When hunting the backcountry, you need great gear and a plan. With only one day before the pack-in, I thought I’d post my gear list (main items) and my hunt plan:
(click the embedded links for more information)
Footwear:
Having two pair of boots for late season hunting is the gold standard. Snow and subfreezing (even subzero) temperatures are the norm. Two pair of boots in camp give you a better chance of having a dry pair every day. Pac boots allow you to remove the liner to dry each night. A good hiking boot gives you something to wear while your Pacs are drying, if the weather moderates, or if you have to backpack a heavy load.
I’ll be wearing Schee’s Hunter II Pac Boots (10-inch) and Lathrop & Sons Tech-Lite Hunter.
Clothing
Your clothing system is life & death if you really think about it. You can die in 50 degree weather with poor clothing but thrive in subzero with a good system. The choice is yours. I’ll be wearing First Lite’s gear in a layering system I’ve refined the last few years:
- Base Layers: Mountain Athlete Compression Socks, Red Desert Merino Boxers, Allegheny Merino Bottoms
- Mid Layers: Llano QZ Merino Top Mid-Weight, Chama Button Down Shirt (now available as Labrador Full Zip Sweater), and Kanab Pant
- Outer Layers: Uncompahgre Puffy (you can win this one!), Boundary Stormtight Jacket, and North Branch Pant
Tent/Stove:
For years I’ve used military surplus extreme cold-weather tents, spending hundreds of nights in them. They’ve served me very well but like most products of previous generations, they are relatively heavy. I’ll be taking Seek Outside’s 8-man Ultralight Tipi Tent and XL Titanium Wood Stove on this hunt. The whole system comes in under 14 pounds. This saves enough weight and bulk that I can hunt a week plus with only one pack horse and a saddle horse in the worst kind of weather.
Rifle/Scope:
Cooper Firearms Excalibur in 7mm Remington Magnum topped with 4.5-14×40 Leupold V-III. See “Only Accurate Rifles…”
Bullet:
Berger Match Grade Classic Hunter, 168 grain 7mm. I’ve watched these bullets evolve over the years and finally gave them a try. I’ve shot about 50 rounds through two rifles now and can attest they shoot flatter and more accurately than previous bullets I’ve tried. All I need now is to put one in the ribcage of a big mule deer.
Optics
A mule deer hunter’s optics will likely determine success or failure. I’ll be using my Swarovski EL Range 8×42 binoculars and my tried & true Swarovski CTC 30×75 spotting scope. I’ve used the ATS 25-50×80 all fall and love it, but my CTS is lighter and shorter so it will be going on this hunt where space and weight are at a premium.
See how all this gear and more performs by following this hunt. As far as a hunt plan, I rarely if ever hunt anywhere I haven’t scouted or hunted before—one key to your success as a big deer hunter:
Finally, First Lite has offered up one of their ever popular Uncompahgre Puffy Jackets in Fusion Camo for one lucky Rok Blog subscriber who follows this hunt. There are three easy steps to enter:
1) If you’re not already a Rok Blog subscriber, click on “Subscribe to blog” top right of page under Fitness/Other
2) If you haven’t already, “Like” First Lite’s FB page here
3) Post in the comments section below on any day of this hunt (use first and last name or Rokslide forum screen name) . Not a Rokslide member? click here
I’ll draw from those lists within about a week of the last post of this hunt (only Ryan Avery and me know how long this hunt goes, so don’t wait too long to enter.)
Thanks and see you at the trailhead tomorrow.
Would love the Uncompaghre Puffy for these late season hunts!
Good luck on the hunt
Good luck out there
Good luck
Could have used this puffy on my 4th rifle Wapiti hunt. 10 deg. In the mornings.
Good Luck and thanks for sharing your trips. The First Lite Puffy is just one of the few items I have left to pick up for my FL layering system.
Best of luck!
Good luck! I really appreciate the time you put into taking us on your semi live hunts and giving us all the insight into your gear and tactics.
Good luck!
This site costs me money but so worth it to have a better experience Good luck. – nateinia
Seems like a great set up. Can’t wait to hear how it goes!
Good luck!
Looking forward to your posts! Good luck!
Great gear list….Good Luck!
Good luck out there Robby! Looking to pick up some first lite this year for Christmas.
Say safe, and get a big one. I too would like a puffy jacket for Christmas.
I am all in. Cant wait
Good luck guys, im currently packing for my girlfriends elk hunt. Would be awesome to be packing the puffy jacket. First lite gear is awesome
Good Luck!
Looks cool, I’d love to try one of these.
