First Solo DIY Backcountry Elk Bow Hunt - Gear Breakdown

[samuelayres]

Hey all... I'm definitely rather inexperienced when it comes to hunting, let alone that of the backcountry variety. This year, I'll be doing my very first major hunt... a solo DIY backcountry elk bow hunt in Idaho (unless I'm unbelievably lucky in Arizona) probably the second week of September for (pending vacation time) eight days. I, apparently, don't like starting small.

I've got a Google Sheet going that's breaking down my current gear list. Looks like I'm not the first one to think this, but I'd love to get some feedback from the experts on what I've got going so far. Anything with an "X" in the far left column is an item I've already purchased or already had. There's several items I haven't gotten around to adding weight for and several items that still need decisions made about what to purchase. Would love to see what you think so far though!

Here's the Google Sheet:
Solo DIY Backcountry Elk Bow Hunt Gear Breakdown

 

[elkguide]

Nothing like starting big. Tough hunt to start out hunting with. Good luck.

 

[captchet]

My first question is how many days? I took a quick look. Shelter and sleep system looks good. I see a life straw and bottles but no filter. How are you filtering water? I also see a frying pan. What is your food plan? Dehydrated meals (homemade or mtn house)work best for backcountry/bivy hunting. If this is the case, you can leave the fying pan at home.

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[captchet]

Also 50rnds of ammo may be a little much. Every oz = calories burned and energy expended. I would choose either the spray or the pistol.

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[Travis1984]

Ok, I'm going to start at the top. Leave he pistol and bear spray home. If you must bring one for your piece of mind, I'd bring the bear spray...its lighter.

You don't need a bone saw, multitool or knife sharpener.

(You have a havalon, it will completely disassemble an animal.)

Also, are you bringing two packs? Or is that an exo bag on a bikini frame?


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[theleo91386]

I'd ditch the idea of doing much cooking, focus on meals that just require hot water and call it good. For the life of me I can't think of anything I like enough to pack in on my back to fry on a back country hunt when I'm thinking of having to pack an elk out solo.

 

[samuelayres]

Added the days to the original post. Looking at 8 +/- days pending vacation time with work.

For the water, I figured that the Life Straw covers straight drinking. Any other water (for cooking/rehydrating) will be boiled. What am I missing?

Food-wise, I'm generally doing dry or dehydrated meals. Honestly, the pan is hoping for a best case scenario... When I get something, I want to cook up a small bit to eat in the field. Though, I supposed I could leave it and just spit something over the fire.

I'd like to have the pistol with me for, if nothing else, self confidence. I'll probably leave the ammo off the list and just take what I can hold in the mags. I'm honestly not sure how much I trust the bear spray.

Knife-sharpener was a hold-over before I got my Havalons... killing that now. I kinda like having the multi-tool on hand for various gear fixes and stuff... Is that just overprep?

The pack is a custom set-up of an Exo pack on a Bikini frame.

 

[go4thegusto]

""You don't need a bone saw, multitool or knife sharpener.

(You have a havalon, it will completely disassemble an animal.)""

Think through the advice you get here...Roksliders are incredibly capable and knowledgeable folks but at times fall into the same trap. So you are solo and 10 miles back in and you fall and break or sprain a limb. You need to carve a splint or crutch, possibly hack out a shelter until someone finds you. etc etc.....leave the X-acto tool in camp for caping and bring a real knife and sharpener. IMO

 

[samuelayres]

Nothing like starting big. Tough hunt to start out hunting with. Good luck.

Thanks! Everything else will be a breeze after this... right? right? Heh.

 

[Travis1984]

""You don't need a bone saw, multitool or knife sharpener.

(You have a havalon, it will completely disassemble an animal.)""

Think through the advice you get here...Roksliders are incredibly capable and knowledgeable folks but at times fall into the same trap. So you are solo and 10 miles back in and you fall and break or sprain a limb. You need to carve a splint or crutch, possibly hack out a shelter until someone finds you. etc etc.....leave the X-acto tool in camp for caping and bring a real knife and sharpener. IMO

I will say I bring a light weight Benchmade for all tasks not associated with an animal.

