Fill my backpack!

[cunninghamww]

OK, I will probably be on her a bunch in the next few months. I am a flatlander, through and through. Next September I will be going on a full DIY backcountry bowhunt hunt with a buddy. The goal is to have an adventure, not necessarily to kill a bull. We want to push ourselves, are both very capable in the backcountry from years of hiking, but have zero elk experience. Both have hunted all our lives, just never chased elk. We are looking at Montana, to give you an idea of the terrain.

Was hoping with that info that I could get a good list going of all the essentials I need to fill my pack...might make my Christmas list a little easier to handle!

[Indian Summer]

I guess it depends on how good of a job Santa has.

You could think big such as tent, sleeping bag and pad, gps, and backpack. All huge essentials for a hunt like that. Maybe a Sitka Jetstream jacket which would be priceless on that hunt.

Or smaller like headlamp, water filter, merino base layers, Elknut Chuckler bugle tube, game bags.

Better yet one of my Headin' West elk hunt plans!

Welcome to Wapiti Talk forums. I sent you a PM letting you know I moved this thread over from the Elk Hunting section. But you have to make 3 posts before you can send or receive PMs. Thought I'd let you know that.

[cunninghamww]

Where was the thread moved to?

All camping supplies are taken care of. I am really interested in the odds and ends that I wouldn't think about as a beginner. Specific clothes recommendations are important, though I am limited to wearing realtree camo patterns. I also followed the link to the headin west page and sent joe an email - am I talking to joe here?

Both myself and my partner are in excellent physical condition with plenty of backcountry hiking experience and general woodsmanship experience, just not elk-specific. We are wanting to challenge ourselves, ideally hike in and set up a basecamp. Goal is any legal elk, not looking to hold out for anything big necessarily, everything is special to me.

[Lefty]

Good Binos
These are more for my pant pockets
A couple bottles of wind check
rangefinder
extra call
face mask, and or camo face paint
stalking or shooters gloves

[husky390]

I'll add to what Lefty said

No cotton clothing
merino wool base layers and socks
Zebralight
fire starter
camp chair
mosquito repellant (some years they can be really bad, at least here in CO)
Quality rain gear
moleskin or that fancy tape
GPS and compass
Topo maps
TAG game bags
Havalon knife with extra blades or Raptor Razor (Update: I'll pay the weight penalty and stick with the Raptor Razor. I tried the Havalon on some small whitetails and didn't like it. I'd hate to use it on an elk. YMMV.)
Paracord for tying your food up in a tree
Be prepared for snow, sleet, frost, temps in the teens up to sunny, dry and temps in the 80's. You just never know what Mother Nature is going to throw at you.
Bring multiple elk calls. The elk in the area I was hunting would only respond to one of my handhelds and would ignore everything else.

Since you live in the flat lands, I'd highly recommend finding the steepest slope around and hiking up it, sidehilling and hiking down it with a fully loaded pack to test your boots out. You don't want to get all the way out here to find out your boots are not working for you in steep terrain.

[six]

This is what I carry in my day pack.

Pack

GPS
Handgun
License
Headlamp x2
Matches/lighter/Firestarter
T.P.
1 or 2 Game bags
50’ rope
Knives/sharpener
Flashlight
Facepaint
Gloves/hat
Rain gear
E.blanket/1st aid kit
Water bottle+camelback
Duct tape around bottle
Binos
Compass

[WapitiTalk1]

Adding to what others have said:

1. H-peroxide in a small squirt bottle - invaluable for getting small specks of blood to reveal themselves/foam during tracking.
2. Rubber gloves (the light, surgical type) - work nice when field dressing/boning out big game. Not so much to keep your hands clean but helps keep a good grip on a bloody knife handle.
3. Saw - Need something to take the skull cap of your bull off. The Wyoming Saw works great for this and has the additional wood blade for cutting up firewood.
4. Fixed blade knife. I didn't have good luck with the Havalon Piranta this year (blades break too easily for my liking). I did order and receive a OE Razor which will get it's day in court this year but I still always carry a fixed blad knife.
5. Trail tacks. Folks have mentioned flagging ribbon (absolutely necessary) but I also carry a handfull of the reflective trail tacks (glow bright white when hit with a headlamp/flashlight). They make it nice when you're navigating your way in/out of a specific spot during the hours of darkness.
6. Lightweight backpack lantern (Primos Micron). They weigh nothing and are sure nice to have around your back country camp. P.S., they'll heat up a small tent in a matter of minutes.
7. Bear bag. A must for storing your food high in a tree in grizz country. I have an Ursus Ultralite Bear Bag.
8. Large scent free wipes. The large size (12X10) are very nice for an evening washup.
9. Dromedary bag. Need something to store filtered water in. I use an MSR 10 litre bag.
10. Silk sock liners. Worn under your merino wools to help prevent rub blisters, and, wick moisture.
11. Crocs - Need something to wear in the evenings around camp so you can get those boots off for a bit. They also work well for stream crossings.
12. Elknut's Playbook.
13. Xtra bow release.
14. Xtra eyeglasses.
15. Packets of hot sauce to spice up MH meals.
16. Camera and Clip Shot. I have a tiny Canon Elph camera and of course, the Clip Shot camera holder.
17. Alarm. You can use the one in your phone or watch, but, can also pick up a tiny alarm clock that weighs nothing and "will" wake you up in the morning.
18. Multitool on your belt. I use a Gerber.
19. Small lightweight tarp (5X7). I use it as a floor to set my gear on right outside of my BA packpack tent (it has a little covered porch area/vestibule).
20. Trekking poles. Some folks really dig these things for hiking in with heavy packs, and, for packing. I have a nice set of Black Diamonds but haven't used them much.
21. Bourbon.

