Best pack frames for the back country?

[Jw74330]

Hey, have a question for you guys, we are going elk hunting next year, and are going to get up into the backcountry away from the majority of hunters we hope, and I'm wondering what is a really good pack frame for getting there, and getting elk packed off the mountain. I've been muledeer hunting numerous times, and have had to quarter a couple of them up and load them on a game cart to get them out, but this is a first for elk, and pretty sure a pack will be the way to go and I know you guys do it a lot, lol, any advice would be helpful, thanks.

 

[Jgray2911]

Following. Same boat.


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[cnelk]

Kelty Cache Hauler

Tough, rugged, and wont break your budget

 

[belly-deep]

Cabelas Alaskan frame is good for the money. It will give you sore shoulders though. I haven't used mine for a while. Packing with MR and Kuiu these days.

 

[ndbwhunter]

Lots of good options out there. Really depends on the intended use and your budget. Are you simply using it to haul meat, or will you be hauling camp and other gear as well? If you've got $600-900 to spend on a pack, go with a new or used Kifaru. Keep you eye on the classifieds section on here. Lots of good deals on slightly used packs.

 

[westrnwild]

If you looking for an all in one pack, where you can haul meat, camp and day hunt out of there a quite a few options, Kifaru, Exo Mountain, Stone Glacier, Mystery Ranch, Seek Outside, Kuiu, Eberlestock, Horn Hauler, Outdoorsmans Packs...to name few. If you looking for a meat hauler the Kelty one is great, but not something you carry around with you day in and day out. Your Price point and application will help people narrow it down for ya...

Good luck

 

[gphil]

I like using a bull pac frame for hauling meat

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[TurkeyBowMaster]

I have a Magnus Rack Pak that has been used to pack 2 elk. Works pretty good and I might be going to turn it loose. I use a day pack for first load than then get the rack pak for the rest. Had close to 140 pounds on it ...it will handle way over that.

 

[Jw74330]

Dang, I had no idea there were so many! Lol

 

[hobbes]

There are multiple options out there for getting in and out. There are some good ones mentioned above.

You can use one pack for both or you can pack in with one and do the meat packing with another. The second option will work fine if you already own a solid pack for carrying camp in but don't want to load it down with bloody meat. In that case the Kelty frame would be a good choice.

I used to do something similar with a badlands 2800. Id carry out the first load with it then head back with a Cabelas frame pack. Ive since upgraded to a Mystery Ranch Metcalf and use it for day hunts, pack in hunts, and meat hauling. Trash bags can be used to put game bagged meat in for hauling to keep the pack cleaner but I don't like doing that for long packs in warm weather, especially if the meat hasn't cooled down completely. If it's already cooled overnight, there shouldn't be a problem with retaining heat.

There are other reputable pack manufacturers with good options.

My Metcalf with a hind quarter, loins and scraps, and whole head with cape (considered a mount since I have the ability myself). The first load was one hind quarter, two fronts, and all my hunting equipment. They were fairly equal loads and a relatively easy pack. An elk just means more trips, or more help (I prefer this).