Backcountry pack advice

[hunternanaj]

So I am going on my first DIY archery elk hunt in the back country in September. I want to know if you all recommend adding anything else I don't have yet, here is my pack list:
-slumberjack 4500 bounty pack
-alps mountaineering zephyr 2 tent
- (still looking for sleeping bag)
-Jetboil flash and 2 fuel cans
-mountain house meals (2 a day)
-emergency kit
-silk base layers
-mid weight layers
-Sitka 90% top and bottom and hat
-outdoor edge pro
-rmhc temptress, all star, and bugle tube
-Irish setter vaptrek (have not purchased but need too)
-compression shorts
-high hiking socks
-Garmin 62s
-Matthews halon 6
-Easton axis 340 arrows (5)
-G5 Stryker broad heads
-Alaskan game bags
-Simmons spotting scope and tripod
-bushnell binocs
-platypus bladder and life straw

I am sure I may be forgetting some things but all I can think of right now.
-any of you backcountry hunters have recommendations on gear I should purchase? I would really appreciate all the help! Thx

 

[samuelayres]

I'm doing the same thing this year man! Good luck to you!

 

[mfllood3800]

So glad you are hitting the mountains, you will love it and never want to stop..... we all have a basic list, with only minor differences for the most part....Don't forget these- fire starter, compass/gps/maps(if not part of your emergency kit), rope to hang quarters , garbage bags to submerse qtrs in water if needed, camp light, steripen or aqua mira, (in case the straw fails), camp bladder bag, extra bttys, head lamp, flash light, flagging tape... I'm sure there is more, I am not home with my pack, but its the small things after the kill and after the hunt many forget.

I run some redundancy on key items, while many wont- its personal preference depending on duration and distance. Personally I cant live off mtn House for more than a couple days. I bring breakfast / protein bars, jerky (my own home made) and dehydrated elk,venison to throw in some top ramen. I also carry a small piece of Tyvek to sleep on and to lay elk qtrs on when by myself. If the elk falls in a good spot the hide can act as a tarp, but Ive had some miserable places and was glad for the tarp. I can use it as a shade if needed to on hot days while cutting up elk. I also utilize some rope during this time if need be, to tie legs in a position for ease of dressing if I resumed the tracking the following morning.

I solo hunt and with the weight of my pack I am at 40 ish pounds. I have a larger 4 man tent and a stove in there too.
Others also bring a sat phone, spotters digiskope set up like phone skope, soap and sun screen, chap stick. wind checker....
Sounds like you are off to a great start and I hope you enjoy it.

 

[Tsnider]

pretty similar to my first year pack list. i recommend having a big water bladder so you have plenty of camp water. during the day just dont fill it all the way up.

 

[NMbackcountry]

I didn't see a Rangefinder on there, unless I missed it. I would also pick up a sawyer squeeze water filter. $20 at Walmart and works great

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[hunternanaj]

Thx for all the advice guys. I did forget to put my rangefinder and wind checker and scent sosp on there. I am a bit nervous about doing this solo but everyone has backed out on me and it is a dream of mine! Thank you all for the input it definitely helps

 

[archer wapiti]

You'll love it. I hope.

You didn't mention where you are planning on hunting, or a budget. You should be able to pick up a fairly good down sleeping bag that won't break the bank off Campmor or REI. I got a zero degree bag for $100 9 years ago that I still use. Those deals are still out there. If you're hunting really wet conditions, maybe you want to go synthetic.
In September you might want to do just one MH per day for supper and eat stuff you don't have to cook during the rest of the day. I usually start with a Pro Bar, snack on some granola til mid-day, have a tuna packet or jerky, tortilla, reconstituted dried hummus or refried beans for lunch, more snacks in the afternoon (different stuff, like dates, candied ginger, other trail mixes, dried fruit), then a MH for supper. hit up the bulk food section of your grocery store. If you have a whole foods, Sprouts, or something similar, you can find all kinds of dried stuff (like veggies) and nuts to keep things from being too monotonous. And don't forget the fun-size Snickers!
I pack a lot of backup gear in my truck and hope I never have to come back to it unscheduled, but plan on coming out on day 5/6 to resupply food and change clothes. 5 arrows in the quiver is good, but have more in the truck. A shower feels really good about then. I leave a car camping stove in my truck so I can heat a quart of water, dilute it with cold water, and have a warm Navy shower. Or you can make a cache in the backcountry. I've never done that, but know people do...I really like the sea to summit backpacker's 10 L shower bag. I've never showered away from the truck, but having it in the backcountry lets me use it as an emergency water holder if water is scarce as it can be in New Mexico. It's light and the size of a deck of cards. if you use the pouch it comes in.

