Pack for moose hunt
Moose
Contributors to this thread:
I currently have an Eberlestock J105 pack and hauled out several caribou with it. I am getting a little older and of course moose are quite a bit larger. Is there a better option out there? What would you recommend?
Few questions: Are you very weight-restricted in terms of gear you can bring? Will you be boning all meat and then backpacking these loads to a pickup point?
I think your decision will boil down to composite frame/semi-integral bag (the new generation of packs) vs an aluminum external frame setup. I know that the guys who make their living packing monster loads (think Alaska) are very likely to be found using the external frame aluminums. They are simply stouter and have less to go wrong with them.
After a lot of moose hunts, we've settled on aluminum packframes for carrying moose, and a separate daypack for hunting.
Which ever pack you decide make sure it is at least around 6,000 cu in! If you are hunting Alaska you are required to haul out most of the bones..so be prepared for bulky, hefty loads. You will need a sturdy harness for extreme loads. Barney's seem to be a standard pack used in AK but I've never seen or used them. A lot of guys swear by Kifaru and Mystery ranch.
I've used an Arcteryx Bora 90 for years for hauling elk, mtn goat, bighorns, deer and 1 moose. It's held up great and I've hauled incredible loads. It is a fraction of the price of the other packs mentioned above. I really like internal frames because the load is directly against my back and doesn't shift like some of the framed packs..especially in uneven, rough terrain. I used to use a Cabela's Alaska framed pack and it was dangerous...ended up like a turtle on my back when the load shifted. It's frame is around 4" from your back which spells TROUBLE! Framed packs have been improved since the Cabelas Alaskan and from what I've heard they are designed for super heavy loads.
I used a cabelas Alaskan for my moose and it was fine, however, I did not have to carry any loads far. It was a short trip to the boat then a short trip to the meat pole .
I plan on bring a kifaru bikini frame with a DT1 bag and a grab it to haul out moose quarters if I get lucky next year on my moose hunt.
At least this is what I was told would work.
We are weight restricted in the amount of gear we can bring. We plan on deboning all of the meat. We have done that on all of our previous caribou hunts. We will be packing back to a drop off point.
I do not plan on carrying extremely heavy loads. I hope to have about 75 pounds max and make more trips.
Please keep the ideas coming.
Make sure you can de-bone. Many areas in Ak require bone in.
I hauled my share of two moose last year with my MR Crew Cab. Hunted with it on my back every day just like I do for elk. My first load out from each bull was a bone in rear quarter. It did that job very well.
My partner broke his Cabela's Alaskan half way through the second bull. He got it done but it was interesting.
Rick M
I had the best carry out ever ( if you can call it that ) using my Kifaru DT1 and the load carrier attached. Best part is the way they are built I could detach the buckles and move them to where they held the quarters tight and close to my back. Moved them twice on the trip. Wish I had bought more straps but I will be ordering more. Otherwise with moose hinds on your back bone in it was not that bad wearing hip waders across the tussocks. So glad I bought this pack. Bob.
My buddy and I both use Kelty Cache Hauler. He has a pack bag that can go on it. I just use the frame. I have hauled 5 moose with mine, plus 4 black bears...one of which I hauled out with everything but it's hind quarters and guts.....it was a 7 foot Black bear!
i have also hauled out 6 caribou with it. very stable. Nothing fancy, but the newer versions are better with 2 flaps with straps and buckles that hold full hind quarters stable as hell!
I love my Eberlestock X2. it hauled out 1/3 of a caribou, then another caribou out in 3 trips. Then 3 more trips with moose quarters.
I really love it. it easily carries enough great for anything a full day hunt. Then, it can carry a nice load of meat.
Here is a shot with a front and back caribou quarter:
Here is a shot with a caribou carcass (our area required ribs to be taken out on the bone. We kept the loins and tenderloins on the bone too. There was very little lost meat this way)
Here's a shot of moose front quarter:
Here's a shot of moose front quarter: