Here's my list minus food and water. Let me know what you think?
At this point I'm planning on only taking one optic. Either the RF 8x binos or 15x50's and handheld RF.
BTW, My inreach is included in pack weight.
Not sure if you are only looking at items you are packing in, but here are some things to think about. If you have done this 30 times, please excuse any assumptions
1. If by yourself para cord in pack is real handy after the elk is horizontal. Legs get in the way.
2. Late sept may be warm, what about game bags for meat. Lot of light ones out there
3. Unless your knife has sentimental value and you are good and quick and good at sharpening, I would take one with disposable blades. As you may know elk hide eats blades like a monster. A friend and I bailed out of our truck and started chasing bugles in southern NM one September. We had water, calls, my bow and my friend had very small Case penknife that probably had not been sharpened in years.. We left our packs we left everything the bulls everywhere and close. Well 5 hours later and about 5-10 miles later I had killed one. My friend went back for packs, knives and left me that case knife. When he got back I had front and rear quarters off and one backstrap. I was trying to sharpen that little knife on a stone I found near the kill site. Never again did I chase without a knife and replacement blades.
4. I am not a big spotter and bino guy. I normally just go with binos, but if you are going to glass a lot they make a lot of glassing pads that are only and couple ounces. I usually have one.
5. Are you taking any first aid supplies. Even a few large bandaids can be invaluable. I will not get into minimal first aid items.
6. You taking an inreach?
May add more later need to look at your list again.
