're bred for the backcountry.
I have a few places that I like to pack into in September, usually those trips range from a 3 day weekend to a 9 day "expedition." I tend to compress and put gear in Sea to Summit stuff sacks inside my pack (my packs tend to be 5200" or 6500+") I usually orient all the stuff sacks east/west in the bag, and use the two limbs to help aid the compression system north/south. I usually put the bowquiver (either GNBH or Selway for a 3 piece 'curve) back on the riser on the RH side of the pack, with the top of the riser in a cupholder, and the rest of the riser under the packs compression straps.
My hunting packs go in 35-60 Lbs depending on how long the stay. I have to use trekking poles on packs 50 on up. Once I get camp in, and offload gear, I keep my bow in my hand.
No matter what....
Takedown bows are the S@#T for the pack out.
I have used a one piece or haven't had to brake down a bow on any of my hunts. I have broke them down and put them in my pack to see how they fit but haven't had to in the field. A few times I have strap it on my pack or scoot the bow in front of me. In real steep terrain it would be the safest to broke down bow. Most of the time if it's not safe I take other routes. I prefer a bow quiver. For extra arrows I cut off an old fishing rod tube and keep my extra broad heads in a small plastic case. Good luck on your trip and take some pics.
For what it is worth. . . I have a MTM arrow case- it is the one about 7.5" wide and 3" thick. Very affordable(like $25) and quite sturdy.
I store my 3 pc 62" takedown recurve in a soft side take-down case (with sleeves for all the parts). This case goes in one side of the MTM. There is still room for 2 dozen arrows and even acc. i.e gloves, repair kit, etc. The only thing that does not fit inside the MTM is my bolt on quiver. I have a small home-made foam case for that. I can strap that to the pack separately or it straps to the outside of the MTM.
I leave the MTM in basecamp- though it would not be impossible to keep attached to your pack. I think you would be hard pressed to damage anything even in a fall.
I also use this MTM packed inside my larger luggage when I air travel with my gear.
Dan in KS
First trip, I strapped my recurve to my kifaru longhunter in order to use my climbing sticks. I prefer to pack my A&H but I shoot my Dakota pro hunter better. I pack my arrows in an easton arrow holder shown below. The new kifaru nomad or EMR 2 has long pockets that the arrow case will fit in.
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I've always carried bow in hand. This year, however, I own a take-down Shrew longbow and plan on taking it down and packing it. Arrows in mini-Cat quiver strapped on the pack. Then using TWO trekking poles. This is only for the hike in and out with ALL the weight of camp. Daily hunts will be bow in hand and ONE trekking pole in backpack.
I made the mistake breaking my 3 piece bow down and having it stored in my pack. Within 300 yards of my first bike hunt, I came up on a herd of elk crossing the trail in front of me with the bull in the back. He stayed within range for about a minute, but it took me about two to quietly take my bow out, assemble it and get an arrow nocked :banghead: Now I always keep my bow ready and at hand, but I haven't had done any serious climbing while hunting though.
Carrying in hand is easier with an internal frame than external. Internal is narrower and you won't be banging your bow on the frame.
I don't want mine strapped to my pack unless I'm on a mild trail because I am almost certain to fall on it at some point. A very slight fall--like an unplanned "sit" on a steep trail--could cause major trouble.
Opportunities at elk often evolve very suddenly and unexpectedly. If I'm in hunting country, I want my bow handy and not in pieces. A takedown is awfully handy for packing to hunting territory, or when packing out meat.
I use a bowquiver and put a tube in my pack if I need extra. In grouse country I'm likely to need extra!
Thanks everyone for your experience and ideas.
One of the things I love about Tradgang is everyone's willingness to share their knowledge.
Back to the top for a very informative post.
I wonder if there would be any interest in a section for pack in type hunts, whether it be hiking, animal, bicycle, canoe, etc. ?
On my trip to Colorado last fall, I broke down my three-piece recurve, put it in a bow sock and put it one of the long pockets on the side of my pack. I like the idea of having the bow always at the ready in my hand, but it would have been futile where we went. We were going up steep nasty terrain almost from the go. I'm almost certain that if I had been trying to hike in with the bow in hand, I would have damaged or broke it. I needed the trekking poles more than the bow.
However on the hike out, once we reached the valley floor we had a nice bull and two cows come strolling out in front of us, with our bows neatly packed away.
I strap a belt low around my hips, from which I hand my hip quiver, after I tighten the hip belt of my pack (Kifaru Longhunter). I put bow-string holder on the other side, where I park the bow when glassing or moving in open areas, otherwise it is in my hand. Often use it as a walking stick and glassing "monopod". If I drop the pack to hunt light, a possible pouch moves from the pack belt to the low belt.