Though Ive hunted elk 17 times Ive never done it from living out of a pack and want to. I have odered a 3 man tent and now am looking at stoves what has worked for you, what would you do different. I have heard some dont work well at higher elevation but I would say lets talk 10,500 ft and less.

JetBoil and freezer bag cooking. Quick, simple, no clean up, and no scent to attract bears or other critters to camp.

For trips 4-5 days or less I use a MSR Pocket Rocket with a MSR titanium pot and 1 small fuel canister.   For trips longer than 5 days I use a JetBoil.  The MSR outfit weighs less but the Jetboil is more efficient (burns less fuel to boil the same amount of water) So it actually saves weight on longer trips because I have to carry less fuel.  

For what it's worth, I have used the MSR at 12,800 ft in 25-30 deg weather and never had a problem with performance.

Homemade cat stove works the best for me.  Ultralight and effective if saving weight is important to yuo.  it does the job.

Jet boil is hard to beat for light weight and handy.  We used two of them on our Alaska moose trip three years back and they worked great.

They are for boiling water for dehydrated meals and coffee.

Now the FAA has outlawed flying with the canisters so we are back to MSR pocket rockets.  They should be fine but a step down from the jet boil IMHO.

Note: not the pocket rocket but a white gas model of MSR

Mike

Here's my "cook system".

 

MSR Pocket Rocket, Snow Peak Titanium cup, backpacker's plastic spoon.  I eat Knorr/Lipton Rice or Pasta meals.  They are cheap, taste great and can be cooked in their own bag.  I also eat instant oatmeal cooked in its own bag.

"Now the FAA has outlawed flying with the canisters so we are back to MSR pocket rockets. They should be fine but a step down from the jet boil IMHO."

Mike-Not sure I understand this statement.  Doesn't the Pocket Rocket run off a canister as well?

Don, The Best way to cook/eat in the back country is to have someone else cary it for you. See if Tom will go with you. He carried of Dan's food last year! Ha Ha. Really though, the best i have found is a MSR pocket rocket stove and Titaniun pot. Make sure yuo bring a hole punch for your belt. Tom droppped 16lbs last year in 10 days.

Aim Small,  Todd

Big fan of the jet boil myself

I'm a jetboil fan.  Been using it for about four years and love it.

Jet boil and my Optimus 99

I prefer to cook over a fire or coals from my campfire and do without carrying the extra weight of fuel and a stove.  When I backpack during a burn ban and can't do that, I'll use a snow peak set that I picked up on clearance for $40.

Here's the set, it works extremely well:
http://www.rei.com/product/787957/snow-peak-starter-kit?preferredSku=7879570013&cm_mmc=cse_froogle-_-pla-_-product-_-7879570013&mr:referralID=a840f236-e334-11e2-9dea-001b2166becc

check out the little bug stove. no fuel to carry with you. the ultimate and simplicity. makes for a big weight savings

My daughter recently gave me a Jet Boil and it sure is the cats meow for light weight travel.  Big step up from my previous setup.

I currently use a MSR Whisperlite, had it for years but am about to upgrade to this:

http://www.rei.com/product/830341/msr-whisperlite-international-backpacking-stove#video-inner

Jetboil for me as well!!

Steve

I cook over a campfire as well.  Don't do much out when there's a burn notice in effect, as around here if it is everything's holed up.  Still ought to invest in some stuff to cook with just in case.

Yep your right we are using a different MSR stove that burns white gas.  John has two of them but I don't know the models.

Mike

Optimus Crux... But I would also recommend the jetboil. The biggest difference in the two for me was the $$$$. (Optimus Crux was $39.95)

2 cup pot for MH meals and 4 oz. canister included. Just realized you need to stay away from canisters though.

Good luck.