[CurlyTail]

I would get the Elknut Playbook with Audio CD (with includes Sounds of the Elk) package and Read the playbook about 4 times and listen to the Audio about 5 times. Everything you need to be successful if in there, just pay attention to details, and keep going over the information until it seems second nature.

Work on your Elk calling - focus on the Locator Bugle, Short Screams, and Chuckling . Use a Carlton Fighting Cow reed call for cow sounds to get you started.

You have the right mental attitude, and just might be successful and addicted for life

Put together a Kill Kit and carry it with you always - Havalon Knife, TAGS game bags, 100 ft. stout cord, rubber gloves, Wyoming saw

[Indian Summer]

Toilet paper. Without that everything goes to....

[pointysticks]

the hunter (western) i really admire is Nate Simmons.

best part, if you look at the Western Hunter blog, you can find his pack list..right down to his skivvies, and what knife he carries. i dont copy him, but it is super powerful to compare to your own pile of stuff..lots of head slapping revelations if you look at an experienced persons list.

let me know if you cant find it. it is his older list, when he shot a carbon hoyt bow..i know that changed.

[Indian Summer]

Where was the thread moved to?

It was originally posted in the Elk Hunting forum before I moved it here to the Gear Forum. I sent you a PM explaining.

[cohunter14]

Where was the thread moved to?

It was originally posted in the Elk Hunting forum before I moved it here to the Gear Forum. I sent you a PM explaining.

He's only got two posts, so probably didn't get the PM...

[jmez]

Clothing list will depend a lot on your internal thermostat. Mine runs high, I spend 90% of my time in Sept in Montana in a short sleeve merino t shirt.

Here is my clothing list that I carry/take in for 10-14 days.

1 pair of pants that I wear in (Kryptek Allois or Kuiu Attack)
1 merino t shirt wear in, 1 extra in pack, both short sleeved, (First lite and Kuiu)
1 pair liner socks wear in 1 pair lite merino socks wear in, 1 pair extra of each in pack (no brand preference)
1 pair merino boxers wear in, 1 pair extra in pack ( Core 4 Element)
1 insulated vest (kryptek) in pack
1 Rain jacket (Kuiu Chugach) in pack
1 Pair rain pants (Kuiu Teton) in pack
1 pair light cotton gloves, one pair medium weight water proof gloves (Cabela's brand)
1 Kryptek beanie/stocking hat
1 Kuiu boonie hat, wear in and hunt in
Boots Hanwag Alaskan GTX
1 pair Kuiu gaiters

That is all I take for clothing. If it gets cold I put the vest on and use the rain jacket for wind blocking. I used to take long sleeve merino T's but they are just too hot for me I prefer the SS. My first 4 trips I also took along a Kryptek hunting shirt in the pack. After 4 years of never taking it out of the pack I no longer even bring it along.

I love my Hanwag's but the Alaskan's are a little much for early season elk. If I ever wear them out I'm going to replace them with the mountain lite model.

I've debated leaving the rainpants out. Since I've started taking and using gaiters I haven't worn the rain pants. We did have one year in Co that it rained pretty much non stop for 4 days and snowed on the fifth day. I lived in my rain pants that year. Because of that trip I still take them. 99% of the time you won't need them but if you do, you'll wish you had them.

Like was said above, other than one pair of light gloves leave the cotton at home. Everything should be merino or synthetic. If you can't do that with your camo arrangement I would think long and hard about continuing that arrangement or purchase and wear synthetics in a natural earth tone.

[jmez]

What are you going to do for water? Have you thought about that and will you be camping near a water source?

How many days do you plan on being in?

Do you have your food situation figured out?

[NYSureShot]

Husky 390


You touched on rain wear on your list. I'm looking at CABELA'S RAIN SUEDE for packing protection for the rain. My quandary
now is if I should size it to go over anything/everything I would be wearing to hunt or go with my normal sizing?

Tim

[husky390]

Husky 390


You touched on rain wear on your list. I'm looking at CABELA'S RAIN SUEDE for packing protection for the rain. My quandary
now is if I should size it to go over anything/everything I would be wearing to hunt or go with my normal sizing?

Tim

My rain gear is one size larger to layer underneath. That's just my preference since I prefer them to be roomier and I usually head to lower elevation (lightning is a mother out here) and hole up until the storm passes. I'm not kidding about the lightning, Google it. You do not want to be above treeline if a storm blows in.

I haven't used the Cabela's rain suede, I have the Kryptek Koldo pants and First Lite Boundary Stormtight ASAT jacket. Yeah, I know, I look like a sale rack in the woods. One thing for me regarding the rain pants is they must have zippered legs. I wear size 13 boots and will never go through trying to slip an elastic pant leg over them again. The zippers are also nice for ventilation. Before I bought this setup I was using some Bass Pro Redhead stuff which kept me dry but did not offer any ventilation.

[bald9eagle]

Bumping this one for future reference. I'm going to need to screen shot this and print it when I get home.