Hunting gear for the newbie

If doing a day hike, not far , up to 3 miles. If the deer was no to heavy.
I learned this from my family who were hunters. And hey could hike 5 miles or more easily. Field dress the deer. On the legs there are tendons with a slight space with skin. Slit those enough to slide cordage threw it. Do this to all four legs. Tie them together. Pick up the deer slide the the deer to your back hold on the legs. Then get ready for the haul out.
Edit: so the deal is to make this work. only carry the bare minimum.
Deer in our area after Field dress weigh 90 lbs. More or less.
This was old school before
Popularity of packs.
If going deep I had the option to use horses and pack mules.
But this was a group of hunting relatives and friends. Mules would haul in supplies and would haul out the meat. Some of these were heavy Bodied mule and white tails.
In old Mexico.
 
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I appreciate all the suggestions gentlemen! I did see a nice pack on camofire that I'm considering. It's an Alps pursuit hunting pack for 64.99. I guess its normally double the price. I'm gonna check Walmart's site to see what they might have. I did see a nice on at big 5 also that was around $80 just wanted to get some opinions first from you guys here. I do like the suggestion of taking a tarp and some cord if I need to drag it out. Thanks again fellas!!
 
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I appreciate all the suggestions gentlemen! I did see a nice pack on camofire that I'm considering. It's an Alps pursuit hunting pack for 64.99. I guess its normally double the price. I'm gonna check Walmart's site to see what they might have. I did see a nice on at big 5 also that was around $80 just wanted to get some opinions first from you guys here. I do like the suggestion of taking a tarp and some cord if I need to drag it out. Thanks again fellas!!
Glad to help out. And I speak for all
Who contributed.
Good luck with your Hunting.
LB
 
IMO if a Kuiu, Mystery Ranch or EXO hunting pack is not in the budget get a 60L or more high quality "REI" type pack. This will be a pack that tree huggers would use on multi day trips but it will hold all your gear for a day trip and a quartered D zone buck. Mystery Ranch makes these as well also Gregory and others. Camo is not needed for your pack just a design and materials that won't kill you or fall apart with a heavy load. Get the right size for your waist and torso, load it to 65lbs or so and adjust every strap on it per the instructions. Optics Planet has some good closeouts right now.

This is great advice. IMO a pack and boots that actually fit are two of the most important pieces of gear to own. Obviously optics too but that subject has been beaten into the ground - buy the best you can afford. I feel like there is often a difference in opinion in regards to buying "techy" gear vs going old school with it, and there is a simple question you have to ask yourself to decide which path you should take... how do you want to hunt? If you are planning to hunt closer to the road, only want to hunt a few hours per day, will never go further than a mile or two from the truck, don't want to break down your own animals, you can probably skip the fancy packs and clothing. But, if you want to get away from people, hike in several miles, stay out all day, not get chased out by weather, not drag a deer to your truck (bleh!), break down and process your own animals, then I feel you should consider going the techy route.

Again, pack and boots would be my top priorities, because those are the two things that will make you miserable the fastest. Techy outdoor clothing mostly has to do with the long accepted concept of a layering system that covers a spectrum of temperatures and using materials that dry quickly. In D16 we have pretty benign weather, but I do have quite a few days during rifle season when I'm hiking in a T-shirt in the dark and it's 35-40 degrees, my back will sweat out under my pack, then I have to sit for the next 3-4 hours to glass during prime time. I put on a fleece or light puffy jacket and my back will be dry in short order. A cotton T-shirt will take way longer to dry and you'll be shivering. There are other zones in Southern California where there is a lot of huntable land in the 8-10,000 foot range... temperatures will vary accordingly. If you are collecting points to hunt a premium zone, perhaps in the high country, you should be getting your system dialed down every year on these OTC tags.

In California adventure is a big part of my hunting experience, so I want to get out in the wild and experience the chess match of me against a buck. But I totally get the other side of hunting too - I go to Texas every year in January to hunt on a friend's private property. They live on the private land side of the YO Ranchlands and have Axis Deer, Blackbuck, Sika Deer, Fallow Deer, hogs, and of course Whitetail and Turkeys (tag allotments for exotics on the YO vary from year to year). In Texas I sit in a blind or on a tripod stand a few minutes' walk from the house, and we drag or put an animal in a wheelbarrow or just drive right up to it. It's a completely different experience, and it's more about visiting with people, watching animals, and harvesting meat. Both are totally valid styles of hunting that are enjoyable, you just have to ask yourself what you want out of your hunting.
 
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All good points Kellen.
My thoughts are
If I was in better shape and 20 years younger
That's what I did and would do.
The factor, is age young or old, physically fit, and the ability & experience to hang out in the woods
For deep multiple days or more.
Let's say a newbie has zero experience with the above it might be good to start short range and start from there.
Some might be physically handicap.
Deep hikes might be out of the question.
For my self it will have to be horse back Or ATV if it's allowed.
Since San Diego is closing most of the roads. No 4x4

When I was young and strong, one of the advantage I had. I did not need to haul in a lot. Bare minimal
Base camp was different no road hunting here. Get deep with 4x4 or horse back. Food, water and supplies. But I was also taught to
Be able to live off the land.
And know we're to find & drink water . Welii I commend people for hiking in deep. Better know what your doing. And be well experienced.
No rookies trying this on there own.
This has to be slowly trained on for safety.
Now at my age I have to think smarter and use the most important
Muscle. The brain.
For San Diego they are making us
Hike deep since the roads are being closed. I don't like it but it is what it is. I would like to get a horse trailer.
A good horse and a pack mule or donkey. And ride in. No more heavy loads for this guy.
Food for thought.
 
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