I've been on several Back Country hunts. I usually pack in, set up base camp and hunt from there. I'm interested in hearing about from those of you that hunt on the fly, move with the elk, etc. How many clothes do you take, gear, etc. I'm sitting elk season out this year and it's killing me. I'm already planning my attack for next season

Read Mike Mittens "One with the Wilderness".  If you like doing it solo and on the light side, this is the book for you.  I like this type of hunting myself and now that I am bit older I keep my pack weight at no more than 45lbs.

Intrested in this thread, I've done this .., somewhat. I would like to hear more from these minimalist huys that hunt with maybe a 40 # pack for a few days at a time.

Light packs cost money or require sacrifice.  Food adds weight fast so shorter trips are easier to manage. Smaller game is also much easier to manage then elk, etc.

Light packs cost money or require sacrifice.  Food adds weight fast so shorter trips are easier to manage. Smaller game is also much easier to manage then elk, etc.

You can go here to see my 40# pack.   http://tradgang.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=107590;p=1

Here's my list:  http://jdspics.webs.com/2011coloradoelkhunt.htm

QuoteOriginally posted by habujohn:
Read Mike Mittens "One with the Wilderness".  If you like doing it solo and on the light side, this is the book for you.  I like this type of hunting myself and now that I am bit older I keep my pack weight at no more than 45lbs.

John, you must be thinking of your brother!  

I've hunted with Mitten a few times and NOTHING he has is light--not even his arrows!    :D

His book IS excellent and he follows the herd quite a bit thru the day but he typically returns to the base camp he has packed in as mentioned above. Mike likes bulletproof more than light and is strong enough to carry it.

From what I have heard of Chris he goes way lighter than big Mike.

South Cox would be a good guy to talk about light stuff for the deep in hunts.

Just curious how long you guys with 40# packs stay in the back country. Last two hunts I've stayed for at east 12 days. However, I didn't pack light and used my pack goats to pack a lot of my gear

I base camp and then bivy on the elk.  My bivy set up ways way less than 40#.  As long as you don't mind boring high powered food you can easily stay out 3 0r 4 days.  I leave on 9/10 for 2 weeks.  I drew a tag for 6A here in AZ.
MAP

I'm able to do a 12 day sheep hunt on 52lbs solo pack weight. I can't imagine you couldn't easily be under 30 for a few days without much discomfort.

What in he world do u do when your solo and flowed the elk theft far back n actually kill one?
It would take a tremendous effort to get it out.

You carry things out one piece at a time lol

All kidding aside we had access to some alpacas when I hunted wy.  We still carried meat on frames as well.

Try solo moose.  No pack animals in a swamp.... Solo!    Should be fun lol

I made it 7 days with the 40# pack.  It was closer to 42# after everything was added at the trailhead.  I carried in around 50# with bow and a water bottle in my cargo pants.

I will add 1-1/2# this year with some better raingear.

My pack was bout 38lbs for a week of hunting. There are many options. This year, I carried my hilliberg Akto  but if you run into storms, it is better to go with a stove set up like a kifaru to dry out and warm up. Without a stove, I was forced off the mountain. Everything depends on the weather and the availability do water.