Contributors to this thread:
what are some things you have in your pack that most don't think to pack? I'm slowly getting things together in hopes of drawing a deer or elk tag next year and attempting it solo diy. Ive researched a lot of things I just want to see what some of you guys who have done this for years bring along that most people wouldn't think of
A "What if" list can result in an extremely heavy pack.
also what do smart people leave at home that others tend to lug around the mountains.
Remember if you are having to carry water it is a totally different variable.
I definitely don't want to over pack and have a heavy pack but I also don't want to under pack. I do plan on doing some back packing and scouting to get used to hauling stuff in and out and get familiar with whatever area I choose to hunt
I carry a collapsible chair. It is less than a pound. I use it in camp (no sitting on wet logs) and use it in the field. When I sit at ambush sites, I have extra comfort which keeps me from moving/fidgeting.
I also carry a Bahco collapsible saw. I can trim shooting lanes and cut limbs to enhance blind locations.
Search on youtube for the hunting pack bag dump. Lots of videos out there. I always pack the same essential items every year (saw, x-tra knife,rope, first-aid, x-tra calls, etc.) but watched the videos and threw in some things that I had never thought of.
Small tube of super glue gel. Can hold most things together for the few days that the item is needed until I get home and can replace the item.
Leukotape, eye drops for contacts, chapstick, crystal light peach mango.
I am a bare minimum guy. For a daypack, I carry the following in my pack:
Headlamp with spare AA batteries;
Spare AA batteries for headlamp and GPS;
Flashlight with a spare battery (i use a surefire fury with a rechargeable lithium battery);
Bark River Little Creek for caping (Bark River Classic Drop point on my belt);
Spare battery for Rangefinder;
Spare contacts and a compass with a mirror;
Some just in case meds (pain killer, muscle relaxer, reflux med);
Sitka Kelvin Jacket;
Kuiu Rain gear;
Leukotape;
Small piece of mule tape (7-8 feet long);
Foldable saw;
Small phone tripod and Bluetooth camera clicker;
Baby wipes;
Water and snacks;
Calls and ID and tag.
That’s pretty much it for me in my pack.
On my person I carry a belt knife, GPS, rangefinder, binos.
Crap. I forgot. I also carry a spare release.
Ask Ike. Or Nick Muche. They have finished pack weights in the 30 pound range. That’s the goal. Not packing stuff you won’t use.
Here is the deal. Ike said it best. Guys pack in three to four miles and carry the kitchen sink. You are three miles from the truck man. You don’t need three shirts, a pair of sleeping pants, etc... Take what you need. Nothing more. It’s not like you will be desolate.
A roll of paracord can come in very handy for a number of uses.
Matt
My pack always includes cigars and tequila for nightly recaps of the day's hunt.
Baby wipes. End of story.
Big second on the superglue. Always in my pack mainly for cuts. Often better than stitches in normal situations but its saved me a lot of bleeding on more than one occassion.
I also always carry a cheap snap off razor blade knife. I have a good boning knife for the meat work but use the 1/2 snap razor knife for the skinning and other knife dulling parts of breaking down an elk. Weighs next to nothing and makes cutting down the hide on the back a piece of cake as I just put enough blade out to get through the hide and go to town.
A large garbage bag. A small knife sharpener. An old tree stand belt (remember those?) for pull strap.
One of those portable battery chargers for your phone that provide 3-4 charges especially since you're going solo. You'll understand the meaning of the clock moving slowwwwwww around day 3 when you haven't seen anything and you're in the shade at 10 AM waiting for 6 PM.
Along with chapstick, lueko tape, soap and super glue. Ill add hand creme and reading glasses if your of the age to need them.
Clip Shot.... especially if you are solo!
Sea to Summit inflatable pillow and chapstick.
Depends, i just turned 60 yesterday..
Snickers, unless it's really hot then PayDay bars work better.
My pack for 4 days is around 30# w/out water. Only thing I double up on is socks and a release. I spent a lot of years carrying stuff I never ever used. Other then your medical supplies, if you don’t use it after 3 trips, leave it home!!
I carry multiple ways to start a fire. One addition came from a friend in Alaska. OOO Steel Wool. It takes a spark from a striker in a heartbeat. I just stuff a 35mm film canister full. (what are those?)
I’m with Z barebow................fold up lightweight camp chair. Less than 2 pounds. For relaxing around camp or for glassing. Replaces the Camo donut seat cushion I used to use. More comfy and back support. Well worth the weight. You can see mine in the background. My buddy has the same one which he is sitting on.
I usually carry a paperback.
X2 on the Clip Shot! Handy little thing. Also zip ties are nice for attaching tags etc.
After a long day's hunt, nothing beats having a hammer to put tent stakes in.....maybe a spare too, in case you lose one.
We mostly day hunt so at most 3 or 4 miles from the truck. Goal is about 15 pounds pack weight. This year besides the clip shot I added a little blue tooth shutter button someone on here mentioned. Works great. I am 48 so other items I am thinking about bringing this year are reading glasses. I need them now to read but also thinking I may need them at times to look at GPS or something small like bow serving.
I sometimes hunt with a buddy from Wyoming. He carries the kitchen sink all the time. Always has a tripod and spotter, water filter, jetboil, little fry pan, oil, and flour just in case we get 1. His day pack can weigh around 30 to 35 pounds which is crazy.
Plus 3 on Clipshot and BT shutter button. I will be taking nap time selfies like a pro!
For the rest of us "old guys" I have a pair of walmart safety glasses with 2.0 magnifiers in the bottom of the lens. I wear a single contact for my up close vision but find I need to take it out just before last light as it messes with me in low light situations. (Probably also from my eye being tired at the end of the day as I never notice it in the morning). Anyway, I love the safety glasses as they also help walking out in the dark for the stray limbs and other pokey things that seem to get me. The cheater allows me to see my GPS clearly but the rest of the lens allows me to see everything else.
Roo single hammock for those mid day naps.
Cut resistant gloves for quartering that 6x6
A tourniquet... buddy almost died last year due to nicking his femoral artery. A lightweight 5x7 tarp. Weighs just ounces and I lay it out to work up game. I place quarters on the tarp, loins, tenderloins, etc, and it cools while working the rest up. I then bag it and pack it. On occasion on early morning kills, I have sat down and boned everything out, ready for slicing and package when I get back to camp/home.
Chapstick, Luekotape and body glide. Those three little items go a long ways when you need them to continue on. Chaffing sucks, blisters are terrible and nothing worse than your lips bleeding from the sun or dehydration.
A 2 oz. emergency rain poncho from Walmart $2. For rain protection and to lay out boned out meat.
Chapstick.
Gerber Dime multi tool 2.5 oz. to change blades on Havalon knives, etc.