Daypack/Expedition pack or just Expedition pack?

[buckchaser]

Planning a 10 day deer hunt into Adirondack Park (NY) and have the following conundrum. I'll be heading into a wilderness area with no roads, minimal trails, and no motorized traffic permitted. It may not be the Rockies, but it's pretty wild and isolated terrain nonetheless.

Should I pack a daypack (I own a Mystery Ranch Dragonslayer) into my expedition pack and then use it once I have established my base camp? (I may have to move my base camp a few times, but don't imagine having to hunt with all my gear on my back)

Or should I simply use my expedition pack the entire time and hunt with it basically unloaded as a day pack?

The only other related experience I can draw upon is mountaineering, where I typically haul my gear in a big bag and then switch to a smaller, lighter bag for the ascent.

 

[muleman]

Or should I simply use my expedition pack the entire time and hunt with it basically unloaded as a day pack?

This would be my choice.

 

[Buster]

Depends on your pack and how concerned you are with weight. If your big pack is light and compresses down well, just stick with it. My old multi day pack, didn't so I used to bring a day pack that doubled as a stuff sack on some hunts. Once I made it to my base camp, I'd drop the big bag and secure my day pack to my frame with zipties. It wasn't pretty, but the system was effective and fit my budget at the time. Here is a pic of the old system getting full use in day mode.

Now I run a bikini with a HC 7000 all the time for the simplicity.

 

[Hunt'nFish]

Well I would at least include a lightweight fanny pack. IMO, folks hunt w/ way too much day gear. What do you need for day gear? a bic lighter, water bottle, a couple Pay-Days and a knife. You don't need much more than a light weight fanny pack for that. Consider it a pullout w/ a waist strap. And you could pull the bag off your frame and buckle the fanny pack on the back if you feel you need to hunt w/ the frame.
Hunt'nFish

 

[KMD]

I've stomped around the 'Dacks a bit, it can be very hairy terrain. Ya just ain't suckin' that thin air, @3-4K ASL.
If it were me, I'd bring one bag for 10days, my Bikini w/ HC7000ci bag.
Cool trip, been wanting to do an extended 'Dacks hunt, myself. Got it too easy these last few years, blasting corn-fed deer out in cow country, LOL

Good luck & be safe!

 

[NVCHUKAR]

Well I would at least include a lightweight fanny pack. IMO, folks hunt w/ way too much day gear. What do you need for day gear? a bic lighter, water bottle, a couple Pay-Days and a knife. You don't need much more than a light weight fanny pack for that. Consider it a pullout w/ a waist strap. And you could pull the bag off your frame and buckle the fanny pack on the back if you feel you need to hunt w/ the frame.
Hunt'nFish

Spotting scope and tripod would not fit in a fanny pack, but i agree its easy to pack more than you need

 

[2x4x16]

Always carry a pack the will be able to bring out what you are hunting! Most packs compress down and cinch up so they really aren't bulky. As others have said be choosing on what u pack for the day - spotter and tripod don't fit in a fanny. IMO keep the day pack at home. In fact I never use one now for hunting - when I shoot it away from camp it's a waist of time and energy to go back to camp and retrieve your pack - especially when your 8 km from camp.

 

[Hunt'nFish]

Spotting scope and tripod would not fit in a fanny pack, but i agree its easy to pack more than you need

I pack my 20x glass & bipod mounted on a rifle. (wink)
Hunt'nFish