Which game bags? (Brand/size)

Joined
Oct 21, 2012
Messages
477
Black Ovis, (before those pillow cases) but I’m curious if the expensive Kuiu or Eberlestock bags that are shaped, really help keep the weight up higher and more compact
 

Kyle C

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
May 28, 2017
Messages
246
Location
Puyallup WA
Black ovis whites have worked well for me. I went to the reds in Utah last year and ripped both hind qaurter bags. Won't be using those ones again. Also I could hardly fit the hinds into the bags. I double checked when I got home that they were the XL and physically measured them to make sure the a L tag didn't get put on the XL and everything checked out. Seems like other guys like the ultralight (red), but I do not.
 
Joined
Nov 3, 2017
Messages
1,611
Location
AK
I have a set of TAG bags that will be going on moose hunt #10 in a few weeks. Been packed around on external frame packs, hanging from trees, in and out of several float planes, onto pallets in cargo planes, thrown into the pickup, etc. And moose quarters aren’t light, so they had their fair share of getting drug around on various surfaces. I still use every bag in that original set. For boned out sheep/goat I use a couple of the 14x34 bags and a separate small bag for loins.

I have a hodgepodge of bags at the house that hunters have left over the years. Last fall when I washed bags after the season, I paid a bit more attention. I had TAG, caribou, Allen, and kuiu bags. It was overcast and 40ish degrees. The TAG bags dried in about half the time of others. Allen and caribou clean up to like new condition. Tag bags are a little tainted, but not to the point of hard to look at. Kuiu bags look like they spent a month in my septic tank, but are still functional. I’m sure they all work, but I truly think TAG are superior in strength and dry time. Add in the owner is quick to help folks on this site and he truly was the first one offering this type of bag, I will support him when possible. Especially when they’re all priced similar. Buy once, cry once. They’ll last a decade+ and pay for themselves after about year 2.
 

Iggy

FNG
Joined
Aug 13, 2024
Messages
11
Yes, I soak in cold water then in the washer with some Lysol, dry and back into the pack.
I soak mine in cold water in buckets outside. Then wash with some ALL free and clear. What kind of Lysol do you use in the washer with yours? I have to keep my dogs from eating them out of the buckets…
 

DB29

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Apr 4, 2020
Messages
232
I soak mine in cold water in buckets outside. Then wash with some ALL free and clear. What kind of Lysol do you use in the washer with yours? I have to keep my dogs from eating them out of the buckets…

It’s the Lysol made for the laundry.

 
Joined
Apr 5, 2015
Messages
5,945
I started with those Alaska bags. Replaced them with a couple sets of tags and haven’t had the need to replace them. I couldn’t comment on the newer offerings.

I prefer a set of their deer bags for deer in order to be able to hang things with max surface area to aid cooling. The elk bags work fine for deer but you will have plenty of extra space and a bit of extra weight.

If I was buying again, I would probably go with one set of elk size bags from black Ovis of someone.
 
OP
M

Macintosh

WKR
Joined
Feb 17, 2018
Messages
2,833
Has anyone else had durability problems with the black ovis red bags? I was pretty tempted to go that way but Kyle c’s post up there has me questioning that. A one-off, or is this fairly common?
 

Iggy

FNG
Joined
Aug 13, 2024
Messages
11
It’s the Lysol made for the laundry.

Thanks I’ll look it up! Just bought a fresh batch of Black Ovis bags for this season. Hoping to fill them with some antelope soon!
 
Joined
Aug 23, 2014
Messages
5,442
Location
oregon coast
I personally didn’t like the black ovis bags, they started breaking down and ripping in a couple years (only ones I have had do that)

If weight is of no concern, caribou bags are bomb proof.

The 2 I use are the argali and viam, both very light and hold up well, both are prone to tearing with branches or broken bones poking them, but they aren’t fragile by any means, just need to be mindful of that (like any bags)

The kuiu bags are not bad either, they aren’t as light and are overpriced

If light is important, you’ll be hard pressed to find better options than the argali or viam, both are great UL bags and i still have a couple of my original viam bags that are probably 8-10 yrs old and have been used on dozens of critters… I have had no issues at all with the argali either and they have been solid, I have a couple sets of each and started using argali right when they came out.

Caribou have been great too,just more bulky and heavy

As for size, I don’t know, I always buy the bigger elk bags and they work fine for deer too, and they all have smaller bags in the sets

I usually take 2 big elk quarter bags and a smaller one for deer
 

WashCycle

FNG
Joined
Aug 8, 2024
Messages
28
Location
Front Range
In the past I used the Allen Backcountry bags. Worked just fine(5 bags). They are now my spare bags. Moved up from a Osprey Hiking backpack to a Mystery Range Metcalf 75 and bought the proprietary Mystery Ranch Game bags that hang/hinge into the top of the frame. Testing with bird seed bags, they have been quite an upgrade and seem really durable. Hope to have to clean them later this fall.
 
Joined
Jul 6, 2024
Messages
17
Location
Wilsonville OR
Alaska Game bags - multiple sizes - solid construction, material does not get stuck to the game meat, absorbs excess blood and control leakage, and can be reused if desired. I’m a huge fan and have used them for over 10 years. Best of all…made is Alaska USA
 

farmermail

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Feb 24, 2018
Messages
169
Location
Southwest ID
I had the chance to use Argali MOB large a few days ago on an elk. They were great. Light, resistant to tearing, and washed up just fine. They would be fine in panniers as well. I found them to be way better vs. cheese cloth style bags, simple to take the meat out (peeled right off), even the 1/2 we left on the mountain overnight. Local Idaho company as well, take a trip to their showroom.
 

shootnrun

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Jan 15, 2013
Messages
208
Location
United States
I like the caribou bags. Have been running them for 6-8 years. A few have holes but tape inside and out and they're back in the mix.

Soak them in water and rinse a few times so the Mrs doesn't get upset if she sees them in the washer then right back into the kit.

If you are boning your critters out I'd highly recommend having a SG load cell bag in your kit. I have various size bags and I'll put them meat in them for hanging then slip it into the load cell for packing. It holds as much as I'm willing to carry, generally, and is the same height and width as the frame so it packs very nicely. Also works well for bear hides that get floppy otherwise.
 

100%DIYazCOUES

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Jul 2, 2017
Messages
144
picked up some grakksaw this year because the weight is incredible and they seem plenty strong. My brother and I just packed out 2 coues with a lot of room to spare, with 1 set of bags.the bags didn’t feel strained in any way, hung for a couple days with zero issues, and weight is 3 oz of game bag per deer….. awesome. Obviously coues are small, but I think a boned out muley or larger whitetail species would fit in 3 or 4 bags easily
 
Top