Goat Hunt gear list?

[kodiakfly]

I would also really encourage you to load that pack and find somewhere/anywhere you can walk some natural terrain, over deadfall, side hill and as much elevation as you can get. If all you get is elevated treadmill that is better than nothing but by day 2 you will have sore muscles where you didn't know you had muscles.

Excellent point. I was going to mention that. That's actually worth a weekend road trip to somewhere that's got some hills and walk around with 35-50 lbs for a few hours to make sure your pack and boots are what they need to be. Cardio is good for fitness, but it's kinda like one of those racing games at the arcade that you sit in and steer...it'll teach you how to race, but nothing replaces going to the track to show you how much your back and abs hurt after a day of racing. I see you're in WI. A spring turkey hunt to southern Indiana or Missouri would be a great training aid!

 

[JP100]

Excellent point. I was going to mention that. That's actually worth a weekend road trip to somewhere that's got some hills and walk around with 35-50 lbs for a few hours to make sure your pack and boots are what they need to be. Cardio is good for fitness, but it's kinda like one of those racing games at the arcade that you sit in and steer...it'll teach you how to race, but nothing replaces going to the track to show you how much your back and abs hurt after a day of racing. I see you're in WI. A spring turkey hunt to southern Indiana or Missouri would be a great training aid!

Good advice here! treadmills and stair climbers are a last resort for training. nothing beats real world but thats hard for alot of guys.

I look at like using an Exercycle for down hill mountain bike race, you might be fit but fitness is only a small part of the equation

 

[Nickziegler]

Hey thanks again for all the input so far guys. Very helpful and appreciate. Luke, the 51 lbs comes from total gear weight. My pack weighed something like 36 lbs with rifle attached. The difference came from me wearing a set of clothing, having my bino harness on with binos and ranger, wearing my boots ect. The guide / outfitter will be providing all shelter / food so I am good there. I have talked with several guys that have hunted with the outfitter over the past few years and yes the area is quite steep.

 

[AK Troutbum]

Your guide carrying all food (I assume cook stove, etc.), and shelter is huge. Find out what he is bringing for optics and don't double up, at least as far as spotter/tripod goes. I say for clothing in your pack, only take a couple pair of socks, 1 pair of underwear, 1 pair of base layer tops and bottoms, rain jacket and pants (assuming your not wearing them), puffy jacket/pants, and warm hat/gloves or glassing mittens. You shouldn't need to carry anything more regarding clothing in your pack. Sleep in the clothes that you hunt in, if they are wet, so they can dry out while you sleep, and wear your puffy gear if need be for added warmth while sleeping. Leave the 0 bag at base camp and take a much lighter bag, or preferably, quilt up to spike camp. You should be able to get away with something in the 20-30 degree range when using in combination with your puffy gear. If your pack weighed 36 pounds with all that extra stuff, it should be considerably lighter if you go with these recommendations. I guarantee, you will not miss carrying that extra wt.


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[charvey9]

I'm sure each hunt is a little different, but I did not pack a spotter because my guide had one. I regret not taking my own because we spent a LOT more time glassing than climbing. Goats are easy to spot with binos, or even the naked eye, but it would have been nice to get a closer look at everything my guide was seeing without having to share the same spotter. I like watching animals, so it would have made that part of the hunt more enjoyable for me.

I would also verify to see what spotter your guide has, and don't assume they have the best equipment. The spotter my guide was using left a lot to be desired, which made it tough to determine some of the details without climbing up for a closer look.

 

[BRWNBR]

lol I am
Blessed with basicly no foot odor! I usually pull a ten day sheep hunt on one pair of socks. Dress similar to STID. One pants, long underwear and rain pants are my back up. I bring a couple extra lightweight shirt options as they dry slower than pants it seems like. But i run fleece almost all the way out to my puffy coat. I haven't seen anything other than a merino wool base layer that can compete with what a layer of fleece does. I have a pair of ascent pants that's my sheep pants and the rest of my gear outside my base layers is a hodgepodge of different fleeces (and camo patterns). I'm loyal to what works.

Another thing I noticed not listed is a liner sock.
Steep country puts pressure on different points of your feet thsn most training country does. I always wear a thin merino liner sock under my wool socks. Never had a blister. But have had to educate a lot of other folks on foot care. Without your feet the hunts over. You can live without a rangefinder/binos/spotter/baseball cap/sleeping pad, heck even a sleeping bag! But if you can't walk?

 

[Nickziegler]

Yes I have liner socks...kinda went back and forth on if I would use them or not but I will probably bring a few pair along. better safe than sorry!

 

[Nickziegler]

Bc import pm sent

 

[Wingert]

Nick, a few suggestions to build on what others have provided:

Separate your clothing into those which you’ll leave at Base Camp and those you’ll use at Spike Camp. I’m not familiar with each of the Sitka items you have listed so I’ll generalize the clothing description. Clothing is the heaviest of all the items and people generally pack too much.

Spike Camp clothing would mainly be made up of those you’re wearing or go in your backpack. Wear: underwear, long sleeve t-shirt, pants, liner sock, cushioned sock (Smartwool), gators and boots. In a ziplock bag, carry extra set of liner and cushioned socks. Long Underwear bottom/top, Fleece jacket, Puffy coat, Rain Gear. One pair of lightweight gloves, stocking hat, baseball hat. My assumption is you’ll be on the move when getting to spike camp as well as when you’re glassing goats. If you have it in the budget, I’d suggest a pair of Kuiu zip off bottoms so you can add/remove them depending upon conditions.

Gear: Micro spikes/Instep Crampons, Trekking poles, headlamp, bino harness, moleskin, Havalon w/blades, license/tags, parachute cord, electrical tape for gun barrel, toilet paper/baby wipes, binoculars, range finder, spotting scope/tripod. Check with guide regarding the game bags or if he’s bringing them. Sleeping bag in a Sea-to-Summit eVent waterproof, compressible dry bag, sleeping pad. Rain fly for your backpack as well as take a garbage bag to line your pack and another to separate your gear from meat/cape. Some type of Nalgene water bottles. Anything not waterproof should go into ziplocks…phone, camera and wallet.

Base Camp would consist of all the other clothing items you have listed. Having a fresh pair of underwear, long sleeve t-shirt, long underwear top/bottom and fresh socks, clean pants are nice to have when you return to base camp and stroll around in your crocs. Compression bags are great to keep clothing compact and the Sea-to-Summit eVent compression bags are also waterproof.