External frame pack question

JPHuntingAUS

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Jun 5, 2014
Gday I've got a question regarding external frames that's always bugged me. Moreso now that im looking at getting a new pack.

Say you hike in 9 miles from any roads. Then off you go hunting and while glassing down into a gully during the early afternoon find a good sambar stag (imagine an elk bull if it helps). You drop down a little to get into a shooting position, line up, BANG he runs a little wobbles and falls ending up in some god forsaken nasty craggy spot way down in there. Then what?

Do you guys unclip your pack and leave it there so you can use the frame to haul meat and antler. If so what do you do about your gun, water, knives, headlamps, GPS and all those types of things if you just have a frame? And then do you pack all that meat back to camp and then come back to where you left the pack and hope everything is still there and intact?

Or do you keep it all together and just fill the pack with meat on the frame to have everything together in which case you're going to end up like i have in the past with blood all through everything requiring thorough cleaning back at home and smelly kit in the meantime? In which case you may as well just have an internal frame anyway?

Curious to know how people manage their loads after a successful hunt.

Cheers

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Unfortunately I have not used my Kifaru to pack out an elk yet, but may plan was to put my game bag into a garbage bag until I hiked back to camp to avoid the bloody pack problem. I also have considered buying the Kifaru game bags. They look like they would keep the blood out of the pack. Another guy on here said that at the end of the season he washed his pack by hand in the tub and all the blood came out.
 
My pack is Kifaru Hunter frame with an Exo bag, lid and crib load panel. The Exo packs have a double layer of xpac material, which is waterproof, along the back so the blood doesn't really get through the bag. I keep all my gear in the bag for the first load of meat and then drop the bag at the truck/camp (whichever the case may be) and use the crib panel for the remaining loads of meat. I leave the lid on with the crib panel to carry the essentials (snacks, first aid kit, etc.). The photo below shows the frame with the crib panel and lid after I've dropped the bag at the truck.

Yes I still have to wash the pack when I'm done for the season but I haven't had any issues with other gear getting bloody inside the pack. Spray it off with a hose at the end of season and then soak it in the tub with some atsko sport wash and it's good to go.

If I'm honest, once I have an animal down I'm much more concerned about getting the meat taken care of then I am about getting blood on things. Maybe you are overthinking it?
7002815a9a9f776fb95fdc111d864657.jpg


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My pack is Kifaru Hunter frame with an Exo bag, lid and crib load panel. The Exo packs have a double layer of xpac material, which is waterproof, along the back so the blood doesn't really get through the bag. I keep all my gear in the bag for the first load of meat and then drop the bag at the truck/camp (whichever the case may be) and use the crib panel for the remaining loads of meat. I leave the lid on with the crib panel to carry the essentials (snacks, first aid kit, etc.). The photo below shows the frame with the crib panel and lid after I've dropped the bag at the truck.

Yes I still have to wash the pack when I'm done for the season but I haven't had any issues with other gear getting bloody inside the pack. Spray it off with a hose at the end of season and then soak it in the tub with some atsko sport wash and it's good to go.

If I'm honest, once I have an animal down I'm much more concerned about getting the meat taken care of then I am about getting blood on things. Maybe you are overthinking it?
7002815a9a9f776fb95fdc111d864657.jpg


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The blood thing was only a small point, doesn't really bother me too much it's more a question around benefits of external frames

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All my shit in one big bag haha.

I normally run a pack liner with all my gear in it.
Once at the kill meat/skins go into game bags if I have them, or just straight in the pack, all my gear is in the pack liner so doesnt get blood on it(much).

Trust me you will get really sick of back tracking to pick up extra gear here and there, and a 'quick walk down to the kill' often ends in a 8 hour tracking job haha. I always try and carry everything with me now, real pain in the ass to have to go back for gear, or when you forget something. Yes my pack is covered in blood and guts, and yes thats whats its made for

All depends what type of pack you have, some have 'meat shelf' options which solve the issue more or less. I prefer to have all my stuff,meat and skins as well inside one big bag, that way less hook ups in scrub and less leaves and crap on your meat/skins
 
External vs internal, remote or day hunt, what I'm going to do is load up as much as I can and start shuttling that Sambar back to the camp and then the truck.