I assume you're hunting an area where a spotter will do you some good. The areas I hunt are too flat and thick for it to be of any use. That's many ounces I don't need to carry.

On the same theme as mflood3800 and Tyvek, I carry a lightweight 1.1 oz silnylon hexagonal tarp with me. Never thought of using it for shade when butchering in the field, but love it for the afternoon showers that often flare up around here. Deploys in seconds and lets you hunker in a dry spot for the duration. Fill your water bottles from it, too! I'll stop before this chain of consciousness gets too convoluted.
Good luck!

 

[archer wapiti]

I hunt solo, but find that I'm never truly alone out there. I hope you're as lucky as I am and meet the same quality of people I always do. Last year I sprained an ankle 4 miles in, hobbled a mile into a camp (I already knew was there) and they guys took care of me. I'd met them three years prior. I find the jerk factor is really low out there. Information gets shared pretty freely, and although we expect to do it alone, on our own particular terms, if push comes to shove, I know those guys will have my back. I hope you find that where you hunt.

 

[sneaky]

I second the motion of getting a dedicated water filter. How do you plan on getting the water into your bladder from the Lifestraw? Sawyer filters are cheap and weigh almost nothing, same with a platypus filter. You run out of water and you're done, no matter where you are. How many days you planning on being in the backcountry? Only reason I ask is you have 2 fuel cans on your gear list. A Jetboil will run a long time on one small can.

 

[hunternanaj]

I will be hunting 9 days and can I just boil my water instead of filtering? Also I am hunting unit 53 in Colorado

 

[HardcoreHunter]

I will be hunting 9 days and can I just boil my water instead of filtering? Also I am hunting unit 53 in Colorado

You will consume a rather large amount of water elk hunting. Unless you just sit at water holes. If you do no tsit, that would be a lot of time boiling water. Filtering is simple, fast, and leaves more time for hunting.

 

[realunlucky]

You'll spend a bunch of time trying to keep enough boiled water on hand for drinking.

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[hunternanaj]

What filter system would you all recommend?

 

[Cant hit em]

What filter system would you all recommend?

I have Katadyn hiker its Basic and never had an issue


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[smartweed]

Steripen

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[NMbackcountry]

What filter system would you all recommend?

Sawyer squeeze

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[DEHusker]

I've been doing solo DIY archery elk hunts for awhile now but every year I still do a "dry run" with my family before I go. I pretty much load up all my gear and head out for a couple nights with my kids. This lets me get acquainted with any new equipment and lets me know if I've packed the right stuff, packed too much etc. I'm pretty dialed in now but once in the while I'll discover that I need to bring X,Y, or Z with me that I forgot. Or that I don't need to bring X,Y, or Z cause I never used it.

The other thing I've done is keep a running list of equipment on my iPhone "list" app so I know exactly what to pack without reiniventing the wheel every year. I add/subtract things from this list all the time but when it comes time to pack for my trips I can refer to it and know that I have everything I need and nothing I don't. Start keeping this list and you'll soon see it all on paper.

Good luck and have fun!!

 

[Northernpiker]

Definitely want a water filter of some type. I take a couple of light rollup water bags along to fill for at camp. I also like some Gatorade power to add to my water.

 

[Trogon]

The Katadyn hiker is a solid choice. It isn't too heavy.

I've gone out with guys that just use iodine or the MSR pen. My general conclusion was that if you hunt somewhere where you can get clear water from a stream and you dont mind a few floaties in your water, its a good option.

 

[mfllood3800]

katadyn and a steripen,
I'm leaving the straw at home as I have yet to use it, ever...

Get the quick connects for your pack bladder to use with your pump/filter.