Below is a list I made for hunt last year. I bought the tenzing backpack because of fit and size. If you are planning on going for 2-3 days at a time with someone else you don't need to get a huge backpack. You will almost definitely over pack the first time you do this. I would say 4000 CI for size of pack will be more than enough for 2-3 days. REI is a good place to get camping stuff cheaper than some of the "hunting camping gear." Much of the same things. Someone had mentioned this earlier and I would second that idea. I got a REI sleeping pad that I would highly recommend. KUIU is a good company and the limited products I've gotten from them are really nice. The tent I included in the list is a lightweight option that can sleep two people. You use two hiking poles to help put up the tent. Doubles the use of poles for sleeping and if I need them for hiking out an elk. (Tarptent) Stuff game bags with clothing to create a pillow. Remember that weight is important, but so is the space it takes up. The list seems a little excessive, but the more I read on people that do this a lot. They create a list and are always tweaking it. You'll see that I have two knives on list. I only took one. Many of the things below aren't needed by each person if you are with someone else. It isn't a bad idea to hunt with someone else if you can. Safety reason. If I was on my own in the mountains I would get some sort of satellite device such as a SPOT device to communicate in case you were hurt. Tags Tenzing 6000 Backpack (7.13 pounds) Headlamp (3.4 ounces) Jet Boil, fuel (21.9 ounces) 1 lb 8.5 oz with fuel and spork Havalon Knife w/ 5 extra blades (2 ounces) Buck omni folding knife (5 oz) 1 First Lite merino wool long sleeve shirt (10 ounces?) 1 Pair of Sitka Mountain Pants (19 ounces) 1 Kuiu Down Vest (6.4 ounces) 1 pairs of merino wool socks (First Lite & KUIU) (2.9 oz first lite) 1 Pairs of Underwear (exofocio) (2.5 ounces per pair) Lightweight Raingear – Pants, Jacket (Core4element) (15.5 oz and 1lb .8 oz) KUIU Gators (12 ounces) Sitka Traverse Beanie (1 oz) KUIU Ball Cap (2 oz) Wisp/Flossers – In each days bag First Aid Kit (10.9 oz) Patch kit (1 oz) Lighter Badlands Sleeping Bag (35 degrees) (3 pounds 1 oz) Sleeping Pad, REI (17 ounces) Tarptent Squall 2 (34 ounces) (2 extra stakes…. .4 oz per stake) Locus Gear Trekking Poles (10.8 ounces) 4 AAA Extra Batteries (1.3 oz) Wind Checker (.8 oz) Alaska Game Bags (5) 1 is doubling as my pillow stuffed w/ clothes Game Bags split between one other guy. (1.8 oz per game bag) P – Cord (2.6 oz) Dry sacks for food. sea to summit (3.3 oz?) TP, Unscented baby wipes (1 oz per roll of tp) Foldable shovel (3.2 oz) GPS (Garmin Dakota 20) (4.9 oz) Rangefinder (Leupold Rx1000) (7.8 oz) Binos? (22.9 oz) 3 liter hydration system (7 oz) Bear Spray (12.1 oz) 1 liter hydration bladders (2) (.9 oz per bladder) Bowtech Experience Bow w/ Black Gold adjustable sight. NAP apache drop away rest. Apex game changer quiver. (5 lbs 10 oz) Easton FMJ w/ trophy taker shuttle t broadhead (15.3 oz for quiver and 5 arrows) Truball Max Hunter 3 finger release (3 oz) Leupold Cascade Binocs (1 lb 6.4 oz) Binoc holders (4.4 oz) Cow call (2.3 oz) Bugle Call Salt & Pepper Packets MSR Aqua Tablets for water purification (.3 oz) Garbage bag (1 oz) Carabiner (2.3 oz) Mountain House for night meals. Chocolate expresso beans, Protein Bars, deer jerky, trailmix, pop tarts for rest of day. Zip lock bags for garbage. Meals will be in dry sacks and hung at night away from camp. Zip lock bags for each day’s food. (1 day of food roughly 1 lb 7 oz)
Yeah it is. I've slept through one night of light rain with it and was dry. I went this route because of my height. Was one of the roomier light tents. Single person tent could be used too with limited space and weight. Keep looking at different options though. This fit me well, but other ideas might be better for you. I looked at hammocks for a long time too, but decided on this.
I like that tent because of the ability to bring my gear inside at night, can't do that with a bivy or 1p tent.
If anyone is looking for a sleeping bag, Wiggy's is having a sale right now. Really solid bags for the money
I like having a vestibule too. My pack has a rain cover if needed, but it is nice to have as much dry as possible. Keeping boots outside. It isn't a huge amount of room, but enough to make work.
Picked up a used Stone Glacier Solo pack over on AT for a good price. I figure I can slowly piece it all together.
For a tent, I am now looking at the Big Agnes Scout Plus UL2, and possibly their Lone Ranger sleeping bag as well. Do I need to worry about having a pad as well, or are they really unneeded items?
I hunted all year with an Exo 3500, it's a nice pack and held up extremely well, packed meat very well and is comfortable as can be with all weights. The most I packed out at one time was a full sized bull hind quarter with both backstraps, it was 2.1 miles to the truck and I had no complaints. I also packed out all 4 quarters and cape of a mule deer, 1.8 or 1.9 miles (can't remember for sure) and it worked well for that as well. It is well designed, I also have the meat shelf, beaver tail and two zipper pockets for the inside. I'm not overly impressed with the top pack or the quietness of the material (at least for the vegetation that we sometimes hunt in). I also understand that you can (at times) have to give up some water resistance for the quietness of the material. I have no doubt that I could pack for 5+ days with this pack. Heck, I was able to pack for 5 days with my badlands 2200. With that said... my Exo 3500 in multi-cam, size large is for sale. Includes the beaver tail, 2 mesh zipper pockets (never used) and I think I have the meat shelf somewhere. Excellent used condition $475 TYD gets all of it.
I wanted a Exo 3500 before I found the SG Solo for sale on Rok slide. You guys have a lot of Elk up your way? I didn't put into the draw this year, just bought my 2nd pref. point and I am hoping to buy a left-over cow tag at least. That way I can get out there and learn a little, but not lose my points and wait until I get a trophy unit draw.
Yeah we have some great numbers, no wolves, no grizzlies but it's hard to draw a tag in most of the areas. That is certainly a good plan, just for future reference you can apply for tags with a second choice and if you do draw you still don't lose your points. Also, I would still apply (you probably know this) but 25% of the licenses go into the random pool for anyone that applies. We get guys every year that draw with zero points in a unit that takes 7+ in the special draw. If you draw one before the points get you one, you're ahead of the game.
What units are you guys in? I know I can still put in for Deer, but elk ended last weekend. My friends go every year, and I may try to draw a deer tag and go with them to learn elk hunting, while also having a Muley tag waiting.