I like externals because they carry heavy loads better. Never used a meat shelf, but I'm open to the concept. My Kifaru has hauled all the red meat the family has eaten for the last 5 years...... and I think I've cleaned it once pre NZ trip 2016. I'm sure it has blood on it somewhere now, I'll clean it again if I take it to NZ this year.....I'm not brave enough to try my luck with Border Force and blood stains.

Photo's because all threads about meat packing need pictures. Showing my best side on the last animal I put in the freezer for 2017.

i-Q2xS8m2-X3.jpg


i-MJhJFpW-X3.jpg
 
External vs internal, remote or day hunt, what I'm going to do is load up as much as I can and start shuttling that Sambar back to the camp and then the truck.

I like externals because they carry heavy loads better. Never used a meat shelf, but I'm open to the concept. My Kifaru has hauled all the red meat the family has eaten for the last 5 years...... and I think I've cleaned it once pre NZ trip 2016. I'm sure it has blood on it somewhere now, I'll clean it again if I take it to NZ this year.....I'm not brave enough to try my luck with Border Force and blood stains.

Photo's because all threads about meat packing need pictures. Showing my best side on the last animal I put in the freezer for 2017.

i-Q2xS8m2-X3.jpg


i-MJhJFpW-X3.jpg

Don't worry mate, my first trip there I accidentally left a knife in my carry on/day pack. Got interrogated by afp, they were pretty good about it though, just confiscated the $100 knife.

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External vs internal, remote or day hunt, what I'm going to do is load up as much as I can and start shuttling that Sambar back to the camp and then the truck.

I like externals because they carry heavy loads better. Never used a meat shelf, but I'm open to the concept. My Kifaru has hauled all the red meat the family has eaten for the last 5 years...... and I think I've cleaned it once pre NZ trip 2016. I'm sure it has blood on it somewhere now, I'll clean it again if I take it to NZ this year.....I'm not brave enough to try my luck with Border Force and blood stains.

Photo's because all threads about meat packing need pictures. Showing my best side on the last animal I put in the freezer for 2017.

i-Q2xS8m2-X3.jpg


i-MJhJFpW-X3.jpg


Wow, much meat!!! 😀
 
What do you hunt mostly?

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I’m hunting for mainly deer and pigs in NSW state forests for the last few years, game is pretty tough to find, but after much research I found out that the game tends to hang around the fringes of the forests near private land, I started to see a bit more game after focusing on these areas. Saw a massive red deer last year but couldn’t get into range in time.

Finally got my first deer (fallow) late last year down at Maragle SF which was a great experience and now I’m hooked. I’m looking at getting up to maybe check out Nundle SF in a couple of weeks, but Victoria seems to be a better hunting ground, and I definitely HAVE to take a Sambar at some stage, so I’m thinking of doing a trip down there either later this year or probably most likely next year.

You mainly going after Sambar?
 
I’m hunting for mainly deer and pigs in NSW state forests for the last few years, game is pretty tough to find, but after much research I found out that the game tends to hang around the fringes of the forests near private land, I started to see a bit more game after focusing on these areas. Saw a massive red deer last year but couldn’t get into range in time.

Finally got my first deer (fallow) late last year down at Maragle SF which was a great experience and now I’m hooked. I’m looking at getting up to maybe check out Nundle SF in a couple of weeks, but Victoria seems to be a better hunting ground, and I definitely HAVE to take a Sambar at some stage, so I’m thinking of doing a trip down there either later this year or probably most likely next year.

You mainly going after Sambar?
Good stuff, did you manage to get your fallow in the ballot?

With the public stuff there, I haven't hunted it but I always though if I did I'd be at the private boundaries before first light to see what's coming off, definitely something worth trying.

I'm mostly big game but hunt a bit of everything, red, fallow, sambar, hog deer, bot of duck and quail. Keeps me out of trouble. It's the sambar that I need the big pack for, reds and fallow are usually within a km of my ute so I just carry two legs each trip and then the head and backstrap/tenderloin. Hog deer have to be carried out whole obviously so doesn't really matter what pack I've got there!

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JP I’m in northern Melb, i’ve got a Kifaru hunting frame with Mahkor bag you’re welcome to check out to help you work out which way you want to jump if that’s any help.
 
