How much water do you carry

[Couester]

How much water do y’all carry for a 3-5 day backpack hunt in dry mountain conditions. Just returned from a 3 day hunt and ended up rationing to make it back down the mountain. I was seriously dehydrated and don’t want to do that again!

 

[Hnthrdr]

I’d carry 7-8 liters and cache water if it was that dry, typically only carry 2-2.5 liters on day hunts/ where I know there is a lot of water

 

[Taudisio]

I generally plan it out and camp within 1/2 mile of water and have a filter. 3 liters is easy for me to go through in a day. Judging by your username, you’re in az/nm desert. Packing water may be your only option. But the deer have to drink water too so there must be some around if the deer are there.

 

[Couester]

Hunt was in Southern Arizona. Water source was 2000 vertical feet below! Not something my 62 year old legs like to do for a water run anymore.

 

[S.Clancy]

If there is no viable source I'll pack 10L. Although, I once packed in 18L to hunt a certain spot for 4-5 days.

 

[aks]

My hydration bladder holds 3 liters. I fill it up everytime I go out. Even if its just a day. If it's longer than a day then I take my water filter with me AND water purification tablets for emergencies. I've had my water filter quit working on me in the mountains. Luckily it was just a single night backpacking trip. But lesson learned, thats why I always pack the tablets also.

 

[KBC]

Fortunately there's water almost everywhere I am but could you load up super heavy and drop it on the way in at a few spots if you know you are taking the same path in and out?

 

[PathFinder]

Probably 8l if it was a certain 5 days in a place like that. That would be assuming some fairly water-efficient meals. Could be worth combining a scouting/water packing trip before the hunt.

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[Q_Sertorius]

If there is no viable source I'll pack 10L. Although, I once packed in 18L to hunt a certain spot for 4-5 days.

The most I ever humped in was 18L (5 planned days plus a reserve day). That sucked hard.

 

[OutHeavy]

I just went through that scenario a month ago myself. You can get by on 2L/day if you're just sitting and glassing all day. But if you're hiking at all I agree that 3L/day is the minimum. Also make sure you're adding electrolytes to your water because it aids with absorption and helps your body retain water.

 

[neil.hansford]

I'd plan on at least 1 gallon per day if backpacking in with no viable water source nearby. Probably require packing some in ahead of the hunt if staying several days.

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[Macintosh]

Different world! Around here I often bring just a pint bottle and an empty 1l platypus bag. Half the time on day hunts I dont bring water at all, I just bring a ziplock baggie to dip in streams and drink from. I also wear rubber knee boots, because hip waders are too much of a pain in the rear. Some days I feel like I ought to pack my water-wings!
In the desert for 3-5 days I have carried as much as 5 gallons, although sometimes we’ve stashed some of it for the way out so dont have to carry it the whole way. Coming from that^, it’s always a bit of a shock to the system.

 

[Te Hopo]

in a situation like that, I'd be carrying a few MSR Dromedary bladders.
Something like 12L would give a good few days with plenty of water.

Most of the time if I know there's water nearby I'll carry 3L max

 

[Turkeygetpwnd38]

Man I hate packing water…. You said the water was a 2k drop, still might be easier to bring a lot of bags and do one empty pack run from camp to there than packing in all you need+camp. Depends on how far in you are.
I’m in the at least 4L a day camp, especially early hunts. Might can get by on 2-3 but it’ll catch up to you after a few days.

 

[LCguy]

I drink 7-8 L a day (around 2 gallons). On my elk hun in a very dry unit, I stashed 20 gallons a few weeks before the hunt, since I would be out there for 7 days and you never know.