Keeps everything dry. Opening goes down just in case.
My dry socks for sleeping in have their own small plastic bag that goes inside another plastic bag for insurance. Nothing beats sleeping in dry socks when everything is wet and cold.
2.keep a film canister/pill bottle with Vaseline soaked cotton balls in it, they are great for tinder as they are easy to light and stay lit for a long time, you can get a few years out of a bag of cotton balls and a thing of Vaseline for less than 10 bucks, double bag those too.
3. Take something with you that could kill a bear, it's unlikely you'll need it, but you'll wish you had it if you didn't bring it. For me I take a Taurus .357
4.Keep a small first aid kit dry and handy as well
5.Always take at least 2 extra pairs of socks, and make sure these stay dry especially, nothing ruins a hunt faster than a foot problem.
6.The weather can change fast and drastically in Montana, Have a rain jacket handy, don't need to go spend 400 dollars on one, I bought one at Sportsman's Warehouse for 60 bucks and it came with rain pants
6.Pack heavier items closer to your back, helps keep your center of gravity and also aids in keeping everything together.
7. Take the roll out of a roll of TP, flatten the paper and double or even triple bag it, this is important.
8. Cliff bars are awesome sources of energy, I keep about 8 in my pack at all times. That's enough to last ya a few days, jerky, peanut butter sandwiches, all great back country food.
Just a few tips from someone who has been a Montana elk hunter since before he was old enough to hunt.
Anyone loan you a pair of boots yet?
I would also recommend a small bow repair kit.
3 allen wrenches(sight, rest, draw stops, etc) 1 extra set of broadhead blades (taped together) 2 Extra nocks D-Loop Material Extra rangefinder battery 4 zip ties Small thing of superglue Small thing of dental floss
I've crammed all of this in an Altoid container that I've washed and lined with bubble wrap...it never leaves my pack. Plus I had most of this stuff already purchased so I just put it together.
Oh yeah, don't forget some electrical tape (1/2 used roll to save on weight).
