Downsize from Multi-Day pack to Day pack?

[180ls1]

Older kuiu ultra 1800 will save you 3lbs and still have a meat shelf. You could do a light load on the way out with it and grab your bigger pack for the next trip. Might be worth a shot.

 

[Tradbeau]

OP. Here is a picture of something I put together that might offer a solution for you. I use this mainly for training and when I’m just coming to help pack meat, but have used it for hiking trips with the family or as a light and fast option too.

K_pem, showing my ignorance here but what went into that build?

 

[K_pem]

^^^we aren’t that far apart. Sorry for the overreaction.

The deer I packed was 40+ pounds plus my bino, rifle, extra jacket, knives, extra flashlight and batteries, etc. so maybe 60(?) total?

It wasn’t as comfy as a proper pack would have been. Maybe 1.25 miles. But it was downright easy compared to dragging her or carrying her (I carried her 1/4 mile, gutted, before I gave up and deboned her). It was an absolute breeze compared to toting the whole deer.

I’ll freely admit that bringing a half-load of meat back to the truck in the first trip isn’t as efficient as having a proper pack with you. But if having a lighter pack for the initial hike in makes me lighter and faster I’m more likely to kill something, more likely to get up and do it the next day, and so on.

There’s no easy button.

All good man, that’s the problem with trying to have a conversation through text format. You miss out on like 90% of communication.

But I mean idk what kind of daypack you’re using, but my EXO weighs about 5lbs (I could shave a half a pound ditching the hip belt pockets and Nalgene holster) the way I have it kitted out. I can’t imagine you’re saving more than a couple pounds by carrying a “daypack.”

And yeah, carrying an animal out whole sounds good and fine until you’re doing it… ask me how I know (pics attached), you ain’t doing that with a daypack haha, kidding of course.

Like I said, you do you; but I think you’re missing out lol.

 

[K_pem]

K_pem, showing my ignorance here but what went into that build?

Haha! No worries man.

It’s just a K4 frame with a crib load panel on it and the accessory straps that EXO sells to use the lid with the 2200 or crib.

Then I ordered some Molle compatible pouches on Amazon (probably went through about a dozen before I found one suitable quality and shape for the fit and space I wanted) and attached those directly to the crib panels Molle cuts.

What you can’t see under the lid is two light weight sil nylon dump pouches that pack into themselves for hauling like extra layers/garbage/snacks/ect (more pics attached).

It’s a sweet little lightweight setup. I keep it in my truck all season with a change of clothes and some basic shit in it, just incase I get a call that someone got something down and needs a hand. Otherwise during season I’ll leave it at camp or in my truck/sxs. It’s nice to have around and not bloody up my main hunting setup when I know I’m just hauling meat. Plus I elected to go with the taller carbon stays on this frame so that i get just a little more load lift assistance and it carries a little better. Otherwise the rest of the year it’s my training setup.

 

[270-300]

I typically pack a day pack and keep a frame pack in my vehicle. How i pack the day pack depends on where im hunting and what. But for elk it has lots of food and water, small tent, a nylon 2 person hammock that makes a great resting spot or a tarp for shelter, and everything i use to quarter elk including alaska game bags and an empty spray bottle with packets of 1 oz of citric acid powder in it.

When i kill something, i cut up the meat and quarters and put it all in the game bags and hang it from a tree. If its daylight this lets the meat cool down while i walk back and switch to my frame pack. If its night i leave it for the next morning and get it with the frame pack then.

I find it real hard to effectively hunt trying to slip through brush and rocks with a frame pack on.