What did you forget?

[MuleyFever]

So, you got all the way up there to hunt Caribou and you realized you forgot something. What was it?

 

[Mvaughan]

Nothing in several trips, but I keep a pretty detailed packing list.

 

[Bighorse]

nothin…. By the time I arrive in AK I’ve polished my kit. For me it’s a process of elimination and I’ve been minimizing my kit. I have to carry everything board planes and ultimately ship it home. There are items I choose not to travel with. There’s often a few items I’ll purchase in AK. Don’t forget your knife!

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

It’s a wet son of a bitch up there. It rained on me nearly every day. Cotton balls soaked in Vaseline in zip lock bags work better than any of the puttys for getting wet kindling and wood to burn.

 

[WeiserBucks]

I brought way to much shit and never used half of it. I wasn't familiar with AK being my first time and I brought the kitchen sink. Lesson learned, in the future I would bring my normal crap and add serious wet weather gear, otherwise I wouldn't stress about a bunch of "what if's".

 

[Nitroexpress]

I’m headed to Northern Brooks Range in a week and have concerns about what I may be forgetting, but just as worried about what I have packed and don’t need! Seems like I have a LOT of gear. Camping, hunting and traveling takes a lot.

Any experienced Tundra Dwellers have an opinion on:
1) Waders, Wiggys, gaiters - Currently have all three staged, but thinking I’ll ditch the Simms breathable waders. Outfitter requires something (Wiggys) to get in/out of float plane. Not sure I would wear waders while hunting, but have read on here where guys do use them. Are good tall boots with gaiters sufficient?
2) Fishing gear - have a basic travel rod but I’m loosing interest in bringing. Doesn’t sound like much opportunity on the tundra.
3) Rimfire rifle for Ptarmigan. It’s very light, but still….will I use it?

 

[jofes]

I’m headed to Northern Brooks Range in a week and have concerns about what I may be forgetting, but just as worried about what I have packed and don’t need! Seems like I have a LOT of gear. Camping, hunting and traveling takes a lot.

Any experienced Tundra Dwellers have an opinion on:
1) Waders, Wiggys, gaiters - Currently have all three staged, but thinking I’ll ditch the Simms breathable waders. Outfitter requires something (Wiggys) to get in/out of float plane. Not sure I would wear waders while hunting, but have read on here where guys do use them. Are good tall boots with gaiters sufficient?
2) Fishing gear - have a basic travel rod but I’m loosing interest in bringing. Doesn’t sound like much opportunity on the tundra.
3) Rimfire rifle for Ptarmigan. It’s very light, but still….will I use it?

Just my thoughts, your already bringing a rifle and pistol, just use one of those, I personally don't bring fishing gear because I'm too focused on hunting.

 

[mooster]

I’m headed to Northern Brooks Range in a week and have concerns about what I may be forgetting, but just as worried about what I have packed and don’t need! Seems like I have a LOT of gear. Camping, hunting and traveling takes a lot.

Any experienced Tundra Dwellers have an opinion on:
1) Waders, Wiggys, gaiters - Currently have all three staged, but thinking I’ll ditch the Simms breathable waders. Outfitter requires something (Wiggys) to get in/out of float plane. Not sure I would wear waders while hunting, but have read on here where guys do use them. Are good tall boots with gaiters sufficient?
2) Fishing gear - have a basic travel rod but I’m loosing interest in bringing. Doesn’t sound like much opportunity on the tundra.
3) Rimfire rifle for Ptarmigan. It’s very light, but still….will I use it?

all is dependent on where you land. it can be dang deep stepping off some float planes. fishing can be non existent in dead lakes to fantastic if you have some moving water. ptarmigan & spruce grouse can be a wonderful supplement to the day & diet if present. so again, location, location, location. trust your local guy

 

[keithw_007]

Whiskey, took small of a bottle and had to ration to make the full trip.

 

[Gunnersdad49]

I’m headed to Northern Brooks Range in a week and have concerns about what I may be forgetting, but just as worried about what I have packed and don’t need! Seems like I have a LOT of gear. Camping, hunting and traveling takes a lot.

Any experienced Tundra Dwellers have an opinion on:
1) Waders, Wiggys, gaiters - Currently have all three staged, but thinking I’ll ditch the Simms breathable waders. Outfitter requires something (Wiggys) to get in/out of float plane. Not sure I would wear waders while hunting, but have read on here where guys do use them. Are good tall boots with gaiters sufficient?
2) Fishing gear - have a basic travel rod but I’m loosing interest in bringing. Doesn’t sound like much opportunity on the tundra.
3) Rimfire rifle for Ptarmigan. It’s very light, but still….will I use it?

1, I wore my waders on rainy and snowy days instead of rain pants. Simms G3 boots with those were a nice change from the hiking boots. If the outfitter says bring waders, I'd bring waders.

2, If you are on a river, bring it. If you aren't, don't.

3, If there are a few of you and you want to bring the weight, it can be a fun distraction. You can also shoot a ptarmigan with your bow or rifle. Personally, I'd leave it behind.

To the OP, if you have a Helinox chair, get the tundra feet or ground sheet for it. Otherwise you will sink into the tundra.

A 10x10' tarp or two, especially if you have meat down will keep rain and snow off of the meat, or you might use it to make an outdoor kitchen, etc.

I ran out of duct tape on my last hunt, mainly because I was crafting feet for my helinox chair with it. I only had a few feet wrapped on a lighter.

Bug spray with DEET and/or head net.

 

[Bighorse]

In alpine…. Leave waders behind. In moose country I use em. Fishing… nope. Additional weapons… nope. If you got the time, climbing or hike a little further. Build a camp fire and cook ribs.
Good luck and you’ll learn what is essential. Ya just can’t do everything, but ya are hunting Ak and what’s better than that?

 

[Cyril]

I never forgot anything on a caribou hunt, but on two straight late season elk hunting road trips, I forgot an ice scraper and promptly hit a snow storm between Kansas City and Denver.

There are now three ice scrapers sitting in the bucket next to my garage door. Hopefully there are not four come this December.

 

[FranklinBluth]

I forgot caffeine last year...wasn't the end of the world luckily.

Hunting partner a couple years ago forgot his tags/license at home. That was an expensive and long wait at Wright's in Deadhorse for ADF&G to send replacements.

 

[TSAMP]

Glassing pad. I brought one. My partner didnt. He spent hours with a damp ass and I was just smiling. I gave it to another guy at the airport as his group forgot to pack them as well.

 

[medvedyt]

I forgot caffeine last year...wasn't the end of the world luckily.

Hunting partner a couple years ago forgot his tags/license at home. That was an expensive and long wait at Wright's in Deadhorse for ADF&G to send replacements.

i heard that story up to the time we got a friend that did the same. she forgot her hunting license and beat tag ... and what we got in front of us after the first day was a great bear that she did not shoot but no one to bring the replacements on a river trip lol ... now if we are taking anyone that is part of checklist ...

 

[MuleyFever]

Glassing pad. I brought one. My partner didnt. He spent hours with a damp ass and I was just smiling. I gave it to another guy at the airport as his group forgot to pack them as well.

I didn't even think of a glassing pad as its something I never use. Thanks.

 

[119bowhunter]

I forgot the service kit for my MSR dragonfly on a fly in trip once, it got missed repacking bags for the plane…never needed it that week

Went camping a couple weeks after I got home and had an o-ring start leaking gas all over everything, glad it didn’t happen on my trip and won’t forget it again