I like externals because they carry heavy loads better

I hear people say this a lot and it made me curious, so I bought one and tried it. Honestly I found that my hand me down ILBE military pack was still more comfortable than the external frame pack, and the external frame was noisy as all get out. In the end I stuck with internal frame bags, and got a new one thats a bit less heavy than the ILBE and a bit more mufti for when I'm around people.
Is it just anectdotal?
**not disputing anything I am just curious**

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I hear people say this a lot and it made me curious, so I bought one and tried it. Honestly I found that my hand me down ILBE military pack was still more comfortable than the external frame pack, and the external frame was noisy as all get out. In the end I stuck with internal frame bags, and got a new one thats a bit less heavy than the ILBE and a bit more mufti for when I'm around people.
Is it just anectdotal?
**not disputing anything I am just curious**


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I think it’s legit, but the difference between them depends greatly on the two examples.

If you’re comparing the ILBE which is essentially an Arcteryx heavy load expedition pack then you’re going to notice less difference than comparing say a mid range Osprey pack. Also the type of external and the general fit is important.

I’ve bought a few brands of packs since I seem to have trouble finding the perfect fit, I’m shorter torso but wide shoulders and barrel chest, I’ll probably try a Seek Outside pack at some stage, the Exo fit wasn’t ideal for me but I love the actual pack and the design and layout.

I’ve got a Mystery Ranch crew cab that I also use for day hunts but it’s not ideal for longer trips.
 
Good stuff, did you manage to get your fallow in the ballot?

With the public stuff there, I haven't hunted it but I always though if I did I'd be at the private boundaries before first light to see what's coming off, definitely something worth trying.

I'm mostly big game but hunt a bit of everything, red, fallow, sambar, hog deer, bot of duck and quail. Keeps me out of trouble. It's the sambar that I need the big pack for, reds and fallow are usually within a km of my ute so I just carry two legs each trip and then the head and backstrap/tenderloin. Hog deer have to be carried out whole obviously so doesn't really matter what pack I've got there!

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My fallow deer I got when I logged on one Friday afternoon and saw an opening at Sth Maragle, so I snapped it up as I’ve never been there before, it was right at the end of season so probably someone booked it hopeful of getting a last hunt in but canceled at the last minute.

I went into the ballot this year but didn’t get anything.

The big Red deer I saw was coming in off private farmland just after dawn, so you’re spot on re strategy, he was coming into scrub about 50-60 mtr away from me but I was bow hunting that morning and it was too long of a shot (for me), i didn’t want to take a wild shot and wound such a majestic animal, so I tried to make up ground on him, he had a doe with him and while they weren’t running they just traveled so quickly I couldn’t catch up. I was pretty bummed not to get a shot at him but it’s got to be an ethical shot or not at all.
 
Gday I've got a question regarding external frames that's always bugged me. Moreso now that im looking at getting a new pack.

Say you hike in 9 miles from any roads. Then off you go hunting and while glassing down into a gully during the early afternoon find a good sambar stag (imagine an elk bull if it helps). You drop down a little to get into a shooting position, line up, BANG he runs a little wobbles and falls ending up in some god forsaken nasty craggy spot way down in there. Then what?

Do you guys unclip your pack and leave it there so you can use the frame to haul meat and antler. If so what do you do about your gun, water, knives, headlamps, GPS and all those types of things if you just have a frame? And then do you pack all that meat back to camp and then come back to where you left the pack and hope everything is still there and intact?

Or do you keep it all together and just fill the pack with meat on the frame to have everything together in which case you're going to end up like i have in the past with blood all through everything requiring thorough cleaning back at home and smelly kit in the meantime? In which case you may as well just have an internal frame anyway?

Curious to know how people manage their loads after a successful hunt.

Cheers

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Can't really speak to external frames, but I run a Kifaru EMR 2, most of my camp stuff fits into the sleeves on the sides, as much meat as I can fit goes into the main bag (boned out and quartered) in a game bag. Sometimes I put the game bag into a large, lightweight dry bag. Never had any issues with it. Sleeping bag stays in the bottom of my pack's main bag in order to keep the meat up higher on my back.
I imagine the same principle could be applied to external frames. Throw the meat inside, strap everything else on and just make sure it's loaded evenly; I can't see too many problems. Just my thoughts.
 
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