Mountain hunt gear. Everything but the gun?

C

Chago

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To all the western boys who have the luxury to pack up and hunt in the mountains. What do you pack? I'm planning a 1 week back pack hunt this season in alberta. And wanted some feedback from the locals.

I'm planning on buying a eberlstock dragonfly. Any thoughts on this pack? Is this enough for one week? Perhaps a larger pack you recomend to carry gear and game.

I'm usually a light packer. I keep two sets of clothes so I can wear one while washing or drying the other. My therma rest and sleeping bag take up most of the room in the pack. Do you guys suggest something else for this? Please don't tell me to leave the ther arrest at home? It just takes up too much space. I usually also bring a small burner to cook.

On my self I carry knife, ammo, binos, gps.

What else would you guys suggest. And please back recommendations. I have yet to buy one. I currently have a day pack that I use for hunting. But here in ontario everywhere we hunt we have our trucks 20' away so I can pretty much bring tv, Xbox, cases of beer etc lol

Thanks
 
Maybe you should post this in the "Hunting" section instead of the "Firearm" section if you want to talk about everything but the gun.;)
 
The dragonfly pack is not big enough for a real backpack hunt, it's more of a good day bag. Yes it says it expands to carry more gear but it expands outwards away from your back - not ideal. You want the weight as close to your back as possible. Mystery ranch makes great stuff.
 
Dress and pack like a mountaineer, but wear camo, and bring a gun. Carry a camo daypack inside your camping pack. Hunt from your base camp. Done.

2 sets of clothes? Luxury! :)
 
o and on a more serious note be prepared for all seasons during any season. the Ab Rockies are great at throwing all sorts of fun weather at you on a moments notice.
 
Bring some food like mountain house or other dehydrated dinners. A water filter and boiling or iodine tabs. I like to bring two compact emergency tarps, the smallest ones that can fit in your pocket. I set one up in camp to catch rain water and carry one in my pack for an emergency shelter. Forget bringing a day pack, that will turn into a pain in the a$$. Too much extra gear is horrible on its own let alone if your packing out an animal. Some para cord to keep your food up from rodents and maybe bears. A small saw to have easy firewood available. Two bic lighters in zip-lock bags. Always have a compass and buy/rent a sat phone or message type thing, I use a first gen spot and I should upgrade soon now that I'm thinking of it. Google earth your "secret spot" so you get an idea where to possibly get water with out loosing too much elevation every time you need it. Trim your toe nails before your hunt, I have heard of guys loosing toe nails from your feet pushing into the front of your boots on angled terrain. Break in new boots over the summer, blisters aren't fun with a loaded pack. Bring good rain gear, staying dry in the mountains is one of the most important things. My back-up pack is a cabalas Alaskan frame pack, it worked good for hauling my de-boned sheep meat, head and cape over more than a few km's. I have used my Kuiu ultra 6000 frame pack on two mountain hunts last season. It works good, is nice and very light but I haven't packed out a sheep with it yet. I can't say how good it is till I really put it thru its paces.
 
spend the time to get in shape. I think too many spend money and time on the high end gear instead of just being in shape.

I would never leave the matress behind find comfort where you can.
 
To repeat so as to accentuate importance. Weather changes quickly and can get you in serious trouble if you are not prepped.
 
I am in total agreement with Tempest, as I have hunted in the BC Rockies twice, and I know what Tempest is referring too. If I hadn't work as hard as I did to get in shape, I know the hunts would have not been very much fun. All of the Outfitters out there will tell you that the better shape you are in, your chances increase having a successful hunt. Work on your cardio, and your leg strength months in advance. Don't leave it to the last minute. Also, the other important piece to your Alpine hunt, is a really good pair of boots. Don't be afraid to spend top dollar for a pair of boots. It will be money well spent.
 
Number one on your list is good boot for mountain hunts. You need to have a pair of high quality well broken in books that are water proof, have tons of support for hauling loads and side hips and that can stand up to rocks. I've worn out two pairs of meindle books and one pair of hanwags guiding in the yukon and nwt. Cheap boots don't last long

Second thing you need is great optics. Binos and a spotting scope as they can save you tons of miles an tons of vertical feet taking a closer look at an unwanted critter.

Third thing is great rain gear. Your going to get wet from rain or sweat while wearing it so you should get a pair that breaths well and keeps the rain out. I wore kuiu chugach stuff my last two seasons and it worked well.

