Filling your pack...

[DukAddict]

Well, as I have said before this will be my very first year carrying a rifle on a big game hunt. So, I must get all the necessary gear that is needed for packin into the woods! My girlfriend just baught me one of the big Max 1 Camo BadLands backpacks so I have that. Now I just need to know what gear you fellas always make sure that you are carrying in your backpack while deer and elk hunting?

Thanks

Brett Neffendorf

[loper]

compass

[ehunter]

Wow you will get quite a list I will start.

Fire starter, water proof, matches and a lighter and I have a fire starter kit which is lent in a film canister, first aid kit, extra sharpner, extra knife, head lamp, extra batteries, for GPS and head lamp. When elk hunting I carry alaska bags that have been shrunk in the vacume sealer makes them very small. I may put all my survival stuff in a vacume bag this year. Camara, cell phone. The the fun stuff calls, food water, maps. toilet paper and baby wipes .Rain Jacket if it looks wet. Oh yea the decoy, and what ever else my partners throw in when I am not looking.

My pack load depends on how far from the truck I am going but I always carry my survival stuff no matter what.

I like to take along a bunch of rocks. The come in very handy for grouse and rabbits or other small game. They also have many other uses for around camp 1) warm them up in a fire and put them in your sleeping bag on cold nights. 2) last resort in a bear attack 3) they are good to pound things with. Just make sure to take plenty so you dont run out.

[Hunt'nFish]

We formed this list last year....
all good info: First time elk hunt required equipment

[Hunt'nFish]

Originally Posted by Tulley

I like to take along a bunch of rocks. The come in very handy for grouse and rabbits or other small game. They also have many other uses for around camp 1) warm them up in a fire and put them in your sleeping bag on cold nights. 2) last resort in a bear attack 3) they are good to pound things with. Just make to take penty so you dont run out.

Tulley....that's just hilarous! Rocks...here Brett, let me help ya put a few of these in! :grin:

[toas243]

Well I bought my self a Badlands 2800 ,and I put in Swarovski spotter carbon fibre (yes Carbon Fibre ) tripod extra pair of sox ,fire stuff game bags 2 hefty bags ,3 rags , 2 space blankets ,fillet knife,skinner ,caper,steel to sharpen knifes, rubber gloves first aid stuff ,signal mirror ,butane lighter ,3 liter water bladder ,several snacks, T-P ,scent free wipes ,12' of cord ,GPS/Radio ,100' 5mm rope ,carabiners and pulleys , flagging ,tree saw ,scents ,cell phone ,2 head lights ,1 flash light ,whistle ,wool gloves ,hunting License and tags (Elk ,Deer Cougar ,Bear) ,I think that is all of it

A bottle of Jack Daniels, some matches and a pillow..

just kidding.. what do you need a backpack for when deer hunting.. isnt that why we invented pickups?

[MarlinMark]

In my larger day pack (for when it's cold and nasty...more risks) this year I will be toting one of these. http://www.trailstove.com/ It's a very handy little stove and doubles as a "fireplace." Cool to have if the chips are down.

Mark

[Bootstrap Bill]

A road flare!

[Chug]

Lets see, distance, beer per mile ... that will require 12 pack, plus TP, Ammo Oh yea rifle & tags.

Gather all your gear, then load pack up. Go walk around few blocks. See how it fits, re-adjust Then Remember what went where.

Plan for Murphy's Law!!.. Or he will strike harder.

GPS, compass, maps,Road flare, fire starter kit, Cell phone With the AA Recharge boaster(Neat gadget for the New modern Low time battery on cells). flashLights all dble A's LED's are great..

Figure your distance, your load & health. Lots of good info. Just get in shape for your hunt.

Oh yea EPRIBS are lightweight.. If you bust a leg or buddy is gut shot, that requires Med Vac & no cell coverage ( cell phones are limited area).
FRS/GMRS radio's, are Dirt cheap. They will cover more ground then your whistle.

OH yea, bring the empty beer cans out with yea. They are worth a nickel.

[SImudBogger]

ehunter, chug and bootstrap bill nailed it. the road flare is a really good idea. I also carry 100ft of parachute cord, it has tons of uses.

don't forget the halloween candy!

[crittergitter]

You got some great ideas there guys, one of my own favorites is to include a dehydrated self heating meal of some kind, in case I have to stay out for the night.

[toas243]

I like Odawall bars ,they are good ,and tasty

[SlyHawk]

A good girlfriend who will pack out the meat? :grin:

[RODACTION]

Originally Posted by Bootstrap Bill

A road flare!