I’d love to get my hands on one of these jackets. Waiting for my old one to wear out before taking the plunge, but winning one would be even better! Plus it would match that Llano well! Just got a Chama Hoody I’m loving!
Looking forward to following this hunt and learning what I can from your experience!
Good luck
Good luck on your hunt! The Fusion Puffy is on my wish list…..Crossing my fingers!
Good luck Robby! I can’t wait to read about it.
Good Luck – jlmoeller – Jason Moeller
Good luck!
Good luck Robby! Cant wait to see pictures of the back country covered in snow!
Good luck
Let’s go!!! Have fun and enjoy the hunt!
Sounds like an excellent setup. Good luck! Can’t wait to see pictures.
Sounds like an excellent setup. Good luck! Can’t wait to see pictures.
Good luck Robby! Always love your huntin’ stories.
Good Luck
Good luck on your hunt. I just started hunting with the exact same Berger bullet that you are using out of my 7mm WSM. It worked flawlessly on a Northern California roosevelt elk hunt, as well as a Northern California wilderness blacktail hunt. Both one shot, instant drops!
Ken
Looking forward to following your adventure!
Nice list. Good luck on your hunt
Good luck out there! I always look forward to the updates.
Make it happen Robby. We’ll be following every post. Be careful out there.
-Landon
Need this jacket for my January wolf hunt!
Good luck,
Tim
I love my puffy coat! Wear it all the time up here in MN. Really looking forward to having it in the Rockies next year. Good luck on hunt!!!
Good Luck, I really enjoyed following along last year as you did a late season hunt about the same time of year.
Looking forward to following the hunt.
I can’t wait to hear about your hunt, Best of luck!
Good luck robby and a big thanks to first lite for there support of rokslide.stay safe robby
Good luck robby and a big thanks to first lite for there support of rokslide.stay safe robby
I love all the gear updates that come with these blog posts. Would certainly like the Uncompahgre.
Go get em Robby.
Patch
Good luck, looking forward to following this.
Best of luck. Excited to see it unfold.
Good luck on your hunt!!
Good luck on the hunt. Love the Fusion camo pattern want to dip a bow with the pattern when it becomes available.
Good luck Robby!
Good luck and hope you get some horns on the ground!
Good luck. I want the puffy. Please.
Checking in to see what has been posted.
Love following these hunts.
Good luck! Would love to give this to my fiance for her first elk hunt here in Nevada come January!
Good luck on your hunt! I look forward to your adventure. I enjoyed the Jalapeño hunt!
Good Luck. Thanks again for the great advice.
Curious why Seek Outside vs. Kifaru shelter/stove system? I assume SO is a sponsor? Good luck!
Good luck, good times hunting late!
Good luck!
Good luck Robby.
Thanks for bringing us along, good luck and here’s to hoping you bring home the venison and I bring home the Uncompahgre 😀
Another awesome gesture by rokslide and staff!! Good luck Robby, time to stock up on meat for the winter!!!
Looking forward to another great adventure, Robby !
Best of Luck-
Darin
Best of luck guys.
Make it happen! Best of luck!
Good luck
Good luck! I’d love to win this jacket rather than buy it 😀
Best of luck, will look for updates
Good Luck, the last couple years following your hunts are always exciting. You see and shoot a lot of big deer!
Good luck!
good luck
As an east coast guy I enjoy following your western back country hunt.
Good luck on the hunt! Hope you get a big one and I get a jacket!
Good Luck Robby
Good luck! Looking forward to following, and winning the Jacket!
Good luck on the hunt!
good luck on the hunt. would love to try out the puffy.
Good Luck
awesome
Good Luck Robby! I always enjoy your hunts!
-Troy
Good luck. Jason Sexton
Wow Robby, you are well equipped this year! 😉
You always pass on Bucks that I would fill a wall with, so I can’t wait to see what you pull the trigger on.
Does this count as a day of the hunt? I’m late to the game, Thanksgiving and all, but I’m excited to catch up. Your tent set up surprises me that it’s so light, I’m going to have to look it up now. An 8 man tent AND stove at only 14 lbs, that almost seems too good to be true.
Good luck!!
Good Luck!!
good luck man, always enjoy the video blogs and info
Good luck Rob, that Fusion looks awesome in the photo you posted today 12/4/2014!
Good luck
Good luck!
Best of luck!
enjoying the blogs, keep up the good work!
Great blog. Like the Fusion camo
Good luck
are the videos posted of your hunt?
Zach, yes, all the videos are posted. Just check the Rok Blog, days 1-8 of the hunt
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