But I've broken down numerous animals with only a havalon. Hasn't been an issue.

Carving a splint or hacking out a shelter? I find those things to be unlikely. But we pack for our fears in the backcountry.

Back to the OP.

Also, I wouldn't bring both a GPS and an iPhone. In my experience, the iPhone Topo maps work better and quicker then the GPS.

Flat rocks work just fine for grilling!

Your first aid kit if I remember was about a pound and a half. You should ditch that and pack some simple stuff like Leukotape, IBprofin, benedryl, and maybe some Tylenol PM etc.

Most of those med kits are full of things that can be multi purposes with something like Leukotape.

Good luck! You're going to get a lot of opinions!



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[samuelayres]

Good luck! You're going to get a lot of opinions!

Haha! I feel like I posted a photo on Reddit and said "roast me". But, I absolutely love seeing all the opinions, discussions and often arguments. Let's me see the reasoning behind everyone's decisions and allows me to make the most educated choices I can.

 

[Cant hit em]

Wet Wipes , to keep the reeses cup squeaky clean


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[theleo91386]

Honestly, the pan is hoping for a best case scenario... When I get something, I want to cook up a small bit to eat in the field. Though, I supposed I could leave it and just spit something over the fire.

I'd like to have the pistol with me for, if nothing else, self confidence. I'll probably leave the ammo off the list and just take what I can hold in the mags. I'm honestly not sure how much I trust the bear spray.

I wouldn't waste time cooking meat once an animal is down in the middle of September nor would I want more than instant calories (candy bars) on my stomach for the pack out. I'd also restrict your ammo for the handgun to how many you can fit in the mag not "mags". You need to approach this as what do you NEED to survive for the hunt and get the animal out before it spoils instead of what you'd LIKE. You're not going to go in far enough to require camping out, kill an animal, pack it out, then pack your stuff out, and think you would have been just fine with some extra weight.

 

[captchet]

Wet Wipes , to keep the reeses cup squeaky clean


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One Wipe Charlies FTW

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[sneaky]

For the water, I figured that the Life Straw covers straight drinking. Any other water (for cooking/rehydrating) will be boiled. What am I missing?

You are missing a water filter. You are going to be wasting a lot of damn time and fuel boiling your water. Get a Sawyer filter for about 20 bucks and call it done. What's with you guys and these Lifestraws?

 

[dvm_hunter]

For the water, I figured that the Life Straw covers straight drinking. Any other water (for cooking/rehydrating) will be boiled. What am I missing?

You are missing a water filter. You are going to be wasting a lot of damn time and fuel boiling your water. Get a Sawyer filter for about 20 bucks and call it done. What's with you guys and these Lifestraws?

Word, as a guy that's had Giardia, don't skimp on your filtration system. Giardia was the worst week of my life and I've broken a lot of bones.

 

[greentimber]

You don't have time to be boiling water. Get a sawyer and two of the big 64oz bags.

 

[jpuckett]

We used iodine tables this fall and I really liked them. Is there downside to using those? Way easier than a filter


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[6.5x284]

Ok, I'm going to start at the top. Leave he pistol and bear spray home. If you must bring one for your piece of mind, I'd bring the bear spray...its lighter.

I personally would not be caught in ID or MT without a pistol with the amount of wolves and bears the last few years. Mild winters has let the predator population explode. I wouldn't be worried while hunting, but once the smell of butchered game is in the air, your camp, etc... any trip back in the dark for meat can be dicy. You startle something on the way to your meat that has taken ownership of your kill and a pistol or spray feel pretty good on your side. Obviously there are many tricks to help with this, but still not a risk I would personally take for a weight tradeoff.

 

[Scoot]

Yep, lots of good advice above. Skip the pistol and bring bear spray only. Definitely forget the pan- Mountain House (or similar) and whatever else you bring that you don't need to cook. If you want elk meat to eat leave a pan and stove at your truck. You NEED a better plan regarding water- no way you want to boil water all the time. Get a steripen, inline filter, pump filter, or tablets (or some other reasonable option).

Bring lightweight rain gear, a puffy, one extra pair of socks, and one extra pair of underwear- those always go with me.