The “mobile hunting” push, vs. the lack of LW/packable whitetail clothing and equipment?

[Q_Sertorius]

I find it hilarious that there was a thread on here about “saddle hunting” a while back and I thought it was about the geographic feature, not some piece of gear.

Saddle (landform) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Eship]

I find it hilarious that there was a thread on here about “saddle hunting” a while back and I thought it was about the geographic feature, not some piece of gear.

Saddle (landform) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Which in itself could be an interesting and helpful thread

 

[4090Sharps]

@Macintosh just keep preaching. I have been voicing the exact same argument for several years now. As much as I want to disagree with @KyleR1985 about the need for what you and I want, I think he is right that the market size is too small for an industry player to take on. I am in the south and seldom have the conditions to hunt much in sub freezing weather but we still have cold conditions when you pile a truck full of humidity on to temps in the 30's. There is a pack solution that I think is the optimum design for mobile whitetail hunters but as you already mentioned, no one makes it. At least not commercially yet. A good bit of the gear I use is stuff I have heavily modified to fit what I want because no one makes what I want. I have tried to have conversations with multiple Mfg's regarding saddle platforms and small stand designs and all have had less than zero interest in discussing the why or how to change the thinking. I attribute that to many of these folks being a good bit younger which means they didnt have to grow through Baker stand years to where we are now. The other issue is most are not really trying to innovate, they are just making minor tweaks on copies of the same ol thing, mostly to cut weight.

Clothing wise, I like what Asio is doing. Joe and his team are at least working at making warm and quiet whitetail gear that isnt grossly heavy. There are some design concepts that I would love to see included but arent yet. Pack wise, imo, what is needed would be built around a lumbar pack system but with a modular, removeable frame. That obviously does not exist. Yet. But there might be something you could try in the next season or two.

I’m trying hard to figure out the removable frame thing if you saw my build along here.

 

[4090Sharps]

I could very well be one of those weirdo saddle hunter lurkers

 

[nw_bearcat]

What is the difference between a backpack designed to pack a deer versus any other animal? (Elk, bear, antelope).

Extremely cold weather = warm clothes. Warm clothes = heavy, bulky, quiet clothes (synthetic insulation) OR = lighter, less bulky, noisy clothes (down insulation, synthetic fabric face). Plenty of "non-hunting" brands out there.

Which series of lightweight backpacking or western hunting gear is suitable for extremely cold weather?

One does not have to wear "hunting" clothes manufactured by "hunting" companies to successfully or comfortably hunt.
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Been a lot of Midwest deer shot by guys in worn in/worn out carharts…

 

[The_Dinkmaster]

I dont understand what's missing? Sticks/stand/bulky cold weather gear takes up a lot of space and there isn't going to be much space for meat packing regardless. Can always sandwich on load shelf but i'd look at most situations being a multiple trip affair to pack out regardless.

Like I said, Im honestly not sure there is a good solution, but Id still like to try. I think I could make one that could work for me, but cost could be an issue

 

[Swamp Fox]

I’m trying hard to figure out the removable frame thing if you saw my build along here.

Like I said, Im honestly not sure there is a good solution, but Id still like to try. I think I could make one that could work for me, but cost could be an issue

Maybe it's time to shift gears from " Why don't they?" toward throwing out some build and design ideas.

I think it's clear some folks would like improved pack/carry/clothing systems, and from reading all this I bet mobile-hunting WT companies are ceding this market to what they perceive to be a small number of individual hunters who are already willing to cobble things together from a mix of "not eastern whitetail companies." --

-Kinda a "So why bother?" scenario from the manufacturer's perspective.

I'm not all that interested in packing a deer and all my gear out in one trip for a variety of reasons ranging from hunting regulations to "it's no fun," but a pack system that could do that would catch my attention anyway.

I'm more interested in a pack system that can handle a full-sized hang-on,d c with gear and clothes for moderate to cold temps (not frigid). I'm not a big fan of climbing sticks to wander around with, but I am vastly outnumbered in the woods and on the internet --- so the pack would need a good way to carry up to six steps.

Yes, I said it: up to six. Sooner or later the 15-feet saddle saddle hunters who are having trouble killing nice bucks will grasp the benefit of hunting at 25 and will want to carry more than one or four sticks and not mess with aiders and sweat and their knee health, etc.

A quick-deploy gun bearing system would be very nice, and a bow carry system that has no possibility of marring a finish or abrading strings and cables would keep me from having nightmares.

I'll save pocket and pouch ideas for later, LOL.

 

[fatlander]

I put an 85 pound whitetail doe on my K4’s load shelf, whole, the other day. I had my saddle, rope, and jacket inside my pack. I had my one stick strapped to the outside. I could have fit camp, 5 days of food, and still had room in my pack.

What is missing from the market that my pack doesn’t do?


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[Macintosh]

I put an 85 pound whitetail doe on my K4’s load shelf, whole, the other day. I had my saddle, rope, and jacket inside my pack. I had my one stick strapped to the outside. I could have fit camp, 5 days of food, and still had room in my pack.

What is missing from the market that my pack doesn’t do?


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Maybe nothing, but that was not the topic. The topic was why specific whitrtail focused comapnies dont offer products like that.

 

[fatlander]

Maybe nothing, but that was not the topic. The topic was why specific whitrtail focused comapnies dont offer products like that.

I think it doesn’t exist, because it doesn’t need to. The overwhelming majority of whitetail hunts happen less than 100 yards from where you can get a truck or four wheeler. The overwhelming majority of whitetail hunters would go into cardiac arrest if they had to carry a 100 pound pack over rough terrain for 1+ miles. Guys that are whitetail hunting and need a dedicated pack for packing meat can find the packs already designed for that with the western hunter in mind.


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[Macintosh]

This is me slamming my head against the wall. Over and over and over and over…

 

[Swamp Fox]

Maybe nothing, but that was not the topic. The topic was why specific whitrtail focused comapnies dont offer products like that.

I don't think it's because those products wouldn't catch attention among WT hunters, whether they're "technical" or die-hard or "mobile" or not.

I think it may be because it's very hard to develop a high-quality product from scratch that has to compete with other high-quality stuff that's already on the market and has name recognition, etc., when you're not in the business of selling that kind of product in the first place.

So, steep climb to go from selling ropes and carabiners and swatches of camo fabric webbed together, to selling a performance backpack geared to what whitetail and elevated hunters like.

Same steep climb if you're a treestand company making lock-ons and platforms while eyeing the technical clothing market.

A couple of people way up the thread have made similar comments. Easier to make money if you stay in your lane.

 

[fatlander]

This is me slamming my head against the wall. Over and over and over and over…

You can buy an EXO, SG, or Kiffy and sew a LWCG or Tethrd patch on it that’ll make you feel better?


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