I like that !

I also like to carry 2 of the large "leaf garbage bags"....never have used them, but

Freezer zip-loc bags are also you friend.

[thehunt]

Toilet paper

[baltz526]

i think i'll add one thing to my safety equipment. vacume packed polypropalene socks, cold wet feet suck

[RODACTION]

Originally Posted by baltz526

i think i'll add one thing to my safety equipment. vacume packed polypropalene socks, cold wet feet suck

Just on that note Mr. baltz, I will ad, wearing a thin cotton liner sock, then your boot sock....makes your day much better.

And your so right. nothin better than fresh socks, well maybe :grin:

[Buckhuntraj]

The most important thing I can add is dont take too much stuff. Some guys load their packs with so much gear that it kills them after a day of hunting. Take only the essentials. By saying this however it makes a huge difference on where, how far you are going to be hunting, and how comfortable you are with the country you are hunting. When I hunt Eastern Oregon for deer sometimes I dont even take my pack with me. However I'm hunting in areas that im very familiar with, and that are surrounded by roads. When elk hunting I will put more survival gear in my pack because the country is much bigger and i'm not as familiar with the area. Since you are hunting the area for the first time I would recommend taking lots of survival gear just in case.
The single most important thing I carry in my pack is a good Radio. Get some good ones too, dont go cheap. I can communicate with the other guys in my party if something goes wrong or if I get lost. Good luck
-Andy

[bassettmama]

Originally Posted by crittergitter

You got some great ideas there guys, one of my own favorites is to include a dehydrated self heating meal of some kind, in case I have to stay out for the night.

That's a great idea, i also take freeze dried food and dried fruits for energy.

[steelhead22]

Originally Posted by Buckhuntraj

When I hunt Eastern Oregon for deer sometimes I dont even take my pack with me. However I'm hunting in areas that im very familiar with, and that are surrounded by roads. When elk hunting I will put more survival gear in my pack because the country is much bigger and i'm not as familiar with the area.

Same goes for me. Most times we just hunt right out of camp. Which, I think, is where all this planning starts. I camp SMALL. No generators, no quads, no huge BBQ. Just the basics in camp, which allows me to be mobile and stay close to the area I'm are going to hunt the next day/week. As a result, sometimes I don't even take a pack with me (especially deer hunting). For elk, there's a bit more gear with calls, scents, etc. and there's a pretty decent possibility that you might be in for an "all day affair" if you get on a bull.

ALWAYS WITH ME:

Compass- NEVER leave without one.
GPS- Nice, but not 100% necessary, IMO...(but I never leave mine at camp either:grin
Matches- If I do get lost, I want FIRE. I sure as hell don't want to be stuck in the woods at night without something to keep me warm....and something to do/keep my mind off being lost/keep me from panicking.
Knife/Sharpener- I'm planning on killing something, of course.

SOMETIMES WITH ME (usually elk hunting):

Water, maybe 2, 1 liter bottles.
Powerbar, or the like.
Calls
Scents
TP...only in case of EMERGENCY.
Headlamp
Map

At most, I usually carry a fanny pack. I like to keep it small, from the camp to the woods like I said before. In both cases, this allows me to be extremely mobile. IMO, at least for where and how I hunt, this is the #1 most important thing. Even more important if you're hunting a unit that you don't know very well. You're going to learn A LOT on a pre-season scout, but probably even more during your hunt. Personally, I don't want to be restricted because I have a HUGE camp if I find a great area somewhere else.....or be able to go another 2 miles, up and over a couple ridges, when I get on a nice bull because I'm lugging 40lbs. of crap on my back. It's just not worth it to me.

[DukAddict]

Toilet paper

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA

[bigjake_888]

Powdered Alcohol!

http://www.reuters.com/article/oddly...64994620070606

Rocks? I can't stop laughing. Thats a good one!

I have started taking a beacon as well. Your life is just too valuable. So many hunts to go on.

[bigjake_888]

I almost forgot two important but light things to stick in your pack:

Imodium AD and Exlax.

The first one is more important!

[Hawk]

Originally Posted by Finlander

A good girlfriend who will pack out the meat? :grin:

There's an adorable little gal that works at a bank out in Hillsboro. She cut and wrapped her boyfriend's deer last year, AND her folks have a house on the Kenai, with a deck that extends OUT INTO the Kenai River. And she's good looking!! I couldn't talk her into marrying me; something about me being twice her age seemed to be a major hang up to closing the deal!