What’s in your pack?

[The Deer Guy]

Alright guys so with our local deer season quickly approaching and a trip I have planned to hunt AZ I spent some time getting my pack together today. I thought this would be a good time to break down what I run in my deer pack and see what others are using. Keep in mind that what’s in my pack ranges depending on how far I’m going from the truck, water sources and whether or not I’lol be staying overnight. Right now I’m at 24lbs without water and that’s in preparation for a hunt 3-5 miles from the truck.

 

[The Deer Guy]

Just to break down further what I use...

Hunting gear in my pack: (not including water and sleeping gear)

Release

Vortex Spotting scope

Slik Tripod/Manfrotto Head

Vortex bino adapter

Vortex Viper 10x50 Binos

leupold Rx full draw rangefinder

Mystery ranch bino harness

Jetboil and spork

Food and snacks for the day

Hydration bladder

Water bottle and filtration kit

Glassing seat cushion

Headlamp (or 2)

Kill kit (knife, gloves, game bags, pen, zip ties, electric tape, flagging, paracord) (in large kuiu dry bag)

First aid kit

Lighter and fire starter tabs

Portable phone charger and cables, gps, batteries (in small kuiu dry bag)

Trekking poles

Wind checker

Face paint

Gaiters

Rain gear

Compressed towels/TP

Camera

GoPro and go pro stick

 

[Mud Pigeon]

Saw for your kill kit?

 

[The Deer Guy]

Yep. I’ve used it in the past for cutting through the sternum to make field dressing a little easier and to cut off the head. Probably won’t use it much this year as I’ll be mainly using the gutless method. That being said it’s ultra light and seems to come in handy for a lot of stuff.

Josh

 

[The Deer Guy]

I use a Gerber vital saw.

 

[SurfNHuntSD]

Very cool. Curious, how much water do you hike with for your longer hunts, and do you store water out there?

P.s. love the Mountain House chicken and rice (I bring a tiny bottle of hot sauce with me)...but I could never get into the biscuits and gravy one.

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

 

[The Deer Guy]

SurfNHuntSD,
I have a 3L platypus bladder that I fill, plus a nalgene and if waters scare I bring a 32 oz iced down hydro flask in a side pocket.

Josh

 

[Lungpopper]

I ditched the second headlamp and went with a goal zero flashlight/Lantern. Set the lantern up in a high spot and you won’t need the head lamp in camp. Still have a backup flashlight if needed. Easily last 3 nights as a lantern.

 

[Lungpopper]

I also ditched my Minimo for a titanium cup with a mightymo stove. Saved 8 ounces.

 

[longbowhunter2]

My modest collection for country boy.
https://schoutdoors.com/threads/camping-supplies.11542/
Non of my stuff is that great but gets the job done.
What I am missing is an SOS beacon.
Near future. But my deep in the woods hiking is not happening any more. Unless I improve.
Best
Longbow

 

[TRICER]

i started carting a few pieces of flat bread and these flavored tunas in my pack. They are great and loaded with protein. The flat bread holds its shape pretty well. I also just eat the tuna with no bread but the bread adds to the meal for sure. Super cheap, light, lots of flavors, and very fast no boiling or water required.
StarKist Tuna Creations Bold, Hot Buffalo Style, 2.6 Ounce (Pack of 12)

I also started using meal to go bars and probars and of course there is always jerky. I love mountain house but in SD with the water situation I tend to try and use waterless food as much as possible. I do enjoy a chicken and rice or stroganoff at night though. Sometimes if it is just a one or two night trip or car camping I will carry a can of chicken to throw in the mountain house it tastes great and really hits the spot after a lot of miles.
These meal to go bars are awesome! They might seem expensive but compared to Mountain house they are reasonable.

Greenbelly Backpacking Meals - Backpacking Food, Appalachian Trail Food Bars, Ultralight, Non-Cook, High-Calorie, Gluten-Free, Ready-to-Eat, All Natural Meal Bars (9 Variety)

Probar Meal Bar Variety Pack of 12

 

[longbowhunter2]

I am spoiled I like my hot coffee in the mornings. Carry little Xtra water.
Straw filter, hot food is nice but not necessary. Mountain house is my fav.
Fire starter is a must. I carry 50 gal trash bag. Many uses. Cordage, 2 knives. I try to pack lite as possible.
Lite first aid kit, to hand sanitizer.

In my younger days, knife, cordage canteen, fire starter, light snacks.
Plenty of ammo. I ate what ever I could find. Like cactus apple, prickly pear cactus, Manzanita berries., Use pine needles for tea, pinion nuts, acorns, snake on occasion. Carried hand gun for small game.
If i killed a deer fresh heart and liver.
Best
Longbow

 

[ilovesprig]

You boys are hardcore....Wonder what my dad had in his back pack in 1948...Canteen on hip, roll up, and probably crackers and Kipper snacks in the pack....lol

.

 

[Lungpopper]

In those times potatoes and onions in the pack and a deer hanging in camp for camp meat.
A nice outfitters tent with camp stove already set up just over the hill.

 

[ilovesprig]

In those times potatoes and onions in the pack and a deer hanging in camp for camp meat.
A nice outfitters tent with camp stove already set up just over the hill.

Darryl,

I can remember "Camp Meat" vividly...…....

 

[The Deer Guy]

Great stuff guys.

Lungpopper... I dig the goal zero light and new cook kit. The jet boils so easy but i could definitely shed ounces there.

Longbow... just read through that other thread. Definitely looking forward to packing out this year. Drug one out 2 years ago for 3 miles in rough country and I was wishing it was on my back every time it was getting caught up in manzanita other thick brush.

 

[The Deer Guy]

Trig,
That picture is classic. And to think that back then hunting G3,X9A,and every other zone was just one OTC tag. You still might find kippered snacks in my pack. Those things are tastey.

 

[Mud Pigeon]

Yep. I’ve used it in the past for cutting through the sternum to make field dressing a little easier and to cut off the head. Probably won’t use it much this year as I’ll be mainly using the gutless method. That being said it’s ultra light and seems to come in handy for a lot of stuff.

Josh

Gutless is all I've ever done. Saw quickly gets rid of the bottom of the legs so the quarters fit in your game bags and pack better. Saves a little weight packing out. Also, the bucks I shoot unfortunately aren't shoulder mount trophies so the saw is used to skull cap them.

 

[SurfNHuntSD]

Gutless is all I've ever done. Saw quickly gets rid of the bottom of the legs so the quarters fit in your game bags and pack better. Saves a little weight packing out. Also, the bucks I shoot unfortunately aren't shoulder mount trophies so the saw is used to skull cap them.

My Leatherman has a little saw blade that comes in handy for that. I also use it for sawing through the pelvis for a cleaner gutting process.

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[The Deer Guy]

Gutless is all I've ever done. Saw quickly gets rid of the bottom of the legs so the quarters fit in your game bags and pack better. Saves a little weight packing out. Also, the bucks I shoot unfortunately aren't shoulder mount trophies so the saw is used to skull cap them.

Mud Pigeon,
Great information. Yeah I know how to cut around the joints with a knife pretty well to make easy work of it but that Gerber saw always seems to get used when I’m dressing out a deer. Whether it’s quartered or field dressed.

Josh