A day in the elk woods, what's in your pack?

[WapitiTalk1]

Simply this… what’s in your elk hunting pack when you head in for a day’s grind in the elk woods? Go ahead and head into your shop or garage and drag your pack out if you need to refresh for this ultra-scientific thread (you may have to brush off the mouse pellets). This is just another way to weather the loooong off season, exchange/share some information, and perhaps pass some info on to some of our younger and inexperienced hunters. So, elk hunters, let’s get this rolling!

Type of pack and what’s in/on the pack (headlamp, batteries, tracking kit contents, kill kit contents, emergency gear, type of chow for the day, a butt pad to sit on when glassing, rain gear top/bottom, puffy jacket, navigation gear, maps for area hunted….you see where I’m going here). Please include what’s in your pocket’s also to complete your gear list (calls, tube, compass, TP (grin), etc.

Let’s roll…. What is your standard gear packed for a hunt in the wonderful elk woods?

Oh and just FYI, a can of beans and a P-38 does not a lunch make.

[Elkhunttoo]

First thing that I make sure always gets in my pack is TP and Wipes . Then I make sure I have my tags/ license/kill kit….everything else after this is a luxury


My pack will be a little different because I’m usually walking into my stand. I will have my harness and clothes that I need to stay warm sitting in the morning and evening. And then food glorious food.

Start the day off with my wife’s home made chocolate/chocolate chip banana muffins. Then I will go to like a Boston cream pie. Lunch can be anywhere from home made tacos/burritos. Pbj’s………anyway is the point is there are a few things I make sure I have and then everything else in my pack revolves around food

[Swede]

I have my New Testament, a pencil, a book of Sudoku puzzles, snacks, survival junk, my range finder, a couple of knives and some survival junk. Sometimes I have my rain gear. Oh. One other thing. See the tracking thread.

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

Rather than go through the whole list I'll just mention 2 or 3 items for right now. I'll probably add more later on as others contribute to this thread.

(1) Rain gear: I do have a decent set but lets face it, in September, when I hunt, probably at least 85% of the time you don't even need rain gear. I keep track of the weather forecast and unless there are chances for snow or showers, I leave it in the truck or in camp. Instead, in order to cut down on weight in my pack. I just throw in one of those $1.98 plastic ponchos from Wally World. But don't get me wrong. Rainy days still call for the good rain gear.

(2) TP: I always start the season out with a full roll ! As I tend to use it for obvious reasons, if I find I'm running a little low, I'll replace it with another full roll. You'd be surprised how much you can use up for marking a blood trail. I always take out the cardboard core so it takes up less room in my pack. A full roll can fit in a plastic sandwich bag!!!!

(3) Take your pick: Phone, GPS, Compass: I often pack all three. But, if I could only pick one of the three it would always be a ( GOOD ) compass. Not one of those El Cheapo ones. Electronics are great but they have the possibility of failing at the most inappropriate time.

[RanchoSueno]

Matches, two lighters, 3 knives one with replaceable blades and a small folding bone saw, emergency poncho, emergency blanket, a couple battery banks, meat bags, a couple plastic garbage bags, tourniquet, first aid kit, diaphragm calls, chapstick, wetwipes and whatever food/snackies along with my water bladder and a water filter straw. Horse first aid and banamine when pack critter accompanies

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

Game bags can take up a lot of space in your pack. But you'd be surprised how small they will squeeze down to if you run them through a vacuum sealer.

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

A signal mirror is great if you know how to use it. Also great if you want to pretty up your camo makeup! Also a magnifying glass is a good addition to your fire kit.

[Tigger]

If I am hunting with a partner, which I always am, we only take 2 game bags each. In the unlikely event we shoot 2, yeah, that will be a little problem, but we can bring more back after the first load is taken out.

Extra batteries and 2 headlamps. A Buck 118 and a Randy Newberg Gerber replaceable blade knives. Most of the other things already mentioned. Oh, a new dish towel. many uses for that from Health and Safety to meat care to a towel if you get wet. I also bring a light knee/sitting/napping pad. It makes laying/sitting down so much more comfy.

[RanchoSueno]

This is what I have and they are pretty space saving. I use the Alps Extreme X pack without a pack bag and it tucks right in conveniently

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

This is what I have and they are pretty space saving. I use the Alps Extreme X pack without a pack bag and it tucks right in conveniently

Vacuum seal them and you'll like them even better. Plus, if you use a large enough plastic bag to seal them with you'll be able to use that for the heart and liver. Allen Game Bags have always been my choise as well.

[Lefty]

Kind of depends
Always a kill kit in my tags.
An emergency overnight kit
My phone
I have three different primos blue Reed bugles depends on the day which ones I have along
I try to keep two or three diaphragm calls
Some sort of glove sometimes it is greenhead gear Avery collars gloves
Turkey gloves
Snacks,
Water vinyls
Someday is an extra jacket.
Raincoat
Sometime in Montana Miss September
Often a small handsaw

[Lefty]

Sometimes food sometimes not sometimes just lots of extra water
Maybe these should be considered luxury items, but I do like an apple or an orange. I like to bring those snack packs of chicken salad or tuna salad and crackers. If I still have some jerky maybe jerky and cheese. Did I say lots of water? Yeah lots of water