After those it's all a matter of choice and what you want to spend. I like wool base layers, doesn't dry as fast as synthetic stuff but i don't stink as bad wih wool. I like to keep a puffy jacket in my pack at all times incase it's my sleeping bag for the night and for me they are worth the little bit of weight. I also keep an extra pair of socks in my pack too to keep my feet healthy if they get damp or wet.
 
For cooking equipment: I would recommend an MSR Pocket Rocket stove with Small Isobutane cartridge and a GSI Ketallist (Sp?) Great way to heat up water fast for your meals and it is incredibly light (I use both)
 
Sask-hunter,

in town we saw a lot of guys coming from outside with great brand new gears and especially the brand you named it was the same few years ago with the brand created for the hunters.

those two created by the same.

there are maybe great but any gear made for the mountaineer will work more than perfectly.

the little jacket you are talking is called a bellay jacket and really not new for the guys mountaineering.

synthetic down like primaloft is helping a lot too and not as bad to deal as any down when wet.

i m with you but more on the merino than wool as base layer, woolpower ulfrotte is another good choice.

do not forget gloves and tuque even during the summer snow can be there in an instant.

Phil
 
I agree with Tempest. Being in shape is huge.
But I think the lightweight gear is great - especially if you have a Ram to pack out. Depends a lot on where you go too. Shorter distance hunts you can take a bit more. I pack a lot different gear on a 10 or 15k trip than a 40k (one way) trip.

The one piece of advice I will give is take twice the toilet paper u think you will need. Even then it won't be enough if the griblies hit you, but can also be sold for 5 dollars a square at the top of the mountain to your buddy that forgot his.
 
Everything everyone has already said plus chocolate bars and duct tape. The tape for your feet and the chocolate bars to offset the terrible taste of mountain house food. If you're going with a buddy try to sneak a dozen hot dogs in his pack.

It's your first trip so will probably bring too much stuff. Make a list of all the stuff you are bringing and when you get back check that list and cross off the stuff you didn't use and leave it home next time. You'll be amazed.

I wouldn't bring 2 sets of clothes if I were you, just bring the clothes you're planning on wearing an extra pair of socks and layering for when it gets cold. If you get good rain gear you can always throw that on too. I know a lot of people now are just wearing their rain stuff all the time since some of it breathes really well and cleans easily.
 
patty59 said:
Everything everyone has already said plus chocolate bars and duct tape. The tape for your feet and the chocolate bars to offset the terrible taste of mountain house food. If you're going with a buddy try to sneak a dozen hot dogs in his pack.

It's your first trip so will probably bring too much stuff. Make a list of all the stuff you are bringing and when you get back check that list and cross off the stuff you didn't use and leave it home next time. You'll be amazed.

I wouldn't bring 2 sets of clothes if I were you, just bring the clothes you're planning on wearing an extra pair of socks and layering for when it gets cold. If you get good rain gear you can always throw that on too. I know a lot of people now are just wearing their rain stuff all the time since some of it breathes really well and cleans easily.
Click to expand...

this reminds me of a elk hunt with my brother in law and cousin many years ago. We were young and dumb - and carrying way to much crap.

I still hadn't packed my spotter or tripod - and my pack was near full. My cousin agreed to pack it.

I told him to just back up to the door of the truck so no to have to take his pack off (he already had it on and was ready to go). When I noticed all the extra room he had in his giant pack, I added the spotter, tripod and a 6 pack of coke.

You should have seen his face when we hiked 6 miles in (and up) and we stopped to glass and I asked him to grab me one of them cokes out of his pack...
 
A good book to read is Extreme Alpinism by Mark Twight. There is a ton of good info in this book that can be applied to hunting in the mountains. Go light, because if it works out, you will have plenty of weight on the way out.
 
Beaver Skin: that rokslide site (rokslide.com) you mentioned is +1, I will be spending a lot of time reading there. Superthanks for the link.

I gotta agree with fitness and being in shape being more important then anything.
 
I'd change to a Mystery Ranch backpack and bring a pair of crocs to wade across the 75 streams a day I seem to encounter. Freeze dried food and lots of TP. Less bullets and more climbing. The best sleeping bag money can buy and a smaller tent.
Enjoy!
 
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