Early season, High country, pack list

[IDHoundsman]

I am new to backpack hunting, I am curious as to what guys suggest for 5 day or so early season backpack hunts in high country shale mountain ranges?

 

[nnmarcher]

Your question is very broad, but this forum has more than enough information to get you started. I would recommend searching posts that include “lighterpack.” It is an app that you enter all your gear and weights into and can be shared for critique/suggestions. Here is an example of one: https://rokslide.com/forums/threads/total-gear-weight.392371/ . It’s a good way to see what other people are packing and where they can cut weight.

Your heaviest items will be backpack, shelter, and sleep system (bag/quilt, pillow, and pad).

You can use a pack from a backpacking company (Osprey, Deuter, etc) and it will carry your camp into the mountains just fine. If you harvest an animal, it will be less comfortable carrying heavy loads of meat and camp than packs from hunting companies (Kifaru, Exo, Stone Glacier, etc).

Plenty of threads on shelters, but you can consider a tarp/bivy vs 1p tent, dyneema vs silnylon or silpoly. A shelter rated for 3 seasons should suffice.

I’m partial to down quilts, but I live in a dry environment. Lots of people here are big fans of the Zenbivy system.

Don’t forget a way to treat/carry water, a kill kit, food (1.5-2 lbs/day), and pick your clothes in a way that keep you comfortable without bringing 20 different pieces.

If you come up with more specific questions, you will get better advice.

 

[jonnyviceroy]

What’s written above is excellent advice. Here’s a sample of a list from a hunt I previously did to give you a general idea. https://lighterpack.com/r/2hs7lv

 

[TaperPin]

I am new to backpack hunting, I am curious as to what guys suggest for 5 day or so early season backpack hunts in high country shale mountain ranges?

Welcome to the club. If you’re already used to western hunting and have a well squared away daypack, at the most basic level you’re just adding sleeping gear, extra food, water purification and a larger pack to carry it. The biggest differences between similar items that vary in cost usually revolves around weight and, or durability. Whatever your budget, it’s a given that half the things you’ll get won’t end up matching personal preferences and will get replaced in a few years.

Food is definitely full of personal preferences and folks generally have a hard time with this the first season, but they don’t have to. An entire menu for a week can all be tested at home over a couple of weekends - if it can’t be stomached at home I’d leave it out. This also gives you a chance to get familiar with the stove of your choice and water purification. Foods high in either fats, carbs or sweets are all limited to roughly 100 calories per ounce at most, so your food bag will probably be around 2 lbs per day.

Have fun - this is the golden age of good gear and great information right here. Reading older posts are worth more than any books or articles.

 

[mtnbound]

I am new to backpack hunting, I am curious as to what guys suggest for 5 day or so early season backpack hunts in high country shale mountain ranges?

Early season you can get away with a lot less in some aspects but in other aspects it more difficult. I would evaluate your hunting area for water sources. Having water close is great and saves a lot of weight if not you will need to pack more or make extra trips to get water.
What are you hunting? What weapon are you using?
If you are after elk and solo being 5miles from your truck and a cooler for meat storage can almost guarantee meat loss in early season without a good plan for meat care.
I think having a base camp and just doing a one or two night spike camp out is a great way to get experience at BP hunting.
Evaluate what gear and equipment you have now before you follow one of the gear lists that a wanna be influencer made up. Believe it or not you don’t need to have a $900 Dynema tent to have fun and be successful.

 

[Madpacific]

I’ve been building up my kit for a 7 day early September high country archery mule deer hunt. I’m planning on using a trekking pole tent, which seems to go against a lot of pack dump videos. It saves weight and space so seems like a no brainer to me. Other things are a 28inch tripod and just commit to having to sit while glassing. What I’m most hung up on is what clothing layers and sleep system.

 

[Beendare]

There have been a bunch of lists here in the past. Most new guys bring way too much clothes. What good is cutting the handle of your toothbrush when you have an extra pair of pants?

I think the best strategy is to do a couple dry runs.....then you can tailor gear to your own needs.