I've done fly-in and float trips, but am getting into solo backpack/backcountry hunts and it's time to figure out the pack thing. I've had (already sold and gone) a Cabela's frame pack that's had a few moose in it, but I never actively hunted in it.
If I get anything other than a Barney's for a main pack, I'll be disowned by my fellow Alaskans......and I'm happy with a Barney's, so that's fine! They're awesome packs and I'm "strong like bull" and can do the heavy loads, and I'm not ultralight going in, so a pack that will carry with ease appeals to me.
I'm a bow hunter, so coming to full draw, sneaking within range, etc can get to be a pain with a pack that large (yes I know it slims down for day use), external frame no less and weighing what the Barney's weighs empty. I've read in more than one place guys mentioning packing a whole separate day pack in with them and they hunt in that, with some essentials...food, bivy, whatever...but a pack with a narrower, lighter profile for ease bow hunting. Something basic like a climbing pack that's 2,000-2,500 ci and is 2-3 lbs.
Am I off base here thinking that 3 lbs going in would be worth not hunting in an 8 lb pack every day, all day in goat territory? Or am I better with the monster on my back?
If I get anything other than a Barney's for a main pack, I'll be disowned by my fellow Alaskans......and I'm happy with a Barney's, so that's fine! They're awesome packs and I'm "strong like bull" and can do the heavy loads, and I'm not ultralight going in, so a pack that will carry with ease appeals to me.
I'm a bow hunter, so coming to full draw, sneaking within range, etc can get to be a pain with a pack that large (yes I know it slims down for day use), external frame no less and weighing what the Barney's weighs empty. I've read in more than one place guys mentioning packing a whole separate day pack in with them and they hunt in that, with some essentials...food, bivy, whatever...but a pack with a narrower, lighter profile for ease bow hunting. Something basic like a climbing pack that's 2,000-2,500 ci and is 2-3 lbs.
Am I off base here thinking that 3 lbs going in would be worth not hunting in an 8 lb pack every day, all day in goat territory? Or am I better with the monster on my back?