What's in your mountain hunting pack?

[Ubermeier]

Quarters.

When a heavy pack feels good!

 

[LittleBoyLefty]

Savvy mountain hunters. Let me know what you are packing on your hunts. We are talking multi-day, double-digit-distance, camp-on-your-back in the mountains hunting. Let's see what makes your cut. Feel free to get specific. Let me know what your pack weighs too.

I have been tuning my pack over the last few years. This is the gear I took into the mountains on a couple multi-day trips this year (54 lbs for 5 day load out including water, not including rifle):

85L internal frame pack, pack rain fly
Mountain/trekking tent
Down bag, sleeping pad, inflatable pillow (in dry bag)
Food (high cal snacks, freeze dried meals, coffee)
3.5 litres of water, capacity for 11.5, water purification, electrolyte/energy tabs
Mutitool w/ bit set, skinning/boning knife, saw, sharpener
Mylar space blankets, contractor garbage bag, game bags, 550 cordage
Isobutane-propane stove, cookware/utensil, lighters, fuel
First aid kit (include tourniquet), toiletries, bug spray
Inreach mini, phone, headlamp, spare batteries/power bank, cables
Rain gear, gaiters, toque, gloves, neck gaiter
Light weight compact down jacket, full synthetic thermal layer, wool socks (in dry bag)
Optics: binos and rangefinder in harness, spotting scope and tripod (dry bag for optics if crossing rivers)
Rifle w/ scope, loaded spare mags

My gear isn't all lightweight Gucci. Value means more than hype to me. But there is no doubt the lighter your pack the better your mountain performance. Looking to upgrade my tent, pack and sleeping pad for next year. Also going to add crocs for river crossing/camp shoes. My bro had a pair, I wish I did.

Let me know what you think I am missing, or what I should cut!

One of the best upgrades/changes I made was going to a Source bladder with a inline Sawyer or RapidPure filter. Just scoop the pouch full, and keep hiking. Works well in camp too, just hang in a tree and fill pots or bottles. It doesn't work great for real late season or winter trips, but for everything else, it's just way easier to stay well hydrated with fresh, cold water on demand.

 

[Ubermeier]

One of the best upgrades/changes I made was going to a Source bladder with a inline Sawyer or RapidPure filter. Just scoop the pouch full, and keep hiking. Works well in camp too, just hang in a tree and fill pots or bottles. It doesn't work great for real late season or winter trips, but for everything else, it's just way easier to stay well hydrated with fresh, cold water on demand.

I will check the source bladder out, thanks for the tip. I assume it comes with the sawyer inline filter? Wish I knew about this before, I have a sawyer squeeze on order.

Most of the time I dont purify water as mountain springs are pretty plentiful up here if it isnt a dry year. I hate the taste of the tablets and only use them if the source is questionable, but always wonder what they do to my gut biome. That's why the sawyer is on the way.

 

[savagelh]

The sawyer squeeze comes with an adapter to connect it to 1/4" hoses like the source bladder uses. Just make sure it never freezes as the filters will bust and you could drink contaminated water.

 

[LittleBoyLefty]

I will check the source bladder out, thanks for the tip. I assume it comes with the sawyer inline filter? Wish I knew about this before, I have a sawyer squeeze on order.

Most of the time I dont purify water as mountain springs are pretty plentiful up here if it isnt a dry year. I hate the taste of the tablets and only use them if the source is questionable, but always wonder what they do to my gut biome. That's why the sawyer is on the way.

I've tried several big name bladders, but settled on Source. No bad plastic taste and unreal tough. I just splice the filters into the line.

Totally agree on the tablets! Emergency use only here. But I'm also not willing to risk Giardia. A good friend had it, and it's not something I need to experience for myself. Haha. It took him a while to come back from...

The sawyer squeeze comes with an adapter to connect it to 1/4" hoses like the source bladder uses. Just make sure it never freezes as the filters will bust and you could drink contaminated water.

Very true. That's why we retire them for the season, once it starts to freeze hard at night. And it's one of the potential upsides to the RapidPure- they'll suppose to tolerate freezing. At least they use to claim that as a feature. The Sawyers can be back flushed, which is great for extending their service life. The RapidPure can't be flushed, but have inexpensive, easily replaceable filter cartridges.