Top recommended elk hunt gear items....

[WapitiTalk1]

So, pilgrim, you're leaving the truck or camp for a day's adventure in the elk woods. What do you feel are the most important items, gear wise, to have on your person? I've listed a handful. Do you have any to add? Do you have any comments on what I've listed (good, bad, indifferent)?

Boots-broke in, properly fitting
Pack-all in one pack that you can haul meat out with if necessary
Headlamp/flashlight w/extra batteries
Properly set up weapon (bow, rifle, ML, boomerang)
Elk calls (capable of making bull, cow, calf sounds)
Clothing system (layers including rain gear)
Hydration gear (bladder, filtration system)
Optics (binos/spotter?)
Kill kit (knives, game bags, rope/paracord, ground tarp, flagging ribbon, peroxide, license/tags)
First aid kid (w/basic items)
Navigation (GPS, map/compass)

PackOutresize.JPG (350.7 KiB) Viewed 275 times

[Tigger]

chapstick and wind powder!

Instead of extra batteries, I just bring along an extra headlamp with batteries turned around.

My luxury item is a thin pad to sit/lay/kneel on.

[7mmfan]

I'll have to come back to this with a full list, but my luxury item is a small thermos of hot coffee/chocolate/apple cider. Man that can turn a day around.

[>>>---WW---->]

Good ideas everyone. But so far you all have missed the most important thing. ( ARROWS + AMMO ) Ask me how I know ! I drove all the way to Texas for a hog hunt once and discovered I had left my arrows at home.

[Lefty]

I'm not sure how to answer these questions.
But having the right knowledge can save you a lot of time, effort and weight for multiple situations.

As part of this question, I like to stay comfortable. Maybe that means packing an extra layer or starting out in the morning with something warm enough.
Because of my somewhat limited abilities I do not go as far as I used to into the woods and make do with what is nearby when hunting alone.

But now maybe the most important thing that I carry is my phone.
My wife always knows where I am.

[Elkhunttoo]

With changing to mostly tree stand hunting some of my list has changed. i can agreed my phone is a must. Radio to contact those in my group in there stands. Proper clothing and safety harness for the day. Number 1 thing for me is food. when sitting all day looking forward to something and setting a time for that helps the time pass. Another thing that i have started packing more of is bird arrows or practice arrows. I will pick a time and a spot each morning. i dont range the spot but just go off of all of my previous ranges. When the time comes i will shoot an arrow at the spot. Or shoot a bird if it comes by for dinner. This gives me quit a bit of practice throughout the season so i can feel confident when the moment arrives to make a good shot.

[Tigger]

Anyone do this while sitting in a stand....

Lets say you are going to sit from 6:00 am until 6:00 pm for easy math. You have 3 sandwiches. If you space them evenly and leave on an empty sandwich, you eat one at 9:00, one at noon, and one at 3:00. Okay now it is 8:00 am. If you space them evenly now, you eat one at 10:30, one at 1:00, and one at 3:30. Oops, you ate one at 8:30. Time to redo the math...oh wait, I just ate another one. Now it is 9:00 and I have eaten 2. I have to wait until 1:30 and that is my last one. Or, maybe you last until noon til you munch the first one. Oh, this is a good deal. You can now have one at noon, 2:00 and 4:00!

[Swede]

My pack stays mostly the same all season. Only my clothes are different. I pack food every day and it changes slightly.
Elkhunttoo, as a part of your routine, you might try drawing your bow back when you get cold. You may be ok, but last season I needed to reduce my draw weight five pounds when the temps dropped into the thirties.

[Elkhunttoo]

Tigger, i have defiantly done the food with time thing. My wife makes amazing chocolate chip banana muffins. I will have 6 mini muffins to start. At 8 am i will start and have 1 every 15 minutes. Then by 8:05 all 6 are gone .....just taste to good

Swede, On cold days my bow gets pulled back several times on some days trying to stay warm

[>>>---WW---->]

Tigger, you need to take a bottle of Dr. Pepper with you. When you get hungry just pull out the bottle first and read the label. Then you'll know what time to eat. You know, 10-2-and 4. LOL!