My questions relate to gear.
My buddy has a SAT phone. Not sure the brand but do they work the same? There will be no cell service.
For our tent, we have a large coleman 4 person tent with fly (it's just two of us). We will use air mattresses to get off the ground and tarps for canopy's and covers. If anyone has better ideas please let me know. We will be using horses so we can come in heavier than back pack.
Water filtration - we will use a gravity bag, we will have a water source close to camp.
Goal zero laterns, solar chargers for DSLR and devices, KUIU 5200 pack plus Tenzing day pack. 9 arrows, 6 with broadheads, 3 with field points.
Food - Since we are coming in with horse, we will prepare meals and freeze them, speghetti, lansagana, etc, so all we have to do it warm them up. Not sure how long our ice will last and no, we dont have YETTI's (but not due to lack of interest). We plan to eat good for the first week then switch over to Mountain house for the 2nd. Hopefully elk steaks in between. Sandwiches for lunch, oatmeal etc for breakfast.
Not bringing the spotter (let me know if this is a mistake), as the 10x42's should be good enough. The only thing is without the spotter, no phone skoping but hopefully the DSLR will be good enough.
lightweight camp chairs and table, propane stove and jetboil, fist aid kit, 45 handgun, possible bear tag etc. Do you have to hang your food? Will the bears be an issue at our camp while hunting during the day?
Rain Gear, quality knives, bow sling, two triggers, (putting new string loop on in Aug, ) range finder. etc.
How is the cell service for Verizon in #15?
If you are providing, you'll need: game bags (suggest TAG bags), and a bone saw. Also paracord for manipulating elk, making meat pole, and hanging game bags. I like to bring citric acid and spray bottle to help protect the meat from spoiling. Also a small tarp to hang over the meat pole to protect the meat from rain.
I would also bring a small water filter to bring with you each day. Then you can refill your water containers during the day. I use a Katydyne Hiker pro. Also might want a water bladder to allow easier drinking while hiking.
Not the best tent but with extra tarps you should be fine
Air matts- they really should be insulated
Bears; I've hunted all over NM and never had a bear problem at camp- but have heard of few, best to hang your food
hunt; just keep moving until you get into fresh sign or bugling. Be out 1 hr before light...and back after dark
I do the horse thing- walk them in with packsaddles- but we travel light so its easy to move until we get into the elk and have more room to pack meat out.
Sometimes air mattresses can be cold to sleep on due to the air getting cold.
I've never had any problems with bears but a friend had their spike camp in NM raided by a bear last year while they were hunting and they had to pack out to get more food (I think it was over 12 miles round-trip)and lost over a day of hunting.
You're going to get wet. I'm a huge proponent of tarping the entire tent, whether it be base camp or bivvy. Bring an extra 8x10 foot tarp.
Bone saw and paracord are good ones. Small water pump is also a good idea.
Looks like the weather will be 70 by day and 50 or so at night. Can't wait !!!
If you have 9 arrows take 9 broadheads.
Mark
Jason Scott - I'll be practicing my sat phone calls.
What you guys think about a bow sling? Never used one? Any rec's?
GPS with extra batteries Map and compass
First aid kit (search bowsite for discussions)
Survival kit to always have with you (again a search will give a wide range of possibilities but should at least include good way to start a fire)
Will do some homework on first aid kits etc.
When we hunt in B, we do you will and cooked and froze meals. We packed them in insulated, collapsible freezer bags, kept them in the shade and they kept frozen for more than a week. Ice chest in the shade kept 1/2 frozen for 9 days in the shade back at the trailhead. I hate carrying a gun and never wished for one in all my years in the Gila.
Air mattresses seem like a bit much to carry. Your BA over another thermarest or similar would be plenty. No need to carry a compressor and batteries, either.
Iridium for sure. Great service in Gila. No experience with global star.
Wish I was going with you!!
