Equipment you can't do without.

[Freebird134]

What piece of equipment is a MUST carry for you while elk hunting? let's eliminate the obvious: weapon, optics, elk calls. It also seems like water, snack, emergency supplies, knife, and game bags should be high on the list. HOpefully someone will chime in with a few "must haves" that others hadn't thought of.

I'll start with a camera (not too original). Not just for dead animals, but I'm a picture taking fool. If we dont' kill anything, the pictures become my trophies. Pictures of me and the guys, cool flowers, landscapes, etc are what get me through the time between hunts!

[Broken arrow]

Good footwear. For me anyway. If your feet get jacked up you're done! On a backpack hunt anyway.
I was gonna be a smart A and say a tag

[Freebird134]

I was gonna be a smart A and say a tag

That's good. I think we'd be surprised if we knew how many people don't consider this a "must have!!!"

[foxvalley]

Broken arrow is correct, your toes will be jammed comming down, and your feet will be sloshing around in the mtns in general. My thought will be anyone new to the mtns. will completly underestimate the importance of footear because they feel good on flat land. In this case, if this is you,MOLESKIN, and lots of it! When your feet are all blistered up,moleskin will keep you going.

[Blackhorn]

Baby Wipes!

[JohnFitzgerald]

A GPS and extra batteries. Just in case you accidently leave it on for a few hours.

[Freebird134]

Do you consider a Gps more important than a map and compass?

[Buckriser]

Baby Wipes!

+1 Just like a bad pair of boots; Swass can definately ruin a hunt!

[Dirty D]

If out for more than a day, wet wipes!

Chapstick is another I hate to leave behind.

[ElkNut1]

Freebird, good question sir! I personally never leave home without either! Tough call for me! In a pinch, if I had to make that decision I would take the GPS! I love my map & compass but the GPS is so advanced in comparison! With that said, I want both! (grin)

ElkNut1

[WapitiTalk1]

Facemask.. Especially when I hunt the early archery season in WA. I can put up with almost anything but cannot stand a swarm of skeetos and black gnats gnawing at my face and neck while I'm stalking..

[Freebird134]

Facemask.. Especially when I hunt the early archery season in WA. I can put up with almost anything but cannot stand a swarm of skeetos and black gnats gnawing at my face and neck while I'm stalking..

Just to clarify Phantom, you mean a bug net kind of facemask, right? Not something for camo? Or do you mean both?

[WapitiTalk1]

Facemask.. Especially when I hunt the early archery season in WA. I can put up with almost anything but cannot stand a swarm of skeetos and black gnats gnawing at my face and neck while I'm stalking..

Just to clarify Phantom, you mean a bug net kind of facemask, right? Not something for camo? Or do you mean both?

Yes sir.. I carry a camo face mask in my cargo pocket. It's a full face/head net with only openings for eyes. I deploy it as needed. I have a few different kinds, but most of them look like this one.

Camo Facemask.jpg (21.46 KiB) Viewed 11276 times

[JohnFitzgerald]

Do you consider a Gps more important than a map and compass?

I also carry a map but if I had to choose one, I will always choose my GPS.

[Freebird134]

Do you consider a Gps more important than a map and compass?

I also carry a map but if I had to choose one, I will always choose my GPS.

Interesting response by both you and Elknut. I'd go the other way: map over gps. It isn't even the reliability (ie, no batteries, electronics), but just I like a map. For me, even the fancy GPSs with mapping are harder to look at than a map. I like laying a map out, and seeing the lay of the land in front of me. But, like you guys, I generally have both!

[mlauber]

My Jet Boil! Without a hot cup of coffee, or a hot meal my ability to "tough" out a bivy hunt would wane.

I also carry a small bow stuff repair kit with extra loop material, nocks, serving string, mole skin, extra blades, allen wrench pack, heat shrink vanes, & any little thing that could stop my ability to make a back country hunt . Takes up little to nospace. Could save the day!

[Swede]

For day long or afternoon hunts I carry a small flashlight.

[Breeze]

I always have one of those little 'swiss army knives' in my pocket; scissors/blade/screwdriver/file/toothpick/tweezer...under $10...not a day goes by.....

[cnelk]

Parachute cord and duct tape
Amazing what you can repair with a little bit of both

[Harmy]

My can't do withouts. but it depends on terrain and how far out I expect to go. Usually prepared to spend the night...

Knife sharpener and usually an extra knife
6 mm nylon cord (about 40 feet)
Moleskin
wet wipes
5 gallon ziplock (for field stripped meat). These are super heavy duty bags and can carry 30+ pounds.
1 Gallon ziplock for liver or heart.
1-2 large garbage bags or plastic to lay meat/quarters on, important when alone and field stripping meat. Depends on terrain and dirt level of area as plastic does not work well on steep hillsides. I use game bags when its steep.
Saw
Binos
pack with hydration
sun hat of some type
Ability to create fire
a few iodine tablets in case I need to sterilize water
headlamp with extra batteries
GPS (but only started recently), but...
Waterproof jacket usually
down vest in case out all night (unless only a mile or 2 from the car and weather is not going to be a factor, but...)

[elkaholic]

Do you consider a Gps more important than a map and compass?

I also carry a map but if I had to choose one, I will always choose my GPS.

I would also choose the GPS over a map. But would have a compass to back me up in case it died in the field. The GPs is quick and easy to use. If you have topo maps downloaded to it you can see the contours of the terrain in front of you.

[Freebird134]

Do you consider a Gps more important than a map and compass?

I also carry a map but if I had to choose one, I will always choose my GPS.

I would also choose the GPS over a map. But would have a compass to back me up in case it died in the field. The GPs is quick and easy to use. If you have topo maps downloaded to it you can see the contours of the terrain in front of you.

I've never liked looking at that little screen to navigate. Even with topos downloaded. I guess I never had a GPS for a long time, so I got used to maps. I bought my first GPS 3 years ago, and still hardly use it. I'm pretty tech-saavy, but GPS are one thing I never really got into.

[WindedBowhunter]

Communication device, SPOT or Satellite phone
GPS w/ extra batteries
Map, compass and know how to use them
The best footwear you can afford, foot repairs items (mine are in my first aid kit)

Multi-day trips:
Hilleberg Soulo
Valandre Mirage
Exped Downmat

These items allow me the rest needed to hunt hard the next day!