I have a little extra cash due to my deployment. What would you recommend for back pack style hunt:

Elk/Mule deer footwear

binos

gps

elk/mule deer optics

never elk hunted in my life but have used many a gps. My favorite is.

Garmin 60csx with their 24K topo maps of the area you plan to hunt on DVD. Get a 2-6 gig SD card for the unit. I do a lot of bushwacking in heavy cover and it has never let me down. You should be able to find the unit for about 250. maps will be another 100

Spend as much as you can on optics. I love my Swaro 8x30's for elk, whitetails, and putting the final sneek on mulies. I bought the little Nikon ED 13-30x50 spotting scope. Really like it. I have found over 30x and you get heat waves with even the $2500 full size spotters. The Nikon is super clear and you don't need a horse to pack it around for you. They are a sponsor here as well.

I have been wearing Merrill hiking boots for all my elk and deer hunting for the past umteen years. Well built, light and comfy.

I like my Garmin Dakota GPS. Does everything I need it to do. Nice price on it also. I don't see a need to store 1,000 waypoints or have a camera like the more expensive models.

Good luck and thanks for your service sir.

Garmin 60csx, Leopold Katmai 6x30 binocs, Asolo TP 535 and Lowa Renegade boots. Those are my preferences for hunting Elk, you may like others better.

x2 on the top notch optics! Swaro's or Nikons should do the trick. You should consider getting a monster pair of binoculars and mounting them on a tripod rather than getting a spotting scope. It can be easier on the eyes.

Get 'em all, you just did a tour in the sandbox! Thanks for your service, and splurge a little!

QuoteOriginally posted by Trumpkin the Dwarf:
x2 on the top notch optics! Swaro's or Nikons should do the trick. You should consider getting a monster pair of binoculars and mounting them on a tripod rather than getting a spotting scope. It can be easier on the eyes.

Oh ya, 15X60 Swaro's are my dream mulie spotters, too bad their out of my price range.  :eek:

10 x 42 Leica, Swarovski, or Zeiss

Outdoorsman's Tripod (Med) with a Jim White Fluid head

Garmin 60 CSX

Boots?  I love my Schnee Hunters, but if I were to replace them, I believe I would go withbsome Kenntrek's

You might want to get a good pack too.  I am just about ready to order a Kifaru Timberline for the same type hunts.

Keenetrek boots

Leica 10x32's

I've been using the same Northface pack for 15yrs.

Kelly kettle to boil water

MAP

Good boots that fit your feet.

Good glass (varies with individual budget). 10x are good for glassing elk and mulies but 10's bother my head when used for extended periods so I used 8x this year. Tripod might have helped. (I use 6.5x deer hunting in Okla.)

QuoteOriginally posted by centaur:
Get 'em all, you just did a tour in the sandbox! Thanks for your service, and splurge a little!

What Pat said......X2

Looked at the Leupold Katmai 8x32s on line (of course). I found some for 353 shipped.

Dont like the fact that they cannot be mounted to a tripod though.

As always, Thank you for your service!

I second 10X42's. The more light gathering the better. I was going to get 8X42 binos but couldn't see enough difference in field of view to drop down in power. Mine are Eagle Optics. I think I paid around $325.00 for them and I'm totally happy with them. All the features of the big names. Lot less expensive. I can't comment with much experience on a pack, but stay tuned. As for boots, you don't need to be told that good boots are a must. Next time I'm in the market, I'm headed to the Redwing store to get fitted up. One thing I learned from them is that if you have extra tongue padding in your shoe, you'd be surprised how much better your feet feel at the end of the day.

I have never hunted elk, but I did a month long backpacking trip through the Absaroka range in  Wyoming and I can say Scarpa makes an amazing and tough boot. I've wore them plenty since and they still look almost brand new and that was 4 years ago.

Thaks for your service. You have gotten some good reccomendations. The one thing I would make sure to do is get binocs that are 42' rather than 32's. I have both and if you are talking elk where you might be in darker timber the 42's let in so much more light. They may be a little more but worth every penny IMHO.

Good luck

For elk, 10x42's are the way to go. watch several of the usual for sale we sites, and you can find good buys. I picked up a pair of Kahles, which were made by Swaro, and love them .

For boots, this year instead of typical hunting boots, I went with mor eof a hiker style, lower to the ankle. Lighter. I ought a pr. of Asolo boots,not sure which style they are, but Sierra Trading Post has a great selection, and you can get some real good buys on them. Mine listed for 250, I got em for I think 149. I never had 1 blister or hot spot after 22 days in the mountains.

Backpack- Kifaru. Yep, they're spendy. yep, theyre worth every penny of it.

Awesome suggestions guys, thank you! I think I've narrowed the bino selection to the Nikon Monarch ATB in 10x42 or the Leupold Mohave in 10x42. Both have tripod adapability. The Nikon is 6 oz lighter and about $70.00 cheaper it seems. I found a refurbished pair through eagle optics.

In packs,I like the look of the Eberlestock X2. No hurry. Keep the suggestions coming guys.